Status of XFEL/SPring-8 Construction and Beam CommissioningBeam commissioning of XFEL/SPring-8 has been started from February 21, 2011. I would like to report recent news from the beam commissioning team, and look back R&Ds and machine construction. XFEL/SPring-8 machine is based on unique technologies; (1) Single-crystal thermionic-cathode electron gun, (2) High gradient C-band accelerator and (3) In-vacuum ...
Transportation consumes two-thirds of the world's petroleum and has become the largest contributor to global environmental change. Most of this increase in scale can be attributed to the strong desire for personal mobility that comes with economic growth. This talk will cover the past and future travel demand; the influence ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
March LASER Event6:30pm-6:45pm: Socializing/networking. Anyone in the audience is welcome to describe in 30 seconds what they are working on.6:45-7:10pm: Henrik Bennetsen (Katalabs) on "What the next phase of the web could mean"In its first two decades the web has had a profound impact on how we work and collaborate. With the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Sudden Oak Death in the East Bay -- Where is it? What can we do?The invasive disease that threatens California's oak woodlands has reached the East Bay hills, as experts race to learn more about it. Dr. Brice McPherson, UC Berkeley forestry specialist, explains how the disease is spreading locally; Dr. Matteo Garbelotto, plant scientist and pathogen expert at UC Berkeley, discusses progress in ...
Where: AlbanyCost: Free
Remarkable Creatures – The Making of The Fittest Conversations at the Herbst: Sean B. Carroll In Conversation With Mark HertsgaardSean B. Carroll is an award-winning scientist, author, and educator. He is currently Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics and an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Wisconsin. His research has centered on the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $18 Members
Tuesday, 03/08/11
The Influence of Scientific Knowledge and Thinking on Classroom TeachingIn many higher education courses students are judged with the help of certain objective but also subjective criteria by the teachers. Yet, this may be not sufficient for equal appraisal of idiosyncratic ways of acquiring knowledge. After an analysis of thinking styles and tacit knowing of scientists, the presentation will ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
How 'Clean' is Natural Gas? - Hydrofracking, GHGs, and the Lack of Federal OversightJoanne Spalding, Managing Attorney in the Sierra Club's San Francisco office, will discuss the regulation and environmental impacts of the natural gas boom going on across America. While natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels (and therefore contributes less to greenhouse gas emissions), natural gas exploration and production come ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Using eye movements to probe brain function and dysfunctionThe saccadic eye movement system is extremely well understood and flexible control of saccades requires brain areas from the brainstem up to prefrontal cortex. Patients with damage or dysfunction in these eye movement circuits have abnormal control of eye movements that can be exploited to understand diseases processes. This talk ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
The Two Mysteries of SuperconductivityProf.Louis Taillefer of the Candian Institute for Advanced Research will give the Mar. 8, 2011 Applied Physics/Physics colloquium entitled, "The Two Mysteries of Superconductivity."
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Stereoscopic-3D: looking at the next decadeAfter multiple decades of wand waiving and fizzling, 2010 felt like a real inflection point for Stereoscopic-3D. Significance of this major transition in visualization from 2D-to-3D is profound. After all, nature has equipped human kind with binocular vision – it is the limitation of technology that has kept our civilization ...
Where: San JoseCost: $2 for food
The Panic Virus – The Story Behind Autism & VaccinesIn 1998 Andrew Wakefield, a British gastroenterologist with a history of self-promotion, published a paper with a shocking allegation: the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine might cause autism. The media seized hold of the story and, in the process, helped to launch one of the most devastating health scares ever. In the years ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
The Selam and Lucy Species Used Tools: Cutting Edge Research on Some Ancient Cuts Pritzker Lecture: Humans evolved as a result of a series of key anatomical and behavioral transformations following their divergence from the chimpanzees, about 7 million years ago. Understanding what makes us human today therefore depends on how much we know about the processes and evolutionary mechanisms that made us who ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $10 Seniors, Free Members
Small planets are common: evidence from the Eta-Earth Survey and the Kepler missionMost planets are thought to form through the 'core accretion' process. This process can be probed by comparing the occurrence rates of extrasolar planets of different masses and orbital distances. Until recently, the evidence was limited to massive, Jovian planets. This talk will focus on recent results that probe much ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Wednesday, 03/09/11
Garden StrollersJoin Molly Bolt, Botanical Garden docent and mom with her son Rowan, on this special tour of the Garden for parents and children under 3. Children must be in a stroller or carrier for the tour portion. Meets in front of the Garden Shop. Registration requested.
