HOW THE ELECTRIC GRID TURNED UPSIDE DOWNThe transition from coal and natural gas sources of electric power to wind and solar has utterly transformed how utilities think about the grid. The plan for how utilities will maintain grid reliability in the face of this transition flips everything upside down. Geof Syphers, CEO Sonoma Clean Power, will discuss ...
Over decades, assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and many others has bolstered understanding of the climate problem: unequivocal warming, pervasive impacts, and serious risks from continued high emissions of heat-trapping gases. Societies are increasingly responding with early actions to decarbonize energy systems and prepare for impacts. In ...
Dr. Zitter entered the field of critical care medicine to be a hero. She wanted to rescue people from the brink of death like a fireman rescues fire victims�"calmly, swiftly and without stopping to ask questions. But one day, as she was aggressively treating a dying patient in the ICU, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, Free for Members, $7 Students
For as long as humans have been exploring the sea, they have been fascinated by the planet's largest inhabitants, whales. Until recently, we have been limited to studying the small fraction of whales' lives spent at or near the ocean's surface. Over the last fifteen years, with the advent of ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: $5 General, Free for members
The Revolution Where You Live: Stories from a 12,000-mile Journey through a New AmericaDuring the past 2016 election year, Sarah spent months on a road trip traveling in a pick-up truck and tiny camper to listen to people's concerns and hopes of a better life. In her book, The Revolution Where You Live, she takes you from inner-city neighborhoods in Detroit, Chicago and Ohio ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $8 Members, $7 Students
In this talk, Dr. Natarajan discusses how our cosmic view has been transformed by two radical ideas in cosmology - dark matter and black holes. She will present the history of how we discovered these invisible entities, as well as recent leaps in our understanding of them, from mapping dark matter ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members and Seniors
Search for extrasolar moons and rings using transit observationsGiven the detection of several thousand extrasolar planets, a very interesting question is whether or not they have moons or rings. In the cases of extrasolar Jupiter analogs, the gas giant may not support life, but a moon could be suitable. Exomoons or rings have not yet been detected with ...
After more than 150,000 miles of bluewater sailing, Peter Francis decided to design and build his own high-perfomance catamaran using a rigorous combination of computational fluid dynamics modeling, 3D design and manufacture, and empirical testing. His carbon-fiber vessel Saphira will depart on her maiden yoyage from Cape Cod to Micronesia ...
A researcher, consultant and government advisor focused on privacy and public policy, Gilad Rosner is the founder of the Internet of Things Privacy Forum. His work encompasses privacy by design, national policy, digital identity and the interplay between governments, commercial markets and standards. Dr. Rosner is motivated by the responsible ...
Charles Limb’s expertise covers the full scope of otology and neurotology, with a focus on the treatment of hearing loss and auditory disorders. He specializes in all surgery of the temporal bone, concentrating on acoustic neuroma surgery, cochlear implant surgery, implantable hearing aids, stapes surgery, cholesteatoma surgery, and cancers of the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $29
Wednesday, 03/08/17
Not Your Average Bird: Pigeons, Geese, and GullsCome learn about the lives of these city-dwelling birds! From their evolutionary history to their relationships with urban humans, we'll talk about how these birds manage to be so successful and why they deserve a second look.
Where: OaklandCost: Free! $20 suggested donation
Basic & Translational Research Symposium on Sex Differences in NeurosciencesThe Stanford WSDM Center (Women and Sex Differences in Medicine) and the Stanford Neurosciences Institute present the Basic & Translational Research Symposium on Sex Differences in Neurosciences. Leading experts nationwide will present their latest research on sex differences in the brain.Berg Hall Room C
Computational imaging involves the joint design of imaging system hardware and software, optimizing across the entire pipeline from acquisition to reconstruction. This talk will describe new methods for computational microscopy with coded illumination, based on a simple and inexpensive hardware modification of a commercial microscope. Traditionally, one must trade field-of-view ...
Robust Decision Making and Deep DecarbonizationDeep decarbonization presents what the literature often calls a ‘wicked problem,’ that is, decision challenges that are not well-bounded, are framed differently by various stakeholders, involve deep uncertainties and non-linear dynamics, and are often not well-understood until after formulation of a solution. Robust Decision Making (RDM) is a quantitative, multi-scenario, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Mushrooms and iNaturalist TrainingAre you fascinated by mushrooms? Have you been thinking about contributing to a citizen science project? The Friends of Sausal Creek's March meeting is for you. Damon Tighe will get you excited and equipped to use iNaturalist by starting with the basics--how to contribute data, how to mine data, and how ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free
The Twin Tunnels and SF Waterways- Is a Healthy Co-existence Possible?The Twin Tunnel project is a contentious and confusing one. Â If you're like most of us, you could use some accurate, updated information that answers important questions.-Will the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan save enough water for the salmon and smelt? How much is enough?Why is that so important?-Why ...
