Reconstructing the Formation Histories of Massive Galaxies In past years, large and deep photometric and spectroscopic surveys have significantly advanced our understanding of galaxy growth, from the most active time in the universe (z~2) to the present day. In particular, the evolution in stellar mass, star formation rate, and structure of complete galaxy samples have provided independent and ...
Archana Patkar received her MSc in Social Policy in 1994 from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She also holds an MA in French Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University and was the Founder and Managing Director of Junction Social, located in the greater Mumbai Area from June ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION (THE MOST DANGEROUS SECRET) AND ITS REMEDIATIONOcean acidification is a consequence of the Industrial Age’s emissions of CO2, which gradually dissolves in seas, forming carbonic acid. Sea life performs the net carbon sequestration for the planet via calcifying organisms that build shells or skeletons from the calcium carbonate ions in seawater. When these organisms die, they ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
PARC's International Collaboration for Industrial IOT: Rail Asset Management Using Intelligent Systems Mr. Aki Ohashi, Director of Business Development at the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), discusses PARC's international collaborations with an Asian rail carrier in developing a new intelligent system for rail asset management. This is the first session in our weekly autumn quarter public seminar series on international technology ...
Predicting the outcome of collisions between planets: new data, scaling, and implicationCollisions between planetary bodies have played a crucial role in the solar system's formation and subsequent evolution. I will present data from ~ 200 collision simulations used to derive a simple scaling law for the threshold for disruption of the gravitational binding energy of the two-body system at the moment ...
Mirrors, arguably the first "virtual reality" technology, lie at the intersection of nature, culture, and self-recognition. Once small, rare, and coveted items owned only by the wealthy, today mirrors are as common as a pencil and are key to many modern tools, from HDTVs to solar-power plants and space telescopes. ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $10 Members
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/ next to Kepler's Books. Look for CFI t-shirts.For more information or if you have questions please email sf@centerforinquiry.net ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Aura and the Spectacle of LightElectrophotography. St. Elmo's Fire. Kirlean imaging. All are names for an unusual type of photography in which a high-voltage electromagnetic discharge is used to expose film directly, without a camera. Filmmaker and photographer Kerry Laitala will present a lecture tracing this process to its origins in the 1880s, when Nikola ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $5 General, Free for members
Is any place on Earth still wild? What does it feel like to be in the extended absence of any human-made sounds? Bernie Krause and Jason Mark have traveled the world seeking and recording wild landscapes and soundscapes. While even the most remote places are impacted by human-caused climate disruption, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $12 Members, $7 Students
Huntington's Disease: Stages and TherapiesHuntington's disease is a rare genetic disorder that causes programmed degeneration of brain cells, called neurons, in certain areas of the brain. This talk will explore the diagnosis, the stages of the disease, and its treatment. The Stanford Huntington's Disease and Ataxia Clinic has been named a Center of Excellence ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Geektoberfest At Geektoberfest, we'll dive into the biology of beer. This 21+ event includes tastings from local and regional craft breweries in a commemorative glass you get to keep, as well as beer-brewing demos and talks from expert brewers. Buy your tickets now - prices go up the day of the ...
Where: San JoseCost: $25
Friday, 10/02/15
Birds and Botany HikeHike the forests, meadows and hills around Pine Flat and up Redhill with ACR Volunteer Patrick Woodworth & ACR Resource Ecologist Dave Self. We'll be watching (and listening) for birds on the hike out. After lunch, we'll botanize as we consider the interplay between bird foods and habitat history.Registration Required through the Modini ...
Where: GeyservilleCost: Donations appreciated
Illuminating the Anthropocene Sea through Autonomous Sensing and Integrated 'OmicsEvery day, marine microorganisms "breathe" and exhale dissolved ions and gases, driving global cycling of essential elements, such as oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen. These cycles reflect the collective behavior of 1029 organisms that assemble together into diverse and dynamic microbial communities-with a few dominant groups, many rare organisms, and all ...
Got Planets? We see them and we can 'make' them!There are more than 1952 planets orbiting other stars, and more than 488 multiple planet systems and many more planet candidates awaiting confirmation. With improved detecting technology and more searching missions the total will continue to increase. This seminar will provide an overview of the observations and theories of planet formation, ...
Pressurized rovers are airtight all-terrain motorhomes in which future planetary explorers will live, work, sleep, and drive during multiple-day excursions far away from their home base. Although pressurized rovers are commonly featured in science-fiction lore and technical studies on paper, there is still very little practical experience with the use ...
Join us for a variety of walks, talks, volunteer, and health activities all across the mountain during the day. All activities are free, but space is limited and registration is required. Get more details about these events and sign up here.One Tam Cruise for Views Trail Run8 – 10 amREGISTER ...
Where: Mill ValleyCost: Free
Hike the Mallard Slough TrailLook for birds, mammals, and animal tracks as we explore along the water's edge on this 3.7-mile nature walk. Bring binoculars and your favorite field guide to help enjoy the views. Have at least one liter of water, snacks, and appropriate clothing. This hike runs rain or shine. Led by ...
