Life at the Bottom of the Food ChainWetlands microbes are often called "the lungs of the earth." Explore the dynamics of microbial communities in LaRiviere Marsh ponds. Join microbiologist Wayne Lanier, PhD for a brief presentation; then a microscope hike to LaRiviere Marsh where we will sample and view the most ancient creatures on earth. See how ...
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 ecosystem thrive. Tour includes a short hike and is best suited for ...
In this age of an open Internet, it is easy to forget that every American information industry, beginning with the telephone, has eventually been taken captive by some ruthless monopoly or cartel. With all our media now traveling a single network, an unprecedented potential is building for centralized control over ...
Speaker: Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition, UC San Diego
Where: StanfordCost: Free
'From Afar' in EthiopiaOn May 9, 2011, the SLAC Colloquium committee is pleased to present a special talk by Prof. of Anthropology at U.C. Berkeley, Dr. Tim White, titled "From Afar," in which he will detail his team's decades of work in Ethiopia, unraveling the story of human evolution. Darwin and Huxley ...
Speaker: Clas Jacobson, United Technologies Corporation, Building Control SystemsNVIDIA Auditorium
Where: StanfordCost: Free
May LASER Event6:30pm-6:45pm: Socializing/networking.6:45-7:10pm: Elizabeth Jameson (visual artist) on "Re-Imaging the MRI"An artist's use of medical technology to change the narrative of chronic illness.7:10-7:35pm: Kal Spelletich (Seemen) on "Machines Fires Golems Wines Aeronautics Telepresences"Machines and robots that challenge phenomenologicaly those who activate and interact with them by challenging their perceptions about the ...
Join us as we welcome Dr. Laurie Marker, renowned Cheetah, for an inspiring evening benefiting the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. The oldest and most unique of all the big cats in Africa, the cheetah is the fastest land mammal reaching speeds of up to 70 mph. But the cheetah ...
Where: OaklandCost: $12-20 General, $10-20 Members
Book Club: The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of CancerIn 2010, about six hundred thousand Americans, and more than 7 million humans around the world, will die of cancer." With this sobering statistic, physician and researcher Siddhartha Mukherjee begins his comprehensive and eloquent "biography" of one of the most virulent diseases of our time. An exhaustive account of cancer's ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Free 3-Session Climate Action WorkshopPut the gloom and doom of climate change aside for a moment. Instead, imagine living in a resilient community where your bills are smaller, your air is clearer, and your personal and national security are protected. That world is possible, and the Ecology Center invites you to co-create it. Minimize ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
JGI Science @ the Lesher: 'The Deal with Carbon'The next installment in the JGI Science @ the Lesher series is "The Deal with Carbon: How Earth's Mighty Microbes Respond." This free panel discussion is open to the general public and will take place at the Lesher Center in downtown Walnut Creek on Monday, May 9, 2011 from 7:00pm ...
Where: Walnut CreekCost: FREE
Lucy's Legacy: The Quest for Human Origins Professor Donald Johanson, founding director of The Institute of Human Origins (IHO) at Arizona State University, discovered the 3.2 million year old hominid skeleton popularly known as "Lucy" (Australopithecus afarensis) in Ethopia in 1974. She has become an icon in this field of study and remains an important touchstone for ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $10 Seniors, Free Members
"Learning from Failure"Join us at SRI for a conversation withDonald Shockey, PhD Associate DirectorDirector of SRI's Center for Fracture PhysicsMay 10, 20116:00 to 7:30 p.m.Doors open at 5:15Structural failures happen daily. Most have minor consequences and are unreported to the public, but some have high impact and are high-profile. The ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost:
Small Processors solve Big ProblemsThere's no question that computing is percolating ever more deeply into the lives of billions on people. Smart-phones, distributed applications in the cloud, and embedded intelligence in running in parallel. Unhappily, Moore's Law scaling of existing processor types isn't enough to keep up with the energy-efficiency demands of all these ...
Where: San JoseCost: $2 Donation for food and drinks
Dobsonian Telescope MakingBuild a telescope the Dobson way. You will learn about John Dobson and his reflector telescopes, as well as how these telescopes work. You'll learn the step-by-step method for grinding and polishing the mirror, building the mount, and assembling a complete telescope. Seeing the rings of Saturn, the moons of ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $170 + materials & supplies
The Graduate School of Business' Knight Management Center: LEED + PVAn interactive presentation on the design and implementation of the Graduate School of Business' goals for sustainability at it's new Knight Management Center campus. Kathleen Kavanaugh, LEED AP and Program Director at the Knight Management Center will discuss the vision for the campus, which is seeking LEED Platinum certification from ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Thursday, 05/12/11
Sustainable Urbanism?Speaker: Peter Calthorpe, Founder, Calthorpe Associates; Author, Urbanism in the Age of Climate ChangeHow should the climate imperative change community design? What is sustainable urbanism? Will federal and state governments make long-term investments in public mobility when they are in such dire fiscal straits? What are China and other countries ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $65 General, $45 Members, $15 Student
NASA to Host Video Chat Showcasing SOFIA Science NASA invites the public to join an online video chat about viewing the infrared universe with the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). Project Scientist Pamela Marcum will take questions for approximately one hour at 10 a.m. PDT / 1 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 12. Participants in the live video ...
