Marine Science Sunday: Sea Otter SpectacularDid you know that the sea otter is the furriest animal in the entire world? The smallest marine mammal is also one of the most special with adaptations to stay warm, find food, and even use tools! This month we celebrate the threatened species with our Sea Otter Spectacular in a ...
Join Greater Farallones sanctuary naturalists and WaterTreks for a morning kayak on the Russian River Estuary along the spectacular Redwood Coast. Explore the wildlife, ecology, and island and coastal beaches where the river meets the sea. We’ll collect plankton samples for Sonoma Coast Watch to monitor for harmful algal blooms. ...
Where: JennerCost: $90, kayaks provided
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory Hawk Talk & Raptor ReleaseThe 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
Science Sundays: Kelp Forest Resiliency: Life after Sea Urchin GrazingAlong California’s Central Coast, sea urchins have recently transformed a long-established kelp forest into an underwater mosaic - patchy forests interspersed with barrens void of kelp. What causes sea urchin outbreaks that result in widespread kelp deforestation? How will they end and when will kelp forests recover?Join Joshua Smith as ...
This year, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 by hosting our annual banquet on the USS Hornet, the aircraft carrier that picked up the crew of Apollo 11 from the Pacific Ocean. During this event, we will have a buffet style dinner in the ship’s officers wardroom, ...
Where: AlamedaCost: $54 General, $44 Members, $24 Students
Monday, 09/16/19
A 2020s Vision of CMB LensingThe field of CMB lensing is somewhere akin to where measurements of the primary CMB itself were 15 years ago; we have detected it's there and measured some scales to moderate significance, but the exciting era of deep precision measurements is just on the horizon. Over the coming decade, CMB ...
Around the world, people recognize that E=mc^2 oozes cosmic insight. But what does this "most famous equation" really say? What are energy and mass? And what makes the speed of light, c, so important? [Hint: mass, moving at speed c, doesn't turn into energy!] Using little more than common experience and 9th-grade math, Einstein's ...
Where: AlamedaCost: Free
Quantum sensing at high pressuresThe nitrogen-vacancy center has emerged as a promising nanoscale quantum sensor for temperature, strain, electric and magnetic fields. By integrating NV centers directly into a diamond anvil cell (DAC) --- the workhorse of high pressure science --- we demonstrate in situ measurements of magnetism inside the pressure chamber, up to ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Chemical Proteomic Platforms to Expose and Exploit Novel Metabolic Signals in DiseaseBiological systems are inherently and profoundly heterogeneous, both at the molecular level (e.g. encoded proteins existing in distinct posttranslational modification states) and the cellular level (e.g. organization of biomolecules to distinct regions of a cell or distinct cells within a tissue). Therefore, in order to understand information flow under basal ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
THE DARK SIDE OF EXTREME GALAXIESGalaxy formation and evolution is closely tied to the effects of dark matter and supermassive black holes. Aaron Romanowsky will present observations and dynamical modeling of two extreme and mysterious classes of galaxies -- the ultracompact dwarfs and the ultra-diffuse galaxies -- to provide novel constraints on their underlying dark ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Supersymmetry and Dark Matter: From the Weak Scale to the Planck ScaleWhile supersymmetry remains an interesting and important extension of the Standard Model of particle interactions, it experimental verification remains elusive. There are many motivations for supersymmetry, many of which center on the notion of Grand Unification. However, motivations for supersymmetry do not necessarily point to weak scale supersymmetry. I will review the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Tools and Weapons: The Promise and Peril of the Digital Age Tech companies have moved fast to manifest the great promise of digital transformation, chasing rapid growth and sometimes disruption as an end in itself. The world has turned information technology into both a powerful tool and a formidable weapon, and today we are at an inflection point. Enormous challenges such ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: $50 - $75
Technosignatures: What Are They, And How Might We Find Them?: Jill Tarter at the Berkeley ForumArthur C. Clarke's third law states that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Since 1960, SETI (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) researchers have been searching for that ‘magic’ in the form of radio, and now optical, electromagnetic signals. These searches need to continue and grow utilizing the exponentially increasing ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Conversations at the Library: Shaili Jain / PTSD: The Unspeakable MindMore than six million Americans suffer from PTSD. Stanford University psychiatrist Shaili Jain’s book, The Unspeakable Mind: Stories of Trauma and Healing from the Frontlines of PTSD Science, draws on a decade of her own clinical innovation and research. Dr. Jain argues for a paradigm shift in how PTSD should be approached, ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Free Will and Contemporary NeuroscienceAre the findings of contemporary neuroscience opposed to a belief that humans have free will?Speaker: Paul Symington, Franciscan University of SteubenvilleRegistration at weblink.
