Each summer, millions of Arctic breeding Shorebirds leave their northern nesting grounds and make their way toward southern wintering grounds. In Santa Clara County, we have many locations where dense clouds of these magnificent birds can be seen and admired as they arrive for the season. Others simply pass through ...
Design of high-performance Li-S batteries: revisiting the role of lithium polysulfidesSpeaker: Xin Gao, Peking UniversityNi Anchored to Hydrogen-Substituted Graphdiyne for Lithium Sulfide Cathodes in Lithium-Sulfur BatteriesSpeaker: Louisa Greenburg, Stanford UniversitySee weblink for streaming information and to register
Where: Cost: Free
Everything You Never Knew You Wanted to Know about Mosquitoes San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District offers no-charge services to county residents! Join us to learn about basic mosquito ecology, common water sources, the history of mosquito control in San Mateo County, and current pest management “tools†including storm drain treatments, mapping software, insect repellent options, and more. ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies in California's National Marine Sanctuaries - LivestreamPlease join ACS San Francisco Bay Chapter and Jess Morten, Director of the Marine Resource Protection Program at the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF), as we delve into the efforts to halt or reduce fatal collisions between ships and whales. Global shipping is vital to the economy, but high volumes ...
Where: Cost: Donation requested
Radical SharingOur bodies, our houses, our land, our space - we humans don’t always like to share. Author Bette Adriaanse talks with Chelsea T. Hicks, and virtual guests Brian Eno and Aqui Thami, about property and sharing, and how to make a lasting positive change in the way we share the ...
Cleaner shrimp are small tropical crustaceans that clean their reef fish clients by removing ectoparasites. Although many client species eat crustaceans, cleaner shrimp are rarely eaten during cleaning interactions. In this talk, I discuss evidence supporting the hypothesis that cooperation between cleaners and clients is mediated by visual signals. I ...
What if the secret to “survival of the fittest†isn't strength, smarts, or power but rather the ability to connect and cooperate?Join evolutionary anthropologist and bestselling author Dr. Brian Hare and discover how cooperation and sociability have shaped the success of species like dogs, bonobos, and especially us humans.With compelling ...
Where: Cost: Free
Thursday, 08/24/23
NightLife: Pacific Island ParadiseGet ready for an unforgettable NightLife dedicated to the vibrant Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Celebrate Pasifika arts, culture, and science with a night of CHamaru food, Polynesian dance, Samoan Tatau (tattoo), and more.Featured events:Join Ponipate Rokolekutu, Assistant Professor at the Critical Pacific Islands and Oceania Studies under ...
How can translating data into compelling sensory experiences - visual, aural, multimedia, and more - make stories of the world around us resonate more deeply? As scientists, journalists, and researchers search for inventive, inclusive ways to share their data - and artists reference data to create impactful artworks - visualization, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
Astronomy on Tap Santa Cruz: Transients and the Ever-Changing SkySupernovae! Neutron star mergers! What do these have in common? They are what’s known as … Transients! Short, dramatic and energetic events that occur on human timescales. Many things in the universe take millions or billions of years to change and evolve. Transients, however, can change over seconds or years, ...
On the Point Bonita Lighthouse Sunset Tour, you will enjoy stunning sunset views and learn the compelling story of this landmark. The tour will include elements of natural and cultural history as well as thought-provoking guided discussion that ties the lighthouse’s history to our present. The tour does not include ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Friday, 08/25/23
Sunset Science: Stars Across Cultures ft Native Skies Star Stories The night sky has had a major impact on humans throughout our existence. Often different cultures and countries adopt their own interpretation of the night sky that could change through time. Stars, constellations, the sun, and the moon have inspired stories, helped us navigate our world and let us understand ...
Where: OaklandCost: $15 General, $5 Kids, Free for Members
Our Evenings with the Stars programs are held annually as part of our Summer Series. Each year we bring world-renowned astronomers to the summit of Mount Hamilton for a night with the “stars†you won’t forget!The event activities include:Astronomy talk by “star†scientistsViewing through the historic 36-inch Great Lick Refractor ...
Water! It’s the secret to life on Earth (and everywhere, as far as we can tell!). Join us for another free Science Saturday Event: Water Wild at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. We will explore the role water plays in the natural history of the Central Coast, wonderful ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
Stewardship Saturday: Searching for Marine Life in the San Francisco BayThis free program for high school students features rotating themes exploring the science of the Center.In collaboration with Angel Island Tiburon Ferry and The Marine Mammal Center, we invite you to adventure through the Bay waters with us! During this event, we will have the chance to search for various ...
