Generative AI and Digital Transformation in JapanWith the rapid advances in the last couple of years, generative AI has attracted a great deal of attention in advanced economies. The U.S. seems to be betting on its positive potentials while Europe is generally more apprehensive about its harmful aspects. Japan has arguably been one of the most ...
Speaker: Dr. Panning is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UCSF. Dr. Panning's Lab studies mammalian stem cell epigenetics, focusing on X-inactivation and chromatin modifiers. Her website: https://bms.ucsf.edu/people/barbara-panning-phd.
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Heterogeneity in Collective BehaviorAggregations of social animals, such as flocks, schools, herds, and swarms, are beautiful examples of self-organized behavior far from equilibrium. Such collectives have been the focus of a significant research effort in recent years, from many different perspectives. Biologists aim to understand the evolutionary benefits of acting together; physicists treat ...
Speaker: Dan Jurafsky, Stanford UniversitySee weblink for instructions to gain entry to the building.Room 126
Where: StanfordCost: Free
The Policy Challenge of AI Safety Rapidly advancing AI has prompted a wide spectrum of views about AI safety, ranging from existential fears to skeptical dismissals of “doomers.†Meanwhile, few are tracking the actual policy work that is starting to address these concerns. As the first day of a set of discussions about AI and society, the Hoover Institution ...
Are there any circumstances under which the United Kingdom’s government should consider changing the law to allow intentional genome editing of human embryos for serious genetic conditions? British parliamentarians will debate this question when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act is renewed shortly.On the plane home from Hong Kong, immediately after ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
COVID-19: Do We Still Need To Be Concerned? - LivestreamKen Polse, Professor Emeritus, Optometry, and John Swartzberg, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Infectious Diseases & Vaccinology, will discuss the current state of Covid in the U.S. and our community, the new isolation and quarantine guidelines in California, the value of the updated Covid vaccine, the role of medications like Paxlovid in ...
Where: Cost: Free
Investigating cosmic origin and evolution with CMB-S4 The red-hot glow of the primordial universe, after 13.8 billion years of redshift, is observed today by our telescopes as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Spatial variations of CMB intensity and polarization across the sky provide a record of conditions in the early universe, possibly encoding signatures from cosmic inflation ...
Luis Hernandez-Nunez is a Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar, a Branco Weiss fellow, and a Life Sciences Research Foundation (LSRF) postdoctoral fellow at the laboratory of Florian Engert at Harvard University. Luis' research is focused on the circuit mechanisms for heart-brain interactions in zebrafish. Luis has also been awarded a Burroughs ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Commercializing low-carbon cementCanary Media reports that nearly all US energy grid capacity installed in 2024 will be carbon-free. What are the next levers in decarbonizing our global economy? Presented from the viewpoint of Sublime Systems, a venture-backed MIT spin-out, we examine a groundbreaking manufacturing technology poised to revolutionize the industry. This technology, ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Physical systems that can learn by themselvesIn 1972 Phil Andersen articulated the motto of condensed matter physics as “More is different.†However, for most condensed matter systems many more is quite similar to more - this is why computer simulations of relatively small systems give insight into far larger systems. There are, however, systems in which ...
Radio and TV journalist Ira Flatow produced his first science stories back in 1970 during the inaugural Earth Day. Since then, he has worked for Emmy Award-winning science programs and covered science for a number of high-profile news organizations, and has hosted the popular public radio program “Science Friday†for ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $50 General, $30 Members in person, $20/$10 online
Sara Morawetz (Media Artist) on "Measuring by Measuring Against: Experimental Methods in Artistic Practice" Leah Rosengaus (Director of Digital Health at Stanford Health Care) on "Towards Digital Health: Realizing the Promise of Care Transformation at Stanford Medicine and Beyond" Marisa Olson (Media Artist) on "The Meaning of Postinternet"Room: ...
“Dear Human at Future’s Edge: Science, Creativity and Climate Futures†is a conference focused on the intersection of climate science, ecopoetry, and the arts. The program will celebrate two recent companion publications: the Fifth National Climate Assessment report, the U.S. Government’s preeminent report on climate change impacts, risks, and responses, ...
The emergence of generative language models, such as the one powering ChatGPT, has sparked widespread interest due to its potential implications for the future of work and society at large. The drive to automate decision-making is reaching high-stakes applications like military applications and mental health care, where non-zero error rates ...
Recent experiments have measured the effect of gravity on antimatter with the first “directâ€, i.e., freefall-style or Galilean Leaning Tower of Pisa-style measurements. In agreement with theory and indirect experiments, these experiments, performed by CERN’s ALPHA collaboration, show that antimatter, specifically antihydrogen atoms, fall downward with an acceleration within about ...
For 45 years, Rob has been developing high-resolution records to understand past climatic and oceanic variability, aiming to discern human impacts on our climate. The Dunbar Lab is studying carbon dioxide uptake in the Ross Sea and ice sheet changes in East Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula, while innovating methods ...
Wonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with special communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:• Stanford computer scientist Teddi Worledge on Verifying AI with Attributed Sources - So-called large language models (LLMs) provide information and make judgments ...
Where: NovatoCost: Free
Astronomy on Tap Tucson #97: Giant Rockets, Giant Telescopes, and Giant Exoplanets, oh my! - LivestreamThe dawn of giant rockets delivering giant telescopesSpeaker: Daewook KimSearching for Snapshots of Giant Exoplanet MigrationSpeaker: Arvind Gupta On tap this month, we have NSF NOIRLab postdoc Dr. Arvind Gupta talking about giant exoplanet migration and University of Arizona optical sciences professor Dr. Daewook Kim telling us about the future ...
Curious about the best ways to introduce children to the benefits of mushroom hunting?Melany Kahn quells common fears and puts the “us†in mushrooms, by weaving simple education through playful, fungi-finding adventures. It’s never too early to learn, and never too late to start a family interest in mycology.Melany will ...
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the largest and most complex telescope ever put into service in space. The Webb telescope is an infrared telescope designed to look back in time to when the first stars and galaxies formed.  It was developed by a collaboration between NASA, the Canadian ...
Where: Cost: Free
Transforming Climate Anxiety into Climate Action at WorkAre you worried about the climate crisis and don’t know where to begin to take action? A good place to start is your workplace. Companies wield enormous influence and they have an important role to play in reducing emissions and advocating for climate policy. When employees speak, companies act!According to ...
AI for healthcare has the potential to revolutionize how we practice medicine. However, to do this in a fair and trustworthy manner requires special attention to how AI models work and their potential biases. In this talk, I will cover the considerations for building AI systems that improve healthcare.Speaker: Roxana ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Engineering Extracellular Matrix Viscoelasticity to Probe Cellular ResponsesIn the body, cells are surrounded by a scaffolding of biopolymers that provide physical support and biochemical cues, known as the extracellular matrix (ECM). Hydrogel cell culture models have been used to reveal that properties of the ECM, notably matrix stiffness, can regulate a host of cellular behaviors, such as ...
I will discuss what motivated me to write a new book on the origin story of toxins made by plants and other organisms that humans use (and sometimes abuse) and I will give an overview of this general audience book.A deadly secret lurks within our spice racks, medicine cabinets, backyard ...