Pole PositionWill plug-in hybrids or pure electric vehicles get more traction with car buyers looking for cool and clean wheels? What are the tradeoffs of the competing technologies? What are the manufacturing and infrastructure implications? What policies and price signals would help advance all these technologies? Join us for a ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $65 General, $45 for Members
How to manage climate change in the Bay Area The climate is changing, and how we cope with reduced snowpack in the Sierras, rising sea levels on the edges of the Bay and changing weather patterns will dramatically affect planning in our region. SPUR's new report on climate change adaptation reflects two years of work evaluating climate change impacts ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $5 General, Free for SPUR members
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. Advanced reservations required.
Essentially all sustainable energy systems rely on the energy influx from the sun. In order to store solar energy it is most conveniently transformed into a chemical form, a fuel. The key to provide an efficient transformation of energy to a chemical form is the availability of suitable catalysts, and ...
In honor of the Academy's brand new exhibit, Snakes & Lizards: The Summer of Slither, Nightlife will be slithering, hopping and crawling with scaled critters from around the world. This week, the exhibit is open during NightLife for the first time. Hear about snakes & venom from the Academy's top ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $10 Members
Climate Capitalism, with Hunter LovinsJoin us as we welcome L. Hunter Lovins, coauthor of the bestselling Natural Capitalism, to the Ecology Center to speak about her new book, Climate Capitalism. In it, Lovins and sustainability expert Boyd Cohen prove that the best route to rebuilding our economy, our cities, and our job markets, as ...
The James Webb Space Telescope is the next in the line of NASA's Great Observatories, a scientific successor to both the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. This space observatory will see the first galaxies to form in the universe, and explore how stars are born and give rise to planetary ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
The Wild World of FrogsHow long do frogs live? How many types of frogs are there? What's the difference between a frog and a toad? Why are frogs disappearing worldwide and what can be done to save them? Dr. Kriger answers all these questions and more as he introduces the audience to The Wild ...
Dinner, Movie and the Universe: Rub Elbows with the StarsJoin us Friday* and Saturday evenings for Chabot's evening social rendezvous: Dinner, A Movie, and the Universe. Enjoy a chef-prepared dinner, as part of a unique after-dark experience at the Center. From your table, take in the views of Chabot's telescope ...
Where: OaklandCost:
The Incredible Human Body with Science Smart KidsIn"The Incredible Human Body", children ages 7 - 12 can explore the amazing human body-from the skin (the body's largest organ) down to the bones of the human skeleton. Theywill learn about how food is digested, how the brain makes sense of the information brought in through the 5 senses, ...
Come to the Zoo and become a true wildlife biologist. Learn about researching in the field, and do a bit of research yourself! Meet one of our education animal ambassadors up close and learn about the tools it has to be successful in the wild. Explore the Zoo at night, ...
Where: OaklandCost: $45 per person
Come to Foothill Observatory and join us in the exploration of our Universe!Foothill Observatory Friday Evening ProgramCome to Foothill Observatory and join us in the exploration of our Universe!Foothill Observatory is open for public viewing every clear Friday evening from 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Visitors can view the wonders of the universe through the observatory's new computer-controlled 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Views ...
Join us at Muir Woods for our 11th annual International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD), a free event filled with activities and fun for all ages.IMBD is observed every year by hundred of thousands of people. Throughout the Western Hemisphere, people flock to parks, community centers, refuges, and town squares to ...
Sometimes it is the little things that count... like Plankton! We'll catch plankton with you from our dock, and take a closer look on our 10' screen in the Marine Science Center at these amazing creatures. Better than science fiction, we'll learn how these plants and animals survive and build ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: $20/Family, $10/Member Family
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
YSI Insect FairWalking sticks, silkworms and hissing cockroaches will be there, so why not you? At this family-oriented hands-on affair children and adults get an up-close look at live insects, spiders, scorpions, millipedes and more. YSI instructors and volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions and help you get hands-on. ...
Where: SaratogaCost: Free, donation requested, $6 park admission
See the world through the eyes of the mission blue butterfly, on this guided walk with park experts through different types of habitat that these endangered butterflies inhabit. With Susie Bennett (NPS Natural Resource Specialist), Claire Beyer (Parks Conservancy Project Coordinator and Resource Specialist), and Caroline ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
History of the Bay ModelJoin Ranger Thomas for an in-depth look into the history of the Bay Model from its beginning to the present. The program will look back at the purpose of the Bay Model and how it was instrumental in helping scientists understand the hydrology of the San Francisco Bay.
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Physics Fun for Kids 5+Dr. Gunjan Chakravarty, PH.D will wow and inspire your kids with Physics all around you! This fun workshop will show kids how they are experiencing physics everyday naturally. For ages 5 and up.