Where: Belvedere TiburonCost: Free
Science Safari - Backyard SanctuariesThe San Franciso Bay area is an important area for a lot of different species. Whether they’re furry, feathered, or scaly, lots of animals can have difficulties trying to navigate our urban areas. Learn how you can give local animals some extra aid without having to leave your backyard! Make ...
Where: Los GatosCost: $25
Family Nature Walks - Foothills Nature PreserveEnvironmental Volunteers’ Family Nature Walks program is designed to help students and their families get to know our local open space areas. Small family groups will be guided by a knowledgeable environmental educator during an exploration of a local open space. These small groups will be introduced to fun nature-based ...
Where: Los AltosCost: Free
Nocturnal: Space, The Final Frontier - CANCELEDGrab some Romulan Ale and bring your inner Trekker to a night celebrating all the things that we love about Star Trek. This iconic collection of television shows and movies has inspired generations of science fiction fans to not only pursue careers in space science, but it has influenced culture ...
In 1705, Edmond Halley liberated humanity from the belief that comets were portents of doom; two centuries later, in 1910, as Halley’s Comet returned to perihelion, newspapers and magazines, religious leaders, misguided theorists, and shameless grifters managed to rekindle that fear. When astronomers announced that the earth would pass through ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free
City Public Star PartyCome join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers for an evening of stargazing at Land’s End! We meet at the USS San Francisco Memorial at El Camino del Mar parking lotTelescopes will be set up to show you the craters and mountains of the Moon, planets, bright and colorful double stars, ...
Each year Lick Observatory brings world-renown musicians and astronomers to the summit of Mount Hamilton for a musical night to remember.The event activities include:ConcertAstronomy talk by world-renowned scientistsViewing through the historic 36-inch Great Lick Refractor telescopeViewing through the 40-inch Nickel Reflector telescopeAstronomy discussions with amateur astronomers and viewing through small ...
Where: Mt. HamiltonCost: $55 General
Jazz Under the StarsJazz Under the Stars is a FREE monthly public stargazing event! Occurring on the Saturday nearest the 1st quarter moon (check our Events Page), join us on the 4th floor observatory for a night of smooth jazz, bright stars, and a lot of fun! We play our jazz from CSM's own ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Sunday, 08/27/23
BioBlitz at Hellyer ParkJoin Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, Bioblitz.club, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, and POST for a BioBlitz! A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. At a BioBlitz, scientists, families, students, teachers, and ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Coastal Walk at Pillar Point BluffJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful walk at Pillar Point Bluff just north of Half Moon Bay!Join Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful walk at Pillar Point Bluff just north of Half Moon Bay! You will be guided by POST ambassadors who will share details about the ...
Where: Moss BeachCost: Free
Resilient Forest SeriesJoin Forestree Collective, Regenerative Forest Solutions and Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Fire Forward program for this series highlighting forest health practices, ecological stewardship, regional milling infrastructure, prescribed burning, and more.Each series date will engage participants in stewardship strategies employed at Green Valley Farm + Mill for improving the forest and watershed, ...
Where: SebastopolCost: $25
Molecular-Scale Engineering of Stimuli-Responsive Polymer HydrogelsPolymer hydrogels that respond to external stimuli including pH, light, and heat have attracted broad interest as soft materials with controlled release profiles, 3D printability, and sensing and actuation capabilities. This presentation will explore the molecular-scale engineering of two stimuli-responsive polymer hydrogels.First, we evaluate the impact of functional nanomaterials on ...
Accurate models of 2D materials and heterostructures: balancing between reciprocal- and real-space descriptionsFor more than a century, the notion of band structure remained the most important instrument for studying crystalline solids in the physics community. At the same time, an even older picture of chemical bonding, usually considered at an empirical level, continues serving the chemistry community. The Wannier function formalism provides ...
Two eclipses of the sun are coming to North America during the 2023 - 24 school year - an annular (“ring of fireâ€) eclipse on October 14, 2023 and a total eclipse on April 8, 2024. People in two narrow paths will have the full eclipse experience each time. Everyone ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $10 Members in person, 10/free online
Dark Energy with the Euclid Space Mission - LivestreamJoin the NASA Night Sky Network to hear Dr. Eric Huff from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory bring us up to date on the Euclid space mission to investigate the nature of dark energy and dark matter, and the accelerated expansion of the Universe.Launched on July 1, 2023, from Cape Canaveral, ...