Recovery in the Anthropocene: When and how do populations survive disturbance? - LivestreamGlobal change is making acute disturbances such as novel infectious disease and extreme environmental changes increasingly common. These events can lead to mass mortality, shifting species distributions, and altered ecosystem function.  They can also select for adaptive traits, sometimes leading to evolutionary rescue. Survival and recovery depend on several factors ...
Clean fuel and stove interventions, like other health or development programs, require users to continually purchase the product, and affordability remains a major barrier. To ease financial constraints, microcredit has been the most commonly pursued tool, yet many low-income individuals need a safe place in which to save, not necessarily ...
Susan Glass, a poet and professor who has been blind since birth, has been mapping her surroundings by birdsong since childhood. Hear her account of how learning bird sounds has enabled her to experience the joy and beauty of birding while being a person who visually impaired.Register at weblink to ...
Where: Cost: Free
NERD NITE SF #141: Changing Clothes, Climates, and… Birds?Spring is in the air and with the changing of the seasons come deeper questions about what it means to “change.†Change can be as mundane as putting on new clothes - or as complex as getting into an elaborate cosplay. Change can be as world-spanning as human-made climate shifts ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 Advance, $15 at door
Given that the extent of the observable universe has yet to be mapped out, some might wonder why some physicists have introduced the concept of a multiverse into their models. Â This talk will examine why some eminent physicists, such as the late Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg, have been attracted to ...
An Emergency Medicine doctor thrives in the chaotic, bustling environment of the ER. Join Dr. Steve Garcia as he offers a glimpse into his non-traditional path to becoming a physician. He will describe the training of Emergency Physicians and how they diagnose and treat all patients in the Emergency Room, ...
Where: San RafaelCost: Free
Thursday, 04/18/24
Consciousness & Reality Colloquium (Bioelectricity: The Body's Cognitive Glue) - LivestreamMany theories of consciousness postulate specific features of the nervous system that enable it to support minds. These features also exist in other types of biological cells, which are a kind of agential material, that harness bioelectricity: a biophysical modality that evolution was using as cognitive glue from the time ...
The early-stage climate technology ecosystem is flourishing, and an increasing number of entrepreneurs and scientists are bringing forward startup companies with promising solutions for some of our hardest challenges. Many of the climate problems that once seemed nearly impossible to address - decarbonizing cement, storing low-carbon power for days, replacing ...
Is the Planet Full? What We Need to Know about Overpopulation - LivestreamThe human population reached eight billion people in 2022 and may reach ten billion later this century. A relatively small (and rich) fraction of those billions are able to cause climate change at a global scale. However, with so much focus on the challenges of climate change, another catastrophe is ...
Satellite communications experience many unique challenges in closing the link budget and providing reliable and resilient data throughput. These challenges range from overcoming the vast distances to managing atmospheric perturbations to generating unique modulations that are both spectrally and power efficient. In this discussion we will briefly cover these various ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Electric Fireside Chat with Dahlia Myers - LivestreamJoin us for an inspiring conversation between Tyrone Jue, Director of the San Francisco Environment Department, and Dahlia Myers, youth activist with the Sunrise Movement. Don’t miss this chance to learn from their insights and experiences!
What do you think about when you think about the Exploratorium? Cow eye dissections? Colorful Shadows? The Tactile Dome?Like you, the Exploratorium has glowed up since your last visit. Whether you were here pre-COVID or just last week, our galleries are constantly evolving with brand-new exhibits and experiences. Some have ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
The Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley has, from its inception a half century ago, educated many of today’s experts and policymakers about the truly interdisciplinary nature of global challenges and solutions. Dr. Peter Gleick, a member of one of ERG’s early cohorts, especially took to heart the idea ...
Policies meant to control the spread of COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic devastated some portions of the economy and student learning, and critics say they resulted in mental health and substance abuse problems, domestic violence and the discontinuation of treatment for other health conditions. Many say these policies ...
Where: San RafaelCost: $10 General, $7 Members, Free for Students
Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research - LivestreamWe’ve all heard amazing facts about bird migration - the long distances that birds travel, the ways that they navigate, etc. But did you ever wonder how we figured all of this out? While working for the American Ornithological Society, Rebecca Heisman became fascinated with the varied and creative techniques ...
Where: Cost: Free
AI for Learning Photorealistic 3D Digital Humans from In-the-Wild Data - LivestreamTraditionally, creating 3D digital humans requires lengthy efforts by digital artists, and often costly 3D scanning by special multi-view scanners. Learn how recent generative AI technologies allow the learning of photorealistic 3D representations from a collection of in-the-wild 2D images, such as internet photos. We'll dive deep into our recent ...
Where: Cost: Free
Edison and the Eclipse that Enlightened AmericaJust a couple of weeks after the historic total solar eclipse of 2024, author David Baron will share a pertinent tale from the distant past. In the summer of 1878, a similar eclipse traversed America’s Wild West, darkening the frontier while rousing the ambitions of an entire nation. The event ...
Join SOMA’s own Taye Bright and Harte Singer to hear exciting stories about discoveries made from year one of the California Fungal Diversity Survey, insights from the rare fungi challenges, DNA sequencing initiatives for the Sonoma Mycological Association and much more. Come learn about the power of community mycology and ...
When the ecologist Carl Safina took in a wounded baby screech owl, he expected that she’d be a temporary guest, soon to be released. But the tiny creature - named Alfie - took a long time to heal. Carl and his wife Patricia could never have predicted that when Alfie ...
Quantum Science With Rare-Earth Ions In CrystalsRare-earth ions in crystals, when strongly coupled with optical and superconducting resonators, form a novel platform that facilitates the exploration of quantum many-body physics and the development of light-matter interfaces for the future quantum internet. Through the utilization of a large ensemble of Ytterbium-171 ions doped into a high-cooperativity nanophotonic ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Bioenergy Recovery Facility at EBMUDYoung Professionals in Energy is pleased to partner with EBMUD to host this site visit tour of renewable energy infrastructure right here in the Bay Area! This will be the first of a series of site visits YPE will offer in 2024, look for similar events in the near future!The ...
Born at the dawn of the new millennium, attosecond “photography†has opened the door for capturing sub-atomic motions as they evolve in time. Control of the oscillating electric field of light has permitted the attosecond control of electrons with unprecedented precision in space and time.Fundamental quantum phenomena, such as electron ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Public Astronomy Viewing NightsSonoma State University hosts astronomical viewing nights open to the public. Events are weather dependent. Check the weblink for cancelations prior to attending.
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Saturday, 04/20/24
Morning Hike from Skyline Ridge to Russian RidgeA POST Representative will share a few words about POST’s decades of conservation success before hiking groups leave to explore a strenuous 6.25 mile hike with 1100 feet of elevation gain.POST has made many contributions towards protecting Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve and Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve over the ...
Where: Los AltosCost: Free
Spring flowers at Bouverie PreserveJoin us for a 3-hour docent-led nature walk at the 535-acre Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen. You will be in small groups while strolling through and appreciating the unique beauty of our oak and riparian woodland habitats.The trails are wide, unpaved, uneven, and some have steps or inclines. Wear sturdy ...
