This talk highlights recent advances in piezoelectric acoustic devices for applications in millimeter-wave (mmWave) signal processing, ultrasound transducers, power resonators, sensors, and emerging technologies. We begin by introducing transferred thin-film lithium niobate (LN) and sputtered scandium aluminum nitride (ScAlN) as platforms for mmWave acoustic resonators and filters, demonstrating record-high electromechanical ...
Pre-eruptive magmatic H2O content influences whether eruptions are effusive or explosive, and therefore the hazard posed to nearby populations. Many arc volcanoes proximal to population centers (e.g., Pinatubo, Mt St Helens) have been active during historic times, elucidating the possible style of future eruptions. Others have been dormant, and knowledge ...
Extreme Ultraviolet light sources based on high-order harmonic generation in gases consist of extremely short light bursts, in the 100-attosecond range, allowing for outstanding temporal resolution. Attosecond pulses enable the study of atoms in an entirely new way. It is now possible to measure tiny time delays in photoionization and ...
Speaker: David Liu, Harvard UniversityG. N. Lewis Memorial Lecture
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Inside Data Science: Hackers and the Making of a New ProfessionData scientists dominated conversations in the big-data era, as industries, disciplines, and public agencies that had previously done without coding and math sought new specialists. But the new hires had no clear tasks and felt uneasy under the spotlight.How did some scattered nerds and hackers turn mostly familiar and partly ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Popping the Science Bubble - Two TalksSolving Cold Cases is Star-Forming RegionsSpeaker: Eleanor Greenspoon, UC BerkeleyOur greatest telescopes are billions of light years awaySpeaker: Riley Owens, UC BerkeleyAttend in person or click here to watch online
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
SHARKTOBER with the Monterey Bay White Sharks TeamThe Monterey Bay White Shark Project is an interdisciplinary research program involving scientists from Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and the University of Washington. Together the team is using cutting-edge technologies including electronic tags, genomics, environmental DNA, drones, and ecological and oceanographic models to ...
Let's dive deep into the magical world of fungi and fermentation spotlighting koji - an ancient fungi whose role has affected human civilization for over 2,500 years. In this talk, we will learn what koji is, and its historical significance in food preservation. Learn how a fungus is able to ferment simple ingredients into extraordinary ...
Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) in the Hawaiian Archipelago are low-light and presumably oligotrophic environments, yet contain a high diversity and abundance of macroalgae. What processes are driving the high abundance and diversity of these algae? Measurements of macroalgal tissue nutrients, stable isotopes, and irradiance profiles in the water column were ...
Where: Cost: Free
Establishing AI Risk Thresholds: A Critical Global Policy Priority - LivestreamAs artificial intelligence continues to impact our lives, it increasingly poses serious risks to our economy, security, and social institutions. From job displacement, discrimination, and fraud to new emerging threats in bioweapon creation and cyberattacks, the risk space has grown as capabilities advance. This raises a critical question; who is ...
Where: Cost: Free
Accelerating Medical Innovation - From Ideas to Biomaterials to ImpactAccelerating medical innovation depends on approaches that efficiently move promising ideas toward patient care. Translation is often slowed by technical complexity, regulatory requirements, and the challenges of bridging laboratory research with clinical practice. Combining materials science, clinical insight, and bioinspired design offers a path to overcome these barriers and create ...
Climate warming heats up the web of biological interactions and accelerates community change from the base and top of oceanic food chains. Warming oceans have fueled the decade long epidemic of sea star wasting disease, causing a top-down trophic cascade and massive changes to near-shore kelps from California to British ...
This talk explores the forms of public and private governance that facilitate localized corporate domination, aiming to contextualize contemporary enclaves - like Elon Musk’s municipal incorporations in Texas, Disney’s special district near Orlando, and global “private city” movements - within a longer history of capital-governed communities. I argue that local ...
Spices are dried plant parts, including seeds, fruits, bark, roots, and buds, used to flavor and color food for thousands of years. They contains high levels of polyphenols and other bioactive compounds. These compounds offer antioxidant, anti-inflammaroty, and antimicrobial properties that may help prevent chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular conditions, ...
The semiconductor industry is entering a new era. The explosive growth of AI is driving exponential demand for advanced logic and memory devices, requiring lateral and vertical scaling, complex 3D architecture design, all while managing cost efficiency and prioritizing sustainability goals. This complexity of manufacturing next-generation chips is quickly surpassing ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Bay Area BatsCome learn about our CA native bats with Director of NorCal Bats Corky Quirk. Through her slideshow and audio presentation, we will dive into the nature of bats, and discover the importance of bats in our environment. We’ll also discuss the harmful myths that surround these animals. Live bats will ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $5 -$20
A Storm of Stars - LivestreamJoin the NASA Night Sky Network along with Shane Larson, where we’ll discuss the discovery of the Milky Way, how our perceptions of it constantly shape and change our understanding of other galaxies, and the Cosmos on much larger scales.For most of human history, we have been aware of the ...