Where: AlvisoCost: Free
Water Policy and the Drought: Balancing Competing Interests to Stay AfloatScientists agree that California's droughts are cyclical and appear to be growing worse. While we have developed technologies to address our water challenges, water policy remains a hot-button issue in the Golden State, and not necessarily on traditional Republican-Democratic policy lines. Along with the need for major new infrastructure, deep ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Aquarium of the Bay at the Bay Modelbay.org has teamed up with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bay Model Visitor Center to create the Bay Model Alliance, a not-for-profit organization that benefits the Bay Model and its educational programs by bringing the Bay, its animals, and their habitats to you!Join us at the Bay Model ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Extraordinary EstuaryWhere rivers can mingle with the waters of the oceans, estuaries are created – but there's so much more to the story. Find out what lives in our extraordinary estuaries and what makes the San Francisco estuary so vital during this special program. Activities will include dressing like a river ...
Our Hawk Talks and Banding Demonstrations occur every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2 pm (weather permitting – heavy fog or rain cancels) during September and October, except for Fleet Week weekend. The Hawk Talk begins at noon, when a GGRO volunteer speaks about hawk migration and identification, and ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Ship Operations in the BayJoin Captain Craig Thomas of Agile Marine as he provides a better understanding of commercial shipping operations and movements in the Bay. The program includes the types of ships, ship construction and layout, commercial considerations, types, and locations of terminals in the Bay Area, manning requirements including careers and International, ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Richard Dawkins - My Life in ScienceWidely celebrated scientist and author, Richard Dawkins has been central to kick-starting new conversations and debates surrounding creationism and intelligent design. His gene-centric view of evolution helped popularize the radical new understanding of Darwinism.In the sequel to his bestselling memoir, Dawkins offers a candid look at the remarkable events and ...
Where: San JoseCost: $55-$30 General, $45-20 Member, $10 Student
Our Hawk Talks and Banding Demonstrations occur every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2 pm (weather permitting – heavy fog or rain cancels) during September and October, except for Fleet Week weekend. The Hawk Talk begins at noon, when a GGRO volunteer speaks about hawk migration and identification, and ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Wild Oakland Presents... the Geologic Heart of Knowland ParkKnowland Park presents a rare glimpse of Oakland's distinctive landscape without the human overlay. The natural habitats of the park are intimately connected to their geologic setting. This free walk will take us around the heart of the park as we study the shapes of the land, the rocks that crop out on it, ...
Fall Tarantula Hike with Lindsay Wildlife at Mount DiabloExplore the habitat of local tarantulas along the north face of Mount Diablo with an experienced naturalist. Fall is the time for these eight-legged, carnivorous yet docile creatures to come out of hiding in search of mates. The hike covers a distance of 2 miles, hiking shoes and bottled water ...
Where: Walnut CreekCost: $10 member ($15 non-members)
Monday, 10/05/15
Large-Scale Structure beyond the Power Spectrum As recent and future galaxy surveys map the large-scale structure of the universe with unprecedented pace and precision, it is worthwhile to consider innovative data analysis methods beyond traditional Gaussian 2-point statistics to extract more cosmological information from those datasets. Such efforts are often plagued by substantially increased complexity of ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
GALAXY HALOSDr. Rachael Beaton, of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science will discus her work on observational/photometry studies of galaxy halos, particularly M31.
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
21st Century Solutions to Critical Western United States Water Woes - POSTPONEDCalifornia is experiencing the worst drought in recorded history. Projections show climate change is creating hotter and drier conditions in the western states. Our distinguished panel of water experts will discuss strategies, reforms and innovations that will help us survive and thrive during drought and the years to come for ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, Free for members, $7 Students
China Today: Environmental Progress and ChallengesChina is the largest contributor to the world's air pollution. So much so that media have dubbed China's current pollution state as an "airpocalypse" that has led to a frenzy of new green policies. Inadvertently, China is now one of the largest investors in green energy as well. The dramatic ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, Free for Members, $7 Students
Resilient CitiesCities from around the world have faced a dramatically changing climate in the past decade. San Francisco alone has stood against earthquakes, large storms and heavy winds in 2014 and the Rim Fire that cost the city $36 million dollars. What can we do to prepare ourselves for the furious ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $12 Member, $7 Student
Join us for a fascinating journey through the early universe using the latest computer animations of early star formation, supernova explosions, and the build-up of the first galaxies. Dr. Abel's work has shown that the first luminous objects in the universe were very massive stars shining one million times as brightly as our Sun. They died quickly and ...