Where: Glen EllenCost: $20 Suggested Donation
Climate Change at Chrissy FieldJoin the Climate Change at Crissy Field tour to explore the breathtaking, 180-degree views of San Francisco Bay from Crissy Field and to discuss the threat of climate change and sea level rise to Crissy Field’s beauty. You will see the recent restoration that converted the US Army airfield to ...
SPUR and the Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy invite you to celebrate Earth Day with us at the Yerba Buena Gardens for a fun-filled, family-friendly day of live music, food, and interactive activities in partnership with YBCA, the Children’s Creativity Museum, Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center, Yerba Buena Gardens ...
The COE has led a Teacher Leadership Institute program for the past five years that culminates in teachers sharing and celebrating the projects they completed as part of the program. This year, for the first time we are turning the portion of the program where teachers share their classroom projects ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
WhaleFest 2024Come Shake your Tail - Save a Whale and celebrate Earth Day at this WhaleFest at the beach. Dive deep into the realm of whales, learn about the critical importance of ocean conservation, and be inspired by our lineup of special guests and speakers who are leaders in marine biology ...
Where: PacificaCost: Free
Sunnyvale's Earth Day Festival Show your love for the planet by attending Sunnyvale's Earth Day Festival. It features the Grand Opening of our new Civic Center campus. The event will feature family-friendly, sustainability-focused activities and information from local organizations.  Attend the festival to enjoy: Civic Center ribbon cutting Sustainable arts and crafts for kids Cooking demonstration by ...
Where: SunnyvaleCost: Free
HOME ELECTRIFICATION FAIRThe benefits of switching from gas to electric can be enormous - long-term savings, healthier indoor air, cutting your climate footprint. And with new government rebates and tax credits 2024 promises to be a great year to go electric! The 2024 Home Electrification Fair is your one-stop shop for answers to ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Wild and Scenic Film Festival 2024The 2024 Wild and Scenic Film Festival combines stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography, and first-rate storytelling. These films explore nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture and more.This year’s program features the audience favorites from the nation’s premier environmental and adventure film festival, the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $20 - $25
Sunday, 04/21/24
Earth Day at the RefugeCelebrate Earth Day with the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and partners!This event will be an open house, with time to explore, learn more about our endangered species, join a guided tour, participate in some arts & crafts, and much more as we celebrate our Earth!Register at ...
Where: AlvisoCost: Free
Earth Day CelebrationCome celebrate Earth Day in style at the Outdoor Nature Lab! Explore the outdoors using hands-on tools, discover the fun of watercoloring in nature, learn about native bees and insects from UC Berkeley students, hear from Ohlone leaders about their traditions.You can also join EARTH.SPEAKS: Plaster Party Day! Earlier this ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Event is included with admission
Earth Day Celebration at CuriOdysseyCome join us for an Earth Day celebration on Sunday, April 21, 2024! Enjoy music and tasty food from Satay on the Bay and Mozzeria, try out eco-activities for kids of all ages, browse our Earth Day Vendor Market, and learn more about conservation at CuriOdyssey as we celebrate our ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free with admission
Earth Day in the BayFor over 50 years we have set aside time in April to bring attention to the climate issues facing our home planet. Earth Day is also a time to highlight the different ways we are combating climate issues around the world. Discover more about local organizations helping to fight climate ...
Where: OaklandCost: $23 General, $19 Senior, Youth, Student
Robots on Ice 4.0That's right! Robots on Ice is back for its fourth year!Bring out your bots, bring out your bot skating attire, come to cheer on our bots & skaters, and see you there.Additional details at weblinkDiscounts, early bird, and family tickets available.
Where: San FranciscoCost: $30 Adult, $15 Child
Monday, 04/22/24
Earth Day at the RefugeThis year, the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and partners are celebrating Earth Day and 50 years of Endangered Species Act in a big way - and it will be fun for the whole family! The event will be an open house, with time to explore, learn ...
On behalf of the people of the State of California, Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against five of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, along with the lobbying organization American Petroleum Institute, for willfully misleading the public about climate change. How big a deal could this ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $10 Members, $5/Free online
Speaker:Â Dr. Andrew DeVogelaere, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Incorporating In-lieu groundwater recharge of recycled water into seasonal storage and habitat enhancement projectsAs we address variable hydrology in the West, and especially in California, the need for water storage to address drought conditions is pressing. Climate change impacts on weather (precipitation and temperature, and storm patterns) and snowpack (which is a huge reservoir throughout California) further exacerbate the need for storage, both ...
Speaker: Marisa Casillas, Wasow Vsiting ScholarSee weblink for instructions to gain entry to the building.Room 126
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Development Engineering: My Journey and LessonsAshok Gadgil will present the trajectory he chose as a physicist, including his work in technology design and climate change.Speaker: Ashok Gadgil, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Precision optics for molecular fingerprinting and AI computingThe advance of coherent control in optical fields has enabled unprecedented precision and sensitivity in optical measurements. In the past two decades, laser frequency combs revolutionized the field of optical metrology. A comb-enabled technique, dual-comb interferometry is emerging as a broadband, high-resolution, rapid spectroscopic solution. However, preserving the interferometric phase ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
SUB-ATOMIC MOTIONS: From capturing electrons to probing human health Born at the dawn of the new millennium, attosecond “photography†has opened the door for capturing sub-atomic motions as they evolve in time. Control of the oscillating electric field of light has permitted the attosecond control of electrons with unprecedented precision in space and time. Fundamental quantum phenomena, such as ...
Josephson junction-based quantum circuits have enabled broad exploration into open quantum systems in the microwave frequency domain. The combination of coherent quantum bits, robust single qubit control, entangling gates, and quantum noise-limited parametric amplifiers has yielded an unprecedented view into the physics of quantum measurement and dissipation. I will discuss ...
Ben will tell the story of how his time working as a battery engineer at Tesla led him to co-found Lightship, America's first all-electric RV manufacturer. Lightship is a venture-backed startup based in Colorado and the SF Bay Area. Lightship's first and flagship vehicle, dubbed L1, enters production in early ...
Today, climate change is a well-known, and reasonably understood, problem with mitigation efforts and technologies (carbon sequestration, electric mobility, renewables, policy updates, and others) starting to gel together at a system level. However, at the end-use demand end, less progress has been made, and as wealth and populations rise, and ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Two Talks: Music mining and Human-computer interactionEthnocentric Bias and Refugee Perception - An Eye-Tracking Study using Human-Computer InteractionThe talk investigates the challenges faced by refugee populations globally, emphasizing ethnocentric biases. Focusing on Syrian refugees and contrasting media coverage of the Ukrainian crisis, the talk describes how to leverage empirical research in human-computer interaction (HCI). The key ...
Where: MilpitasCost: Free
Twilight Marsh WalkExperience the salt marsh at twilight on an easy stroll along refuge trails (about .6 miles). At the setting of the sun we will observe the beginning of nature’s night shift. Come discover the sights, sounds, and smells of the refuge as night descends. Not suitable for young children. ...
In the digital age, mass atrocity crimes are increasingly promoted and organized online. Yet, little attention has been afforded to the question of whether offensive cyberspace operations and big data analytics might be used for human protection purposes. Specifically: How might cyber-operations and online influence campaigns help protect populations from ...
