Software-Defined Networking at the Crossroads SDN was developed over five years ago, amidst much hope and naivete. In this talk I will discuss both SDN's past and future, highlighting the follies of our youth and outlining the challenges ahead. Given Stanford's role in the advent of SDN, I recognize that this talk is a massive ...
Being a Mars Rover: What It's Like on the Surface of MarsOn Aug. 6, 2012, many people around the world gathered around TVs and computers to await news of NASA's latest mission to Mars. The complex, yet flawless landing of the rover Curiosity led to worldwide acclaim. What has NASA's youngest robot been up to since then, and what has it ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: Free ($3 Parking)
Chroniclers of Technology: An Evening with David Kirkpatrick, Steven Levy & John Markoff David Kirkpatrick, Steven Levy and John Markoff are three of the most prolific tech writers in the country and have been friends for almost 30 years. Levy is a senior writer for Wired Magazine and the author of seven books, many of them bestsellers, on everything from computer hackers and ...
Throughout the history of Homo sapiens, skin pigmentation has been a highly labile trait, and similar skin tones have evolved independently numerous times. Skin pigmentation results from an evolutionary compromise between the conflicting demands of protection against ultraviolet radiation and production of vitamin D, and represents one of the best ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, 10 Seniors, Free for members
Brian J. Ford 'The First Microscopes: What Could They Truly Reveal?'If you have had the pleasure and privilege of hearing Brian Ford speak, you know that he always surprises his audience with his insightful presentations on science, and microscopy in particular. We have invited Brian to speak about the astonishing views that early microscopes presented to scientists of the ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free
Multiple Universes & Cosmic Inflation - The Quest to Understand Our Universe and Find OthersAbout a decade ago, scientists established a broad and deep understanding of how the observable universe has evolved from a hot, dense state 13.7 billion years ago. This understanding points to an early epoch during which the universe expanded at a stupendous rate to create the vast amount of space we ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Thursday, 05/16/13
STEM Speakers Series: Gaming/RoboticsAttendees will have the opportunity to hear about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) classroom integration from experts in the field as well as use the STEM Center equipment for hands-on exploration.Each night the agenda is: 3-4pm Open House, 4-5pm Speakers Series, 5-6pm Open HouseSpeakers: Angela Sveda, Rolston Middle School; ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: Free
BIGBOSS: A STAGE IV DARK ENERGY REDSHIFT SURVEYBigBOSS is a Stage IV dark energy experiment based on proven techniques to study the large-scale mass distribution of the universe and to provide experimental data for validation of competing cosmology models. BigBOSS will search for stalled baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) waves, remnants of the early universe, which serve as ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Built for Speed NightLifeSatisfy your need for speed at the NightLife premiere of the Academy's latest exhibit, Built for Speed, which explores what it takes for animals and boats to be fast in fluid. Take part in a Q&A with the designers behind the boats of ORACLE TEAM USA, the America's Cup defending ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $10 Members
'Who Owns the Future?'A Renaissance Man for the 21st century, Jaron Lanier (You Are Not A Gadget) is a computer scientist, composer, visual artist, musician, and author who writes on numerous topics, including high-technology business, the social impact of technology, the philosophy of consciousness and information, Internet politics, and the future of humanism. ...
Learn the many ways to make color-from neon signs to oil slicks to rainbows and more. You'll learn all about light, how it's made, and how it interacts. Ron will demonstrate many of the concepts, and you'll take away materials to build your own spectroscope. You'll see color in a ...
Did you know that Alaska supports more than 80 percent of all the seabirds nesting in the United States? And that close to a third of the world's shorebird species come to Alaska to breed? Nils Warnock will talk about the many ways that Alaska is important to different bird ...
Professor Brian A. Barsky from UC Berkeley will present an overview of his research combining computer graphics with optics, optometry, and photography. This research has investigated mathematical models to describe the shape of the cornea and algorithms for cornea measurement, scientific and medical visualization for the display of cornea shape, ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: Free
Rethinking Invasive Species in San Francisco BayCould a new non-native mud shrimp be good for the sub-tidal ecosystem? Michael McGowan, fisheries oceanographer and aquatic ecologist, will discuss how an invasive species may actually be beneficial.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Friday, 05/17/13
History of the U.S. Army Corps of EngineersJoin Ranger Bill to learn about the "When/Where/Why/What/ How," the diverse, complex, many faceted missions, goals and objectives of the USACE's "Birth" in 1775 under General George Washington.
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
A Newton Workshop"Philosophy, Theology, and the Problem of the Earth's Motion"Andrew Janiak, Duke Universityand"A Tale of Two Treatises: Newton's Scientific and Prophetic Work in the Late 1680's"Robert Iliffe, University of Sussexfollowing discussion led byGeorge Smith, Tufts UniversityMichael Friedman, Stanford UniversityPaula Findlen, Stanford UniversityRoom 307
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Night School: PromThe 2nd Annual geeked out prom is here! Join us to make new memories and relive the old. Dressing up is not a must, but we think you'll have more fun! Music, drinks, live shows and beautiful views every third Friday.21 and over.
Where: OaklandCost: $12 General, $5 Members
Houge Park Start PartyMeet with members of San Jose Astronomical Society for a Star Party, weather permitting.
