How We Learn: Memory and the BrainDr. Charles Vella will give a brief review of what is currently known about the neuroscience of human memory. He will review the evolution and basic neurobiology of memory (anatomy, processes, types). It will cover the role of neuroplasticity, forgetting, and sleep in memory functioning. It will also include a ...
Sea otters are in a race against time. To survive, they hunt for clams, crabs, urchins, snails, mussels, and abalone down to 100 feet deep. Otters must work quickly since they can hold their breath for only 1-3 minutes per dive, and their prey are often found in rocky crevices ...
Ultra-low energy calibration of xenon-based dark matter detectorsXenon-based experiments have demonstrated world leading sensitivity in searches for medium-to-high mass WIMP dark matter interactions. Recent developments suggest that these experiments may also be sensitive to low mass WIMPs, which requires xenon detectors to be calibrated at very low energies. In this talk, I will discuss a series of ...
Soft interfaces with multiple species are common in biology, the environment, and technological applications. Probing these, particularly when the interface is buried between two condensed phases presents many challenges. The only current method available to probe such interfaces with molecular specificity is the vibrational spectroscopy, sum frequency generation (SFG). SFG ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Hard Earth Seminar: Climate change's uneven impacts in BangladeshIn the popular imagination, Bangladesh is a country being hit particularly hard by climate change, from rising sea levels to erratic weather. But in Bangladesh, as in the world, not all people experience climate impacts in the same way. Some proposed climate solutions can actually exacerbate environmental and social vulnerability ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
The Road to Higher Tc SuperconductivityProf. Shin-ichi Uchida of the Dept. of Phyiscs, University of Tokyo, Japan, will give the Applied Physics/Physics colloquium
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Food Politics 2019: An Agenda for the Food MovementRecent government policy changes are eroding programs aimed at feeding the hungry, curbing obesity, and protecting the environment. What can consumers and citizens do?Speaker: Marion Nestle, NYU, emeritaRegister at weblink
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Acute and Persisting Effects of Psilocybin in Healthy and Patient PopulationsAs the psychedelic renaissance blooms, many experimental laboratories and medical schools around the world are joining in to contribute to our knowledge of how psychedelic drugs affect the mind and brain. We will discuss recent findings from controlled laboratory studies with psilocybin, and review preliminary data from a number of studies ...
Electronics technology has enabled an era of computation-communication-infotainment. Going forward, by redesigning such high performance electronics can be used for soft-interfacing with biology. Specifically with the emergence of Internet of Everything, where people-process-device-data will be seamlessly connected, we are eager to know how nature works, how we can mimic them, ...
Biodiversity and Climate Change in AntarcticaRosenberg Institute Seminar SeriesAntarctica is considered a “natural laboratory†because it is relatively undisturbed by anthropogenic forces, and because it has been designated by international treaty as a unique, continent-scale scientific commons. This gives scientists the opportunity to investigate how the biosphere has functioned for millions of years. Antarctica is ...
Where: TiburonCost: Free
Vision 2050: Planning a Resilient Future for BerkeleyLaunched by Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, Vision 2050 is a citizen-led effort to develop a framework for a 30-year sustainable infrastructure plan which focuses on addressing aging existent infrastructure, the impacts of climate change, and a rapidly-growing population. The holistic initiative is concerned with not only improving the physical condition ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Hands on Lab - Test Drive an Autonomous Data Warehouse Powered by AI/ML Please join us for an Oracle workshop on Autonomous Database Warehouse (ADW). An autonomous database is a cloud database that uses machine learning to eliminate the human labor associated with database tuning, security, backups, updates, and other routine management tasks traditionally performed by database administrators (DBAs).Autonomous Data Warehouse is built ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: Free
taste of science: Fossil Poop and Spider SexEverybody Poops: What Trace Amounts of Human Waste Tell Us About The PastBecause everybody poops, we each leave a small record of our presence through fecal stanol molecules that can persist in sediments for thousands of years. By identifying changes in the concentration of these molecules over time, we can ...
Where: BerkeleyCost:
Livermore Reads Together: 'Spare Parts' author Joshua DavisMeet Joshua Davis, author of the New York Times bestseller Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream at this free event. Copies of Spare Parts will be available for sale and signing. Joshua Davis is the co-founder of Epic Magazine and has been ...
Where: LivermoreCost: Free
Nerd Nite SF #105: Hidden Programmers, Breaking Materials, and the Science of Sex!Illuminating Women’s Hidden Contributions to Science“Hidden Figures†told the story of three black female mathematicians at NASA in the 1960s. Inspired by the movie, a group of scientists and undergraduates pored through their own field’s journals to see if there were more overlooked female scientists. On paper, the 1970s was ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10
What are Mushrooms Doing in My Forest?David Rust will explore the complexity of fungal-plant relationships and how nutrients are obtained and shared mutually. His report will focus on new research into soil ecology, mycorrhizae, and the many factors influencing fungal health.