It is a remarkable fact that in recent years topological concepts have played an increasingly prominent role in quantum condensed matter physics. I will review several examples that underscore this trend, including the discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect in zero magnetic field in moire’ structures and Dirac and ...
Biodiversity in Our Urban SpacesJoin Manny's and the Cal Academy of Sciences for an exciting conversation on green spaces, biodiversity, and climate in our cities!Do you ever find yourself reading or talking about the worldwide climate crisis - coral reef devastation, melting glaciers, catastrophic weather - and wondering “But what can I do?†For ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15
Pink Full Moon Stroll 2024To help kick off this season of restoration, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is throwing the second annual Parks4All: Pink Full Moon Stroll - a one-of-a-kind pink-out party under April's Pink Full Moon at Presidio Tunnel Tops! This is your chance to break out all of your best pink clothing ...
It’s an exciting time to be a space scientist! From observations of deep space via Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), to asteroid sample return from OSIRIS-REx, to planned investigations by Dragonfly (Titan) and Europa Clipper (Europa), space science offers something for everyone, now and in the future.Speaker: ...
Please join us for a joyful evening to hear from localelephant seal expert, Dr. Sarah Allen. Dr. Allen’s keen observations of these animals from the frontlines of Pt. Reyes have been instrumental in our knowledge of their behavior and habitat needs. Once on the brink of extinction, these animals now ...
 Over the last two decades, the number of available observations of ocean chemical and biological parameters has greatly increased due in large part to deployments of autonomous sensors. This shift has motivated efforts to map ocean interior biogeochemistry, often relying on machine learning approaches that are becoming more widespread and ...
Where: Cost: Free
Leading or Taking The Back Seat? Climate Risk & The Role of Insurance If there’s one industry that should be responding to climate risk, it’s property insurers. These are the companies holding the bag for climate impacts, right? And yet, we see in the headlines - and maybe experience for ourselves - the crisis in insurance, with brand-name carriers exiting key markets. How ...
Scientists and policy makers promote nature-based solutions to the interconnected challenges associated with the Anthropocene. Often these involve the strategic use of ecosystem engineers: animals, plants, and microbes with disproportionate ecological agency capable of regional or even planetary scale niche construction. This environmental mode of biopolitics is promoted as biomimicry: ...
In Data Feminism (MIT Press, 2020), Klein and her coauthor Catherine D'Ignazio established a set of principles for doing more just and equitable data science. Informed by the past several decades of intersectional feminist activism and critical thought, the principles of data feminism modeled how to examine and challenge power, ...
Bo Li will discuss fiscal and financial policy priorities to meet Paris Agreement goals; key policy recommendations ranging from carbon taxation to scaling up climate finance; and challenges and opportunities for international cooperation on climate action.To attend in person, please register here. To attend online, please register here.Speaker: Bo Il, International Monetary Fund
Join us for this Global Health Conversation with Dr. James (Jim) O’Connell, a Boston physician who has dedicated his career to caring for people living on the streets. In conversation with Global Health Faculty Fellow and veteran interviewer Paul Costello, Dr. O’Connell will discuss his life, career, and insights on ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Silicon Valley Dejargonizers, a toastmasters club meeting - LivestreamHow would you explain wifi to kids?How would you explain your genealogy all the way from early humans?How does raising interest rates control inflation?Would you like to get the skills to explain such complex topics in simple terms?At Silicon Valley Dejargonizers, a toastmasters club at District 101, we practice the ...
You’ve heard good data matters in Machine Learning, but does it matter for Generative AI applications? Corporate data often differs significantly from the general Internet data used to train most foundation models. Join me for a Python demo tutorial on building a customizable RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) stack using OSS ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Peninsula Gem & Geology Society: Painite - LivestreamGeorge Rossman of Cal-Tech is back again to introduce us to the mineral "Painite." NO, this is NOT an April Fool's joke. Look it up: Mindat.org.Guests may request the link at least a day in advance using the club Contact Form.
The human body aligns to Earth’s 24-hour cycle using ‘about a day’ rhythms, called circadian rhythms. These internally generated rhythms synchronize our physiology and behavior to the day-night cycle. They control a large part of our biology, from when we sleep at night to how quickly we heal from injury. ...
Sustainable development is a crucial concern in the modern world, as environmental challenges threaten the planet's ecological balance. In this context, machine learning has emerged as a potent tool for analyzing vast amounts of data to understand complex systems, making it crucial for addressing sustainability issues. However, data-driven models heavily ...
The deployment of electric vehicles has not yet met the goals of government policy. This is due to several reasons, among which are the perceived disadvantage of limited range, the lack of widely available charging infrastructure, and cost. In this talk we will explore the benefits of EVs, their perceived ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Exploring a Hot, Young World - LivestreamThe Closest and Youngest Earth-sized Planet Discovered In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have identified an Earth-sized planet closer and younger than any previously known. Positioned remarkably close to both our planet (73 light-years away) and a Sun-like star, this newly found world offers a unique opportunity for scientists to study ...
Holey Batteries Batman, Can Chemists Really Help Solve Our Energy Problems? - LivestreamThis talk explores how materials chemistry can help address challenges in improving our energy security and efficiency. Using chemically synthesized nanoporous materials as our building blocks, we will see how these ‘holey’ materials can help solve problems ranging from grid-level energy storage for renewable energy to fast-charging batteries for vehicle ...
Where: Cost: Free
After Dark: Under the MicroscopeFrom amoeba to plankton, discover the microscopic creatures around us at the Exploratorium After Dark. Take a close look at living things of all sizes using scientific tools, observe the ecosystems they inhabit, and learn about their different stages of development.Ages 18+
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
Earth to NightLifeDeep Look is the PBS wildlife and nature series that explores big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small in ultra-high definition. Filmmakers and scientists behind these creature features will be featured guests of this year's Earth Day celebrations at Cal Academy's NightLife, where culture, cocktails, and science mingle in the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
Dialed In: The Prehistory of Social MediaLong before online forums and communities like Reddit and Discord, and even before the World Wide Web, bulletin board systems (BBSs) reigned supreme. During their heyday in the 1980s and '90s, millions of people dialed their modems into more than 100,000 BBSs, and their impact can still be felt in ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Friday, 04/26/24
UC Berkeley AI Policy Research Symposium 2024The event will feature keynote presentations from distinguished UC Berkeley faculty members Ken Goldberg and Niloufar Salehi on topics including human-robot complementarity and human-centered AI, as well as presentations from the Spring 2023 - Fall 2024 AI Policy Hub fellows.Learn about cutting-edge research and advocacy efforts on topics including: cryptography ...
Seawater oxygen isotopes (δ18O) can be used alongside salinity to understand the quantities, pathways, and upstream impacts of glacial meltwater across West Antarctica. We present studies in three different regions of West Antarctica, each leveraging seawater δ18O to a different end. In the Amundsen Sea, we analyze a time-series of ...