Where: Cost: Free
Language of the Land: Life in the North Bay for Mountain LionsMountain lions in the North Bay live a fragile existence, precariously trying to survive in a densely human-inhabited landscape.This talk, hosted by Sonoma Land Trust, will explore what has been learned from almost 10 years of studying these elusive and iconic American top-carnivores, and how one goes about coexisting with ...
Who do you call when you've found an injured raptor? We're speaking with Craig Nikitas, of Bay Raptor Rescue, about his work in the San Francisco Bay Area.Bay Raptor Rescue is operated by Craig Nikitas, a retired San Francisco urban planner. He has worked with wild, rehabilitating, and captive raptors ...
The spooky season is finally here! Dust off your cobwebs, set up your 12ft tall yard skeletons, and mark your calendars for the Nerd Nite SF 2025 season finale! It’s our last show of the year and we’ve got talks to cover spooky situations like falling into a time vortex ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15
Virtual Skeptics in the PubThis is a casual night of socializing with fellow science-forward skeptics and with others inhabiting our oblate spheroidal planet.
Changing the Conversation: An Introduction to Effective Climate Change Communication - LivestreamStruggling to get people to connect with climate change? Facts and science are essential, but they’re not always enough. Social science gives us proven strategies for making climate change messages resonate. Join the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) for a special ASL (American Sign Language)-accessible presentation ...
As both climate disasters and climate denial intensify, the battles over how - and how quickly - to transform our industrial systems have become increasingly heated. Drawing on comparative case studies from Europe, Asia, and the US, this talk examines how coalitions can succeed in driving rapid sustainability transitions despite ...
After Dark: Death and LifeCelebrate life - and its decline and renewal - tonight with fascinating talks, thought-provoking exhibits, and a close look at how the end of life leads to new beginnings in nature. Find out what death has taught scientists about living beings, revive tardigrade from cryptobiosis, and honor Dia de los ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95
Artful Intelligence: A Panel Discussion on Empowering Human CreativityThere is a growing sense that AI and algorithmic thinking are encroaching on key areas of our social, professional, and creative lives. In partnership with the newly launched Artful Intelligence Institute, and to celebrate the release of Thinking Like a Human: The Power of Your Mind in the Age of ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $5 early bird, $10 general
Where: Pacific GroveCost: $15 General, $10 Members
NightLife: Día de los MuertosDónde la música y la memoria se encuentran. Join us for our third annual Día de los Muertos celebration, una noche en Oaxaca, honoring tradition through art, music, and community. In partnership with CarnavalSF, Mission Lotería*, and Academy Latine affinity group CONCIENCIA, we’re transforming the museum into a vibrant showcase ...
Fred Ritchin, a prominent figure in visual journalism, explores how photojournalists and visual storytellers need to rethink authenticity through new ethical frameworks, transparency standards, and contextual tools that help maintain credibility in an age where images can be created, not just captured. Moderator: Professor Ken Light.
Where: BerkeleyCost:
Friday, 10/24/25
Morning Hike at Lower Bear Creek RedwoodsJoin us for this beautiful hike! A POST volunteer will share a few words about POST’s decades of conservation success before the hiking group explores a moderate 3.5 mile hike with ~350 feet of elevation gain.In one of the county’s best-preserved, second-growth coastal redwood forests, we’ll pass redwoods, oaks, and ...
We know that some professional authors are beginning to use AI tools to help produce their fiction writing. Are readers using AI to generate fiction, too? Thanks to a unique public dataset called WildChat - containing more than one million “real world” conversations with ChatGPT, all shared with user consent ...
Expanding the spatiotemporal control of light into the subwavelength and subcycle domain represents an important milestone in the development of new photonic materials and technologies. In this talk, I will introduce high-Q dielectric Mie resonant metasurfaces as a viable material platform in this endeavor and show how subwavelength all-optical refractive ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Spooky AstronomyGet in the Halloween spirit with a night of cosmic chills and family thrills. Join us for a frightfully fun event featuring ooey gooey science demos, creepy crafting, pumpkin carving, and not-so-scary storytime! See weblink for ticket information
Where: OaklandCost: TBA
Bats Alive! - An Evening ExplorationJoin the Youth Science Institute (YSI) for a fascinating evening all about one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures - bats! Hosted by YSI’s former Executive Director and bat expert, Dave Johnston, this special program will shed light on the vital role bats play in our ecosystems. Learn about their incredible adaptations, ...
Where: Los GatosCost: Free
Saturday, 10/25/25
Birds by the Bay: San Francisco’s World Migratory Bird Day Celebration This event highlights the incredible journeys of migratory birds and the importance of creating bird-friendly cities and communities. The Bay Area is a critical stopover and year-round home for many bird species, and the Presidio is a national park site that’s an important habitat refugia, making it the perfect place to ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Family Nature Day at Huddart ParkPOST and our partners invite you for a family-friendly morning with hikes for all ages, hands-on learning experiences, and arts activities. Register now to reserve a free ticket for you and your friends and family!Throughout the day, there will be activities that include:Ongoing kid-friendly walks and nature scavenger huntsStory time ...
