Assessing climate impacts on inland and coastal water qualityQuestions surrounding water sustainability, climate change, and extreme events are often framed around water quantity - whether too much or too little. The economic and ecological impacts of water quality impairments are equally compelling, however, and recent years have provided numerous examples of unprecedented harmful algal blooms and hypoxic dead ...
The power grid has evolved from a physical system to a cyber-physical system that consists of digital devices that perform measurement, control, communication, computation, and actuation. With increased penetration in distributed energy resources (DER) that include renewable generation, flexible loads, and storage, these devices can be as large as 8 ...
One of the most important properties of social conventions is their generalizability. They amortize costly on-the-fly coordination into priors that allow us to interact flexibly with new social partners in new situations. But how do generalizable conventions emerge in the first place when so much of social interaction is situation-specific? ...
The CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has discovered the Higgs boson and confirmed the predictions for many of its properties given by the “Standard Model” of particle physics. However, this does not mean that particle physics is solved. Mysteries that the Standard Model does not address are still with us ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Graphene Quantum DotsDr. Jairo Velasco of UC Santa Cruz will present a talk regarding how the harnessing and manipulation of electronic states in quantum materials has the potential to revolutionize computation, sensing, storage, and communications, thus impacting multiple facets of our everyday lives.
Birds flock, bees swarm and fish school. These are just some of the remarkable examples of collective behavior found in nature. Physicists have been able to capture some of this behavior by modeling organisms as "flying spins" that align with their neighbors according to simple but noisy rules. Successes like ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
AI in Health Care: Will the Reality Match the Hype?The 14th annual Lundberg Institute Lecture features Robert Wachter of UCSF and his predictions about what advances artificial intelligence will make, and will not make, in health care.Why has health care not undergone the kind of digital transformation that has completely remade industries ranging from retail to entertainment to travel? ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22 General in person, $5 Online
Sunspots, Solar Storms, and Aurorae: Exploring Solar MaximumWith dazzling auroras lighting up the night sky across the US in recent months, the Sun's increasing activity has become more apparent than ever. These awe-inspiring and far-reaching light shows are tied to the increased solar activity as we move deeper into Solar Cycle 25. In this lecture, we will ...
Over the last several decades, astronomers have used the Hubble Space Telescope to look deep into the Universe, a practice that continues with the James Webb Space Telescope. The images from these instruments, as well as those from ground-based telescopes and space probes, have introduced us to a celestial plentitude: ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members & Seniors
Tuesday, 11/05/24
Florilegium Exhibition 2024 OpeningThe University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley Florilegium. A florilegium is a collection of illustrations featuring plants growing in a specific area such as a botanical garden.Centuries before digital or analog photography was commonplace, people relied on detailed botanical illustrations to identify plants and flowers. This years’ participating artists ...
After more than a century of seismological observations, little data exists for the rare ground motions that recur at millennial scales, or the strongest ground motions that occur very near earthquake sources. Geologic data, including fragile geologic features (e.g., precariously balanced rocks, rock towers, speleothems) and other paleoseismic observations (e.g., ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Transforming Astrophysics with AI - LivestreamJoshua S. Bloom, Professor of Astronomy, will describe ways in which astrophysics is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to break through some computational and human bottlenecks that otherwise impede scientific progress.Register at weblink to receive Zoom information
Solid state spin qubits, in particular the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond, offer a path towards truly nanoscale magnetic imaging of condensed matter and biological systems with sensitivity to single nuclear spins. Here I discuss our NV-based magnetic imaging experiments as applied to condensed matter systems. I first present ...
UC Berkeley Physical Chemistry Seminar - RescheduledSpeaker: Stefano Sacanna, New York UniversityEditor's Note: This lecture has been rescheduled for November 12. See our listing for this date for the replacement speaker.
Knowledge gaps in the spatial distribution of habitat formers in the deep-sea leave communities at risk of anthropogenic disturbance such as bottom-contact fishing. Understanding how habitat formers, such as corals and sponges, are distributed on seamounts can inform area-based management necessary to protect biodiverse communities. This research therefore aims to ...