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Tuesday, 09/17/19
AGING, RESEARCH, AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION SUMMIT: DISRUPTING NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASESAlzheimer’s and neurodegenerative diseases are critical health and financial burdens on patients, families, and societies in this country and around the world. Through Medicare and Medicaid, the US government is spending $200B this year on care and support, and that is projected to reach $1Trillion by 2050. 5.8M people are ...
Synthetic polymers are significant importance in all aspects of modern life, and during the last few decades, these materials have facilitated major societal advances. Innovative polymeric materials have the potential to address humankind’s next grand scientific and technological challenges; however, taking advantage of the opportunities presented by these materials requires ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Two KIPAC Tea TalksPlanning for JWST ObservationsSpeaker: Becky Canning, KIPACAstrophysics in the MeV gamma-ray bandSpeaker: Regina Caputo, NASA Goddard
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Sonoma State Biology ColloquiumSonoma State University Biology ColloquiumSpeaker: Margaret Rousser, Conservation Society of California
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Electric Vehicles Are Charging AheadWhile not a panacea for transportation-related pollution, electric vehicles and fleets have an important role to play in reducing emissions. What infrastructure, planning and policy decisions will it take to make this mode of transportation more widespread and accessible? Come join us for a discussion about strategies and innovative approaches, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 General, Free for members
Intoxicating Plants Tour - SOLD OUTJoin us for a leisurely stroll through the Garden to learn about the plants people have used to heal pain, cause pain, bring about pleasure, celebrate the sacred, and symbolize faith. Cultures from around the world will be represented. This walk is hosted in conjunction with the current ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free with admission
The boundary of galaxy clusters and its implications on SFR quenching of satellite galaxiesInfalling particles form a sharp physical boundary around their first apocenters around the parent halo, which is called "splashback radius". The previous measurements of splashback radius using optical clusters reported a ~20% discrepancy against the theory prediction. Here, using galaxy clusters detected by SZ surveys (ACT, SPT), we present the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Health disparities, inequalities, inequities: What’s the difference and why does it matter?Although the term health equity has become widely familiar in public health over the past few years, there is no consensus about its meaning or the meaning of the related terms health disparities and health inequalities.This talk will discuss these concepts, their inter-relationships and distinctions, and the implications for policy ...
Recent advances in super-resolution fluorescence microscopy have led to ~10 nm spatial resolution and exciting new biology. We are developing new approaches to advance beyond the structural (shape) information offered by existing super-resolution methods, and reveal multidimensional information of intracellular functional parameters, including chemical polarity, diffusivity, and reactivity, with nanoscale ...
J.R. Blair is a lecturer in biology at San Francisco State University and the director of the SFSU Sierra Nevada Field Campus near Yuba Pass. He obtained his Masters degree in 1999 studying under the MSSF Science Advisor, Dr. Dennis Desjardin. His thesis was Fungi Associated with Arctostaphylos in Central ...
The Carmel River is an ephemeral river/bar built estuary located in southern Carmel Bay that is bounded by rocky headlands to the south and north of the 700-meter long pocket beach. Observations show the hydrodynamics during breaching and closure events that occurred during the transition from dry to wet seasons ...
Noah Whiteman, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley and the Principal Investigator of the Whiteman Laboratory. Their research follows from Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace, who focused on the evolution of traits shaped by biotic interactions (interactions between organisms).
Machine learning (ML) algorithms are increasingly used to model and predict economic outcomes. Using 15 years of data and nearly 10,000 variables, we build an ML model to predict the likelihood that manufacturing facilities will violate EPA regulations on hazardous waste. Given that the EPA can inspect a limited number ...
The pharmacologic properties of cannabis are varied: sophisticated changer of consciousness, medicine with claims of healing for numerous syndromes, and substance of abuse. The story of how the neurochemical and neurophysiological properties of cannabis are being revealed is a tale of inspiration and dedication. In particular, the discovery of cannabinoid ...