Where: WoodsideCost: Free
Science Saturday: Spooky ScienceJoin us for a spine-chilling Science Saturday dedicated to exploring the spooky and creepy aspects of nature. Discover the eerie world of nocturnal creatures as we delve into the lives of bats, owls, and other mysterious animals that thrive in the darkness. Learn about the fascinating adaptations of these creatures ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free with admission
Stewardship Saturday: Uncovering the Wonders of WetlandsJoin the the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory and The Marine Mammal Center for a hands-on exploration of the Bay’s wetlands and learn about the incredible biodiversity of this ecosystem. During this event, we’ll conduct a Bioblitz and nature journaling to discover hidden wildlife, learn about the vital connection between ...
Where: HaywardCost: Free
Tech or Treat at The Tech InteractiveTech or Treat is back! Join us if you dare for a day of spooky science at The Tech Interactive. This family-friendly celebration combines the thrills of Halloween with the wonders of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Come curious and in costume for a frightfully fun day designed ...
Where: San JoseCost: $38 General, $28 Child/Senior/Student
The 12th edition of the Bay Area Science Festival, Northern California’s largest celebration of science, returns to San Francisco. For the festival, we will be transforming the beautiful expansive lawn and pine grove at the Koret Quad of UC San Francisco's Mission Bay campus and adjacent renowned educational, medical and ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Electric Vehicle Frunk-or-Treat Bring the whole family for costumes, and spooky fun at our Electric Vehicle (EV) Frunk-or-Treat! Join us on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 433 Charles Street. Costumes encouraged, candy guaranteed. Ghouls and goblins of all ages welcome!At our event, you'll have the opportunity to:View a lineup ...
Where: SunnyvaleCost: Free
Spooky Solar Critters WorkshopCreepy Crawlies, Haunted Bugs, and Solar-Powered Scares - summoning spooky science at The Tech Interactive! Join us if you dare for a frightfully fun outdoor experience where science meets the supernatural! Get hands-on with eerie electronics as you design and build your own solar-powered spooky critter - a creepy, crawly ...
Where: San JoseCost: $10 General + admission, $7 Members
Bat Week: Caller IDBats can be tricky to spot and are often next to impossible identify to species if you're lucky enough to see one whizz by. Thankfully, their echolocation calls can sometimes reveal which species you have flying around you.In celebration of Bat Week, join us for a presentation that will cover ...
Where: AlvisoCost: Free
Sunday, 10/26/25
Wetlands: Natural Shields Against Climate ChangeInternational Day of Climate Change is on October 24th. Celebrate over the weekend by joining us for this presentation and walk at the Refuge! You'll learn about how wetlands act like natural shields against climate change, and why the wetlands protected by the Refuge are so important to all of us! ...
Where: AlvisoCost: Free
Marine Science Sunday - Creatures of the DeepVisit our hospital and visitor center in Sausalito, California, to learn more about what The Marine Mammal Center is doing to help save marine mammals found along the California coast and beyond, and learn more about how you can help.These interactive presentations hosted by our award-winning educators feature multimedia, pictures, ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free with admission
Spooky Solar Critters WorkshopCreepy Crawlies, Haunted Bugs, and Solar-Powered Scares - summoning spooky science at The Tech Interactive! Join us if you dare for a frightfully fun outdoor experience where science meets the supernatural! Get hands-on with eerie electronics as you design and build your own solar-powered spooky critter - a creepy, crawly ...
Where: San JoseCost: $10 General + admission, $7 Members
The diffusion and transport of elongated and deformable particles, such as fibers, filaments, or threads, through micro-structured media in an extra dilute form has wide range of applications in various fields, including environmental science. In this talk, I will present our ongoing work to examine the applicability of classic diffusion ...
Away from equilibrium, energy can serve as a resource that opens the door to what seems like limitless potential for novel phenomena. To date, however, our understanding of energy’s role has been largely gleaned through individual case studies, leaving it an open question to identify universal principles. In this talk, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Light Dark Matter eXperiment: A Discovery Experiment for Sub-GeV Dark MatterNearly a century after first observing dark matter, we have an impressive understanding of its astronomical and cosmological properties but remarkably little knowledge of its fundamental nature. One leading paradigm postulates new fundamental particles that were in thermal equilibrium with ordinary matter in the early universe - thermal relics - ...
Macro-energy systems modelers are regularly asked to capture greater detail in technology and behavior, often without a sense of how these additions to models could affect projected outcomes. In this talk, Valerie will discuss which attributes of technology and behavior can most affect modeled outcomes and policy prescriptions, using examples ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
The Power of Curiosity: Unlocking the World through Basic Science - LivestreamIt is impossible to predict the future applications of curiosity-driven research, but that is what makes it so exciting. Fundamental science done at Berkeley has proven to uncover major discoveries that change the way we see the world - just take CRISPR-Cas9, the laser, and telomerase, for example. Come hear ...
Where: Cost: Free
United for Disability and Climate Justice - LivestreamDaphne Frias is a 27-year-old Latina and Disability rights advocate with Cerebral Palsy. She was featured in The New York Times, Teen Vogue, and on NPR. In this talk, Daphne explains how disability rights connect to protecting the environment. She also shows how we can learn from the strength of ...