Once medical foundation models achieved state-of-the-art performance on a variety of biomedical applications, there was a push to build even larger models by training on more medical datasets. Despite their encouraging performance on artificial biomedical benchmarks, critical gaps remain that must be filled before these models can be used in ...
Atmospheric rivers are associated with some of the largest flood-producing precipitation events in western North America, particularly California. Insight into past extreme precipitation can be reconstructed from sedimentary archives on millennial timescales. Here we document past atmospheric river activity at two lake sites in California - Leonard Lake and Wildcat ...
The City of San José continues to be a leader in climate action and San José Clean Energy (SJCE) plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our energy grid. This presentation will share how Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs), like SJCE, are critical components in the transition. In addition, we ...
As robots become increasingly integrated into public spaces such as hospitals, shopping malls, airports, and museums, their ability to navigate intelligently and socially is crucial. Socially-aware navigation (SAN) goes beyond simply moving from one point to another; it involves understanding and respecting human social norms to ensure that robots’ interactions ...
The internet stands accused of dividing us, spying on us, making us stupid, and addicting our children. In response, the press and panicked politicians seek greater regulation and control, which some fear could ruin the web before we are finished building it.Jeff Jarvis is convinced we can have a saner ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22 General, $10 Online, member discounts
NightLife: Día de los MuertosLas puertas del más allá están abiertas. Join us in honoring departed souls in celebration of Día de los Muertos.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
After Dark: Color UncoveredTake a deep dive into the science of color, from their natural occurrences to our aesthetic perceptions.Age 18+
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95 General, Members Free
Total Uruguay - LivestreamLast year GGBA offered Total Uruguay for the first time - a 15-day small group trip at a great price. Two of the participants on that inaugural trip, Viviana Wolinsky and Steve Hunter, will lead us on a GGBA Travel Program Speakers trip through Uruguay.What can you expect to see? ...
Developed originally by Maurice Leblanc in 1922 and later advanced in the 1950s and 2000s, extremum-seeking (ES) control has long faced challenges with steady-state oscillations and biased convergence. This talk presents multivariable ES designs that achieve the ?rst unbiased convergence of inputs to their optimal values, eliminating these oscillations and ...
One of the challenges in biomedical sciences is the development of next-generation tools that can accurately image, identify, and execute desired missions in a selectively programmed manner. In this lecture, I will discuss magnetic nanoparticles as core platform materials and tools for a variety of functionalities such as sensing, targeting ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Saturday, 11/09/24
Family Nature Adventures: Spidey Spectacular: Adventures with Arachnids!Get ready for a web-tastic adventure as we dive into the amazing world of spiders and arachnids! Join us for a fun-filled workshop designed especially for young explorers, where we’ll discover the fascinating secrets of these eight-legged wonders. You’ll learn about native spiders, their interesting adaptations, and how spiders react ...
Where: OaklandCost: $25 Adult, $35 Youth 3 - 8, $10 off for members
Foothills Family Nature WalkJoin us at Foothills Nature Preserve for a family-friendly nature walk, guided by EV docents. Good for ages 6 and up; all children must be accompanied by an adult.Register at weblink. Space is limited
Where: Los AltosCost: Free
The Universe in 100 ColorsArtists and science enthusiasts Tyler Thrasher and Terry Mudge wrote about obscure colors from nature and science in their book The Universe in 100 Colors, and now they’re bringing their insight and passion for color to the Exploratorium.Learn about the shades created by sound, the hues invented for medicinal purposes, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
City Public Star PartyCome join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers for free public stargazing of the Moon, planets, globular clusters and more!The event will take place in Tunnel Tops National Park, parking is located adjacent to Picnic Place (210 Lincoln Blvd for GPS) with the telescopes setup in the East Meadow.Dress warmly as ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Sunday, 11/10/24
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 ...