Printing technologies have the potential to revolutionize manufacturing of electronic and energy materials by drastically reducing the energy cost and environmental footprint while increasing throughput and agility. For instance, printing organic solar cells can potentially reduce energy payback time from 2-3 years to as short as 1 day! At the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Autonomous Vehicles and the City 2024Join us for an afternoon focused on automation and innovation for public good.Autonomous vehicles have the potential to revolutionize transportation in our cities, offering increased accessibility and efficiency in our urban transport systems. The 8th Autonomous Vehicles and the City symposium at The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California will ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25 General, $15 Members in person, $10/Free web
Saturday, 04/27/24
Climate Change at Chrissy FieldJoin the Climate Change at Crissy Field tour to explore the breathtaking, 180-degree views of San Francisco Bay from Crissy Field and to discuss the threat of climate change and sea level rise to Crissy Field’s beauty. You will see the recent restoration that converted the US Army airfield to ...
Where: SFCost: Free
Community Science SaturdayLearn about how you can be involved in community science in your neighborhood and help us celebrate young scientists at our 2nd annual Student Research Symposium.
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
Techfest: Back to the '80sCHM’s all-day TechFest events offer special family-oriented experiences included in the price of Museum admission. We’ll be bringing you tech-themed demos, performances, hands-on activities, and more. Explore CHM exhibits, shop in the Museum store, enjoy a tasty treat from the Cloud Bistro, and have fun at Techfest!
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free with admission
Looking for Leaves at SanbornYou can learn so much from a plant by looking at its leaves. Learn to ID some native species and how the native americans would utilize them in their daily life. It will be a great day for a hike through the beautiful park!Ages 4 - 12A registered adult must ...
Where: SaratogaCost: Free
Berkeley Bay FestivalCelebrate the San Francisco Bay at the Berkeley Marina. Connect with the Bay and our local community through live music, performers, food, hands-on educational activities, and free boat rides.This free, family-focused event celebrates the Bay, its local wildlife, and the people and agencies dedicated to its protection. Over 30 environmental and ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Makerspace Science Talk with Monique Smith LeeJoin us to learn more about northern elephant seals with researcher Monique Smith Lee. She will discuss their recovery from near extinction, their unique characteristics, and challenges due to climate change. Elephant seals are keystone species that maintain a natural balance in their ecosystem. Due to the loss of genetic ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Fluidic Telescope (FLUTE): Enabling the Next Generation of Large Space Observatories - Wrong DateThe future of space-based UV/optical/IR astronomy requires ever larger telescopes. The highest priority astrophysics targets, including Earth-like exoplanets, first generation stars, and early galaxies, are all extremely faint, which presents an ongoing challenge for current missions and is the opportunity space for next generation telescopes: larger telescopes are the primary ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free
Sunday, 04/28/24
Almaden Quicksilver BioBlitzA 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 other community members work together to get an overall count of the plants, animals, fungi, and ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Five Dollar DayVisit The Lawrence and enjoy all the hands-on science we offer for just $5 per person. Learn cutting-edge science in Hands-on Biotech and Virtually Human, meet live animals in our recently renovated Animal Discovery Zone, and more! $5 Days are part of our efforts to increase access to our programs ...
As humans, we spend much of our time going beyond the here and now. We dwell on the past, long for the future, and ponder how things could have turned out differently. The capacity to simulate counterfactual possibilities is an important feat of human cognition. Counterfactuals are critical for how ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Measuring and Modeling Turbulent Bottom Boundary Layers in EstuariesParameterizations of sediment erosion in coastal models typically assume a turbulent wave boundary layer with wave-induced currents that exceed the mean currents, which is typical for beaches exposed to swell waves in the open ocean. When the wave-driven currents are strong, the addition of waves to a mean current leads ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Foxes in Your NeighborhoodThis program is led by internationally known Bill Leikam - aka the Fox Guy, president and co-founder of the Urban Wildlife Research Project. Here is what Bill says about his program: "Do you sometimes see paw prints in mud or scat (poop) on the trails and assume that a dog ...
Radiation therapy has become one of the most effective and cost effective precision targeted cancer therapies. This colloquium will review the evolution of radiotherapy in recent years, and highlight future directions in its continued evolution towards more effective cure of cancer.Speaker: Billy Loo Jr, Professor of Radiation OncologyAttend in person ...
Kabir Peay completed a master’s degree at the Yale School of Forestry and Environment Science (F&ES) in 2003 and obtained my PhD in 2008 from UC Berkeley’s Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy and Management (ESPM) in Matteo Garbelotto's lab. Kabir did his postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley in the Dept. ...
The Inflation Reduction Act created a diverse set of funding, financing, and tax incentives to promote investment in clean energy and manufacturing that the Biden-Harris administration is now implementing. That work follows a four-year period of intense legislative activity in the 116th and 117th Congresses as well as the much ...
Omarova will lay out an institutional design scheme for the proposed National Investment Authority (NIA), a federal entity to be charged with the financing and implementation of a long-term public investment strategy for the United States. And she will explain how this NIA, and other institutional proposals that she has ...
Catastrophic, civilization-threatening climate change is a genuine possibility within the coming century. This talk will consider evidence that a variety of climate tipping points and other planetary boundaries have already been crossed, and that climate sensitivity to greenhouse gases may be considerably higher than recent IPCC estimates. Further, modeling of ...
The Science of Teaching - LivestreamThe spark that ignites a student’s curiosity for science and mathematics can happen anywhere, but it is crucially nurtured in the classroom. In this session, three Distinguished Teaching Award winners will discuss what it takes to engage students in scientific inquiry. https://basicscience.berkeley.edu/Panel:Alex Filippenko, Professor of Astronomy, UC BerkeleyAlexander Paulin, Assistant ...
Where: Cost: Free
Tech in Culture: How Technology is Disrupting the Culture IndustryPrepare to be inspired as we delve into the world of Tech in Culture. This event is co-organized with French Tech SF, EDHEC GETT Master's Students, and FACS. We will explore how technology is revolutionizing the cultural landscape through:Captivating talks on AI-enabled art and its transformative potential.Immersive experiences that are ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $30 advance, $35 after 4/15
 Wonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with special communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:UC Berkeley psychologist Sophia Li on Imperfect Communication - As a communicator, I want to transfer information from my mind ...
Where: NovatoCost: Free
Wednesday, 05/01/24
Stanford Energy Research ShowcaseThe Stanford Energy Research Showcase is Stanford's principal annual technical symposium focused on Stanford energy research. Stanford faculty, post docs and graduate students, industry peers, and many interested stakeholders will gather to explore the most exciting advances in energy research at Stanford. Topics: Industrial Decarbonization, Energy Applications for Buildings, Electric Grid ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Fixing the Climate: Strategies for an Uncertain WorldStopping climate change will require reinventing today’s energy and industrial systems without falling victim to the same technocratic hubris that caused it. In their book, Fixing the Climate, Charles F. Sabel and David G. Victor propose an experimentalist system of governance and incentives for the incremental but cumulatively transformative redirection ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
'The Gift'The Gift is an immersive installation that animates contemporary astrophysics research to open up metaphorical space for grief, care, and renewal.In this rolling-entry experience, participants gather in a music-filled reading room, where they encounter an all-ages illustrated book - based on the astrophysics research of Dr. Natalie Gosnell - that ...