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday, 05/18/13
Endangered Species Day: National Wildlife Refuge's Warm Springs Unit TourDid you know that 2013 is the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act? Register for this exclusive tour of our normally closed Warm Springs Unit. This unit specifically protects threatened and endangered species like Contra Costa goldfields, vernal pool tadpole shrimp, and California tiger salamanders. Hear how the Act ...
At the very small scales the Standard Model of Elementary Particles explains the building blocks of the nature and their interactions. Although the model is very successful (e.g. prediction of Higgs Bosons recently discovered at CERN), it is incomplete! A new physics beyond the Standard Model is indeed required to ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
An Evening with AstronautsExplore the world of asteroid hunters with Astronauts Ed Lu and Rusty Schweickart, co-founders of the B612 Foundation - a private foundation dedicated to protecting the Earth from asteroids. Lu and Schweickart will share the latest information on new technologies that help protect our Earth and plans to build, launch, ...
Where: OaklandCost: $23 general, $20 Members; $29 at door
May 18 Public Astronomy Program On Mt DiabloPlease join Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society for the May 18th astronomy program. Lower Summit Parking Lot of Mt. Diablo State Park. The program starts at 7:30 (enter the park at least 45 minutes earlier) at the lower summit parking lot. Although there is no fee for this program there is ...
Where: Walnut CreekCost: $10/ car park admission
See the Rings of SaturnHere's your chance to see Saturn and the moons of Jupiter through a telescope.You'll make a Solar System model to keep in your pocket and then explore the rest of the universe as you tour the telescopes.
Where: Walnut CreekCost: Free
The Solar Wind Speaker: Christopher Chen, PhD, Space Sciences Lab, UC Berkeley
Join us for a celebration of the California red-legged frog at its Mori Point home!Hear from other Bay Area organizations that play a role in protecting this threatened amphibian.Activities will include games, a raffle, tours of the frog ponds, and more! Don't miss the chance to learn and enjoy a ...
Fundamental questions in marine ecology have stumped scientists for decades: How do populations replenish themselves? How are they maintaining stable numbers? How far do fish larvae travel, and Where are they going? Behavioral ecologists have long debated the nature of sequential hermaphroditism in fishes (changing sex at some point during ...
Learn the many ways to make color-from neon signs to oil slicks to rainbows and more. You'll learn all about light, how it's made, and how it interacts. Ron will demonstrate many of the concepts, and you'll take away materials to build your own spectroscope. You'll see color in a ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
Monday, 05/20/13
Cancer disparities in Asian Americans: Public Policy vs Public HealthDr. karen Kim's presentation will include:1. Discuss cancer disparities among Asian immigrants 2. Discuss how public policies impact disparities 3. Describe a public health model to decrease cancer disparities among Asian Americans Room M114
Dr Mario Livio is a senior astrophysicist at the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute and a bestselling author. He wrote "The Golden Ratio", a highly acclaimed book about mathematics and art for which he received the International Pythagoras Prize and the Peano Prize. His latest literary adventure "Brilliant Blunders" draws ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $8 Members, $10 Seniors
Tuesday, 05/21/13
Convection in ice mantles: effects of texture and anisotropy The icy mantles of satellites in the outer solar system may transport heat by solid-state convection, which is important because it provides a mechanism for cycling material between a ocean and surface, controls the rate of heat transport, and may produce surface geological features. The style of convection and rate ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Skeptics in the StudioNorth Bay Skeptics are: humanists, atheists, freethinkers, agnostics and undeclared, who embrace modern skepticism. We celebrate the scientific method, and the application of logic and evidence to all claims. As in the tradition of many Skeptical groups world wide, we like to gather for lively discussion on current topics and ...
Where: Santa RosaCost: Free
Bio-Physics and Bio-Medicine in a New LightProf. Steven Chu (Stanford Physics and Molecular and Cellular Physiology Depts.) will give the Applied Physics/Physics colloquium
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Low Power Electronics Design and Energy HarvestingFrom nanowatt to self-generating electronics, tomorrow's designs will minimize the amount of energy required to make them work. Professor Chandrakasan, a leading researcher in low-power electronic design will share his insights into the world of energy-efficient circuits!Next-generation portable multimedia devices and wireless sensors will require a dramatic reduction in energy ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: $45
The Hidden Life of Wolves Join LivingWithWolves for a Presentation and Book Signing by Jim and Jamie Dutcher, Emmy Award-winning filmmakers and authors of The Hidden Life of Wolves.A reception, with light refreshments begins at 6:00pm, multimedia presentation at 7:00pm, followed by signing of the Dutchers' new National Geographic book, The Hidden Life of Wolves. ...
Black holes and galaxies: A love-hate relationshipBlack holes do not spend their lives alone in empty space. It is now known that, at the center of almost every galaxy, there is an enormous black hole, with a mass billions of times the mass of the Sun. This black hole pulls in and sweeps away gas from ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Stewart Brand presents 'Reviving Extinct Species'Death is still forever, but extinction may not be---at least for creatures that humans drove extinct in the last 10,000 years. Woolly mammoths might once again nurture their young in northern snows. Passenger pigeon flocks could return to America's eastern forest. The great auk may resume fishing the coasts of ...