In an exclusive Bay Area presentation, meet the driving force behind a re-examination of the 'wood-wide web', who, along with Dr. Melanie Jones and Dr. Jason Hoeksema, is challenging data and media inflation of claims about Common Mycorrhizal Networks.Few ecological concepts have affected academic and public discourse as much as ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Tuesday, 08/29/23
Creepy, Happy HalloweenOur annual Halloween party is back! Visitors wearing a costume can get free tickets to 3D films or Planetarium shows. Plus, meet creepy crawly critters in our Animal Discovery Zone, and learn to make pumpkins fly in our catapult activity. Members can decorate their own glow-in-the-dark pumpkins in our Member ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free with admission
Volatile chemistry in planet-forming disks Planets form within disks composed of gas, ice, and dust in orbit around young stars. The composition and distribution of volatiles (gas+ice) within these disks profoundly impacts both the chemical and physical outcomes of planet formation - including the delivery of prebiotic building blocks to new worlds. In this talk, ...
Modern insights into wise exercise, sleep, and diet are enhancing healthspan, the years of healthy life that one actually enjoys. This presentation focuses on human clinical data with actionable recommendations for lifestyle choices that can maximize the healthy years of life.Speaker: Greg Tranah, UC San Francisco
Swim Down was Lilianna’s Master’s Capstone project at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This digital, multimodal graphic novel explores the connection between neurodiversity and the deep sea. She collaborated with Scripps scientists Dr. Charlotte Seid, Dr. Lisa Levin, Dr. Peter Franks, and illustrator Freya Hammar to tell the story of Mari, ...
In the face of escalating climate risk, property insurance markets have a critical role to play in helping households and firms reduce risk exposures and recover from natural disasters when they strike. Performing these functions efficiently requires a detailed understanding of property-level disaster risk and pricing that accurately reflects the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
How to Protect Yourself from CybercrimeWe constantly hear about cybercrime in the news, but do you have the knowledge to protect yourself from it?In this talk, information security expert Dr. Carrie Gates will cover the clues that can alert you to something being a scam, along with some of the common types of attacks, such ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $10 Members
In 1977, physicist Freeman Dyson proposed the burial of biomass as a scalable, economical solution to the carbon dioxide problem. Today we know that harvested vegetation should be buried in an engineered dry biolandfill. Plant biomass can be preserved for thousands of years by burial in a dry environment with ...
Sharing the Cost of Wildfire Resilience - LivestreamMany of the country’s most damaging wildfires, including California’s deadly 2018 Camp and Woolsey Fires, Oregon’s 2020 Santiam Fire, and Colorado’s 2021 Marshall Fire, can be traced back to failure in the electric grid. Electric grids can also be damaged by wildfires in turn. Such an interplay between wildfires and ...
After Dark: Discover WonderThe Exploratorium is your playground for experiential learning! Tonight only, step inside the Kanbar Forum for an extended set by post-punk Sky Creature in collaboration with artist Tony Orrico. Sky Creature’s high energy and genre-crossing music creates the fuel for Orrico’s graphite drawings, which are created in response and in ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
Indigenous Communities in the United States: Leaders in Climate Adaptation - LivestreamLearn About:The effects of climate change on Indigenous communities. How Indigenous communities are adapting to climate change. The benefits of including Indigenous Knowledges in USGS science.Speaker: Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, USGS Physical Scientist; Nicole Herman-Mercer, USGS Social Scientist; Sheree Watson, USGS EcologistSee weblink to watch to the lectureÂ
Where: Cost: Free
NightLifeCalling all creatures of the night: explore the nocturnal side of the Academy at NightLife and see what's revealed. With live DJs, outdoor bars, ambiance lighting, and nearly 60,000 live animals (including familiar faces like Claude, our alligator with albinism), the night is sure to be wild.Step inside the iconic ...
On the Point Bonita Lighthouse Sunset Tour, you will enjoy stunning sunset views and learn the compelling story of this landmark. The tour will include elements of natural and cultural history as well as thought-provoking guided discussion that ties the lighthouse’s history to our present. The tour does not include ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Colombia’s Biodiversity - LivestreamPlease join us for a special GGAS Travel Program Speakers Series Zoom talk. Our presenter will be Christopher Calonje, who founded Colombia Birdwatch in 2009 to promote sustainable tourism in his native Colombia.Boasting an eBird list of 276 species, Araucana is like a little version of Colombia itself, the birdiest ...
Protecting species’ habitats is the main policy tool employed across the globe in order to reduce biodiversity losses. These protections are hypothesized to conflict with private landowners’ interests. We study the economic consequences of the most extensive and controversial piece of such environmental legislation in US history - the Endangered ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
First Fridays: Stellar Ending, Death of Stars Just like people, every star has a distinct life cycle, but not every star’s story ends the same. Head to Chabot Space & Science Center’s First Friday for a journey on how stars die and all the factors that lead up to their fate. From white dwarfs to supernovae and ...
