As wildfires grow more frequent and devastating, they expose vulnerabilities in infrastructure, governance, and community preparedness. Tackling this escalating threat demands interdisciplinary solutions that address not just the immediate risks but also the broader systemic changes driving extreme weather events.This UC Berkeley Social Science Matrix on Point discussion will feature ...
Christina Agapakis (UCLA) on "AI as feminist technology: biology, computation, and new paradigms for engineering" Tina Rivers Ryan (Artforum Magazine) on "Media Art and/as Contemporary Art" Jason Eshraghian (UC Santa Cruz) on "Larger Language Models on Smaller Budgets"On Zoom: Click here to register or here.
Delivery and loss of volatile elements and compounds (such as water, carbon, nitrogen and the noble gases) during Earth’s accretion set the stage for the rest of our planet's history. Volatiles were gained through delivery by accreting solids and magma ocean ingassing during the lifetime of the solar nebula, and lost from the Earth ...
Classical and quantum light sources play a fundamental role in science and technology from laser fusion, to communication, manufacturing, defense, sensing, medicine, or quantum computing. Fundamental challenges have prevented the “scaling” of light sources. For example, efficiently scaling the power of lasers has always come at the cost of single ...
We are moving towards a future where intelligence is embedded into everything around us, operating autonomously for years on harvested energy. However, realizing this vision faces fundamental challenges in overcoming physics bottlenecks of miniaturized sensing, scaling intelligence across large deployments, and doing so in a sustainable way. In this talk, ...
Electrons are indistinguishable particles - you cannot tell one electron from another by the color of its hair, or the shape of its ears, or the way it laughs. A basic tenet of quantum mechanics is that all elementary particles are either bosons or fermions, distinguished by their quantum statistics. ...
In this talk I review the phenomenological picture of tunneling defects in low-temperature glasses. Despite the successes of this model, it has been very difficult to verify its microscopic foundations. Leveraging the power of a novel Monte Carlo method, we have prepared in silico glasses annealed in a manner ...
We are members of the genus Homo, distinguished from other primates as bipedal great apes. So far, we have found fossil evidence for several other members of our genus, i.e., several other humans. How does a fossil gain entry into this exclusive club? How many members are there? What do ...
Ecuador, a country with roughly the same area as the state of Colorado is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and is home to countless species yet to be discovered, particularly fungi. The fragility of these ecosystems and looming threats of destruction mean the clock is ...
Biotransformation plays a crucial role in understanding the environmental fate ofanthropogenic chemicals in both engineered and natural environments. While efforts have been made tostudy the contaminants persistence across environmental compartments, identifying the molecular insights of these reactions (e.g., microorganisms and enzymes) remains challenging. In this seminar, I will showcase how ...
The idea that dolphins communicate with a complex form of language has been entrenched in our culture since the days of the TV show “Flipper.” I will discuss how this idea originated, and its continuing impact, bygiving a brief history of the study of dolphin communication. I will then discuss ...
As the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement approaches, climate targets - for reducing emissions, expanding clean energy, phasing out fossil fuels, and more - are as central to climate policy as ever. Yet targets are useful only to the extent that they drive action. This talk will examine how ...
A discussion on the challenges presented by the energy transition and ExxonMobil's research to develop technical solutions to reduce emissions while meeting growing global energy demand.Speaker Nick Clausi, ExxonMobile
Many peoples’ perception of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is tied to activities associated with the Manhattan Project that occurred from 1943 to 1945. Those perceptions have been reinforced by the recent movie Oppenheimer. Although led by scientists, that project was a large-scale, multidisciplinary engineering effort. Today, approximately half of ...
Where: Cost: Free
In the Footsteps of Galileo - LivestreamIn this 90-minute workshop classroom and informal educators will experience activities recreating the observations Galileo used to promote the heliocentric model of the solar system.When Copernicus set out a heliocentric model for the solar system, there was scant evidence in support of the idea. It took the observations of Tycho, ...
Every day, 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 - a statistic that underscores one of the most significant demographic shifts in history. But the story of longevity is not just about aging, it's about learning new ways of living, working, and thriving across all life stages. From doctor's ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22 General in person, $5 online
The possibility of a future in astronomy, or any STEM ?eld, seems daunting for students with blindness/visual impairments (B/VI). Three-dimensional (3-D) printing, however, holds promise for students with blindness/visual impairments (B/VI) in addressing astronomy content, concept development, and providing access to information normally displayed visually. To help bolster astronomy and ...
The Sun, Moon, planets, and stars have accompanied sky watchers over millennia. The Pleiades star cluster, observable from every continent except Antarctica, is tied to Indigenous worldviews, astronomy, calendaring, traditional weaving, weather prediction, and agriculture. For the original peoples of Polynesia, Mesoamerica, and the Andes, the Pleiades cluster continues to ...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are not only transforming industries such as autonomous vehicles and healthcare - they are also revolutionizing science. In astronomy, early applications of ML focused on using algorithms to process datasets too large to be inspected manually by scientists. These efforts were significantly bolstered ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Thursday, 02/20/25
Lunch Break Science - LivestreamLunch Break Science is a dynamic live web series featuring fascinating short talks, engaging interviews, and lively Q&A with Leakey Foundation scientists. Each episode digs deeper into the latest human origins discoveries, with topics like Neanderthals, chimpanzee behavior, and more! Even better, you can interact with researchers during the show ...