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Thursday, 02/21/19
Separating wheat from chaff: photometric classification in the age of LSSTThe Large Synoptic Survey Telescope will generate a data deluge: millions of transients and variable sources will need to be classified from their light curves. Photometric classification has long been a problem of interest in the astronomical community, but the Photometric LSST Astronomical Time-series Classification Challenge (PLAsTiCC) brings a wide ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Pixels to physics: the promise and challenges of survey cosmologyWe are entering a transformative period in observational cosmology. Large cosmological surveys starting in 2019 promise to solve key problems in cosmology - but only if we develop new approaches for handling the volume and complexity of the data. Extracting robust cosmological information from these surveys is a major challenge ...
It’s not a NATURAL disaster: looking from past to future through archaeologyClimate extremes, like droughts, storms, and hurricanes, have always challenged people’s lives and many would argue that disasters are affecting human security in ever-greater ways. Today, disaster managers urge that we reduce human-created vulnerabilities in order to reduce impacts from climate challenges. But governments and NGOs are hard pressed to ...
Our technological capacity to make changes to genomic data has expanded exponentially since the 2012 discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 as an RNA-programmable genome editing tool. Over the past seven years, this genome editing platform has been used to revolutionize research, develop new agricultural crops, and even promises to cure genetic diseases. ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Free Coding Club for Kids The Downtown Oakland Dojo is a place where young people age 7-17 can code and explore technology in a fun and social environment. They can create apps, build a website, try out different coding languages, and get hands on with digital making using the Raspberry Pi.We recommend that children bring a ...
The emerging field of bioelectronic medicine seeks methods for deciphering and modulating physiological activity in the body for both sensing and therapy. Current approaches to interfacing directly with organs and nerves rely heavily on wires, creating problems for chronic use, while emerging wireless approaches do not scale down into ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Film Night Double Feature! 'Mystery of the Gnaraloo Sea Turtles' and 'Melting Stars'Film 1: Melting Stars, 2017 Canada MELTING STARS unravels the mystery behind one of the most catastrophic species die offs in recorded history. In 2013 scuba divers off the West coast of British Columbia discovered that the star fish were dying in the millions and suffering horrific deaths. They were ...
Come into the light: learn about things that flare and flash, from lightning-fast nematocysts in the ocean to flicker films on the big screen. Then get an introduction to flash pickling (quick preservation: it’s not an oxymoron!) and learn about the dramatic, flame-retarding element bromine at Everything Matters: Bromine. SCHEDULEPresentationsEverything Matters: Bromine With Ron Hipschman8:00 p.m. | ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: 19.95 door, AD members free
Lunar New Year NightLifeKick off the Year of the Pig with lion dancers, masked performers, martial arts and pigs!
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members
February LASER Event - San JoseOur speakers for February 21st, 2019 include -Dr. David DeamerBiologist and Research Professor of Biomolecular EngineeringUniversity of California, Santa Cruzhttps://www.soe.ucsc.edu/people/deamerStardust, Cells and the Origin of Life Description: The paradigm is that life began in salty sea water, in the ocean, perhaps in hydrothermal vents. But there is an alternative supported ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Hardcore Natural History Series - “The Browns of California: The Family Dynasty That Transformed a Stateâ€Join the Museum as we sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Miriam Pawel to discuss her book, The Browns of California: The Family Dynasty That Transformed a State and Shaped a Nation. The book begins with Brown’s great-grandfather, Prussian immigrant August Schuckman, who crossed the Plains in 1852 and settled ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: $10 General, $5 Member, $15 all at door
Since 1997 Golden Gate Audubon has partnered with the Port of San Francisco to enhance shoreline wildlife habitat at Pier 94, located along the south eastern bay shoreline, on property owned and operated by the Port of San Francisco. After completing successful wetland and beach enhancement projects, in 2013 Golden ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
LifeCycle | Creation: DIY BiologyAround the world, maker spaces are placing the latest biological and genetic technologies into the hands of amateur scientists. From engineering new types of cheese or homemade insulin to tinkering with bioluminescent algae, citizen science initiatives are bringing laboratory science to the world, unleashing new forms of creativity and experimentation.Explore ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 - $15
Sonoma County Mycological Assoc. monthly meetingFor the February speaker SOMA will present a panel of mushroomers who will talk about how to best look for mushrooms, what their favorites are to hunt for and to eat, and their adventures nearby and far away too, but most importantly--will take questions from anyone in attendance who wants ...
NASA's recent Kepler Mission gave us good reason to believe that the Milky Way Galaxy is home to billions of habitable worlds. Of course, "habitable" does not mean inhabited, far less intelligent. In this Wonderfest presentation, science writer Michael Wall will discuss the big questions that permeate humankind's search for ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Medieval and Modern Ideas of Diet and HealthDespite certain differences, ideas of balance and equilibrium in diet were as important in the Middle Ages as they are today. Medieval people believed in humoral theories based on keeping the body’s fluids (blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm) in balance, whereas we now typically focus on unseen constituents ...