Where: Moss BeachCost: Free
SEA Adventures Dungeness Crab LectureDr. Allison Gong and Dr. Mark Morales will dive into everything you would ever want to know about Dungeness crabs. Lecture included with admission.Allison is a marine biologist working at the Long Marine Lab, a backyard beekeeper, a columnist for Bay Nature Magazine, and a college-level biology professor. She studied ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Sausal Creek Salmon StrollJoin CalTrout for a walk along Sausal Creek to learn more about salmonid migration and monitoring in the Bay Area. In just one hour, you’ll discover the fascinating migration journey of Bay Area salmon and how we help protect them. Don’t miss this chance to connect with nature and the ...
In the face of escalating climate change, reducing atmospheric methane concentrations has emerged as a near-term mitigation strategy. Atmospheric observations of methane from airborne and satellite remote sensing platforms may be a pivotal resource for mitigation as it offers scalability, precision, and improved understanding of the sources and sinks of ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Unleash the Power of Interfacial Chemistry for Pollutant Detection and RemediationOne of the grand challenges for Environmental Engineers in the 21st century is designing a future without pollution and waste. In this talk, I will discuss my group’s efforts in interfacial chemistry to develop reactive adsorbents and sensors for environmental remediation and pollutant monitoring. First, I will discuss the critical ...
As the global demand for ammonia continues to grow, driven by its critical role in agriculture, chemical manufacturing, and potential as a clean energy carrier, sustainable production methods are urgently needed. Ammonia production today contributes significantly to CO? emissions, mainly due to the energy-intensive, fossil-fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process. In this seminar, Feng-Yang ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
The Renaissance of Astrophysics - LivestreamRaffaella Margutti, Associate Professor, Astronomy Department and Physics Department, will review how new observational capabilities to study the night sky have led to recent discoveries and new ways to think about the universe around us. This program is part of a three-part series on “Berkeley in Space ” organized by ...
In this talk, I will present groundbreaking insights into the non-classical nucleation and growth pathways of crystals explored through an innovative colloidal model system composed of optically transparent, oppositely charged particles. This approach has allowed us to probe these complex mechanisms with an unprecedented level of detail, illuminating alternative nucleation ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Spotlight on Human and Planetary Health: Transforming Food Systems for a Sustainable FutureAgriculture is one of the leading drivers of climate change. Meat production in particular is a major contributor, responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to climate impacts, meat production requires vast amounts of water, and contributes to deforestation as land is cleared for cattle grazing. Over ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
AI and Personalized Medicine: Revolution or Evolution?Join us for an insightful evening exploring the potential of AI in revolutionizing the health tech sector, with a focus on personalized medicine. This in-person panel discussion will bring together thought leaders from industry, academia, and investment to discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence in healthcare.Panelists:Dr. Brice Gaudilliere MD, ...
Rob will tell us about restoring the atmosphere for methane, examining sources from natural systems such as the Amazon and anthropogenic sources, including oil fields, pipelines and homes.Rob Jackson is the Chair of the Global Carbon Project, a Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Precourt Institute ...
Darwin’s theory of natural selection sheds light on nearly every aspect of evolutionary biology. However, it does not address the source of varying structures and functions that are subsequently culled or preserved by natural selection. Advances in cellular and molecular biology are now bringing these generative processes to light. Such ...
Where: NovatoCost: Free
Wednesday, 11/13/24
[C]Worthy: Navigating to Solutions for Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide RemovalThere is scientific consensus that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) will be necessary to meet the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping the rise in global temperature to within 2°C. Among the most promising and scalable approaches to CDR are ocean-based pathways. These methods capitalize on natural physical and biogeochemical processes ??" ...
As play is intrinsic to humanity, it should come as no surprise that the history of computing is veined with playful simulations and games of all kinds. From the Balinese cockfight to Los Alamos’s Monte Carlo simulations, play and games, in all their kaleidoscopic glory, reflect the diverse cultures and ...