The Bay Area’s transportation system is running at capacity. We see the strain when squeezing our way into crowded MUNI and BART cars, waiting 30 minutes or more at the Bay Bridge toll plaza, and dodging scooters as we cross the street. To add to the challenge, the California Metropolitan ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Nerd Nite SF #112: Parasites, Octopuses, and Superheroes!“Mindsuckers: Tales of the Most Badass Bugs on the Planet†by Anand VarmaThe stuff of nightmares: Parasites that hijack their host bodies. They control their minds. Force them to become their bodyguards, steer them into their burrows where the will be devoured alive, or compel them into the mouths of predators. How ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10
Probability Management - A Cure for the Flaw of Averages - RESCHEDULED and MOVEDEditor's Note: This event has been rescheduled to September 19 and moved. See our listing on 9/19.Dr. Sam L. Savage, Executive Director of ProbabilityManagement.org, Author of The Flaw of Averages: Why we Underestimate Risk in the Face of Uncertainty, Adjunct Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University. The discipline ...
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a NASA space mission that is tasked with tracking the brightness variations of stars across nearly the entire 360 degree expanse of the sky, in its two year planned mission. In operation for the past year, it has already made numerous new discoveries, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Thursday, 09/19/19
Silicon Valley Leaders Symposium: Eric Law from Swinerton - CANCELEDSince Fall 2002, the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering has hosted the Silicon Valley Leaders Symposium (SVLS). The Symposium hosts industry and technology leaders to talk about business and technology trends. It also features prominent leaders who discuss broader societal and political issues that shape our life and society.Eric ...
Discussion of his new book “Digital Transformation: Survive and Thrive in an Era of Mass Extinction†with Professor Shankar Sastry. Reception and book signing in the Kvamme Atrium to follow.
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
A New Era of Transients and Cosmic Structure on the Radio SkyTechnology advances have opened a new era of radio observations. We are now monitoring the sky at millisecond cadence and discovering a vast catalog of new fast radio transients while simultaneously making deep maps of structure in the universe using hydrogen intensity mapping as a tracer. While these fields are ...
Quantum Computing - Introduction and ApplicationsThough early in its development, real quantum computers are now available from IBM on the cloud. This radically new kind of computing offers the possibility of solving some of the world's hardest problems, ones that have always been intractable for "classical" computers.This talk is a gentle introduction to the who, ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
A Conversation with California's First Surgeon General Nadine Burke HarrisDr. Nadine Burke Harris has seen firsthand the health effects of childhood stress. As a pediatrician and medical director of the Bayview Child Health Center in San Francisco, she began studying how childhood adversity translates to poor health in adulthood. In 2013, she founded the Center for Youth Wellness in ...
How has transportation evolved over time, and how does this evolution move toward generating a sustainable transportation ecology? Join us to learn more about how transit technology has advanced to respond to both current and anticipated future needs. From insight into the mechanics of self-driving cars to visions from the past of ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: 17.95 advance, 19.95 door, AD members free
In 2018, health care became the United States’ largest industry, but some would say that its success came at the expense of the American people. Coverage is unaffordable for many, 20 percent of Americans have faced debt collection for medical bills, and care increasingly feels rushed and impersonal. How did ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $10 Members, $8 Students
'90s NightlifeGrab your high-waisted mom jeans and your flannel and get yourself to ‘90s NightLife for a celebration of iconic pop culture.Step into the garden for an epic medley of ‘90s movie soundtracks (think The Lion King, Titanic, The Fifth Element) by the Awesöme Orchestra Collective.Chat with Bay Area experts as ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
Probability Management - A Cure for the Flaw of AveragesEditor's Note: This event was originally scheduled for Sept 18 at a different location.Dr. Sam L. Savage, Executive Director of ProbabilityManagement.org, Author of The Flaw of Averages: Why we Underestimate Risk in the Face of Uncertainty, Adjunct Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University. The discipline of probability management ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Hardcore Natural History: Sudden Oak DeathWe will look at the theme of disease through the lens of plants, diving into what is commonly referred to as “Sudden Oak Deathâ€. Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen known to cause sudden oak death, will be explored by our expert guest Chris Lee, of the California Department of Forestry and ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: $10 General, $5 Members, $15 at door
Hooked on the Fishing Cat: An Evening with Fishing Cat ConservancyDeep in the mangroves of Asia is a cat that loves water, and gets most of his meals from fishing! The long-term survival of The Fishing Cat depends upon the people who live in the surrounding areas. The Oakland Zoo Impact Speaker Series welcomes Ashwin Naidu, co-founder and director of ...
The San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project is led by the CA State Coastal Conservancy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with more than 150 landowners and resource agencies in all nine counties of the SF Bay Area.  The overarching goal is to eradicate invasive Spartina in order to ...
