Autonomous navigation in complex environments with a micro-aerial vehicleIn this talk, I will discuss approaches that enable a quadrotor to autonomously navigate and explore complex indoor and outdoor environments. Micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs), and in our case quadrotors, offer exceptional 3D mobility over ground platforms, making them particularly suitable for search-and-rescue missions in which the vehicle must be able ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
By-product Becomes ProductIntersection for the Arts presents By-product Becomes Product, an innovative cross-disciplinary project using excess wood waste to explore safer alternatives to working with toxic material. Featuring lead artist Christine Lee (sculpture, furniture), U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Products Laboratory (FPL, the country's leading wood research institute) Research Engineer John F. ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Climate Change: Our New RealityWe'll put aside politics and take a hard look at what's really going on with our world's climate this talk and discussion will cover:What is the science telling us?What is our new reality?How do we talk about it?What can people do?Speaker: Wen Lee, Alliance for Climate EducationRoom 60
Dr. Werthimer will discuss the possibility of life in the universe and the search for radio and optical signals from other civilizations. Berkeley's SETI@home project analyzes data from the world's largest radio telescope using desktop computers from volunteers in 226 countries. SETI@home participants have contributed millions of years of computer ...
What's up in Power Conversion for the Smart GridThe ugly truth is that over 10% of the electricity in the generated in the US is wasted in converting power from the form in which it is delivered to the form necessary to be consumed. Power conversion is ubiquitous from laptop adapters to dataserver power supplies, Photovoltaic and hybrid ...
Cyberspace technology often grants us (or others) control over our self-representations. At the click of a button, one can alter our avatars' appearance and behavior. Indeed, in virtual reality we can often appear to others as ideal in stature and weight, what ever we want in terms of age and ...
Population genetics, quantitative genetics, life history theory and population dynamics are disparate, specialist fields. However, they all focus on a particular aspect of population biology. In recent work Tim Coulson has shown how these fields can be formally linked by modelling the dynamics of character distributions. In this talk he ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
February LASER EventThe LASER series began in 2008 in San Francisco under the aegis of Leonardo ISAST as a local forum for presenting art and science projects underway in the Bay Area. The LASERs now alternate between USF and Stanford, with a parallel series in DC at the National Academy of Sciences. ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
How Galaxies were Cooked from the Primordial SoupOne of the great mysteries of the night sky is why it's mostly dark, only punctuated by pinpoints of light in the form of stars and galaxies. The lumpiness of today's universe is a fundamental characteristic that took billions of years to grow. Dr. Faber will review the prevailing "Cold ...
A new class of pesticides, known as reduced risk pesticides, has been increasingly used in agroecological systems. While reduced risk pesticides have demonstrated reduced health risks to humans, their effects on natural enemy/predator populations is unclear. In fact, with the increased use of reduced risk pesticide, there have been increased ...
Where: AlbanyCost: Free
A RATIONAL FUTURE: Why A better world tomorow requires better cognition todayFour decades of cognitive science have confirmed that homo sapiens are far from "rational animals." Scientists have amassed a daunting number of ways that our brains' fast-and-frugal judgment heuristics fail in modern contexts for which they weren't adapted, or stymie our attempts to be happy and effective. Hence the project ...
Before smartphones and iPads, before the Internet or the personal computer, a misfit group of technophiles, blind teenagers, hippies, and outlaws figured out how to hack the world's largest machine: the telephone system. Phil Lapsley will trace the birth of the telephone, the rise of AT&T's monopoly, the discovery of ...
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. Younger Lagoon is excellent for bird watching and seeing animals that call the reserve's intact coastal dunes home, such as: bobcats, foxes, seabirds, raptors, and ...
Microwave Sensor Technology for Advancement of Nanoscale MeasurementFor the past two decades, Nanotechnology has become one of the frequently used buzzwords that superficially connected science to the popular culture, promising advancements that can change our lives. However, the sluggish progress in delivering such promises is partly due to the challenges presented in Nanoscale measurements. This presentation proposes ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Cafe InquiryMeet up with rationalists, skeptics, and freethinkers south of San FranciscoCafe Inquiry is a social event hosted by the Center for Inquiry|San Francisco. We'll meet at Café Borrone http://www.cafeborrone.com/ between Kepler's Books and the British Banker's Club! Look for the black balloon.For more information or if you have questions please ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Living Carbon Neutral: A Family Shows the WayWe talk about achieving energy independence as a country. We talk about being more energy efficient, being less dependent on fossil fuels, increasing renewable energy, and being carbon-neutral. But what can we do as individual families-it just seems too hard and too expensive. Dr. Indradeep Ghosh and his family live ...
