Hawk Identification Field ClassJoin Step Wilson (Golden Gate Raptor Observatory Hawkwatch Manager) for this unique outing in the field to practice your hawk identification skills with the fall migration! Meet at the trail head gate to Hawk Hill at the top of Conzelman Rd at 11am. After a steep and gravelly 250 yard ...
The Next Earthquake and the South BaySilicon Valley has long been one of the major drivers of our economy, but what will happen when the region is faced with its next earthquake? The USGS has been preparing the report HayWired, which looks at the impacts that a large quake might have on the Bay Area. Learn ...
Where: San JoseCost: $10 General, Free for Members
Measuring the Universe with Galaxy Clustering and MotionsI will review some recent advances in studies of large-scale structure, focusing on the latest clustering results from our VIPERS project at the ESO VLT, together with parallel development of analysis and modeling techniques. With 90,000 galaxy redshifts and multi-band photometric information, VIPERS has delivered at redshift 0.5 < z ...
The role of molecular spectroscopy in physics has evolved over the years. It was traditionally used to study molecular structure and its underlying quantum mechanics. Later, it led to various applications, including the first “atomic clock†that was actually based on molecular vibrations. More recent advances in techniques for quantum ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Botswana to Bolivia - The Life of an Itinerant Science EducatorPhilip Deutschle (Salinas High School and Hartnell College instructor) will give the Applied Physics/Physics colloquium entitled "Botswana to Bolivia - the Life of an Itinerant Science Educator."
Speaker: Alex Stamos, former chief security officer, Facebook
Where: StanfordCost: Free
'No Belles' - Santa CruzNo Belles is a dramatic production about women scientists and the Nobel prize. Portal Theatre is a theater company based in Portland, OR, whose play "No Belles" focuses on the lives of women scientists who won Nobel Prizes and some who did not. It was performed at the Fall 2017 ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free, registration required
From Cowboys to Communities: Changing the Face of Space ExplorationAs humans prepare to venture once more into deep space, there is a clear need for creating new models for space exploration and expanding the roles for those who travel in space and eventually settle on other worlds, and for those on the ground whose work ensures their success.In our first ...
The physiology of phytoplankton in fluctuating lightLight fluxes in natural conditions vary in time scales of seconds to days. I will focus on two areas of research that are being used to generate new hypotheses about how algae and cyanobacteria maintain growth and photosynthetic efficiency in fluctuating light. We have used systems biology tools to uncover ...
Ambitious low-carbon transitions are underway in many jurisdictions, requiring the large-scale expansion of renewable energy. Simultaneously, growing energy demand in emerging economies is being met with rapid energy development, with the declining costs of wind and solar technologies making them among the most competitive options. These recent developments suggest the ...
Democratizing Data ScienceDespite great strides in the generation, collection, and processing of data at scale, data science is still extremely inconvenient for the vast majority of the population. The driving goal of our research is to make it easy for individuals and teams â regardless of programming or analysis expertise â manage, ...
Join us for a conversation with Puneet Agarwal, partner at True Ventures. Before True Ventures, Agarwal began his career as a product manager at a software startup later sold to IBM. After, he worked in tech investment banking and venture capital at the Mayfield Fund. Agarwal has several years of ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Rapid Adoption of Cloud Data Warehouse Technology Using Datometry Hyper-QThe database industry is about to undergo a fundamental transformation of unprecedented magnitude as enterprises start trading their well-established database stacks on premises for cloud database technology in order to take advantage of the economics cloud service providers have long promised. Industry experts and analysts expect the next years to ...
The last century has seen a revolution in our understanding of the universe and our place in it. We now know that the universe is about 13.8 billion years old and is only about 5% normal matter - the stuff we’re made up of, like protons, neutrons, electrons. Uncovering the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Nerd Night San Francisco #101: Spines, Sex Addiction, & Pain!A musculoskeletal expert zeroes in on spinal health in zero gravity, a clinical psychologist pours us a nice big bowl of sex addiction (with milk), and an evolutionary biologist/behavioral neuroscientist slices through cephalopod pain. No tricks here - just a typical October Nerd Nite of treats, including tunes, drinks, and ...