At last count, thirty lawsuits are challenging the legality of using in-copyright works to train generative AI models. While the lawsuits are still in early stages, fair use defenses are likely to be the main focus of judicial analyses of their merits. This talk will explain what judges have decided ...
"The Petro-State Masquerade" considers how postcolonial political futures in the Caribbean nation-state of Trinidad and Tobago came to be staked to the market futures of oil, natural gas, and their petrochemical derivatives. Drawing on archival and ethnographic research, Jobson theorizes how the tenuous relationship between oil and political power??"enshrined in ...
Artificial intelligence (AI) has focused on a paradigm in which intelligence inheres in a single, autonomous agent. Social and economic issues are entirely secondary in this paradigm. When AI systems are deployed in social contexts, however, the overall design of such systems is often naïve??"a centralized entity provides services to ...
The current era of computing is driven by mostly general-purpose computing architectures with some specialization. With the increasing use of artificial intelligence/machine learning (ML) applications in manufacturing, natural language processing, scientific applications with increasing requirements such as weather prediction and protein folding, and even in Level 3 & 4 driverless ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
The Science of Modern Machine Learning: New Opportunities for TheoryDeep learning, the technology underlying the recent progress in AI, has revealed some major surprises from the perspective of theory. These methods seem to achieve their outstanding performance through different mechanisms from those of classical learning theory, mathematical statistics, and optimization theory. Simple gradient methods find excellent solutions to nonconvex ...
The Webb Telescope was designed to look back in time, to study the first generation of stars, and reveal our cosmic origins. In what is only its second year of operation, JWST has already brought us tantalizingly close to our dream of seeing those first stars. Dr. Coe will tell ...
In paleontology, the skull, arms, and legs can provide valuable insights into the diversity of diets and movements in extinct animals. As animals evolve, all parts of their skeleton evolve simultaneously as a coordinated whole, however, the research paleontologists conduct often examines these parts of the skeleton independently. Emily Bogner’s ...
Belowground regulation of aboveground dynamics: How soil microbes shape species coexistence in plant communitiesSoils are teeming with microbial life, which exerts substantial control over plant ecology and evolution. Global environmental change threatens to disrupt these key plant??"microbial interactions, underscoring the importance of understanding the role that microbes play in shaping plant communities. Here, I will share my integrative approach to this problem, which ...
Giancarlo Savini is an Investment Principal at Future Energy Ventures with 15 years experience in ventures investments and commercial partnerships in the energy transition space. He worked in Shell Ventures, Honeywell Ventures where he was involved in 21+ transactions in Energy SaaS software platforms, Biofuels, Hydrogen and Energy Storage. Giancarlo ...
Nearly 40 years ago, on November 20, 1984, the SETI Institute was incorporated with inaugural officers CEO Thomas Pierson and SETI scientist Jill Tarter. The goal was to provide SETI researchers with a place to grow the search for life beyond Earth. What began with one NASA-funded SETI project and ...
Living nature, through some 3 billion years of evolution, has developed materials, objects, and processes that function from the nanoscale to the macroscale. The understanding of the functions provided by species and processes found in living nature can guide us to design and produce bioinspired surfaces for various applications1,2,3. There ...
Join us for an incredible evening of discussion about one of our most incredible local animals: Bears! Ursinologists Meghan Walla-Murphy and Dr. Brock Wooldridge will discuss life histories, stories, and conservation of these mega mammals both locally and around California. With a happy half-hour sponsored by Other Brother Brewery, it’s ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: $20 General, $15 Members
After Dark: GatheringLean into fall with a special After Dark celebrating different ways we get together this time of year.Age 18+
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95 General, Members 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 ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
A Tale of Two Bridges and Round EarthCan you measure the radius of the Earth from an office window? An unusual photograph through a telescope of two San Francisco bridges clearly shows the curvature of the Earth. Measurements from this photo, bridge dimensions, and a few calculations result in a calculated radius of the Earth surprisingly accurate! ...