Where: StanfordCost:
Teaching Casualty Care in Ukraine During the Russian Invasion - Fourth Time's the Charm Dr Michael Baker teaches Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) to civilian and military medical providers and Stop the Bleed (StB) to civilians. The goal is to improve the care of injured patients during the first critical minutes after wounding in order to improve survival. He has recently returned from his ...
Where: LafayetteCost: Free
The Myths and Misconceptions About BreastsAn innovative investigation of the five strange worlds that worship women’s chests.After years of biopsies, sociologist and bestselling author Sarah Thornton made the difficult decision to have a double mastectomy. But, after her reconstructive surgery, she was perplexed: What had she lost? And gained? An experienced sleuth, she resolved to ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25 General, $15 Members in person, $10/Free web
Rainforests chopped down. Indigenous peoples driven off their land to export avocados from Mexico. Extreme heat causing death and misery to factory workers and driving farmers off dried, cracked land in Bangladesh. Massive nickel processing plants in Indonesia making pristine water undrinkable and air unbreathable in order to make batteries ...
The architecture and diverse environmental conditions of our solar system seem exceptionally rare when compared to other nearby planetary systems in the Milky Way. We lack any version of Super-Earth and Sub-Neptune planets, the most frequently observed exoplanets. Furthermore, we host the only so-far-detected instance of life as we know ...
In this presentation, we'll explore the challenges and opportunities in fleet EV charging in America in the year of 2024. We will delve into two key case studies illustrating the impact of innovation: Fleets achieving rapid charging without extensive construction, and municipalities adopting green charging solutions in line with their ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
The Science of Weird Shit - LivestreamIf the wider scientific community is right to be skeptical about paranormal claims, why do so many people believe in the paranormal - including a sizable number who claim to have had direct personal experience of paranormal phenomena? Chris French will provide an overview of anomalistic psychology, which attempts to address ...
Where: Cost: Free
What She Said - Women in AIOriginating at W San Francisco with its launch in 2016, What She Said is a W Hotels & Resorts branded series featuring conversations among women that celebrate individuality, inclusivity, and honesty, tackling the issues of today from work, love, play and everything in between. The platform, which has since been ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25
NightLife Intersections: MusicBe serenaded by the sweet yet powerful sounds of percussion and strings and experience the ways musical instruments can foster connection in the last leg of our NightLife Intersections series. Explore how instruments have evolved across generations and discover how they can be used to bridge communities.Start the night with ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
After Dark: See for YourselfGet curious about the world at After Dark! Upend your perception and explore science, nature, and art with 650+ interactive exhibits. Reimagine colors in the monochrome room, and let your hearing, touch, and smell guide you through the Tactile Dome. End the night with a dance party hosted by DJ ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
Family Science Night at Willard Middle SchoolWillard Middle School will host Family Science Night, an evening of colorful demonstrations and hands-on chemistry, presented by the local California Section of the American Chemical Society. The entire Willard Community is cordially invited!Join us at in the Multi Purpose Room for exciting chemical demonstrations. We’re celebrating Earth Week this ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Robotic Food Manipulation in the WildIt’s easy to make a robot work once in the lab, but what does it take to make it work reliably in the real world? At Chef Robotics, we have deployed dozens of robots into production. We are teaming up with Women in Robotics to share our learning with the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Tech Talk: Psyche - RescheduledThe Psyche spacecraft, built by Maxar in partnership with NASA JPL, is flying to 16-Psyche, an all-metal asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. Humanity has never before explored a world like it. But terrestrial planets like Earth are presumed to have metallic cores beneath their crusts. Psyche will hopefully help ...
Aomawa Shields is a woman of “contradictions.†An astronomer and astrobiologist, she searches for exoplanets where life might exist by using computer models to calculate the kind of atmosphere they’d need to support it. And she’s also a classically trained actor who - through her organization Rising Stargirls - teaches ...
Where: LivermoreCost: $30 - $60
Friday, 05/03/24
Bair Island Walking TourJoin 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 that live there, and what you can do to contribute.This easy 1 mile walk with little to no ...
In this talk I will discuss main insights from twenty years of research into the fisheries and conservation ecology of sharks and other elasmobranchs at Dalhousie University, starting with the groundbreaking work of Ram Myers. This body of work and the public awareness it has created has spurred diverse conservation ...
This presentation will be about how the precision of manipulating molecules has led to several large classes of porous materials capable of carbon capture and water harvesting from desert air. The use of generative AI and ChatGPT to speed up the cycle of materials discovery and make it available will ...
An Evening with Michael PollanWriter Michael Pollan talks with KQED’s Mina Kim about our individual and collective well-being, from changing what’s on our tables to what’s on our minds. Pollan is the former John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Journalism at Berkeley Journalism and co-founder of the UC Berkeley Center for ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $40
Astro 101: Sights of the Cosmos, Intro to AstronomyThis 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
In Town Star PartyCome join San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) for an evening of stargazing.Event details:Events are held at the parking lot of our headquarters, Houge Park San Jose. The event duration is 2 hours. SJAA volunteers will share night sky views from their telescopes.Please refrain from bringing your own telescopes (Binoculars are ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday, 05/04/24
Bringing Back the Natives In-Person Garden Tour - Bayside GardensAbout ten days before the in-person Tour three PDFs will be e-mailed to registrants. One will contain addresses and a map that shows the relative locations of the Bayside gardens; another will contain addresses and a map showing the relative locations of the Inland gardens.The third is a “tickets†page. ...
Where: Cost: $15 Donation Requested
Birding at VasonaJoin YSI as we walk around Vasona Park and teach you about our feathered friends! Learn how to identify birds by their key characteristics, how to use binoculars, and then make a craft that will help you attract birds into your backyard!Ages 4 - 12A registered adult must accompany their ...
Where: Los GatosCost: Free
Got Fakes? Paper microfluidics and the hunt for bad quality medicines - LivestreamIn low- and middle-income countries, about one in ten medicine products is substandard or falsified. In my lab, I have samples of antimalarial drugs made from starch and chalk, antibiotics “cut†with talcum powder, and chemotherapy drugs that were manufactured at half the concentration they should have been. How do ...
Dr. Gilbert will discuss how the tools of modern psychology can be used to explore the prevalence, motivations, and content of historical and contemporary conspiracy theories. This will include conspiracy theories concerning such things as Lincoln’s assassination, chemtrails, the destruction of the battleship Maine, election fraud, and space lasers from ...
Where: Cost: Free
Rainbow Challenge at VasonaGo on a scavenger hunt to find all the colors of the rainbow in the park! Who can find all the colors first? Who can find some of the most unique colors? Give it your best!Ages 4 - 10A registered adult must accompany their child(ren)
Where: Los GatosCost: Free
Nike Missile Site Veteran Open HouseVeterans of the Nike program come to the site to share their stories with visitors and give guided tours of SF88 between the hours of 12pm - 3pm The SF-88 Nike Missile Site is the most fully restored Nike missile site in the country. During the tense years of the Cold War, from ...
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Final Exit Network (FEN), a national organization which grew out of the Hemlock Society founded by Derek Humphry, and which has been supporting those who wish to hasten their own deaths.Only eleven jurisdictions currently have Death with Dignity Acts -- often referred to ...