Where: OaklandCost: $15 General, $10 Kids/Seniors, $5 Members
PixInsight post-processing basics - Messier 13 The Great Hercules ClusterFrank will pick up where he left off in his last astrophotography presentation on December. 2, 2022. He will explain key fundamentals of post processing and walk through his approach to processing star clusters in PixInsight. He will cover the entire process from stacking to saving the final JPEG image. ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Saturday, 09/02/23
Plant Identification at SanbornJoin YSI as we walk through the Sanborn trails and look for a variety of plants and learn how to identify them! Are they native? Medicinal? Edible? Poisonous? Join us to find out! Ages 8 - 12 with registered adult.
Why are ideologies poisoning public discourse? Why is extremism on the rise? How did we get here, and what can we do about it? It turns out some influential assumptions are suppressing our culture’s “immune response†to dangerous ideas. These assumptions prevent us from normalizing critical thinking, and leave us ...
Tours are given periodically throughout these open house hoursBattery Townsley, at Fort Cronkhite, was San Francisco's most extensive - and most secret - World War II military fortification.From 1940 to 1948, it mounted two massive battleship guns and housed more than 100 soldiers in an extensive network of underground tunnels; ...
SCVAS Learn: Warblers 2023 - Part 1 - Green, Yellow and Gray - LivestreamThe fall migration of Warblers is an exciting event for birders. It can also daunting because many of these tiny tree-top insectivores lack the distinctive breeding plumage that makes them so memorable. How do we sort through the many similar features and identify the individuals we find? Why are there ...
The human proteome is extremely complex, comprising > 10,000 proteins and 100 times proteoforms for each gene product. In cancer and other diseases, several new protein variants may result from mutations, fusions and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) that further influence the functions and structure of proteins. This necessitates the identification of ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
The Past and Future of Robotics & Machine Intelligence: 250 Years of Research ExperienceThe Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences invites you to a special panel on AI led by Distinguished Professor Emerita Ruzena Bajcsy, joined by colleagues Claire Tomlin, Shankar Sastry, Jitendra Malik, Rodney Brooks, and Ken Goldberg.Are robots on the verge of becoming human-like and taking over most jobs? When ...
Famed astronomer Avi Loeb returns to The Commonwealth Club to answer some of the biggest questions facing humankind: How do we prepare ourselves for interaction with interstellar extraterrestrial life? And can our species itself become interstellar?Loeb, the longest-serving chair of Harvard's Astronomy Department, shook the scientific community when he theorized ...
Where: Cost: Use code WonderfestPromo for free ticket
In a 1967 episode of the iconic television series Star Trek, Mr. Spock explained:“If I let go of a hammer on a planet that has a positive gravity, I need not see it fall to know that it has in fact fallen.†Mr. SpockSpock’s idea to see with your mind’s ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Revolutionizing Risk: How Sensors, Data and AI Are Reshaping the InsuranceInsurance is one of the world's most ancient businesses. It is also the cornerstone that holds economies firm. Yet, as the number of sensors and the amount of data continue is on the brink of an unprecedented transformation. In today's interconnected landscape, data forms the very fabric of our daily ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Creating the Science, Covering the ScienceJoin us in-person and online for a discussion with journalist Katie Hafner, who covers scientific advances, especially those by women, and her husband, Dr. Robert Wachter of UCSF, who is on the forefront of the digital transformation of health care and has been influential in advancing public understanding of the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General in person, $10 General online
IEEE Computer Society Chapter Open house, Award ceremony, and talk AI and Conversational CommerceIn today's fast-paced digital landscape, conversational commerce has emerged as a game-changer, and AI is at the heart of this transformative shift. Through AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants, businesses are revolutionizing the messaging space, enabling customers to engage in seamless conversations while making purchases and completing transactions right within their ...
As recognized in science and increasingly in politics and business water will play the role of the “main fuel†for future conflicts. The former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, referred to water as “the conflict material of the 21st century†already in 2003. Verstraete et al. (2009) summarize ...
In this talk I will discuss the use of monkeyflowers to probe the genetic and molecular bases of floral trait variation among species, to characterize the developmental mechanisms of pattern formation, and to test the adaptive significance of floral trait variation in the evolution of pollination syndromes.Speaker: Yaowu Yuan, Associate ...