Where: San JoseCost: $6.50
The Aesthetics of Necessity: Climate Change, Infrastructure and the SublimeProfessor Kristina Hill lectures internationally on urban design and ecology, and her current book project is focused on adapting urban waterfronts to climate change. She received her Ph.D. from Harvard University, and was a member of the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Washington in Seattle, ...
Virtual Colonoscopy: What is Its Role in Diagnosing Cancer?Virtual Colonoscopy is a medical imaging procedure which uses computed tomography (CT), sometimes called a CAT scan, and advanced computer software to produce two- and three-dimensional images of the colon that can be viewed on a video screen.The major reason for performing virtual colonoscopy is to screen for polyps or ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Lecture with Gary TaubesLeading science writer, NY Times contributor and co-founder of Nutrition Science Initiative, Gary Taubes will challenge us to consider: What constitutes a healthy diet? What are the politics behind nutritional guidelines? How do we make sense of conflicting recommendations? What should we eat if we want to remain lean and ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $10-$15.
Friday, 02/08/13
From Bench to Society: Law and Ethics at the Frontier of Genomic TechnologyThis is an all day event put on by the Hastings Law Journal and the UCSF / UC Hastings Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy.Schedule:8:00 – 9:00 Registration and Breakfast9:00 – 9:15 Welcome 9:15 – 10:00 The State of the Science: Kelly Ormond, Stanford University 10:00 – 10:15 Break10:15 – 12:00 Panel I: Predictions of Future Health ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
SF Bay Area 3rd Annual STEAM ColloquiumFull STEAM Ahead: Pathways to the FutureThe STEAM Colloquium will:Address critical issues in implementing STEAM educationShowcase best practices in STEAM educationBuild leadership capacity for educatorsProvide opportunities to develop learning communities throughout the regionThe STEAM Colloquium is open to all who want to impact students with STEAM, including:Pre-K to 12 educators, ...
Where: San RamonCost: $40
Variability, reference frames, and generalization in motor learningThe ability to control movement is perhaps *the* central function of the nervous system, and the ability to optimize this control through learning can be absolutely essential for successful movement. The human motor system, in particular, has a remarkable capacity for adaptive control. I will present some recent insights into ...
Robots, Embodiment, and Mediated VirtualityRobots and other embodied systems can be seen as mediators between the real and the virtual, influencing our expectations of the possibilities and limitations of virtual worlds. In some cases, technologies designed specifically for virtual interactivity have spilled over into our exchanges with other places not normally considered "virtual": distant ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Submetering Solutions for the Smart Home and the Smart GridThe global electric power infrastructure is undergoing a dramatic change from a load-following architecture to one that requires improved control and monitoring of the energy usage. Integration of inherently intermittent renewable resources requires improved ability to offset demand in order to leverage this intermittency. Demand Response (DR) initiative as well ...
Green Friday Pot Luck: California is getting frackedThe Sierra Club's Northern Alameda County Group will be hosting its monthly zero-waste Green Friday Potluck with speaker and discussion.Fracking, a process that uses toxic chemicals and water to extract oil and gas, is well underway in California and is slated for massive expansion. Fracking has been shown to cause ...
This event features free activities at the Visitor Center. Visitors will enjoy over 25 educational exhibits, a free trout pond for young anglers, a fly fishing demonstration pond with tips from the pros, live steelhead display, art for kids to do, and a chance to try your hand at archery!On hand with ...
Where: GeyservilleCost: Free
A visit to the Mono Recesses and a satisfying walk over the Mono DivideJoin us for our popular series of free public lectures on a broad array of topics related to plants and natural history. Named in honor of its founder, the Wayne Roderick Lecture Series takes place in the Visitor Center of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden. These illustrated presentations are enjoyable for ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Neotropical Raptors and the Solitary Eagle ProjectEscape the gloom of winter and imagine yourself in the neotropical forests of Central America during this special presentation at the EcoCenter. Join us for a lecture and slideshow with Ryan Philips, the founder and Executive Director of the Belize Raptor Research Institute.Nearly half of Belize is protected through parks, ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Low Tide WalkSome years we find only a few perfect Saturdays when the moon and sun allign to let us play a good low tide. 2013 is different. We have LOTS of chances! But beware, it looks like 2014 will have very few opportunities, so make this the year to explore tide ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: $20 General, $10 Members
San Mateo County Astronomical Society Star PartyThe City of San Carlos Department of Parks and Recreation and the San Mateo County Astronomical Society have open Star Parties. These events are held in Crestview Park, San Carlos California. Dates and Sunset times are below. Note that inclement weather (clouds, excessive wind and showers) will cause the event ...