State of Secure Communications in 2025Have you ever wondered why cybersecurity professionals recommend messaging apps like Signal or use terms like “zero-knowledge encryption” and “privacy by design”? Join the UC Berkeley Cybersecurity Clinic and Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity as we demystify these topics and talk about the state of secure communications in 2025 for organizations ...
Back-propagating Ruptures in Fast and Slow EarthquakesBack-propagating ruptures, characterized by a secondary front reversing into previously ruptured regions - such as boomerang earthquakes and rapid tremor reversals - have been recently documented due to advances in seismological techniques. While rupture complexity is often attributed to fault heterogeneity, its underlying physics remains unclear. I will present two ...
Understanding how a large number of neurons connect to create higher functions holds central importance in neuroscience and is key to bridging artificial intelligence and natural intelligence. Extracting such a functional synaptic connectivity map from biological neuronal networks is, therefore, one of the most widely pursued yet daunting tasks.In this ...
As power grids integrate renewable energy sources and grow in complexity, efficiently solving AC Optimal Power Flow (AC-OPF) is essential for grid stability, operational efficiency, and market participation. This talk presents two complementary approaches to accelerate AC-OPF solutions while ensuring accuracy and reliability. First, we introduce two novel deep learning ...
What’s the secret sauce that makes geostationary satellites a critical resource in commercial communications and defense applications? Let’s explore the the critical role of satellites in geostationary orbit, with an emphasis on the importance of the payload in mission success. Covering foundational topics like systems engineering, satellite orbits, and the ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Countering the Next Phase of American Anti-Vaccine ActivismAnti-vaccine activism has been present throughout American history, but the movement gained considerable momentum in the twenty-first century based on false claims that vaccines cause autism in the 2000s and “health freedom” protests against childhood immunization mandates in schools in the 2010s. Anti-vaccine disinformation may have hit a new peak ...
For its February seminar, the Stanford Sustainable Finance Initiative (SFI) is delighted to host Adrien Bilal, Assistant Professor of Economics at Stanford University as he discusses: The Macroeconomic Impact of Climate Change: Global vs. Local Temperature*. This paper estimates that the macroeconomic damages from climate change are six times larger than previously ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Exploring Lunar Eclipses' - Prepare for the Lunar Eclipse on Mar 13/14 - LivestreamThis 90-minute workshop will help prepare you to engage your audiences and/or students in the wonder of the total lunar eclipse visible across North America the night of March 13-14.Unlike a total solar eclipse, a total lunar eclipse is observable over an entire hemisphere. As long as you can see ...
Songbirds communicate with one another for many reasons - to find and attract a mate, to defend their territory, or even to band together to ward off a predator. However, levels of human-generated noise, also known as anthropogenic noise, and encroachment into bird habitats continue to rise year after year. ...
Where: Cost: Free
NERD NITE SF #148: Gumbo, Virtual Gynecology, and Red Light FightsGreetings beloved nerds, and welcome to the 2025 Season of Nerd Nite SF! Get ready for your monthly dose of nerdy delight starting with our inaugural show! Seek refuge from the chaos of 2025 with fun, funny, inspiring talks about the art of a classic Nawlins dish, the future of ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 Advance, $15 at door
'Try It and See' Film PresentationAre you interested in mushrooms for dying fabric? BAMS is hosting an exclusive presentation of this beautiful film, which showcases the early work of two well known Mendocino mycologists, the pioneering mushroom dyer Miriam Rice, and her watercolor artist partner, Dorothy Beebee, as they explore, document, illustrate and publish groundbreaking ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Friday, 02/21/25
The Science and Policy of Energy and Climate Justice - LivestreamClimate change disproportionally impacts low-income and vulnerable communities around the world, the people and places least responsible for the problem. Berkeley professor Daniel Kammen will discuss the science and policies that address the root causes of climate change - and the social, racial, and environmental injustices entangled with it - ...
Catalysis Achievements and Needs for the Refinery of the FutureAs we wish to gradually transform our society in a more sustainable and circular one, it is important to revisit our main chemical production complexes, thereby aiming to build the so-called refinery of the future. This requires a.o. new needs from a chemistry and chemical engineering point of view, including ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Astro 101: From the Big Bang to BiosignaturesThis event is one of several different introductions to astronomy offered by SJAA. During this hour, you'll take a tour through our universe's 13.8 billion years of evolution, touch on some of the highlights of discovery that led to our understanding of that long history, and get a glimpse of ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Mushrooms + Culture of GreeceTake a visual journey into the diverse and lush natural world of Greece. Ancient forests, traditional land-based living still exists, providing a rich culture weaved within nature itself. Connections to fungi are ever-present and they’re only gaining attention. Take a look into the relationships the locals have with certain species ...