R. W. Kerrigan is a California native, with family roots here going back to 1850. He had public safety responsibilities in several California State Parks for 8 years, followed by a B.A. and M.A. (in Biology) from SFSU and a Ph.D. in fungal genetics from U.C. Santa Barbara, then a ...
The 2024 election was notable for its continuation of high amounts of dis-information that were spread through a variety of means. There were efforts by foreign agents to influence our elections and throw sand in the gears of our electoral machine. Perhaps predictably, the use of AI in election interference ...
Lichen & Friends BioblitzJoin us on Mt. Tam for a naturalist adventure! A bioblitz is a quick, intense survey of the species present. It’s part nature walk, part open-ended treasure hunt, and lots of joyful, careful observation. Our adventure will start with a quick how-to and an introduction to lichens and forests. We ...
One of the challenges in biomedical sciences is the development of next-generation tools that can accurately image, identify, and execute desired missions in a selectively programmed manner. In this lecture, I will discuss magnetic nanoparticles as core platform materials and tools for a variety of functionalities such as sensing, targeting ...
Join POST and Santa Clara County Parks for an educational experience like no other: Raptor Fest! This incredible event will highlight very important species of raptors who play an integral role in the health of our ecosystems!This free educational event will feature presentations and a chance to visit local wildlife ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
EV Expo Cruise on by the City of Sunnyvale’s first Electric Vehicle (EV) Expo! Learn all the exciting benefits of driving an EVat this FREE event! Join us for a morning talk on the latest financial assistance programs available for EV purchases.Hear from proud EV owners showcasing their vehicles and sharing their ...
Where: SunnyvaleCost: Free
Nature's Best Hope - 20th Anniversary Bringing Back the Natives Garden TourAgenda for Saturday:10:00 Registration opens: book signing10:30 Welcome from Glenn Phillips, Executive Director of the Golden Gate Bird Alliance, and Kathy Kramer, Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour Founder and Coordinator11:00 “Restoring the little things that run the world: Why it matters, and what you can do” Doug Tallamy12:00 Bringing ...
Zara Rutherford is the world’s youngest female pilot to fly a solo trip around the world in a small plane and she will debut her children’s book, I Flew Around the World: The True Story of a Young Female Pilot’s Record Breaking Flight.Young readers, aged 7-9, can join the inspiring, ...
Where: San CarlosCost: Free with admission
Salamander Search at SanbornSanborn is famous for its amphibians; you just need to do some extra searching to find them! Join us for a fun day of looking under rocks, logs, and other unique hiding spots that Sanborn’s Salamanders call home!Register at weblinkAges 4 - 12
Where: SaratogaCost: Free
Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates ? - RESCHEDULEDBioluminescent dinoflagellates are microscopic algae that glow blue in the dark!In this workshop, we will create a living dinoflagellate flask. We will inoculate a grow vessel with these microorganisms and feed them. We will also set up LED lights with a timed photoperiod. Dinoflagellates need a strict light/dark cycle to ...
Tule Boat and Doll-making with Ohlone Cultural LeadersCelebrate National Native American Heritage Month in the Outdoor Nature Lab with 'ottoy Initiative leaders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino. On both Sundays, they will demonstrate how to create traditional dolls and boats and provide materials so participants can make their own to take home.Event is included with admission to ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Event is free with admission to the science center
Nature's Best Hope - 20th Anniversary Bringing Back the Natives Garden TourAgenda for Sunday1:00 Welcome from Glenn Phillips, Executive Director of the Golden Gate Bird Alliance, and Kathy Kramer, Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour Founder and Coordinator1:20 "Nature’s Best Hope" Doug Tallamy2:30 ClosingSee also the longer Oakland event on November 16.
Where: Santa ClaraCost: See weblink
Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates ? Take home a glowing flask with your algae pet!Bioluminescent dinoflagellates are microscopic algae that glow blue in the dark!In this workshop, we will create a living dinoflagellate flask. We will inoculate a grow vessel with these microorganisms and feed them. We will also set up LED lights with a timed photoperiod. Dinoflagellates need a strict light/dark cycle to ...