Two KIPAC Tea TalksThe boundary of galaxy clusters and its implications on SFR quenching of satellite galaxiesSpeaker: Tae Hyeon-Shin, Univ. of PennsylvaniaMachine learning applied to CosmologySpeaker: Tomasz Kacprzak, ETH Zurich
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Raptor ID Class on Hawk Hill with Allen FishJoin GGRO director Allen Fish for a 3-hour raptor workshop on the Pacific Coast’s best raptor-spotting spot. Come learn how to tell soaring hawks from accipiters and falcons. And how to spot unique species behaviors as well as tell-tale field marks. Come learn a whole new vocabulary of geeky bird ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Donations encouraged
Engineering Electronic States, Energy Transfer and Disorder in Nanomaterials Through the External EnvironmentThere is a rich variety of semiconductor nanostructures available today for the design of novel material systems and interfaces with tailor-made functionalities. In particular, atomically thin two-dimensional materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) monolayers exhibit extraordinary optical and electrical properties. For such materials, with thicknesses ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Lectures & Lasers: Colorblindness with EnChromaGet lit with lasers! Want to impress your friends with your expansive knowledge of science and culture? Looking for a new date night activity? Just want to kick back and watch a laser show?Don McPherson, a Doctor of Glass Science, was responsible for the original “ah-ha†moment that led to ...
Where: OaklandCost: $20
So you want to buy a telescope (and not just store it in the closet)Thinking of getting a telescope or trying to understand what you already have? To help avoid the frustration that often accompanies such an undertaking, join SJAA for an hour to learn about telescopes, including how telescopes work, their critical components, the types of telescopes that are available, and additionally useful ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Spacecraft Thermal ControlIn this presentation we will discuss the role of Thermal Engineers on the spacecraft design team and explore the use of conduction and thermal radiation (the two dominant modes of heat transfer in a vacuum) to control the temperature of the spacecraft.Speaker: Kenji Ozawa
Where: LivermoreCost: Free
Saturday, 09/21/19
California Coastal Cleanup DayEvery year, on the third Saturday in September, people join together at sites all over California to take part in the State's largest volunteer event, California Coastal Cleanup Day. This year Marine Science Institute is kicking off Coast Weeks at Pescadero State Beach! Join us and thousands of volunteers as ...
Where: San GregorioCost: Free
California Coastal Cleanup Day - Marin CountyCalifornia Coastal Cleanup Day is celebrating its 35th year! Join others around the State to make a difference keeping our beaches, waterways, and parks clean. With over 40 cleanup sites in Marin County, check the Bay Model website for a volunteer opportunity near you.Â
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Smithsonian Museum Day LiveSmithsonian Museum Day Live! is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine. On Saturday, September 21, 2019, visitors who present the Museum Day Live! ticket at the Hiller Aviation Museum will gain free museum admission for two.Tickets available at weblink starting Aug 15.
Wolbachia lab workshop - DNA extraction!Wolbachia infects 60% of all insect species on earth, and has an enigmatic and complex relationship with its hosts. Recently researchers have exploited this relationship to successfully manage Dengue and Zika virus transmission by mosquitoes.In this series of 3 laboratory workshops you will learn to extract DNA from insect samples, ...
Where: OaklandCost: $20
Our changing atmosphere: Evidence that demand a Verdict?Many people are aware of climate change only by way of public discourse and social media. Drawing on recent scientific papers organized for a course he teaches at Berkeley, Jeff Reimer will show how the atmosphere is changing, that humans are the cause, and that there are consequences. These consequences ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory Hawk Talk & Raptor ReleaseThe 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
TEDxPaloAltoSalon: RethinkHear from an extraordinary lineup of individuals rethinking our understanding of epigenetics, musical performance, neuro technology, belief systems, origami, nuclear power and more. Speakers include neuroscientist Osh Agabi; origami artist Ilan Garibi; PTSD specialist Dr. Saili Jain; Grammy(R)-nominated drummer Sammy Miller; Daniel B. Poneman, President and CEO of Centrus Energy ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: $70.
Movie Night on Mt. Tam: The Martian2015 film starring Matt Damon depicts the struggles of an astronaut left behind on Mars as he awaits rescue. Post-screening discussion by Jeffrey Silverman of Science VS Cinema
Where do we come from? A fundamental question of the human species. We might not know the answer, but we do know how the atoms that make up us, the sun, the planets, and the stars were made. Many schoolchildren know that the sun is a star made of hydrogen ...