Where: SebastopolCost: Free
In Town Star PartyCome join San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) for an evening of stargazing.Event details:Events are held at the parking lot of our headquarters, Houge Park San Jose. The event duration is 2 hours. SJAA volunteers will share night sky views from their telescopes.Please refrain from bringing your own telescopes (Binoculars are ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday, 02/22/25
AI Enhanced Project ManagementWelcome to our immersive AI technology workshop series. During these sessions you will be introduced to new and established AI tools that will help you create and manipulate content in new and powerful ways. Each session is led by an industry expert who will guide you through the material and ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: $95
Stewardship Saturday: A Walk through the Marshes with Cafe OhloneThis free program for high school students features rotating events along our 600-mile range exploring various realms of conservation.Join Cafe Ohlone co-founders and chefs Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino and The Marine Mammal Center as we take a walk through the marshes, build our own miniature tule boats, and taste ...
Where: FremontCost: Free
Science Saturday: Fabulous FungiJoin us for our Free Science Saturday event, where we will explore the fabulous world of Fungi and Mushrooms. Learn about native mushrooms and fungi local to the central coast and the vital role they play in our ecosystem. This engaging day will feature collection displays, insightful facts, and activities ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
Salamander Search at SanbornSanborn is famous for its amphibians; you just need to do some extra searching to find them! Join us for a fun day of looking under rocks, logs, and other unique hiding spots that Sanborn’s Salamanders call home!Register at weblinkAges 4 - 12
Where: SaratogaCost: Free
Foothills Family Nature WalkEnvironmental Volunteers’ Family Nature Walks program is designed to help community members get to know our local open space areas. Small groups will be guided by a knowledgeable environmental educator during an exploration of a local open space. These small groups will be introduced to fun nature-based activities, and a ...
The U.S. Navy’s Zeppelins were the largest, most expensive, most technologically sophisticated aircraft of their day. Intended to patrol the Pacific to prevent a surprise attack by Japan in the days before radar, Zeppelins were also poised to become the dominant form of long distance transportation. In fact, Moffett Field was built ...
Where: San CarlosCost: Free with admission, free for members
CuriOdyssey Weekend Workshop: Dissection LabBiologists can learn as much from the insides of animals as they do the outside. This workshop will explore the internal anatomy of squids, eggs, flowers, and learn about the importance of x-rays.Ages 5 to 10 years old
Where: San MateoCost: $45-$55
Radical Then, Critical Now: Interdisciplinary Strategies in Environmental ConservationJoin us at the Hay Barn for our annual public natural history symposium: Radical Then, Critical Now: Interdisciplinary Strategies in Environmental Conservation. The event features: UCSC speakers, including Distinguished faculty Dr. Karen Holl and Dr. Gary Griggs; participatory art with Norris Center Art + Science graduate fellows; live music; and a ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: $10 donation suggested, free for students
Bair Island Walking TourJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a walking tour at the Bair Island Unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge! You’ll be guided by POST ambassadors who will share the history of this beautiful protected space, information about the species that live there, and what you ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: Free
Starry Nights Star PartyJoin the San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) and Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) for an unforgettable night of exploring the night sky. Our knowledgeable docents, members of SJAA, will be your guides to providing valuable insights into the wonders of our universe. The viewing site, Rancho Canada del ...
The Dragonfly mission to Titan is under construction and scheduled to launch in July 2028. Titan is the largest Moon of Saturn and has a rich organic chemistry with lakes of liquid methane and ethane on its surface. The goals of the Dragonfly include the search for signs of life ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free
Sunday, 02/23/25
Twilight Tales at the RefugeJoin us for an evening at the refuge in Alviso to hear tales of rails, tales of tails, and tales of gold, silver, and … garbage. You’ll learn why the refuge was created and why it is so important to all of us. Then as the sun sets, you’ll go ...
Speaker: Catherine Nicole Coleman, Stanford UniversitySee weblink for building admission information
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope: A quest to explore the restless, high-energy UniverseProf. Peter Michelson from Stanford University, will discuss the development of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, an international observatory led by NASA, and its many discoveries during the past 16 years of operation.Speaker: Peter Michelshon, Princeton University
The nature of dark matter remains one of the most pressing questions in physics, driving searches across a vast range of scales - from microscopic interactions of individual particles to macroscopic gravitational effects on the cosmos. In this talk, I will explore two exciting avenues for probing dark matter: direct ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
AI and the Future of Citizenship: Preparing for a Digital DemocracyAs artificial intelligence becomes an ever-present force in our lives, it’s clear that this technology is not going away. And as it continues to transform education, governance and civic engagement, one crucial aspect remains largely unexplored: how to develop informed, engaged citizens for a democracy shaped by artificial intelligence.This event ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General in person, $5 online
This workshop combines the best of two engaging sessions, offering a comprehensive and hands-on experience in building advanced AI applications and AI agents. We will use the state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs) and Vision Language Models(VLMs) to explain the process. Participants will explore practical techniques to leverage these powerful models ...
Black Holes: Discovering the InvisibleBlack holes are among the most extreme objects in the universe. They push the boundaries of our knowledge, holding many unsolved mysteries. This talk will explore black holes from “small” to enormous, including how to detect these invisible marvels. In the process, we will probe the ...