How do recent advances in Generative AI affect firm value? We construct the first measure of firms’ workforce exposures to Generative AI and show that an “Artificial-Minus-Human” (AMH) portfolio that is long high-exposure firms and short low-exposure firms earned daily returns of 0.44% in the two weeks following the release ...
There is broad consensus that electrification of end uses and renewable electricity can drastically and cost-effectively reduce GHG emissions from the energy system. But important questions remain about end uses that are particularly challenging to electrify as well as the broader (and typically not modeled) implications of net-zero emissions energy ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
GPS to the rescue: how the CYGNSS mission is uncovering new hydrologic processes in the TropicsThe Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) is in many ways, a unique mission. With its ability to penetrate clouds and canopies and a strong sensitivity to water, CYGNSS has helped us uncover new spatio-temporal dynamics of water at the surface of the Earth. In this presentation, I will describe ...
Evaluating the degree to which post-9/11 programs of mass electronic surveillance as leveraged by law enforcement have achieved purported counterterrorism objectivesThe post 9/11 era has witnessed an explosion in the use of state surveillance for the purposes of law enforcement. In the past few decades, the means and methods of ...
The low-carrier density state of a 2D semiconductor is described in terms of the homogeneous two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG), the ground state properties of which are determined by the electron density. Below a critical density, the electronic system freezes into a triangular lattice electron solid, or Wigner crystal. For experimentally ...
We will review the science underlying the recent award of the Nobel Prize to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for developing the foundations of modern artificial intelligence using tools from physics. This award has generated some misplaced controversy, with (some younger) computer scientists claiming AI has nothing to do with ...
Machine learning (ML) applications are increasingly reliant on black-box pretrained models. To ensure safe use of these models, techniques such as unlearning, guardrails, and watermarking have been proposed to curb model behavior and audit usage. Unfortunately, while these post-hoc approaches give positive safety ‘vibes’ when evaluated in isolation, our work ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Technology DevelopmentUS Astronomers have recently listed habitable exoplanet imaging ??" imaging and spectroscopy of a planet around another star that can harbor life on it's surface ??" as a top priority in the coming decades. However, our current telescopes and state-of-the-art technologies are insufficient to enable this high priority science goal. ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Illuminating the Biochemical Activity Architecture of the CellThe complexity and specificity of cellular processes require spatial microcompartmentation and dynamic modulation of the underlying biochemical activities, such as dynamic phosphorylation and dephosphorylation catalyzed by specific protein kinases and phosphatases, respectively. We hypothesize that cellular biochemical activities are spatially organized into an “activity architecture” and reorganization and restructuring of ...
Neutrinos possibly hold the key to one of the most profound questions still to be answered: why is the Universe dominated only by matter and what role did neutrinos play in the evolution of the universe? The answers to these questions lie hidden within the yet to be known properties ...
As technology has overtaken religion as a primary influence on 21st-century life and community, have tech titans and their innovations become our new false idols?Greg Epstein, Harvard and MIT’s influential humanist chaplain, joins us in San Francisco??"the epicenter of the technological revolution??" to delve into what it means to go ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25 General in person, $10 online
In this presentation I will describe fluorogenic (off to on) probes we have developed to monitor electron transport,1 lipid peroxidation,2 and electrophilic stress,3 in lipid membranes. I will portray live cell imaging work where we exploit newly developed activatable fluorogenic antioxidants2 and state-of-the-art imaging methodologies to monitor lipid peroxyl radicals ...
The Snowball Earth hypothesis predicts that the hydrological cycle was curtailed for millions of years, with ice-cover and low temperatures limiting silicate weathering of the continental crust. In this scenario, the deep ocean should have equilibrated with the mantle through hydrothermal exchange at mid-ocean ridges. Here we report the discovery ...
The central topic of this seminar is modeling approaches to facilitate resource conservation and a just energy transition. Potential subtopics are an emerging technology’s potential for scaling, life-cycle assessment for measuring social and environmental impacts, uncertainty quantification, and economic modeling for the energy transition. Our goal is to create an intimate, ...