Where: San CarlosCost: Free
Sunday, 02/10/13
Oliver Salt Works HikeHidden among the salt ponds is one of the East Bay's most intriguing historical sites. The Don Edwards Refuge and the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project are sponsoring this hike to the old Oliver Salt Works within the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve. We'll be walking into an area of the reserve not yet open to ...
Winter birding in the Marin Headlands offers birds from near and far. Explore the trail around Rodeo Lagoon with docent Jane Haley to discover which birds spend the winter in our mild climate.Meet at the Marin Headlands Visitor Center. Bring binoculars, field guides.For ages 8 and up; no pets.Limited to ...
Where: Marin HeadlandsCost: Free
Marine Science Sunday- Love is in the Air: Marine Mammal Parents and PupsIn preparation for Valentine's Day, this month we celebrate love under the sea with Love is in the Air: Marine Mammal Parents and Pups in a fun, educational way for both kids and adults. We recommend teaming our free classroom program (offered at 12pm and again at 2pm) with a ...
Where: SausalitoCost: FREE
Darwin Day: Science Denial, from Climate Change to EvolutionMinda Berbeco, our speaker for Kol Hadash's Darwin Day program has a PhD in Biology from Tufts University. An expert on climate change and terrestrial systems, she has taught, written, and presented talks on how the biological world will change with global warming, and how science deniers are impacting the national ...
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. Younger Lagoon is excellent for bird watching and seeing animals that call the reserve's intact coastal dunes home, such as: bobcats, foxes, seabirds, raptors, and ...
The disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste in a deep geologic repository is a challenge which has stymied the United States and many other nations since the dawn of the commercial nuclear power industry a half-century ago. The scientific community has consistently endorsed deep geologic repositories ever since ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Stanford Women in SpaceThe term "astronaut" derives from the Greek words meaning "space sailor," and refers to all who have been launched as crew-members aboard NASA spacecraft bound for orbit and beyond. In the 50-year history of the NASA space program, only 45 of the 525 astronauts have been women. Seven of these ...
Will Allen - son of a sharecropper, former professional basketball player and ex-corporate sales leader - is now CEO of Growing Power, a farm and community food center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He began by teaching people to apply old-fashioned farming principles to vacant city lots and abandoned commercial buildings and ...
Al Gore: Former Vice President & Author of 'The Future: The Six Drivers of Global Change'Former Vice president Al Gore provides an in-depth assessment of the six critical drivers of global change. Bringing together his extensive global policy and environmental knowledge, Gore identifies these emerging forces that are reshaping our world. From digital communications to advancements in energy systems, agriculture, and transportation, hear more about ...
Surface exploration of small solar system bodies: challenges and prospectsIn recent years, space agencies worldwide have shown an increasing interest in the exploration of small solar system bodies. Of special importance is direct access to their surfaces, as it allows precise characterization of soil properties and surface physics, and, in turn, holds the potential to lead to a much ...
Memories, Lost & Found: Engaging Families, Caregivers & Those with Memory LossRita Ghatak will begin the lecture by discussing the difficulties of cognitive impairment including a brief definition of dementia, common clinical features, as well as the concerns and stress experienced by caregivers and families. She will focus on memory, psycho-social and economic burdens, and the importance of memory and engagement ...
Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar of Stanford University takes up complex and timely questions at the intersection of law and society. Who has the power to design federal agencies, and who sets priorities when deciding on the most urgent security problems facing our country? What are the implications for U.S. science policy? Cuéllar explores ...
End of the Line is an award-winning documentary that takes a close look at the impact of our global love affair with fish as food, examining the decline of fisheries around the world and potential consumer- and policy-driven solutions to reverse the losses. After our screening of the film, a ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $5 General, Free for Members
Combating Cyber Attacks: Using a 288-core serverTilera processors provide a standard Linux platform, which can process very high throughput network traffic. With cyber attacks becoming more frequent, organized and costly in the damage they inflict on governments, businesses, and critical infrastructure, there is a significant need for hardware and software that can process live network traffic ...
Craig Lewis, Executive Director of Clean Coalition, will discuss why local energy generation is more reliable, more affordable and supports local economies - and how we can accelerate the transition to local energy systems.Join Acterra for a series of exciting conversations focused on different solutions to protecting our climate by ...