Where: Cost: Free
Starry Nights Star Party - CANCELEDThe San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA), working with the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA), is glad to co-host a public star party at Rancho Canada del Oro (RCDO) Open Space Preserve. This site, just 30 minutes south of downtown San Jose, features dark skies. It's dark enough to ...
Where: Morgan HillCost: Free
Sunday, 05/05/24
Bringing Back the Natives In-Person Garden Tour - Inland GardensAbout ten days before the in-person Tour three PDFs will be e-mailed to registrants. One will contain addresses and a map that shows the relative locations of the Bayside gardens; another will contain addresses and a map showing the relative locations of the Inland gardens.The third is a “tickets†page. ...
Kevin Bolling's presentation sheds light on the pervasive conservative threats facing public education. Exploring the historical roots, Kevin unveils a timeline marked by systematic challenges. Real-life headlines illustrate the broader plan threatening public education: curriculum and book bans aimed at erasing vital historical narratives, private school vouchers, parent and student ...
Where: South San FranciscoCost: Free
Solar ObservingIt’s there for us year round, lighting our days and providing energy for our lives, so maybe it’s time to give it a closer look. Join SJAA for amazing and detailed views of the Sun, and be assured that we’ll be using special telescopes that will keep your eyeballs perfectly ...
Dr. Lorraine Ling will present her research on coral bleaching
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
From Sample Collection to Public Protection: Investigation and Remediation at Vapor Intrusion SitesThere are over a thousand sites with known environmental contamination in the San Francisco Bay Area, many with vapor-forming chemicals, such as solvents. These volatile chemicals often migrate from the subsurface into nearby buildings, where they can pose risks to occupants. In this talk, I will present an overview of ...
A vital and galvanizing history of abortion and how its stigma is intrinsically connected to racism and systemic oppression, told from the viewpoint of people of color, focusing on their experiences with the American health care system and the injustices they have suffered. For far too long, the narrative around ...
Wise policies will balance the certainties and uncertainties of a changing climate against the world’s growing demand for reliable and affordable energy. I will describe the scientific, technological, and societal realities that should be informing those policies.Speaker: Steven Koonin, New York University
From the homes we live in to the very food that sustains us, America’s buildings and industrial sectors are the foundation of our modern world. People spend 90% of their time in buildings and manufacturing generates more than 11 million jobs and makes up 11% of U.S. GDP. But today’s ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
SynBioBeta 2024: The Global Synthetic Biology Conference - Pre-ConferenceJoin us for an unparalleled four-day summit delving into synthetic biology. Explore why the costs of reading, writing, and editing DNA plummet while speed and accessibility soar. Gain insights into cutting-edge medical advancements such as cell therapies, vaccines, and living medicines. Discover how companies harness biology to produce bio-based jet ...
Following a series of catastrophic wildfires ignited by electric utility infrastructure, California utilities have taken significant steps - at a significant cost to ratepayers - to lower their wildfire risk. But recent wildfires across the Western United States, from Oregon to Hawaii, Colorado, and Texas, have made it clear that ...
How does artificial intelligence shift power in international security? A burgeoning literature in international politics and security studies has documented its effects on the balance of power, strategic stability, and the future of warfare. In this work, power is largely material, if not kinetic, and the specifics of technologies are ...
Do spiders deserve much better press? Modern media tend to portray spiders as eight-legged, multi-eyed terrors. With deeper exposure, and open minds, can we come to see the beauty and benefits of our arachnid aquaintances? UC Berkeley scientist Trinity Walls thinks so. Her life-long journey - from curious child to ...
Where: Cost: Free
SynBioBeta 2024: The Global Synthetic Biology Conference - Day 1Join us for an unparalleled four-day summit delving into synthetic biology. Explore why the costs of reading, writing, and editing DNA plummet while speed and accessibility soar. Gain insights into cutting-edge medical advancements such as cell therapies, vaccines, and living medicines. Discover how companies harness biology to produce bio-based jet ...
The California Policy Collective invites you to join us for a forum with Tom Perez, current senior advisor to President Biden and the former United States secretary of labor under President Obama. This will be a free-flowing conversation, but topics will likely include the Inflation Reduction Act, the Infrastructure & ...
Climate tech is critical for averting planetary chaos. Half the greenhouse gas reductions required to reach “net-zero†climate targets in 2050 will need to come from technologies that have not yet been invented. Without effective government interventions, market incentives alone will not produce a rapid transition to a low-carbon economy. ...
The contemporary world is facing the formidable challenges posed by the climate crisis and a globally aging population. These issues underscore the urgent need for sustainable solutions that also promote a healthier environment. In this context, microorganisms present a promising avenue for the eco-friendly production of a wide array of ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
KQED Deep Look Film Night at the Estuary & Ocean Science CenterJoin KQED’s Deep Look wildlife series for a special screening event exploring nature’s tiny wonders at San Francisco State University’s Estuary & Ocean Science CenterYou’ll watch short films produced in collaboration with the EOS Center about plankton, mussels and sea slugs. Josh Cassidy, KQED’s Deep Look award-winning producer and cinematographer ...
Where: TiburonCost: Free
Silicon Valley Dejargonizers, a toastmasters club meeting - LivestreamHow would you explain wifi to kids? How would you explain a large language model to a non-technical person?How would you explain the journey of an online payment?Would you like to get the skills to explain such complex topics in simple terms?At  Silicon Valley Dejargonizers, a toastmasters club at District ...
California is aiming to set the standard for reining in the swiftly growing AI industry that has largely developed within the state’s own borders. Dozens of bills are currently working their way through the state legislature to set rules for everything from deepfakes, to preserving jobs for workers, to the ...
Fungal bioluminescence was first described by Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.), and continues to fascinate and puzzle scientists today. While over 100 species of fungi are known to produce luminescent mushrooms or mycelium, the chemical and genetic basis of the light-producing reaction was only recently discovered, and the reason these fungi glow ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
SynBioBeta 2024: The Global Synthetic Biology Conference - Day 2Join us for an unparalleled four-day summit delving into synthetic biology. Explore why the costs of reading, writing, and editing DNA plummet while speed and accessibility soar. Gain insights into cutting-edge medical advancements such as cell therapies, vaccines, and living medicines. Discover how companies harness biology to produce bio-based jet ...
It’s a critical time for implementing climate and air quality solutions. With the passage of the BAAQMD clean air rules for water and space heating, cities and counties are preparing for green, efficient, electric appliances to go mainstream. Come hear the innovative solutions happening around the Bay. This event is ...
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) involves the study of a rapidly growing archive of data from satellite, airborne and ground platforms, at a range of wavelengths and resolutions. Â InSAR is often used to estimate ground displacements over time, due to earthquakes, volcanic activity, glacier motion, or anthropogenic activity such as ...
The integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into the power grid represents a pivotal transformation with the potential to significantly enhance the sustainability and efficiency of both transportation and energy systems. This talk will explore the opportunities and challenges arising from vehicle-grid interactions, underpinned by a series of research projects that ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Understanding the XZ Security Breach and Open Source SecurityA group of experts, each with a unique perspective, will gather to discuss the recent XZ security breach followed by a light reception. This open source security discussion is co-sponsored by the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity (CLTC) and the Kavli Center for Ethics, Science, and the Public. We hope you will ...