The CSCS Community Series or CS3 was established out of a desire to increase visibility of the amazing sleep and circadian work that is being done here on campus. This virtual seminar series provides an opportunity for member labs to present on the latest and greatest progress from their groups, with an ...
Understanding deformations of macroscopic thin plates and shells has a long and rich history, culminating with the nonlinear Foeppl-von Karman equations in 1904. However, thermal fluctuations in thin elastic membranes fundamentally alter the long wavelength physics, leading to strongly scale-dependent elastic constants, consistent with experiments that twist and bend atomically-thin ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
On Avoided Emissions - RescheduledThe urgency of climate change mitigation has led to widespread adoption of emissions avoidance projects to both reduce and offset emissions. At the core of offset integrity lie leakage, additionality, and permanence. Leakage and additionality, carbon market shorthand for imprecise measures of the economics concept of elasticities and externalities in ...
Quantum AI LecturesJoin us at the Japan Innovation Center (JIC) in Palo Alto, CA, on Thursday, November 21 for an exclusive event focused on the transformative intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Technologies. Designed for Fortune 500 executives, CFOs, CVCs, VCs, investors, business strategists, and innovation leaders, this event will delve into ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: $20
Astronomy on Tap Tucson #101: Chaos and Planetary Defense - LivestreamTucson’s local flavor of Astronomy on Tap, Space Drafts, is excited to present its 101st edition! This month, we’ll be joined by the director of the Catalina Sky Survey, Carson Fuls, who will tell us about the survey’s role in planetary defense, and Steward Observatory graduate student Sóley Hyman who ...
Where: Cost: Free
Right in your backyard: The plight of the North Pacific right whale - LivestreamOnce numbering in the tens of thousands, the North Pacific right whale was driven to the brink of extinction; now it's estimated that fewer than 50 animals remain in the eastern population. Despite this, one of these rare animals was seen this May off Point Reyes, CA. So how do you study the proverbial ...
The first time I smelled a truffle, it reached inside me and made me want it more than anything in the world. With that first whiff, it was as if the entire forest opened and invited me into its deepest, most profound essence. Yet once a truffle is unearthed, it only ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Wednesday, 11/20/24
Fall Bird Walk - SOLD OUTin Chris Carmichael in search of both resident and migrant birds in the Garden’s many bird friendly micro habitats. Chris will be joined by Susan Greef, Garden Member and avid birder. Beginning and experienced bird watchers are welcome. Limited to 15 participants.This walk follows uneven terrain, with areas of paved ...
David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, will present insights from the second edition of the Artificial Intelligence for Climate Change Mitigation Roadmap.Expanding on the initial edition, the roadmap explores how AI technologies can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in nine sectors including power, manufacturing ...
Using a natural experiment from a retail gasoline antitrust case, we study how asymmetric information sharing affects oligopoly pricing. Empirically, price competition softens when, following case settlement, information sharing shifts from symmetric to asymmetric, with one firm losing access to high-frequency, granular rival price data. We provide theory and empirics ...
Our limited understanding of plant systems and the dearth of genetic tools constrain our ability to engineer plants effectively for diverse applications, including agriculture, sustainability, human health, and bioenergy. However, the field of synthetic biology has opened the door to new possibilities, enabling us to introduce heterologous metabolic pathways or ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Decoding, Modeling, and Reprogramming Cells at Scale in the Era of Digital Biology Decoding the biological “languages” underlying genetic and cellular states remains a major challenge. Single-cell omics measurements are transforming our understanding of biology; however, they are expensive and destructive, posing challenges for monitoring live cells in tissues and humans over time. Although imaging is non-destructive, low-cost, and scalable, it can be ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
On Avoided Emissions - RescheduledThe urgency of climate change mitigation has led to widespread adoption of emissions avoidance projects to both reduce and offset emissions. At the core of offset integrity lie leakage, additionality, and permanence. Leakage and additionality, carbon market shorthand for imprecise measures of the economics concept of elasticities and externalities in ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Statistical Foundations of Trustworthy AI EngineeringMy research has been almost entirely devoted to a single question: How can we build trustworthy systems from untrustworthy AI algorithms? Answering this question is difficult because modern AI models can be wrong in unpredictable ways. From data, these models learn biases, spurious associations, and imperfect world-models that are ...