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free with admission
Engineering Hope with Biomimetic Microelectronic SystemsSpeaker: Wentai Liu, Professor and Campus Director of NSF-ERC on Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems, UC Santa CruzLive broadcast at mms://media.citris.berkeley.edu/webcast. Questions can be sent via Yahoo IM to username: citrisevents. The complete schedule for the spring semester is online at http://www.citris-uc.org/events/RE-spring2011. All talks may be viewed on our YouTube channel
Defending at Risk Species: Addressing the Threats to Atlantic Bluefin TunaOften viewed merely as a sushi delicacy (a single tuna sold for almost $396,000 in January of this year), Atlantic bluefin tuna are increasingly at risk of extinction from overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction. However the species is not currently listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), even though the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Towards a Citizen Internet: the Opportunity for Civic SoftwareThe last decade has seen the organic growth of the web as a platform, enabling near-frictionless community-building, social communication, and collective action. But the institutions citizens support to represent our collective will and achieve our common goals have been left behind, largely by their own design. Today, several factors are ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Sealing Buildings - Insulation, Moisture, AirThe relationship between air sealing, insulation and moisture are inseparable.In this presentation, you will learn about: * The Green Code's mandatory measures * Similarities and differences to GreenPoint Rated * Reasons to go beyond code * Ways local government can keep their GreenPoint Rated policy * How the Green Code ...
Where: San RafaelCost: $15 General, $10 members in advance
What are kids doing about their future in a world with a swelling population, receding glaciers and weird weather? There's a move afoot to activate 100 million boy and girl scouts to develop skills for more sustainable living. Activists such as 16-year-old Loorz are calling on adults to use bolder ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $12 Members, $7 Students
'Collapse'This National Geographic Channel film about the collapse of civilizations is based primarily on Jared Diamond's and Joseph Tainter's monumental scientific works on this subject. Nat Geo, following Diamond and Tainter, talks of the upcoming collapse of our own civilization not just to be negatively sensational but to make a ...
Where: OaklandCost: $5 Donation
Fungal Communication and the Formation of Hyphal NetworksHyphal interconnected networks is a hallmark of the growth habit of filamentous ascomycete and basidiomycete species. Glass has been working on the mechanisms of how fungi form an interconnected hyphal network and in understanding the benefits (nutrient translocation, organelle translocation, colony interactions, developmental coordination) that are associated with network formation.Speaker: ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Saturn's Moon Titan: A World with Rivers, Lakes, and Possibly Even LifeTitan, Saturn's largest satellite, is the only moon with a thick atmosphere. The Cassini mission, now orbiting Saturn, has sent back remarkable images and information from Titan, revealing one of the most intriguing and surprising worlds in the entire solar system. In many ways, Titan is a cold twin of ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: Free
Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the WorldWe're going to see games tackling women's rights. We're going to see games around climate change. We're going to see games around medical innovation that doctors are going to play.- Jane McGonigal In 1988, when Jane McGonigal was 10, she started gaming for fun on a Commodore 64 computer. Twenty-two ...
The monthly Reason 4 Reason Skeptical Speaker Series kicks off in March The monthly Reason 4 Reason Skeptical Speaker Series kicks off in March - Please join us and tell fellow skeptics!Talking to True BelieversWhen skeptics meet true believers, even the simplest questions can create conflict. As co-host of the Oprah Winfrey Network's "Miracle Detectives", Dr. Indre Viskontas has had the unique ...
Now in its eighth year, the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival celebrates the sea with inspirational films that increase our appreciation of the oceans that surround us. Come view the beauty and mysteries of the ocean, experience the thrill of saltwater sports, explore coastal cultures, and pause to reflect on ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies by program
Thursday, 03/10/11
'Getting It Wrong' How to Misinterpret DNA NumbersDr. George Carmody from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada will deliver a seminar hosted by SJSU at the Santa Clara County Crime Laboratory on 10th March on the basic principles of statistics and probability relevant to key concepts in population genetics and profile frequency estimates of PCR-based/discrete allele systems. Additional topics ...
Investigating Gene-Brain Relationships Across the Lifespan in the fragile X Spectrum of DisordersMutations of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene are the genetic cause of fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited form of mental retardation. Large expansions of the CGG trinucleotide repeat in the full mutation range (> 200 CGG repeats) consequently result in transcriptional silencing of the ...