Where: Stanford UniversityCost: Free
Friday, 02/22/19
67th Annual Pacific Orchid Exposition - now back in Golden Gate ParkThe 2019 Pacific Orchid Exposition will be San Francisco Orchid Society's 67th Annual orchid show and sale in Golden Gate Park from February 21-24, 2019. The show will have award winning flowers and plants on display that have been officially judged by representatives of the American Orchid Society.This year's theme ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 at the door, advance discount tickets online
Speaker: Philippe Lognonn, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free
Interfacial Engineering of Lithium Metal Anodes: From Liquid to Solid ElectrolytesThe poor performance and safety concerns of lithium (Li) metal anodes represent a critical challenge to enable high energy density rechargeable batteries. This is attributed to several well-known issues associated with Li metal electrodeposition and dissolution, including electrolyte decomposition, dendrite evolution, and “dead†Li accumulation. In addition, short-circuiting can occur ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Grounds for Science: Getting the most out of light: vision and geoengineeringThe cells that give us sightRoughly 55% of the brain’s surface and an estimated 12 billion neurons are devoted to vision - more than the other senses combined. But what exactly are all these cells doing? By detailing startling patient case studies and seminal experiments, Mathew will sketch a broad ...
Where: EmeryvilleCost: Free
Saturday, 02/23/19
67th Annual Pacific Orchid Exposition - now back in Golden Gate ParkThe 2019 Pacific Orchid Exposition will be San Francisco Orchid Society's 67th Annual orchid show and sale in Golden Gate Park from February 21-24, 2019. The show will have award winning flowers and plants on display that have been officially judged by representatives of the American Orchid Society.This year's theme ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 at the door, advance discount tickets online
Habitat Restoration: Phoenix Lake BroomWe bet your new year’s resolutions include exercise, getting out in nature, and giving back to your community. We are here to help you with that! Join your fellow nature lovers in a morning of habitat restoration.We will meet at Phoenix Lake dam. The gate at Natalie Coffin Greene Park ...
Where: RossCost: Free
MMWD Trail Crew: Bill Williams CanyonMount Tamalpais Watershed trail work will include drainage and vegetation maintenance around Phoenix Lake. Mandatory safety talk starts promptly at 9am! RSVP required.We will meet at Phoenix Lake dam. The gate at Natalie Coffin Greene Park will be open from 8:45 to 9:00 to allow volunteers to drive up and ...
Where: RossCost: Free
Salamander SearchUnravel the secrets of our unique newt population among the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains! Meet and touch some of our native animal ambassadors. Venture into the newt’s ecosystem to locate these and other native animals in their habitat. Recommended for ages 5+.Sessions offered 2/16 and 2/23.
Where: SaratogaCost: $15
Science Saturday: Animal AthletesThis highest jumping, fastest flying, strongest biting Science Saturday of the year focuses on the Olympians in the animal kingdom. From falcons to mountain lions, and beetles to beavers, every athlete has a story to tell. Join us for crafts, activities, and science as we sprint, jump, and dive into ...
Calling All Eco-Explorers! Youth ages 5-15 will be up to their elbows in FREE, hands-on activities. Learning through fun interactive, nature science experiences and regional field trips, your kids will find out all about the Bay Area ecosystem and become the next generation of Citizen Scientists! We have extended Welcome ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free
A Fungus Among UsFrom truffles and yeast to ringworm and toadstools, fungus is all around us. Explore the farm looking for examples of these life forms and learn more about their importance in our world. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.
Where: FreemontCost: Park admission applies
Salamander SearchUnravel the secrets of our unique newt population among the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains! Meet and touch some of our native animal ambassadors. Venture into the newt’s ecosystem to locate these and other native animals in their habitat. Recommended for ages 5+.Sessions offered 2/16 and 2/23.
Where: SaratogaCost: $15
The Bay Model: A Bay Area OracleIn commemoration of Engineer Week, this program is dedicated to the USACE San Francisco District's construction of the Bay Model. This former one-of-kind scientific, hydrodynamic, engineering testing facility has accurately produced water related predictions for almost a half century. Although retired now, its story is part of the districts amazing ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Science on Saturdays: Biomolecular Action Movies: Flash Imaging with X-ray lasersProteins are nature’s machines, performing tasks from transforming sunlight into useable energy to binding oxygen for transport through the body. These functions depend on the structural arrangement of atoms within the protein, which was, until recently, only possible to measure statically, in easily crystallized samples via conventional X-ray diffraction. Many ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free with admission
Oceans Aglow: Family Night Hike & CampfireJoin NatureBridge Golden Gate as we discover one of the most amazing natural phenomenon, bioluminescence. We will hike out to Rodeo Beach and explore the sands for twinkling plankton. Where did they come from? Why are they blinking? Are they here all the time? We will try and answer all ...
For several decades after the last of the Apollo missions, scientists have thought that the question of the origin of the Moon was largely settled. The Moon was created about 4½ billion years ago, when a Mars-size body and the proto-Earth - both with atmospheres and, likely, surface oceans - ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free
Maker Lab: Open Lab @ClaremontA place to drop in and try out:Sewing on a Babylock sewing machineButton-makingDrawing on the ProWise whiteboardExperimenting with a Foldscope microscopeNeedle-feltingSculpting with modeling clayNo previous experience necessary! This program is for kids with parents, teens, and adults.