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Traveling Reptile Program by the East Bay VivariumThis one hour program features between 20 and 30 reptiles and other CREEPIES, CRAWLIES and CRITTERS (ex. Tarantula, frogs, lizards, snakes). They teach natural history, animal husbandry and safety.
Where: San JoseCost: Free
'SoLa: Louisiana Water Stories'Everywhere you look in Southern Louisiana (SoLa) there's water -- bayous, swamps, the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico. And everyone in Cajun Country has a water story, or two or three. SoLa's waterways are also home to the biggest economies in Louisiana -- a $70 billion a year oil ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Traveling Reptile Program by the East Bay VivariumThis one hour program features between 20 and 30 reptiles and other CREEPIES, CRAWLIES and CRITTERS (ex. Tarantula, frogs, lizards, snakes). They teach natural history, animal husbandry and safety.
Make Your MarkUse science to inspire art.The world around us provides a myriad of tools to make artistic marks on paper and canvas- from sticks to water, leaves to air. First we'll consider Exploratorium exhibits such as Aeolian Landscape and Icy Bodies as works of art. Then we'll try some less traditional ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $80/family ($55/family for members)
Take an easy stroll with Nike Veteran David Bridgman along Pacifica's Milagra Ridge--former gun emplacement, Nike missile site, and now the last stand for a quarter-sized endangered butterfly.Turn north (uphill) at the traffic light at the intersection of Sharp Park Road and College Drive, and meet at the gate.Leashed pets ...
Where: PacificaCost: Free
ALIENS VS: VAMPIRES: Adaptations in fish predation"There are times when life imitates art. Then there are times when life imitates science fiction," noted Carl Zimmer of the New York Times. "One of the most famous monsters in film history is the extraterrestrial beast of the "Alien" series. It slowly opened its glistening fangs to reveal a ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Animals of the Garden Children's WalkChildren, with their parent or chaperones, are invited on this journey to discover the many wonderful creatures living in the Garden. On our animal hunt, we will learn about newts, birds, butterflies, frogs, lizards, snakes and more! Hone your skills of observation and learn how plants and animals live together.
Where: BerkeleyCost: $10 each adult and child
Monday, 05/16/11
Laser Plasma Accelerators: From Dream Towards RealityAccelerators are essential tools of discovery and have many practical uses. More than three decades ago, lasers were proposed as power sources for driving novel accelerators based on plasmas as the accelerating medium. An overview will be presented of the basic principles of laser plasma accelerators (LPA) and of the ...
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is developing chalcogenide glass fibers for applications in the IR wavelength region from 1-12 µm. The chalcogenide glasses (i.e., glasses based on the elements S, Se, and Te) are transparent in the IR, possess low phonon energies, are chemically durable, and can be drawn into fiber. Purification techniques have been developed to make ...
This talk discusses a plan to power 100% of the world's energy for all purposes with wind, water, and sunlight (WWS) within the next 20-40 years. The talk starts by reviewing and ranking major proposed energy-related solutions to global warming, air pollution mortality, and energy security while considering other impacts ...
Our understanding of the universe is about to change. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest particle accelerator, is being used by physicists at CERN near Geneva, Switzerland, to discover the Higgs boson, which some have referred to as the God particle, since it is required for particles to ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, Free for Members, $7 Students
Attached: The Science of Romantic RelationshipsAccording to psychiatrist and neuroscientist Levine and social psychologist Heller, authors of "Attached", one's adult romantic partnerships have patterns similar to those one has as a child with one's parents. Our need for attachment, they conclude, is hardwired into our brains but each of us expresses it differently. Focusing on ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Free 3-Session Climate Action WorkshopPut the gloom and doom of climate change aside for a moment. Instead, imagine living in a resilient community where your bills are smaller, your air is clearer, and your personal and national security are protected. That world is possible, and the Ecology Center invites you to co-create it. Minimize ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Tuesday, 05/17/11
Entanglement and Quantum Algorithms with Superconducting CircuitsProf. Robert Schoelkopf of the Applied Physics Dept. of Yale University will give the Applied Physics/Physics colloquium entitled, "Entanglement and Quantum Algorithms with Superconducting Circuits."
Science fiction taught us that our Milky Way Galaxy abounds with habitable planets populated by advanced civilizations engaged in interstellar commerce and conflict. Back in our real universe, Earth-like planets and alien life have proved elusive. Has science fiction led us astray? NASA recently launched a new space-borne telescope, Kepler, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Breaking Trail: Mountains to Molecules to MotherhoodClimbing the world's highest mountains is an excellent model for achieving other extremely demanding objectives. Dr. Arlene Blum will share photos and stories from her scientific and policy work protecting our health and environment from toxins in consumer products, as well as from her expeditions among the world's highest and ...