We are excited to hear from The Scobee Education Center’s Rick Varner: “SATX Solar Eclipses: Don’t be Blinded by the Light†and Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. William Kosmann: “Voyager’s Family Portrait of the Solar Systemâ€!Watch on Youtube or Facebook with links at the weblink
Where: Cost: Free
Thursday, 09/07/23
Coastal Walk at Pillar Point BluffJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful walk at Pillar Point Bluff just north of Half Moon Bay! You will be guided by POST ambassadors who will share details about the area’s interesting natural history, from the coastal scrub habitat to the Fitzgerald Marine Preserve which hosts tide pools ...
The Library of the Great Silence: A conversation with Jonathon Keats - LivestreamWe follow up with SETI Artist in Residence Jonathon Keats about his project The Library of the Great Silence, an installation art project that addresses one of the implications of the Fermi Paradox. If the cosmos is only sparsely populated by intelligent beings that implies that at some point in ...
The goal of this presentation is to educate students on several topics around production of consumer electronics as it relates to engineering. We’ll discuss tradeoffs between product and test stations design. From early stages of the product design process known as design for manufacturing (DFM) to best practices around test ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Science on Tap: Marine Heat WavesScience on Tap is our new series that mixes the best parts of learning about science with some of the best brews on the central coast! Each event will feature a happy half-hour highlighting beverages from our partners at local breweries followed by a panel discussion from experts about the ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: $15 General, $10 members, Free for Students
Immerse yourself in an unpredictable improvisational performance that considers sound and visuals in relation to each other. In their ongoing collaboration Drawing Sound, sound artist Fred Frith generates soundscapes while visual artist Heike Liss draws her Klangbilder "sonic images" directly on windows. Presenting their work in two sets, Fred and Heike will move through ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
NightLife: California LoveCalifornia knows how to party. Join us to celebrate the vibrant biodiversity that makes the Golden State so special.
Join Alex Filippenko, UC Berkeley Richard & Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Professor in the Physical Sciences, for a wide-ranging conversation with California magazine’s editor-in-chief, Pat Joseph, as they explore such topics as the startling new images from the James Webb Space Telescope, the Great North American Eclipse of 2024, and the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $40 General, $35 Cal Alumni & BAMPFA members
Living with Bears in Marin - LivestreamJoin us for a virtual foray into the world of black bears in Marin and beyond! Tune into this webinar to:Learn about bears in Marin’s public lands and the ongoing conservation initiatives aimed at documenting the black bear population in the North BayDiscover practical tips and techniques for coexistence with ...
Where: Cost: Free
Fear and Loathing in the Heavens: The 1910 Return of Halley’s CometIn 1705, Edmond Halley liberated humanity from the belief that comets were portents of doom. Yet, two centuries later, in 1910, as Halley’s Comet returned to perihelion, newspapers and magazines, religious leaders, misguided theorists, and shameless grifters managed to rekindle that fear. When astronomers announced that the earth would pass ...
Where: Los AltosCost: Free
Friday, 09/08/23
Bair Island Walking TourLearn about this beautiful POST protected space, and join us for a 1-mile gentle/flat walking tour of Bair Island!Join Peninsula Open Space Trust for a walking tour at Bair Island! You’ll be guided by POST ambassadors who will share the history of this beautiful protected space, information about the species ...
Semiconductor technology advancements have enabled the capability and cost of computing devices to improve exponentially over time, with transformative impact - witness the rise of cloud computing and the Internet of Things, which together with advances in machine learning have ushered in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Today’s leading-edge ...
This event provides a different introduction to astronomy than our Intro to the Night Sky talks. During this hour, you'll gain an appreciation for the size and scale of the cosmos and our place within it. You'll see many examples of the beautiful objects visible in the night sky, learn ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday, 09/09/23
Family Nature Walks - Foothills Nature Preserve - RescheduledEnvironmental Volunteers’ Family Nature Walks program is designed to help students and their families get to know our local open space areas. Small family groups will be guided by a knowledgeable environmental educator during an exploration of a local open space. These small groups will be introduced to fun nature-based ...
Where: Los AltosCost: Free
Combating Psychic Fraud - LivestreamThe Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world, founded in 1902.Based in part on his own experiences with psychics attempting to contact the dead, Houdini helped form the S.A.M’s Paranormal Investigation Committee (P.I.C.) to expose those “supernatural†frauds. P.I.C. has carried on that ...