The past decade has seen an explosion in the discoveries of Pluto-sized and near Pluto-sized bodies in the outer Solar System, giving rise to a new classification of "dwarf planets." Like Pluto, each of these objects has a unique story to tell about the history and evolution of the Solar ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $8 Members
Tuesday, 10/06/15
Artificial Intelligence for General Game PlayingA GENERAL GAME PLAYING (GGP) SYSTEM is one that can play arbitrary games based solely on formal game descriptions supplied at "runtime". (Translation: it does not get the rules until the game starts.) Unlike specialized game players, such as Deep Blue, general game players do not rely on algorithms designed ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Can We Stop Alzheimer's Disease?What if there was a way to delay the development of Alzheimer's disease by up to seven years? With both wise food choices and scientifically based supplementation, Steve Blake thinks it just might be possible. Find out the importance of vitamin D, antioxidants and polyphenols from food when it comes ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $8 Members, $7 Students
Geomagnetic Reversals and excursions: The origin of Earth's magnetic field - LOCATION CHANGEPalaeomagnetic observations offer important insights into the origin of Earth's interior, but a detailed reconstruction of the underlying dynamics is not feasible. A practical alternative is to construct a stochastic model for the time evolution of the dipole field.Slow changes in the field are described by a deterministic (drift) term, ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Healthcare: The Human Story"Healthcare: The Human Story" will be presented by Anna Deavere Smith, playwright - actor - professor, who uses her unique brand of theatre to highlight issues of community, character, and diversity in America. She is best known for crafting one-woman, multi-character plays about American social issues.Room: Berg Hall
Like a Rind-stone Cowgirl How Rind Creates and Controls the Cheese BelowEat all the cheeses AND know what you'll find even before you cut the rind! The Bay Area's own Cowgirl Creamery sends their expert cheesemaker to share secret knowledge about how different rinds affect cheese flavors as they grow. ...
Where: NovatoCost: $5
Tree Hunting in FremontThe California Nursery Company in Niles, was the largest nursery in the west coast in the 1920's-30's. We will take a tree hunt and learn many of the trees that we still find in Fremont through hands on activities. Learn about how you can take a tour of trees at ...
Where: FremontCost: Free
Civilization's InfrastructureInfrastructure decisions-and failures to decide-affect everything about a society for centuries. That long shadow, James Fallows points out, is what makes the decisions so difficult, because "We must choose among options whose consequences we can't fully anticipate." What we do know is that infrastructure projects are hugely disruptive and expensive ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $16.52 General, Free for members
Richard Dawkins: Brief Candle in the Dark, My Life in Science"A century from now historians will take note of a mere handful of scientific luminaries from the second half of the 20th century who changed not just their science but their culture.First among them will surely be Richard Dawkins, unquestionably one of the great minds of our time who is ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $20-$50.
Wednesday, 10/07/15
Free First WednesdayFree museum admission all day, to anyone from anywhere, at Bay Area Discovery Museum
The Gulf Stream front marks the sharp boundary between the subtropical and subpolar gyres in the North Atlantic. Mixing of the nutrient-replete subpolar waters across this boundary is thought to facilitate a biologically-induced drawdown of atmospheric CO2 in the subtropics. This mixing involves motions on the sub-mesoscale that span 100 ...
Where: Moss LandingCost: Free
Better Managing California's Droughts with Data, Modeling, and PeopleJay Lund is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis and director of the Center for Watershed Sciences. He is on the editorial board of several water resources publications, has been a member of the Advisory Committee for the 1998 and 2005 California Water Plan Updates, and ...
From Vision into Practicality: The Question of How to Get Carbon Out of BuildingsIn California, fossil fuel burned in buildings accounts for 12% of the state's greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), as compared to 11% from in-state electricity generation. If we're serious about long-term climate targets, we quickly need to turn our attention to how to avoid this source of emissions. Electrify end-uses with ...
Use of new data technologies now pervades our institutions, both private and government. But this data-driven revolution is far from complete. We can still influence where it takes us. I will discuss some of the current challenges we face, both technical and social, and how we might address them.Speaker: Doug ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our WorldMachine learning is the automation of discovery – the scientific method on steroids – that enables intelligent robots and computers to program themselves. No field of science today is more important yet more shrouded in mystery. Pedro Domingos gives us a peek inside the learning machines that power giants like ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $8 Members, $7 Students
Vice Admiral (VADM) Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A. was nominated by President Barack Obama in November 2013 and confirmed on December 15, 2014 as the 19th United States Surgeon General. As America's Doctor, Dr. Murthy is responsible for communicating the best available scientific information to the public regarding ways to ...
Since 2004, the Cassini mission has been exploring the giant planet Saturn, its magnificent ring system, and its intriguing moons. Dr. Porco is the leader of the Cassini Imaging Science Team and one of the most effective interpreters of planetary science in the world. She will show us some of ...
When people think of clams, their minds often go to chowder (possibly accompanied by Pavlovian salivation). "Disco clams", however, aren't your average bivalves. These Indo-Pacific creatures are contrasted from their dull-gray, mud-living, soup-making brethren by their bright red tentacles, coral reef homes, and a vivid electric-looking flash that goes back ...
Where: AlbanyCost: Free
How you and your friends can get to spaceThe space race captured the nation's attention in the last century, but does anybody care today? The idea of a starting space company or doing something in space yourself might seem impossible -- after all, isn't space supposed to be hard (like Rocket Science)? In this talk, Chris will show ...