Where: LafayetteCost: $5.00 (boxed meals available for $10 additional)
Dobsonian Telescope MakingBuild a telescope the Dobson way. You will learn about John Dobson and his reflector telescopes, as well as how these telescopes work. You'll learn the step-by-step method for grinding and polishing the mirror, building the mount, and assembling a complete telescope. Seeing the rings of Saturn, the moons of ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $170 + materials & supplies
Jan Hartley and Michael Yeargan, projection designer and set designer respectively for "The Ring of the Nibelung" talk with Carol Tang, earth scientist and director of Public Programs at the California Academy of Sciences, to provide perspectives on the intersection of science and the environment in Wagner's work and the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $18 General, $15 Members and Seniors
Explore the evening magic of Muir Woods, learning about the secret nightlife of an old-growth redwood forest.This special walk begins one hour before sunset and will conclude with the dark of night! We'll listen for owls, look for bats, and use our senses to guide us through the trails.This is an ...
Where: Mill ValleyCost: Free
Wednesday, 05/18/11
Free Wednesday at Cal AcademyFree admission is available to visitors on the third Wednesday of every month, through the generosity of The Bernard Osher Foundation. Admission is on a first come, first served basis, and early arrival is recommended due to the likelihood of high demand. Also, please note that final entry to the ...
20 years ago computer scientist Danny Hillis thought up a monument scale slow moving mechanical clock to serve as an icon to long-term thinking. 10 years ago a first prototype was completed and put into the Science Museum of London. 5 years ago the full size clock project began design. ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Mapping Spins and Light in SemiconductorsUnderstanding the interactions of electron spins and photons in semiconductors may enable the development of new devices with enhanced functionality and performance, such as spin-based devices that combine logic and storage and fast optical switches for information processing. In the first half of this talk, I'll describe recent time- and ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Science with Children's Discovery Museum: Dry IceJoin us, as the library is turned into a laboratory for young scientists. Children will investigate chemical reactions with dry ice as they solve a dilemma presented within a folktale. This event stimulates kids to explore the wonders of science. (For ages 5-12)
Health, both the health of individuals and of communities, has more to do with circumstances than with the availability of health care. Students interested in the health professions are generally unaware of this relationship, and schools of medicine spend most of their curriculum on health care, not health.Gabriel Garcia will ...
Where: SaratogaCost: $12 Members; $20 Non-Members; $7 Students
Multiple Universes & Cosmic Inflation-The Quest to Understand Our Universe (and Find Others)About a decade ago, scientists completed a great transformation in the understanding of our cosmos, establishing a broad and deep understanding of how the observable universe has evolved from a hot, dense state 13.7 billion years ago. Yet a second, even bigger transformation may now be taking place, because this ...
Come join the founder of Skepchick and co-host of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe for a night of trivia! You can play alone or, to improve your chance of winning awesome prizes, you can form a team of 5 or fewer.All questions will relate to science and skepticism, so ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $2/person
A Case for Public Health: Influenza PandemicsSpeaker: Dr. George Rutherford, director, UCSF Institute for Global Health, head of Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, UCSFRoom 041
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Early Universe and Galaxy DevelopmentJoin Brenda L. Frye, Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Physics at the University of San Francisco, a presentation on Early Universe and Galaxy Development.Professor Frye's research interests include galaxy formation and evolution, protoclusters, galactic structures, and high redshift galaxies. Using large ground- and space-based telescopes including the Hubble Space Telescope ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Nerd Nite SF #12: Audio Guide Revolution, Science of Magic, and Truth vs. MemoryWait-we've been nerding it up in San Francisco for a year now? My, how time flies when you're having fun! Come help us celebrate the first birthday of the best booze-addled, 3rd-Wednesday lecture series around, and get ready to have your mind blown, bent, and otherwise overhauled by a trio ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $8
Thursday, 05/19/11
TEDxHaywardTEDxHayward: The theme for this year's TEDxHayward is Peace Innovation where we cast a spotlight on how technology and emerging social behaviors and insights are promoting new paths to global peace. Please join the CSUEB Peace Innovation Lab, the Stanford Peace Innovation Lab and CSUEB Associated Students from 12-6 for ...
Where: HaywardCost: FREE (food and drinks as well!)
Traveling Reptile Program by the East Bay VivariumThis one hour program features between 20 and 30 reptiles and other CREEPIES, CRAWLIES and CRITTERS (ex. Tarantula, frogs, lizards, snakes). They teach natural history, animal husbandry and safety.
Where: San JoseCost: Free
THE MICROWAVE THERMAL ROCKETIn 1924, K.E. Tsiolkovsky wrote "there is a third and most attractive method of acquiring velocity. This consists in the transmission of energy from the outside, from Earth." He envisaged a "parallel beam of shortwave electromagnetic rays" directed from the ground to power spaceships into orbit at a future time ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
America and The Pill - A History of Promise, Peril, and LiberationFifty years ago, the FDA announced approval for the birth control pill. The pill quickly became the most popular form of contraception in the country and on of the best-selling drugs in the U.S. It was hailed as a magic bullet that would halt the global population explosion, eradicate war ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Community Solar is Taking RootA national movement is brewing to develop an alternative to the big corporate central-station renewable power model. It's called Community Solar and it's embodied in many local cooperative/collective solar initiatives from coast to coast. Come learn about this movement from representatives of three Community Solar projects: Dan Rosen: Solar Mosaics; ...