Mushrooms of Los Trancos Reserve Doug Smith wil be speaking about his long term fungal documentation of Los Trancos Reserve in Palo Alto. Many of the fungi found in those mixed oak woodlands are also found throughout the Bay Area, so it will be a good, local, pre-season mushroom refresher course for all!
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
'No Belles' - San JoseNo Belles is a dramatic production about women scientists and the Nobel prize. Portal Theatre is a theater company based in Portland, OR, whose play "No Belles" focuses on the lives of women scientists who won Nobel Prizes and some who did not. It was performed at the Fall 2017 ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free, registration required
Thursday, 10/18/18
Drones: Technology, Policy, and SocietyRecently, there has been an immense surge of interest in using unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, for civil applications. New drone services such as commercial package delivery, aerial surveillance, emergency supply delivery, videography, and search and rescue are coming to the fore in the US and worldwide. New ...
Learning about Black Hole and Galaxy Co-evolution using the “COSMOSâ€Observations indicate that supermassive black holes (SMBHs, 10**6-10**9 Msun) dwell at the centers of most local galaxies. Scaling relations between SMBH mass and several large-scale properties of the host galaxies point to a co-ordindated growth of galaxies and their central engines over cosmic time: they "co-evolve". Who is the leading ...
LED Lighting: Cool and BrightSpeaker: Mr. Benny Smith, Consultant, Vision SmithEditor's Note: This talk was originally scheduled on October 4.
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
The Dynamics of the Local Group in the Era of Precision AstrometryOur understanding of the dynamics of our Local Group of galaxies has changed dramatically over the past few years owing to significant advancements in astrometry and our theoretical understanding of galaxy structure. New surveys now enable us to map the 3D structure of our Milky Way and the dynamics of ...
We usually think of cells as small, simple, building blocks of life, but in fact cells are highly complex nanomachines capable of sensing their environment, moving, hunting, solving problems, and even learning. This talk will use specific examples of cells that do crazy-sounding things, such as cells that walk, cells ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Fire and Ice: Documentary Storytelling and the Climate CrisisStephen Most will speak about visual storytelling as an effective form of public education on crucial subjects that mass media tend to ignore, misrepresent or present without adequate context. He will discuss how documentaries convey experiences that enlarge the viewer's understanding. Focusing on Oil on Ice and Wilder than Wild: Fires, Forests ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $10 Members, $8 Students
From the synapses in our bodies to superconductors to Earth’s magnetic field, electricity is everywhere. Get a charge out of Van de Graff generators and Tesla coils and encounter germanium’s potential at Everything Matters.Electrified Plants With Alex Pinigis7:00 and 9:00 p.m. | Gallery 3, Webcast StudioProve Your Textbooks Wrong With Zeke Kossover7:30, 8:30, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: 17.95 advance, 19.95 door, AD members free
Extraterrestrial NightlifeExplore the mysteries beyond our solar system with a night dedicated to the search for extraterrestrials. Join experts from the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View for fascinating talks on exoplanets and life beyond Earth.Meet members of the Kepler, K2, and TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) missions and learn ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members
In 1971 after 800,000 gallons of crude oil spilled into the bay, concerned individuals led by a registered nurse named Alice Berkner jumped into action, bringing International Bird Rescue (“Bird Rescueâ€) to life. We have always had to pave a road where there is none. Staff and volunteers work with tenacity alongside clients, partners, and ...
Detecting Dark BlobsMost current dark matter detection strategies, including both direct and indirect efforts, are based on the assumption that the galactic dark matter number density is quite high, allowing for the detection of rare scattering events. Such a paradigm arises naturally if the dark matter self-interactions are weak. However, strong interactions ...
Location matters…no compound operates in isolation without interacting with its local environment. Metalloproteins are example systems whose active sites contain intricate structures that aid the performance of specific functions with high selectivities and efficiencies. The complexity of these systems complicates the study of their function and the understanding of the ...
Wild Rivers @ 50Featuring a panel of policy and literary experts, we’ll swap stories of past successes, reflect on legislative wins, and generate new ideas for river conservation efforts moving forward. We’ll highlight priority threats for the coming years, such as Temperance Flat and the Shasta Dam raise, and emphasize the critical need ...