Bay Area Skeptics: HANGIN’ OUT with Leonard Tramiel at Chabot Space & Science CenterLeonard Tramiel, Ph.D. physics, has been a volunteer docent at Chabot Space and Science Center since 2000. Lots to see, including a Soyuz capsule that illustrates better than anything else why basketball players are not recruited to be astronauts. If you haven’t been to Chabot in a while, you won’t ...
Where: OaklandCost: $24 General, $19 Seniors and Children
Coastal Walk at Cowell-Purisima TrailJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful Sunday walk along the Cowell-Purisima trail that POST helped create by protecting adjacent farmland. While it may be foggy, we hope to catch gorgeous views of the ocean, nearby farmland, and glimpses of harbor seals, pelicans, hawks, rabbits, and whales during the ...
Scanning Probe Nano-Optics: from biochemical nano-fingerprinting to light-matter interactions in quantum materiaScanning probe optical microscopy offers access to material properties beyond the fundamental diffraction limit in conventional optics. In this talk, I will start by introducing nano-spectroscopic material identification - nano-fingerprinting. Nanoscale composition and heterogeneity of a range of materials, including natural specimens and biomedical devices, can be delicately identified without ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
SCVAS Learn: Warblers 2023 - Part 2 - East and West - LivestreamThe fall migration of Warblers is an exciting event for birders. It can also daunting because many of these tiny tree-top insectivores lack the distinctive breeding plumage that makes them so memorable. How do we sort through the many similar features and identify the individuals we find? Why are there ...
Over two decades ago, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft revealed that beneath a frozen ice shell, Jupiter’s moon Europa likely harbors a deep, salty ocean of liquid water that may present a habitable environment for life. As a result, Europa has become a foremost target for Solar System exploration.In this talk, Dr. ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members & Seniors
Tuesday, 09/12/23
This is Not Your Usual Heat Extreme - Livestream2023 has seen heat records smashed around the world in places like Phoenix, AZ, where temperatures of 110 degrees or more continued for over 30 straight days. Rising temperatures and increased heat have been accurately projected in climate change modeling, but to describe 2023 temperatures as the new normal is inaccurate; we are ...
Join us to learn about the history of bird art and how the practice is still relevant today from artist and science illustrator Jane Kim. Recently, Jane was invited to be the Avian Artist-in-Residence at the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University as part of their current exhibit "Illuminating ...
Where: Cost: Free
The False Promise of OptimizationCoco Krumme traces the fascinating history of optimization from its roots in America's founding principles, to its dominance as the driving principle of our modern world. Optimized models underlie everything and are deeply embedded in the technologies and assumptions that have come to comprise not only our material reality, but ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: TBA
Wednesday, 09/13/23
Policy Implications for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Beyond the Hype - LivestreamArtificial intelligence (AI) represents a set of technologies that includes automated systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and decision-making (source: GAO 2023). AI has promising applications in healthcare, but such broad potential use in health and healthcare decision-making raises important ...
Ocean acidification (OA), hypoxia (H), and warming are projected to have profound impacts on marine ecosystems and resources of the California coast. These large-scale climatic stressors interact with local circulation and anthropogenic stressors, such as nutrient loading, to exacerbate conditions. However, understanding of the relative attribution of global-to-local stressors requires ...
In this talk, Jaron Lanier will discuss a piece he published in The New Yorker (“There Is No AIâ€) about applying data dignity ideas to artificial intelligence (AI). Large-model AI can be reconceived as a social collaboration between the people who provided data to the model in the form of ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
The John and Mary Louise Riley Seminar Series at Bodega Marine LaboratoryJoin us for the John & Mary Louise Riley Seminar Series, featuring speakers from within the marine sciences community and beyond.Please register to join us on Zoom.Speaker: Tamara Barriquand - Assistant Professor, Cal Poly Humboldt
Where: Cost: Free
Use and Abuse of Science in the World of Sport: Two Talks- LivestreamIs Sport a Breeding Ground for Pseudoscience?In high-performance sport, success and failure are separated by increasingly smaller margins. The will to win has made athletes and coaches ever more experimental, vowing to leave no stone unturned. But blunted critical faculties and lax consumer regulations coalesce, allowing pseudoscience to thrive. Thousands ...
196 Days Off the Planet with Astronaut Dan BurschDan Bursch will discuss the adventure of living in space during his stay on the International Space Station from December 2001 until June 2002. Through pictures and stories, he will discuss the challenges of working on an international program, and show just a few of the beautiful views of our ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: Varies
Advances in Nuclear Fusion: Conversation with a Plasma PhysicistIf you don't understand how nuclear fusion works, that's totally okay!This event is for you.From what we know nuclear fusion has the potential to completely and radically change the way in which we get energy, how our world is powered, and could potentially usher in a revolution in the fight ...