Where: OaklandCost: Small donation requested
'Call of Life: Facing the Mass Extinction'Earth Island Institute along with Species Alliance and the Video Project will be presenting the East-Bay premiere of the award-winning documentary Call of Life: Facing the Mass Extinction, the first feature documentary to investigate the growing threat to Earth's life support systems from this unprecedented loss of biodiversity. Through interviews ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $10-20 General, half price for youth
A Tale of Three Cities: The Quest for Energy Efficient Street Lighting As energy and maintenance costs begin to sky rocket, outdoor lighting has recently been targeted as a huge potential in cost reductions. In addition, the impacts of outdoor lighting on circadian cycle disruptions, nocturnal animal habitat, light trespass and sky glow have also been hot topics. Can current lighting designs ...
Amanitas: From Deadly to DeliciousBAMS co-founder Debbie Viess will bring her fascination for amanitas alive in this richly illustrated, informative and entertaining presentation. Amanitas are some of the most feared, as well as some of the most coveted of all edible mushrooms. Come learn about the realities of this often maligned but never boring ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Who Killed off the Oysters of SF Bay? Marine Biologist, Andrew Cohen, will talk about the once-abundant SF Bay's native oysters, with excursions into history, biology,, geology, and archaeology. The answers are not what people expected.
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. ...
Where: OaklandCost: $60
Come to Foothill Observatory and join us in the exploration of our Universe!Foothill Observatory Friday Evening ProgramCome to Foothill Observatory and join us in the exploration of our Universe!Foothill Observatory is open for public viewing every clear Friday evening from 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Visitors can view the wonders of the universe through the observatory's new computer-controlled 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Views ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost:
Saturday, 05/21/11
Maker Faire Bay Area 2011The ultimate 21st century county fair, Maker Faire Bay Area 2011 mashes items possessing an On/Off switch with old-fashioned human curiosity, resulting in a round-up of robots, musical Tesla coils, fresh-squeezed sunflower oil, futuristic chariot races, antique pinball machines, super-sized Lego projects, and more neon, flame, and brightly gaseous glows than ...
Social insects dominate many terrestrial ecosystems by forming sophisticated and cooperative colonies. One species, the invasive Argentine ant, has taken this sociality to an extreme – forming massive "supercolonies" across hundreds, or sometimes thousands, of kilometers. Recent studies using synthetic ant pheromones, genomics, behavioral experiments, and old-fashioned field-work have reveal ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Saturday Night StargazingSee the Moon, Planets, Stars, Galaxies and More* Stargaze through astronomical telescopes* Ask questions and talk with amateur astronomers* Learn how to use a star map to find constellations* Share in the wonder of the universe with your friendsStargazing is always weather permitting-be sure to dress warmly. Foggy and overcast ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Sunday, 05/22/11
'Vanishing of the Bees'The documentary feature film "Vanishing of the Bees" will be shown in the Great Hall of the Education Center at the San Francisco Zoo in three screenings, at 10 am, noon and 2 pm. Vanishing of the Bees takes a piercing investigative look at the economic, political and spiritual implications of the worldwide disappearance of the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free Admission to Film
Maker Faire Bay Area 2011The ultimate 21st century county fair, Maker Faire Bay Area 2011 mashes items possessing an On/Off switch with old-fashioned human curiosity, resulting in a round-up of robots, musical Tesla coils, fresh-squeezed sunflower oil, futuristic chariot races, antique pinball machines, super-sized Lego projects, and more neon, flame, and brightly gaseous glows than ...
Where: San MateoCost: $5-30
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. Advanced reservations required.
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Monday, 05/23/11
CITRIS Workshop: Berkeley -- INRIA -- Stanford Partnership ProgramThe objectives of this workshop are two-fold: first, to present the current state of scientific collaborations and second to work on proposal for future ambitious joint projects.See the website for registration and workshop agenda.
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Clean Cars and Advanced Biofuels:How to Cut Our Oil Dependence in Half in 20 YearsOnce again, the nation is gripped by spiking gas prices. A billion dollars are being sent out of the country each day to buy oil, the vast majority being burned in our cars and trucks. For decades, the US has tried and failed to reduce our dependence on petroleum. Why ...
More than 300 energy experts collaborated over the last four years on the Global Energy Assessment (GEA). The Report, forthcoming in Summer 2011, aims at providing the technical and scientific basis for the evaluation of social, economic, technological, and environmental challenges linked to energy. This talk focuses on findings of ...
Multimode fiber (MMF) is widely used in short-reach systems, such as data-center networks. Random perturbations cause coupling between modes having different group delays (modal dispersion), strongly limiting bit rate ´ distance products (to about 10 Gbit/s ´ 300 m in current systems). For decades, modal coupling and dispersion have been modeled using incoherent power coupling models. By using a coherent ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Tuesday, 05/24/11
CITRIS Workshop: Berkeley -- INRIA -- Stanford Partnership ProgramThe objectives of this workshop are two-fold: first, to present the current state of scientific collaborations and second to work on proposal for future ambitious joint projects.See the website for registration and workshop agenda.