The formation and growth of black holes, the accelerating expansion of the universe, the echo of the Big Bang, the discovery of earth-like exoplanets, and the possibility of other universes - these are some of the intriguing subjects of early 21st-century astronomy and cosmology. Join Yale's Priya Natarajan in exploring the radical ideas ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: $20 General, $12 Members, $8 Students
Speaker: Paul Humphries, High Reliability Solutions Flex
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Nursery Series: Seed Treatment and GerminationGrowing native plants often involves getting dormant seeds to germinate. Based on habitat and adaptation, seeds may require a variety of physical or chemical conditions to begin germination. In this we will discuss seed biology, seed dormancy, and the physiology of seed germination. There will be plenty of hands-on time ...
Data of the People, by the People, for the PeopleEvery time we search the Web, use our phone, read an email - or even turn on a light - we create data that businesses collect and use for decisions. As the exponential increase of data continues, it will likely continue to drive innovation and economic growth. But even as ...
Feed your brain and body this week as NightLife explores the fascinating world of human health and wellness.In African Hall, join Dr. Stanley Riddell of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for a mind-expanding talk on his important and innovative work in fighting cancer by strengthening the immune system. Treat your ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members
Hewlett Packard: Why Strategic Leadership MattersHewlett Packard has been instrumental in the explosive and world-changing growth in Silicon Valley. Webb McKinney and Philip Meza will share with us their insights on the strategic thinking and leadership that was key to HP's contributions that helped create the technologically innovative world in which we live today.Speakers: Webb ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $8 Members, $7 Students
Cosmological discoveries in the past half-century have transformed our understanding of the universe: accelerating cosmic expansion, dark matter and dark energy, supermassive black holes, exoplanets, and a possible “multiverse†are radical ideas that have reshaped our cosmic view. Prof. Priya Natarajan will discuss the debates and controversies that followed these ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Friday, 03/10/17
NatureBridge's Preschool Playdates SeriesJoin us for a 2-hour hands-on program featuring techniques to help engage your children's sense of wonder and guide their natural curiosity during outdoor adventures. Gain a deeper understanding of inquiry based experiential learning while participating in field activities designed to develop your preschooler's observation skills. New themes each week.*Ages ...
Where: SausalitoCost: $75 per child (one adult admission included)
Datacenter Computers: Modern Challenges in CPU DesignComputers used as datacenter servers have usage patterns that differ substantially from those of desktop or laptop computers. We discuss four key differences in usage and their first-order implications for designing computers that are particularly well-suited as servers: data movement, thousands of transactions per second, program isolation, and measurement underpinnings. ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Symphony of the Soil; Green FridayAt the March 10th Green Friday the documentary Symphony of the Soil will be shown. Drawing from ancient knowledge and cutting edge science, symphony of the Soil is an artistic exploration of the miraculous substance soil.  By understanding the elaborate relationships and mutuality between soil, water, the atmosphere, plants and animals, ...
Lichen: A Closer LookThis easy 1.5-mile out-and-back nature walk will explore habitats where lichen communities thrive. Learn to identify some of the most common forest lichen and discover ways these fascinating organisms benefit both wildlife and the environment. Meet at the Wood Road parking lot. Severe rain cancels. Questions? (408) 918-7770
Federally Listed as Endangered in 1976, the San Bruno Elfin (Callophrys mossii bayensis) is a nickel-sized, Burmese brown denizen of the top-most, rock outcrops of SanBruno Mountain.The butterfly is an exquisite study in browns: burnt sienna, mocha and russet, with grey thrown in. Â It's host is Stonecrop (Sedum spathifolium), the ...
Where: BrisbaneCost: Free ($6 - $8 park fee)
Exploring Nature: Family Learning WorkshopBring your family to explore nature and the environment at the Hall! In this Family Learning Workshop, you and your child will learn a "curiosity routine" and discover how to use it to make any outing a meaningful, enriching experience. We will also spend time in the Hall's outdoor spaces, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free with admission
Twilight Marsh WalkExperience the salt marsh at twilight on an easy stroll along Tidelands (1 1/3 mile) Trail. At the setting of the sun we will observe the beginning of nature’s night shift. Come discover the sights, sounds, and smells of the refuge as night descends. Not suitable for young children. RESERVATIONS ...
Where: FremontCost: Free
San Francisco City Star PartyCome join us for our monthly San Francisco City Star Party. SFAA members provide telescopes for your viewing pleasure. Be sure to check the SFAA website for the latest updates…bad weather or overcast skies will cancel!
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Dance of StreamsAstronomers are engaged in far reaching surveys of stars and galaxies, mapping ever larger objects in the universe. Closer to home, the Bay Area is part of a very different type of survey: a night-time surveillance of the night sky to map out our meteor showers throughout the year. Meteor ...