Join us for a special public event to celebrate KIPAC’s 20th anniversary! During this event, we will have a panel Q&A to discuss the exciting science we will be able to advance in the next decade with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. With the ability to survey the entire sky ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Thursday, 09/14/23
Generative AI: Race, Art, and PowerFrom ChatGPT, DALL-E, Bard, and Midjourney, the use of AI as a creative tool has increased dramatically both from technological breakthroughs and a flood of new users. Users and researchers have offered both praise and criticism - about the veracity of AI-generated art, race and gender bias engrained in these ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
The Science of Democracy - LivestreamJust as science is needed to ensure that policies are effective, a healthy democracy is needed to ensure that they are fair.The Union of Concerned Scientists invites you to a virtual discussion to learn about our work for a healthier democracy, keeping public science strong, and removing barriers to evidence-based ...
100 Years to Thrive: Designing Longer and Wealthier LivesFeel like you are always running out of time? What would you do differently with an extra 25 years of longevity to build a fulfilled life?Please join us for a conversation on making the most of our increased longevity and designing lives with greater well-being, meaning and purpose. Dr. Laura ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $10 Members in person, $5/free online
The Exploratorium is your playground after dark! Wander the galleries, sip a cocktail, and choose your own adventure with 600+ interactive exhibits. Peek into our workshop for exhibits in development and the tools and machines that help bring them to life. And don’t miss The Great Animal Orchestra, our summer exhibition ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
Frank Drake Award Ceremonies: Open to EveryoneHelp celebrate leaders in the search for life in the Universe - the recipient of the nonprofit SETI Institute’s Drake Award and the next generation of SETI scientists earning the SETI Forward Award. The Drake Award, honoring the Father of SETI, Frank Drake, is the world's premier prize highlighting the science ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: varies
Point Bonita Lighthouse Sunset TourOn the Point Bonita Lighthouse Sunset Tour, you will enjoy stunning sunset views and learn the compelling story of this landmark. The tour will include elements of natural and cultural history as well as thought-provoking guided discussion that ties the lighthouse’s history to our present. The tour does not include ...
If we don’t understand the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic, we won’t understand the risks that could lead to future viral emergence events and pandemics. I will discuss the multitude of scientific lines of evidence relevant to this topic, including epidemiological and evolutionary data. Analyses of these data ...
Where: Cost: Free
Friday, 09/15/23
Morning Hike at Rancho Cañada del OroJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for an excursion where you’ll explore the Mayfair Ranch - Longwall Canyon trails of Rancho Cañada del Oro! You will be guided by POST Ambassadors who will share with you the history of the preserve, the region, and the importance of conservation in the area.The ...
Speaker: Franz Weber, Univ of PennsylvaniaAttend in person or online here.
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Saturday, 09/16/23
The Physics Show - SOLD OUTThe Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families. This year we will have two weekends of shows in September and two weekends of shows in January.  What is The Physics Show?Saturday September 16, 2023 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm [SOLD OUT]Sunday September 17, 2023 at 1:00 pm [SOLD OUT]Saturday September 23, ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: $6
The Physics and Chemistry of the Atomic Nucleus - LivestreamThe atomic nucleus truly sits at the intersection of chemistry and physics - over the decades both scientific fields have laid claim to these uniquely mysterious quantum systems. I will talk in this presentation about the current state-of-the-art in nuclear science, including the new Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, which ...
Where: Cost: Free
Sunday, 09/17/23
Morning Hike at Skyline Ridge Open Space PreserveJoin POST for this guided hike at Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve! A POST Representative will share a few words about POST’s decades of conservation success before hiking groups leave to explore a moderate to strenuous 4.5 mile hike with 800 feet of elevation gain.POST has made many contributions towards ...
Where: Los AltosCost: Free
The Physics Show - SOLD OUTThe Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families. This year we will have two weekends of shows in September and two weekends of shows in January.  What is The Physics Show?Saturday September 16, 2023 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm [SOLD OUT]Sunday September 17, 2023 at 1:00 pm [SOLD OUT]Saturday September 23, ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: $6
Presidio: Changes Through TimeJoin the National Park Service and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the GGNRA!This half-mile, level walk shows the historical changes to the Presidio, from the Spanish fort all the way to the new Tunnel Tops. Who benefitted from these changes, and who did not?Learn about the people who lived here, and ...