Join us for an extraordinary day of activities, demonstrations, and a special appearance by a member of the San Francisco Giants. Don't miss it!
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
Extreme Data Intensive Computing in AstrophysicsProf. Alex Szalay of Johns Hopkins University will give the Physics/Applied Physics colloquium entitled, "Extreme Data Intensive Computing in Astrophysics."
Where: StanfordCost: Free
High Tech Robotics for Consumer ApplicationsThe Neato Robotics XV-11 is a high tech robotic vacuum cleaner that competes favorably with traditional manual upright vacuums. It is a fully automatic unit that vacuums your house, including handling the tough problems of rugs and pet hair. The XV-11 is one of the leaders in the new wave ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: $10 General, IEEE members varies
In 1998 Lawrence Diller's best selling book, Running on Ritalin, raised the consciousness of a nation that was just beginning to widely medicate their children for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Now thirteen years later, Diller, a behavioral/developmental pediatrician, returns to ten of the children who were featured in the first ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Particle Accelerator on a ChipAccelerators are huge and expensive, tubes miles long that produce high energy particles to smash protons and make intense X-ray beams. 21st-century technology has taken us from the room sized ENIAC to microprocessors that fit in your pocket. Can it do the same for particle accelerators? We ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Silicon Valley SIGGRAPH: Working on KinectJune Bonus Meeting of the Silicon Valley Chapter ACM SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group in Graphics)Thursday June 2, 20117:30pm, Doors open, drinks, snacks8:00pm, Presentation"Working with Kinect"Johnny Lee, Rapid Evaluator, Google, Inc.Location: Intel 3600 Juliette Lane Santa Clara, CAABSTRACTWorking on KinectIn the first 60 days after launch, Kinect for Xbox 360 shipped ...
Pity poor Mimas! The "that's no moon" moon of Saturn ought to be as famous as its sibling Enceladus. All other things being equal, Mimas should be more strongly tidally heated, but this is clearly not the case. This talk will review the latest Cassini findings for both moons, including ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
History of the Bay ModelJoin Ranger Thomas for an in-depth look into the history of the Bay Model from its beginning to the present. The program will look back at the purpose of the Bay Model and how it was instrumental in helping scientists understand the hydrology of the San Francisco Bay.
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Traveling Reptile Program by the East Bay VivariumThis one hour program features between 20 and 30 reptiles and other CREEPIES, CRAWLIES and CRITTERS (ex. Tarantula, frogs, lizards, snakes). They teach natural history, animal husbandry and safety.
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Quantum Opportunities in Gravitational Wave DetectorsProf. Nergis Mavalvala will give a special seminar entitled, "Quantum Opportunities in Gravitational Wave Detectors." Interferometric gravitational wave detectors are poised to launch a new era of gravitational wave astronomy and unprecedented tests of general relativiety. These detectors also provide opportunities for studying quantum phenomena on unprecedented scales.
Where: StanfordCost: Free
How the Languages We Speak Shape the Way We Think Do people who speak different languages think differently? Does learning new languages change how you think? Are some thoughts unthinkable without language? Boroditsky reviews data from experiments around the world that reveal the powerful and often surprising ways that the languages we speak shape the ways we think.Lera Boroditsky, Assistant ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 standard, $8 members, $7 students
The Visualization of data is one of our most powerful tools. It enables a remarkable degree of data compression and let's us see important relationships or interconnections that we might otherwise miss. Visualization is relevant to every sector of the economy.The one-day event "From Data Collection to Display: How Visualization ...
In the past decade, organic semiconductors have shown promising applications for flexible and large-area electronics, such as displays, touchscreens, electronic skins, and etc. Among a variety of device components in these applications, organic field-effect transistors are the most essential to process electrical signals. This presentation will include a general introduction ...
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sleep but Were Afraid to AskWidely regarded as "The Father of Sleep Medicine", Dr Dement will review the importance of sleep and the consequences of sleep deprivation. Three major sleep disorders, insomnia, narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), will be discussed in depth, including best treatment practices. He will also share his personal challenges with ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
The Future of Rare Earth Elements Will these high-tech industry elements continue in short supply? by Keith Long, Mineral Recourse AnalystRare earth elements provide critical material for flat-panel display screens, cell phones, electric cars, windmills, etc.Although relatively abundant in nature, deposits of rare earth elements that are economic to mine are uncommonChina produces 96% of the ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Unweaving a Rainbow: The Physics of Iridesence'In this lecture we will explore how the physical concepts of reflection, refraction, and interference of light interact with microcsope materials to produce phenomena like rainbows. This lecture will be replete with live simulations of wave optics, as well as hands on microsopy of minerals and insects.