Since Fall 2002, the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering has hosted the Silicon Valley Leaders Symposium (SVLS). The Symposium hosts industry and technology leaders to talk about business and technology trends. It also features prominent leaders who discuss broader societal and political issues that shape our life and society.Speaker: Wendy ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Marine Mammal Research TourGo behind the scenes at Long Marine Lab. Learn about the work of scientists and their studies of dolphins, seals, sea lions, and whales. Tour is best suited for adults and children over 10 years of age. Space limited. Reservations required: (831) 459-3800.
Adam Zeman-'A Portrait of the Brain'Adam Zeman will briefly sketch some of the stories told in the course of his book "A Portrait of the Brain" and read two or three brief extracts. He will discuss brain science and it's place in understanding the human experience.
Where: BerkeleyCost:
Light and Shadow: Kepler's Search for Habitable WorldsNatalie M. Batalha, San Jose State University Associate Professor and Deputy Science Team Lead of Kepler Mission will give the 28th Annual Bunyan Lecture, presented by Stanford University's Astronomy program. Abstract: Humankind's speculation about the existence of other worlds like our own turned into a veritable quest with the launch ...
The Bay Area Puma Project (BAPP) is the first major study of pumas in the San Francisco Bay Area. The goal of this 10-year research and conservation program is to increase our understanding of local puma populations and their interactions with humans in order to facilitate a healthier co-existence between ...
Join KQED Education at NSTA's National Conference on Science Education at Moscone Center March 10-13. The event offers science educators the best opportunity for professional development in 2011. For K-16 science educators and administrators, including every science discipline, attendees will access unmatched resources for development of content knowledge, techniques and ...
Now in its eighth year, the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival celebrates the sea with inspirational films that increase our appreciation of the oceans that surround us. Come view the beauty and mysteries of the ocean, experience the thrill of saltwater sports, explore coastal cultures, and pause to reflect on ...
Hear a rare conversation with Google and Microsoft executives on how technology and cloud computing can help address challenges of energy use and environmental sustainability. Will the move from desktop to cloud computing result in energy savings? How can those savings be measured? What can the IT sector do to ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, Free for Members, $7 Students
Eruptions – the Secret Life of VolcanoesProfessor Belasky will discuss the most spectacular and unpredictable of all natural events, the eruption of volcanoes. How are they formed? How do we know when an eruption will occur? He will include in his talk the Icelandic volcano and other fascinating and spectacular cases. Speaker: Paul Belasky, Ohlone Professor, ...
Where: FremontCost: Free
The Printing of Energy Scavenging and Storage DevicesSpeaker: James Evans, UC BerkeleyPart of the Spring 2011 i4Energy Seminar Series. Live broadcast at mms://media.citris.berkeley.edu/webcast; Questions can be sent via Yahoo IM to username: citrisevents. The schedule for the spring i4energy series is at http://www.citris-uc.org/events/i4energy-spring2011.
Bedtime with the Beasts is a special overnight program for youth groups (ages 6-18) and their chaperones. An Oakland Zoo education specialist will lead your group on an evening hike around the zoo where you'll get a look at what the zoo is like after all of the guests leave. ...
Join KQED Education at NSTA's National Conference on Science Education at Moscone Center March 10-13. The event offers science educators the best opportunity for professional development in 2011. For K-16 science educators and administrators, including every science discipline, attendees will access unmatched resources for development of content knowledge, techniques and ...
Now in its eighth year, the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival celebrates the sea with inspirational films that increase our appreciation of the oceans that surround us. Come view the beauty and mysteries of the ocean, experience the thrill of saltwater sports, explore coastal cultures, and pause to reflect on ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies by program
Saturday, 03/12/11
Sustainable Home HorticultureLearn how to meet the needs of your garden and your lifestyle. Join us for DIY-steeped morning of composting basics. This session will introduce you to compost tea and vermi-composting techniques. Horticulturists Anthony Garza and Dylan Ferreira will show you how to take advantage of compost for multiple beneficial applications ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $25 General, $20 Members
Little Explorer Workshop: Children's Weekend WorkshopSpend time with your little explore this winter, building, creating, and tinkering together as they explore ramps and pathways, how water flows, and air dynamics. Materials invite children's experimentation and help them formulate cause-and-effect relationships. 9:30am - 10:30am Ages 4-511:00am - 12:00pm Grades K-1$130 ($110 for members) for 3 Saturdays.See ...