SLAC on Tap: Shocking to the Core: Adventures in Earth Science Double your pressure, double your fun! Join us at the Dutch Goose for SLAC on Tap on May 9, when SLAC scientist and rock star Arianna Gleason will share the amazing secrets scientists are trying to squeeze from the depths of Earth and other celestial bodies, from the origin of ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
After Dark: Intelligence DesignPlay with AI the Exploratorium way! Join Osher Fellow and creator of Microsoft’s Cozy AI Kitchen series John Maeda to learn about how design thinking intersects with artificial intelligence. Test out exhibit prototypes on machine learning, and chat with our exhibit developers about what they’re working on.
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
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 our four-story ...
Fungi are weird, fungi are cool, and fungi are beautiful. But how much do we really know about them? For starters, they do much more than just rot things. They control pretty much all life on our planet and are everywhere.Britt Bunyard’s lecture will present fascinating stories and beautiful photos ...
Our book, Righting America at the Creation Museum, came out in 2016. In the intervening years, the creationist organization Answers in Genesis has opened Ark Encounter, remodeled the Creation Museum (in some places as a response to our book), opened a K-12 school, and dramatically expanded its online presence. At the ...
California has allowed medical-aid-in-dying since implementing the law in 2016. Patients, families, and medical professionals continue to have questions about the overall process and alternatives such as hospice care and palliative sedation to address suffering. Joshua Fronk, DO will review the medical-aid-in-dying process, identify challenges that patients may encounter as ...
Where: Cost: Free
SynBioBeta 2024: The Global Synthetic Biology Conference - Innovation DiscoveryJoin us for an unparalleled four-day summit delving into synthetic biology. Explore why the costs of reading, writing, and editing DNA plummet while speed and accessibility soar. Gain insights into cutting-edge medical advancements such as cell therapies, vaccines, and living medicines. Discover how companies harness biology to produce bio-based jet ...
Where: San JoseCost: Varies, see weblink
Friday, 05/10/24
Breathing Water in a Warming World: an Overview of the Gill-Oxygen Limitation Theory (GOLT)There is less oxygen in the best aerated sea or freshwater water than on top of Mount Everest. Fish and other water-breathing ectotherms (WBE) deal with this through a number of adaptations shaped by physical and dimensional constraints. These constraints are the key components of the Gill-Oxygen Limitation Theory (GOLT), ...
Family Nature Adventures: Special Mother’s Day EditionJoin us for a delightful Mother’s Day celebration that combines creativity, nature, and family fun! Our workshop offers a unique opportunity for families with children ages 3-8 to create beautiful mosaic flower pots while enjoying a seed bar filled with an array of seeds to plant and nurture.Mosaic Tile Flower ...
Where: OaklandCost: $30 Adult, $35 Youth
Mt. Tam Star PartySan Francisco Amateur Astronomers will give us a tour of the springtime constellations and offer telescope viewing.We will observe the crescent Moon, the Beehive and Coma star clusters, double stars like Castor and Algieba, and distant galaxies in Virgo, Leo, and Ursa Major.Please dress warmly and bring binoculars and a ...
Where: Mill ValleyCost: Free
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 in building 36 on the 4th floor observatory for a night of smooth jazz, bright stars, and a lot of fun! We play our jazz ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Sunday, 05/12/24
Family Nature Adventures: Special Mother’s Day EditionJoin us for a delightful Mother’s Day celebration that combines creativity, nature, and family fun! Our workshop offers a unique opportunity for families with children ages 3-8 to create beautiful mosaic flower pots while enjoying a seed bar filled with an array of seeds to plant and nurture.Mosaic Tile Flower ...
Where: OaklandCost: $30 Adult, $35 Youth
Solar ObservingIt’s there for us year round, lighting our days and providing energy for our lives, so maybe it’s time to give it a closer look. Join SJAA for amazing and detailed views of the Sun, and be assured that we’ll be using special telescopes that will keep your eyeballs perfectly ...
How are events that occur in the real world represented in language? How do we go from the chaotic, disorderly, “kaleidoscopic flux of impressions†that we observe in the world to a discrete representation - a particular verb, along with its arguments, arranged in an orderly syntactic structure? In this ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
NicaAgua: Climate science, participatory transdisciplinary approaches, and the development of a climate appThroughout Central America, smallholder farmers build their livelihoods on rain-fed agriculture which is highly sensitive to seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation. Recent hydroclimatic shifts precipitated by global changes in this complex yet narrow climatic region are not well understood. This study examines how to best quantify and communicate these ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Low Tide Walk at Bair IslandGather your ducklings or fly solo with us on an easy 0.8 mile walk along the marsh at Bair Island! This event is FREE! Come enjoy a low tide walking tour around the charming marshlands of Bair Island. The low tide exposes the mysterious world of mudflats, creating the perfect habitat ...
In this talk we will present an update on the Lab’s science and technology strategy, which has been under development for the past few months. This strategy was recently presented to SLAC’s Board of Oversight Science & Technology Committee and will form the basis for the upcoming Annual Lab Plan ...
Richard Lenski is a University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, where he studies the genetic and ecological basis of evolutionary change. In particular, Dr. Lenski performs experiments to analyze the process of evolution in action. In an experiment started in 1988, he and his team have maintained and studied ...
Today, climate change is a well-known, and reasonably understood, problem with mitigation efforts and technologies (carbon sequestration, electric mobility, renewables, policy updates, and others) starting to gel together at a system level. However, at the end-use demand end, less progress has been made, and as wealth and populations rise, and ...
The most powerful cosmic engines in our universe are fueled by compact objects such as black holes and neutron stars. These cosmic engines consume large amounts of material and expel matter in the form of jets travelling at near the speed of light. Recent groundbreaking discoveries of gravitational waves from ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members & Seniors
Tuesday, 05/14/24
Exploring Quanta and Fields - LivestreamArguably, quantum field theory (QFT) presents humanity's deepest insights into the rules of reality, i.e., into the laws of existence. QFT allows us to describe - with remarkable accuracy - the particles and forces that animate the cosmos, including the stuff of mind and body. Note that calling QFT a ...
Over a five-year period, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will spectroscopically classify nearly 40 million galaxies and quasars over 1/3 of the sky and to redshifts z < 3.5. Â The DESI collaboration recently completed the measurement of the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) feature in seven distinct redshift intervals using ...
The Next Frontier is Your Mind: Neurotechnologies, Human Rights, and the Battle for Your BrainEmerging technologies are evolving at an astonishing pace. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the field of neurotechnology, which refers to devices capable of recording, interpreting, or altering brain activity. Neurotechnology has long been used in scientific settings, pioneering both brain research and medical breakthroughs; in recent years, neurotechnology ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
From Neanderthals to Plants to Pathogens: Human Co-evolution with Other Organisms - LivestreamAs humans have evolved over the last 300 thousand years, we have shared the planet with many living things, interacting with and affecting one another in many ways. Join us as three biologists discuss the intricacies of our species’ co-evolution with other beings.Panel:Elena Zavala, Miller Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular ...