Where: OaklandCost: $20 - $50
The Basics of Astrophotography, Part III: USB Camera Planetary, Solar and Lunar ImagingThe presentation will give an introduction to USB camera based planetary, solar and lunar imaging. Amateurs realized the potential of digital video astronomy for 'Lucky Imaging' when the first simple PC webcams entered the consumer market. Quickly an ecosystem evolved, many individuals contributed and turned the devices made for web ...
Designathon on Tour: Urban Swarm BehaviorThe ‘Designathon on Tour’ brings together talented people from the creative economy of both cities - Zurich and San Francisco - during the weekend of October 20/21.The Swiss Designathon Team and swissnex San Francisco invite you to participate in the co-creation process on topics around urbanization and technology. The format ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 - $25
The Bay Model Wants You!!!Become part of Sausalito’s very own attraction known around the world! We have a variety of volunteer positions that are suited for people just like you! Greet visitors, lead tours, work with school groups, and more! Come and be a part of one of the largest working hydraulic models in ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Earthquakes: How, Why - and What to DoTo mark both the 29th anniversary week of the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake (October 17, 1989) and Earth Science Week (October 14 - 21), join us for a morning of hands-on science activities and a lively discussion about earthquakes with science educator and author Cary Sneider (Jake and the Quake) ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
A shaky anniversary: Lessons learned since the October 21, 1868 Hayward earthquakeIn 1868, a destructive earthquake ruptured along the Hayward fault in the Eastern Bay Area, which was then referred to as the “Great San Francisco earthquakeâ€. It lost that name to the much larger 1906 earthquake on the San Andreas fault across the Bay.During the last 150 years, much research ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory Hawk TalkThe Hawk Talk begins at noon, when a GGRO volunteer speaks about hawk migration and identification, and what we do here at the GGRO. Conditions permitting, a banding volunteer will bring up a newly banded hawk, talk about the banding program, and release the hawk in front of the crowd. ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Laser-Plasma Accelerators: Riding the Wave to the Next Generation X-Ray Light SourcesParticle accelerators have been revolutionizing discoveries in science, medicine, industry and national security for over a century. An estimated 30,000 particle accelerators are currently active around the world. In these machines, electromagnetic fields accelerate charged particles to velocities nearing the speed of light. Although their scientific appeal will remain evident ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free with admission
Voices in the DarkJoin us for a special dusk/night hike (relatively flat) in search of the two inhabitants whose nightly sounds "haunt" many of our human visitors: The coyote and the great horned owl. Along the way, we will learn more about the secret lives of these reclusive creatures. Â Â Three hours. Five miles. ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHTThe 16" telescope will be open, and many PAS Members will have telescopes next to the observatory availble for viewing as well. NASA Scientist BRAIN DAY will bring his meteorite collection, Moon Rocks and even a meteoritic sample of MARS!Park in Lot #4
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: Free ($3 parking)
A Celebration of Mind: Mathematics, Art, and MagicMartin Gardner was considered one of the pre-eminent magicians of the 20th century, an expert on Lewis Carroll, a champion puzzler, and the creator of recreational mathematics. Every year dozens of mathematicians, artists, and magicians gather from around the country for a Celebration of Mind to play, perform, and provoke ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
City Star Party @ The ExplOratoriumCome 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
Jazz Under the StarsCome peer through our telescopes and see craters on the Moon, the visible planets, star clusters, and more while we listen to CSM's very own KCSM Jazz 91 FM. Dress warmly. Free parking in Marie Curie Lot 5. Directions are available on the Maps, Directions & Parking page.