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Silicon Valley SIGGRAPH: Morpheme Advanced Animation SystemMorpheme is a game animation engine and tool-chain targeting in particular high quality character animation. A key benefit is that it moves the runtime animation authoring process away from code or text files and into the hands of animators using the morpheme:connect graphical UI. The morpheme:connect application presents the user ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: Free to Members & Students, $5 others
Friday, 05/27/11
DSSS: Quantifying Surface Water-Groundwater Exchange Historical failure to recognise the connection between surface water and groundwater and to manage river and groundwater systems conjunctively has led to over allocation of water resources. Examples of river systems that have been depleted by groundwater pumping, for example, are well documented.Although conjunctive management of surface water and groundwater ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Come to Foothill Observatory and join us in the exploration of our Universe!Foothill Observatory Friday Evening ProgramCome to Foothill Observatory and join us in the exploration of our Universe!Foothill Observatory is open for public viewing every clear Friday evening from 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Visitors can view the wonders of the universe through the observatory's new computer-controlled 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Views ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost:
Saturday, 05/28/11
Hack the Future!Are you a 5th-12th grade student who wants to learn more about computers than they teach you in school? Then it's time to start teaching yourself!Hack the Future is a one-day party / hackathon for youth, to show you what it's like to be a hacker and see if it's ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Quantifed Self ConferenceQuantified Self 2011 is a conference for users and tool makers interested in self-tracking systems. It will be a "working meeting" for the QS community (14 groups worldwide), where we will gather, inspire, and learn from each other as we share and collaborate on self-tracking projects. We will also explore ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: $299-$399
Galilee Harbor Wetlands ReturnsLearn the history of the disappearing wetlands of San Francisco Bay and the dedicated people working hard to restore them. This program includes a short hike to the Galilee Harbor Wetland Restoration site.
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. ...
Where: OaklandCost: $60
SkeptiCal - Skeptics in the PubSkeptiCal - Skeptics in the PubJoin a bunch of rational, reasonable, skeptics the night before the SkeptiCal Conference for a special SkeptiCal Skeptics in the Pub! Enjoy rational discourse and a drink or two with your fellow skeptics and speakers from the next days event! It will be held at the Berkeley ...
Where: BerkeleyCost:
SMCAS Star Party Come out and bring the kids for a mind expanding look at the universe.Setup of telescopes begins around sunset, with observations beginning about 1 hour later.
The SkeptiCal 2011 Conference has been scheduled! It will be held at the Berkeley Doubletree on May 29, 2011. Tickets will be available for purchase Monday, March 21. Last year's conference sold out past capacity, so please buy your tickets as soon as possible to ensure a seat!Speakers this year ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $45 - $85
Quantifed Self ConferenceQuantified Self 2011 is a conference for users and tool makers interested in self-tracking systems. It will be a "working meeting" for the QS community (14 groups worldwide), where we will gather, inspire, and learn from each other as we share and collaborate on self-tracking projects. We will also explore ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: $299-$399
Are we Part of an Interstellar Nursery?An investigation of the birth and death of stars and the theory that interstellar chemistry is seeding the development of life in the cosmos.The May 29th program features SETI@home's senior scientist, Dan Werthimer. The program will begin with a brief primer on the birth and death of stars and an overview ...
Where: PetalumaCost: Free with admission to exhibit
Tuesday, 05/31/11
The regulation of foraging activity in harvester ant coloniesAnt colonies operate without central control and resemble large distributed systems. An ant's behavior depends on its recent experience of brief interactions with other ants. In the course of a brief antennal contact, one ant can assess the task of the other using odor cues. A long-term study of the ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Visualization of Quantum MechanicsProf. Wilson Ho of UC Irvine will give the Physics/Applied Physics colloquium entitled, "Visualization of Quantum Mechanics."
Recognized as one of America's most distinguished scientific experts on aging and longevity, Bortz believes that the defects of the American health-care system threaten the stability of the nation. He argues that the financial interests of biotech and drug companies have eroded the values of the medical profession and placed ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $12 Members, $7 Students
Wednesday, 06/01/11
Science for Kids: Snow Day!Join us for a snow day at the library. Using instant snow, students will experiment with the properties of a polymer, compare real snow to instant snow, and discover how the elements (water, salt) affect instant snow (for ages 5-12).
This presentation will describe the basic large-scale and local climatology of California, the mechanisms of change, and the uncertainties associated with climate model simulations and analysis. As part of our role in the 2010 California Climate Assessment, sixteen Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change global climate models were downscaled to develop ...
Where: AlbanyCost: Free
'Earth: The Climate Wars -- Episode I: The Battle Begins'A film by Iain Stewart. In the 1970s the world seemed to be falling apart. From acid rain to overpopulation, ecological concerns were at the fore. And it was at this time that climate change first became a hot political issue. But it wasn't global warming that frightened scientists, it ...
For untold centuries, people have looked to the distant skies in search of life -- be it God-like or heavenly, demonic or the whole gamut of bizarre extraterrestrials imagined. Today, for the first time in human history, science is getting close to answering the eternal question of what lies beyond, ...
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 ecosystem thrive. Tour includes a short hike and is best suited for ...