See and learn about the diverse Presidio birdlife on a moderate one-mile walk.Meet Ranger Will Elder in front of the Beach Hut, at the east end of Crissy Field's East Beach.Reservations required; please call (415) 561-4323.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Monster Bacteria and Other Suspicious Critters Let's explore the salt marsh's hidden habitats! See monster bacteria, some of whom love rotten eggs, and some of whom make the air we breathe. Join microbial ecologist Dr. Wayne Lanier for a short hike where we will use field microscopes to dive down into a tiny world – an ...
Where: AlvisoCost: Free
Steam Trains, Shipwrecks, and Sutro BathsJoin John Martini, historian and retired GGNRA Interpretive Ranger, on a two hour walk to explore some of the rich history at Lands End. We'll follow the old Lands End railroad grade to a scenic overlook and, if the tide is low, we might spot the rusty remains of steamships ...
Where: San FranciscoCost:
C.S.I. Lab: Green ArchitectsStop by our open lab as we design and build green dwellings. Working in groups you are the architect and your challenge is to make your design as green as possible. Will you and your partners be able to create the most ecologically sustainable home?
Where: OaklandCost: Free with admission
Nature in the City TREK: Hidden Treasures at Bayview Hill TREKS offer an opportunity to connect to and learn more about our San Francisco's greatest natural areas and open spaces! Whether you were born on a mountain or in a city, enjoyment of nature is independent of age, income, occupation or culture. Nature energizes, restores and brings light to what's ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15- $45 Sliding Scale Donation
The Salt Marshes: Then and Now Approximately 85% of San Francisco Bay's wetlands have disappeared over the last 200 years due to industry and development, impacting the wildlife that lived in and around them. Some of the plants and animals have made a comeback. Learn the history of the salt marshes and the species affected by ...
Where: FremontCost: Free
Jazz Under The StarsOnce a month we invite the public to our rooftop observatory for night sky viewing, while listening to KCSM Jazz 91.1FM. See the first quarter moon, Jupiter, and more through our telescopes. This is an outdoor event, please dress warmly and check back here for weather updates. If it's cloudy or ...
Join KQED Education at NSTA's National Conference on Science Education at Moscone Center March 10-13. The event offers science educators the best opportunity for professional development in 2011. For K-16 science educators and administrators, including every science discipline, attendees will access unmatched resources for development of content knowledge, techniques and ...
Now in its eighth year, the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival celebrates the sea with inspirational films that increase our appreciation of the oceans that surround us. Come view the beauty and mysteries of the ocean, experience the thrill of saltwater sports, explore coastal cultures, and pause to reflect on ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies by program
Sunday, 03/13/11
Art/Science Workshop: Elemental BalanceThere is a superstition that a raw egg can only be balanced on its end during the Vernal Equinox. With the first day of spring approaching, it's the perfect time to explore physical equilibrium. Investigate balance with Exploratorium exhibits before heading back to the studio to create a hanging mobile. ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $35 non-members, $25 members
Rainwater Catchment, Greywater, Earthworks Tour at the EcoHouseTurn your house and yard into a water saving site with greywater systems, rainwater catchment, earthworks, and appropriate landscaping choices. You'll learn about the greywater system at the EcoHouse, the first permitted residential constructed wetland/greywater system in the State of California and the first greywater system in Berkeley to be ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $15 General, $10 Members
Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour Experience the wildlife and natural beauty that make Younger Lagoon an exceptional local treasure on this docent-led tour to the lagoon and its beach habitat. Learn about the ongoing research and habitat restoration work that help this vital habitat thrive. Tour includes a short hike and is best suited for ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Saving the Soil, Saving OurselvesPresented by Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) and co-hosted by the Institute at the Golden Gate. Deborah Koons Garcia, the director of The Future of Food, will preview and talk about her new film Symphony of the Soil. In researching the film, Deborah came to understand that by giving back ...
Where: SausalitoCost: $15 General, $10 MALT members
Join KQED Education at NSTA's National Conference on Science Education at Moscone Center March 10-13. The event offers science educators the best opportunity for professional development in 2011. For K-16 science educators and administrators, including every science discipline, attendees will access unmatched resources for development of content knowledge, techniques and ...
Now in its eighth year, the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival celebrates the sea with inspirational films that increase our appreciation of the oceans that surround us. Come view the beauty and mysteries of the ocean, experience the thrill of saltwater sports, explore coastal cultures, and pause to reflect on ...