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Sunday, 10/21/18
Runyon Up Stair Climb for Cancer Research at Salesforce TowerThe Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation will be holding the first ever stair climb race up the 61-stories of the brand new Salesforce Tower (415 Mission Street, in downtown San Francisco) on Sunday, October 21st. This unique fundraising event will be held from 8:30-11:30am (with dedicated, staggered start times, beginning ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $40 entry fee (or $50 after Oct 01) + $150 pledge
Beginning BirdingCome explore the bustling birdlife that call the Marin Headlands home with volunteer Jane Haley in this easy walk along Rodeo Lagoon! Bring field guides and binoculars. Dress in layers. For ages 8 and older. No dogs. Reservation required, please call 415-331-1540.Â
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Fern ID & Keying WorkshopHow do you tell the difference between a lady fern and a wood fern? What the heck is an indusium? Why do goldback ferns have gold backs?Oaktown staff member and CCNH naturalist Angela Pai will talk briefly about fern ecology, review terminology, and lead you through keying out some of ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $20 suggested donation
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory Hawk TalkThe Hawk Talk begins at noon, when a GGRO volunteer speaks about hawk migration and identification, and what we do here at the GGRO. Conditions permitting, a banding volunteer will bring up a newly banded hawk, talk about the banding program, and release the hawk in front of the crowd. ...
Due to its spectacular abundance of marine life, Monterey Bay was designated as a National Marine Sanctuary in 1992. As technology developed to explore the deep, Davidson Seamount was added to the Sanctuary in 2008. Large, ancient, and beautiful organisms inhabit this unique formation. In 2015, Sur Ridge was determined ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Monday, 10/22/18
Emission-line galaxies in the era of cosmological surveysCosmological surveys in the next decade will contain multiwavelength information of billions of galaxies. The challenges ahead are to distinguishing between different cosmological scenarios and/or gravity models and track accurately the build-up and formation history of galaxies. In this scenario, the role of galaxy formation is enhanced by the varied ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Observational constraints on the structure of gamma-ray burst jets and lessons from GW170817 Motivated by GW170817 we examine observational constraints on the angular structure of gamma-ray burst (GRB) jets. First, the relatively narrow observed distribution of the early X-ray afterglow to prompt gamma-ray energy ratio implies that at any angle that gamma-rays are emitted the Lorentz factor must be large. Specifically, the Lorentz ...
In 1868, a 6.8 or so magnitude earthquake on the Hayward fault caused a small explosion on a hillside 4 miles NE of now downtown Livermore, CA, and an oily spring started up 70 meters away. Thus started the 150-year history of oil and gas exploration and production in Livermore. ...
The Non-Hermitian Chern Insulator During the past decade, the landscape of condensed matter physics has been dominated by a desire to understand the topological nature of materials and the observable consequences that are associated with the presence of topology. To this end, topological band theory has provided a foundation that has allowed for the ...
In recent years X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) have increased by ten or more orders of magnitude in coherence and brightness. XFELs allow for the first time the exploration of the structure and dynamics of atomic, molecular, and high energy density systems at the angstrom-femtosecond space and time scale. XFELs use ...
THE HIGGS BOSON AND SEARCHES FOR NEW PHYSICS AT THE LHCDr. Kathryn Grimm of CSU-East Bay is deputy team leader of the CSU ATLAS program. She was on the team that found evidence for the Higgs Boson, and now is interested in studying the properties of the Higgs Boson, as well as searching for other new particles.
James is the founder and CEO of Trillium Technologies - a technology contractor that specializes in the application of emerging technologies to grand challenges, such as climate change, violent extremism, prevention strategies for cancer and obesity, deforestation mitigation, climate resilience and planetary defense from asteroids.
Since the signing of the Paris agreement in 2015 and its ratification in 2016, direct, large-scale management of CO2 emissions has grown in prominence. This reflects current emissions trends, policy trends, and technology advances. Specifically, major technology progress in carbon capture, CO2 conversion and use (sometimes called carbon-to-value or CO2 ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
SDN: Changing Only Everything About Networking (and IT)It’s been about eight years since Software-Defined Networking (SDN) hit the headlines with a lot of fanfare, initially as a way to disaggregate a Cisco router and reduce the operating expense (Opex) in data centers. Since that time, its more fundamental changes to everything about networking have seeped into not ...
From the iconic mission control center in Houston that guided astronauts to the Moon, to the control centers for robotic explorers that extend our senses to the solar system and beyond, mission control serves as the nerve center for decisions, planning, science, command, and control for our journeys into space. ...