It has been said: both computer scientists and physicists do not understand time, but at least physicists admit it. The notion of simultaneity is a widely used and yet deeply misunderstood concept in computer science. The word "simultaneous", its derivatives and equivalent phrases are common, yet they carry conceptual baggage ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Cafe InquiryMeet up with rationalists, skeptics, and freethinkers south of San Francisco. Beers and Books is a social event co-hosted by the Center for Inquiry|San Francisco. We'll meet at Cafe Borrone http://www.cafeboronne.com/ between Kepler's Books and the British Banker's Club! Look for the black balloon.
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
explOratorium After Dark with DBR & Elan VytalDBR/Elan VytalFeaturing a Special Performance by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) and Elan Vytal (aka DJ Scientific) This After Dark features the music of Haitian-American composer/violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR). DBR's innovative works range from orchestral scores, electronica, and chamber pieces to music for theater, film, and modern dance. For tonight's ...
The fight to restore salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest involves billions of dollars in public funds and politicking all the way up to the White House. This twisted story is captured in a new documentary airing on PBS this spring. Also this spring, a federal judge is expected to ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, Free Members, $7 Students
Ralph Merkle, the director of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, will be speaking and leading a discussion on the potential of life extension and present/future capabilities of medicine.Room M114
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Beyond Kepler: Imaging Exo-EarthsIs there another Earth out there? People have been asking this question for over two thousand years, and we finally stand on the verge of answering it. The Kepler mission (which was featured at our April meeting) will likely find the first ever Earth-sized planet around the habitable zone of ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Come to Foothill Observatory and join us in the exploration of our Universe!Foothill Observatory Friday Evening ProgramCome to Foothill Observatory and join us in the exploration of our Universe!Foothill Observatory is open for public viewing every clear Friday evening from 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Visitors can view the wonders of the universe through the observatory's new computer-controlled 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Views ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost:
Saturday, 06/04/11
Discovery Eco-VoyageSummer will be an amazing time to discover the bay!Join us as we take to the seas to explore all the funny, strange and wonderful things that swim, flip, and fly beneath the surface of San Francisco Bay. For this voyage, we will be departing from our dock in ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: $40 General, $10 Members
Solar ObservingRequest a parking pass from the Park Ranger at the entrance booth and/or read and adhere to the parks admission policies posted at the gate. (You will be charged the "Day Use" fee of $8.00 and receive a parking pass.) Failure to do so will result in a parking fine.
If you have ever wished to learn more about the amazing sharks, crabs, fish and sea stars from the Bay and nearshore ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: Free
Mt Tam Astronomy Program - The Milky Way as a Dark Matter LaboratoryImmerse yourself in the universe! FREE public lecture "The Milky Way as a Dark Matter Laboratory" by Dr. Michael Kuhlen of the Theoretical Astrophysics Center in the Mountain Theatre on Mt Tam at 8:30pm followed by telescope viewing in the Rock Spring Parking Lot. Sponsored by the Mount Tamalpais State ...
Where: Mill ValleyCost: FREE
Public Space Observing NightFor the evening events you are invited to join us as early as dusk, but you may choose to arrive up to two hours after twilight ends and still enjoy our full program and find the crowd smaller at the later time. The activities on a public night include an ...
Where: KenwoodCost: $3 age 18 and over, Free under 18
SMCAS Star Party Come out and bring the kids for a mind expanding look at the universe.Setup of telescopes begins around sunset, with observations beginning about 1 hour later.
Join us for a workshop that will focus on the story telling methods of conservation photography, botany in, on and around the Academy, as well as the digital darkroom. The day will be broken into two parts with the first part to take place in a classroom environment where we ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $50 General, $40 Members
Do we live in a friendly universe?Assuming life exists in other places, does love extend there also? A look at the controversy regarding whether or not it is wise to advertise our existence on earth to possible "others".A Primer on SETI, the June 5th program considers the controversy regarding whether or not it is wise to ...
Where: PetalumaCost: Free with admission to exhibit
Monday, 06/06/11
Optogenetics: development and applicationNeuroscientists are trying to gain a better understanding of severe mental disorders such as depression, autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. Optogenetics is a precise new way to analyze the brain circuits underpinning mammalian behavior. As a bioengineering research technique, it may be able to obtain insights into how nervous cells ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Big Thinking: The Power of NanoscienceBerkeley Lab scientists reveal how nanoscience will bring us cleaner energy, faster computers, and improved medicine.
Anyone can help discover new stuff in Galaxy Zoo- but why do people bother in the first place? Dr. Raddick responds with some unexpected insight into why people donate their time for open science and what they have discovered through the process. More than 250,000 people have taken part in ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $6 Members, $10 Seniors
Tuesday, 06/07/11
The Future of Innovation and Consumer ElectronicsFrom broadband spectrum to HDTV, from gaming to Hollywood and social media, innovation is happening through industry, entrepreneurs and technology advances. How is consumer electronics driving innovation in the U.S. and abroad? What lessons can be learned from the electronics industry that can be applied to other segments of the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $8 Members, $7 Students
The frontier of biology these days is the genetics and ecology of bacteria, and the frontier of THAT is what's being learned about viruses. "The science of virology is still in its early, wild days," writes Carl Zimmer. "Scientists are discovering viruses faster than they can make sense of them." ...