SCVAS Learn: Warblers 2023 - Part 1 - Rare and Regular - LivestreamThe fall migration of Warblers is an exciting event for birders. It can also daunting because many of these tiny tree-top insectivores lack the distinctive breeding plumage that makes them so memorable. How do we sort through the many similar features and identify the individuals we find? Why are there ...
Program (the order of the speakers might change): Michal Kosinski(Stanford Univ) on "Theory of Mind Might Have Spontaneously Emerged in Large Language Models"The uniquely human ability to impute unobservable mental states to others may have spontaneously emerged in large language models...Read more Amy Karle(Media Artist) on "Digital Dreams ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Tuesday, 09/19/23
Energy and Power Challenges for the ArmyThe Army leverages significant power and energy research executed by industry. However, unique DoD and Army needs for power, mission length, and environmental concerns require government expertise. Army requirements are driven by the need for mission success, which includes soldier safety, while the commercial sector is driven by the marketplace. ...
Special delivery! How your cells' microscopic delivery service worksSpeaker: Joseph Slivka, Physics, UC BerkeleyTo Energize or not to Energize - Mitochondrial Control of Organismal Metabolism, Proliferation, and DifferentiationSpeaker: Rumi Sherriff, Molecular and Cell Biology, UC BerkeleyAttend in person or online.
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Exploring Shadows at the South Lunar Pole - LivestreamJoin the NASA Night Sky Network on Tuesday, September 19 at 6:00 PM Pacific Time (9:00 PM Eastern) along with Dr. Erwan Mazarico from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center will bring us up to date about NASA’s plans to explore the lunar south pole region.The lunar south polar region is ...
Where: Cost: Free
Jobs, Truth, and AI: Where do we go from here?Join Lexi Reese, Democratic Candidate for US Senate from California and the only technology leader in the race, and Kent Beck, original signer of the Agile Manifesto and author of the Extreme Programming book series, for a 45-minute fireside chat on Jobs, Truth, and AI.Be part of a workshop where ...
California has an extremely diverse 'mycoflora', with over 4,000 species of macro fungi documented. Modern taxonomical tools have shown that this is just the tip of the iceberg. This talk will highlight some of the recent discoveries, and how you can help move mycology forward.Attend in person or online (see ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Astronomy on Tap Tucson #91: Eclipses and Hubble - LivestreamOn tap this month, we have Steward Observatory researchers Nick Schragal and Azalee Bostroem! Nick will talk about eclipses near and far and Azalee will teach us all about all the wonderful things the Hubble Space Telescope can do! We’ll also be hearing all about the latest Astronomy in the ...
In 1977, physicist Freeman Dyson proposed the burial of biomass as a scalable, economical solution to the carbon dioxide problem. Today we know that harvested vegetation should be buried in an engineered dry biolandfill. Plant biomass can be preserved for thousands of years by burial in a dry environment with ...
 With some simple geometry and some friends on Zoom, we can measure the polar circumference of the Earth. This task was first done by Eratosthenes (276 BCE. - 195/194 BCE). We will watch shadows along the meridian that runs north-south through San Mateo CA, Portland OR, Seattle, WA, and Prince ...
Where: Cost: $20 Suggested Donation
The John and Mary Louise Riley Seminar Series at Bodega Marine LaboratoryJoin us for the John & Mary Louise Riley Seminar Series, featuring speakers from within the marine sciences community and beyond.Please register to join us on Zoom.Speaker: Brian Hoover, Principal Scientist, Farallon Institute
Where: Cost: Free
Everything COVID from a Traditional Chinese Medicine PerspectiveAlthough we're coming out of the COVID pandemic, many of our lives have been forever changed by the event. Join us at the San Mateo Public Library for a talk by Dr. Brandon Lip about his work as a doctor who practices both conventional medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and ...
If you are considering building an LLM-powered product, such as customer support, internal document search, or a conversational assistant, how do you implement them? In this talk, I will review the basic components and the product pipeline. I will review the options of building in-house (using Llama 2) or using ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Unveiling the Secrets of Volcanoes in the Springerville Volcanic FieldThe Springerville Volcanic Field (SVF), located in east-central Arizona, erupted between 2.1 million and 300,000 years ago, and erupted over 500 distinct lavas. The volcanic products of the field have been mapped and sampled in great detail, which serves as the basis to unraveling the volcanic history to the field. ...
Where: San RafaelCost: Free
Nerd Nite SF #136: Maggot Therapy, Waves, & Your Brain on Exercise! The World is Made of Waves by Yousef HindyWaves are all around us in ways that we may not even realize. They are how we humans perceive and interact with the world, yet many think of waves as restricted to the ocean or football stadiums. In this talk you will ...