Turing-complete blockchain protocols such as Ethereum approximate the idealized abstraction of a shared “computer in the sky” that is open access (anyone can install software or interact with already-installed software), runs in plain view, and, in effect, has no owner or operator.This technology can, among other things, enable stronger notions ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
AI and Climate Change MitigationHow can artificial intelligence (AI) help respond to the climate crisis? In which sectors can AI make the most difference? Will the potential benefits of using AI to reduce greenhouse gas emissions be outweighed by emissions increases from power demand for AI? The second edition of the Artificial Intelligence for ...
The automotive industry is rapidly electrifying, and electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming mainstream. At the same time, vehicles are getting smarter, with autonomous systems and advanced connectivity transforming how we think about transportation. Similarly, transformational changes are occurring in the electric power sector at an unprecedented rate to balance the ...
Co-authors of Flycatchers of North America: Empidonax and Pewees return to Speaker Series to discuss their new release. They will present the second installment in their (hopefully continuing) series addressing the complex identification challenges of this group. This time they will talk about Kingbirds and Myiarchus Flycatchers as well as ...
We humans are extraordinarily complex organisms, each of us composed of roughly 30 trillion cells. Our health depends on all of those cells working together in harmony, and just one cell going rogue can potentially spell disaster. In this session, Bradley Stohr of UCSF will share one patient’s story of ...
The space between stars is a magnetic soup of electrons, atoms, molecules, ions, and dust grains, known as the interstellar medium (ISM). It is this material that ultimately condenses to form stars, planets, and life. The densest and coldest part of the ISM are the birthplace of stars. However, the ...
Where: Cost: Free
Citizen Science in Astronomy - LivestreamJoin Dr. Franck Marchis, Chief Science Officer and co-founder at Unistellar and director of Citizen Science at SETI Institute, and Dr. Lauren Sgro, Outreach Manager at the SETI Institute, for a conversation on citizen science with the Unistellar network in partnership with the SETI Institute. We will take the time ...
Where: Cost: Free
Lunch Break Science - LivestreamLunch Break Science is a dynamic live web series featuring fascinating short talks, engaging interviews, and lively Q&A with Leakey Foundation scientists. Each episode digs deeper into the latest human origins discoveries, with topics like Neanderthals, chimpanzee behavior, and more! Even better, you can interact with researchers during the show ...
Where: Cost: Free
Creating Fair, Useful, and Reliable AI in Healthcare - LivestreamJoin us for an insightful webinar exploring the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare systems.Dr. Nigam Shah, a renowned expert in AI and healthcare, will walk you through Stanford Health Care’s innovative process for developing fair, useful, and reliable AI models (FURM).Register here to save your spot.
Navigating the ecology and evolution of host-microbiomes in a changing seaMicroorganisms play an essential role in shaping the ecology and evolution of nearly every form of life on Earth. However, sudden shifts in environmental conditions, including those associated with Global Climate Change (GCC), alter the interactions between eukaryotic hosts and their microbial associates. My research program applies an integrative approach ...
In the United States, women own roughly half of all vehicles, but only 28% of electric vehicles (EVs). This study investigates why women, who tend to exhibit more pro-environmental behaviors than men, are less likely to adopt EVs. In four studies (total N = 13,435), we ask whether people are ...
This presentation introduces some general mechanisms that drive the evolution and pace at which economies are transitioning to a clean energy system and resilient delivery infrastructure.Today’s imperatives will be briefly introduced with two deep dives into electrification imperative of clean energy systems. Discussed will be potential realizations of future grid ...
Living nature, through some 3 billion years of evolution, has developed materials, objects, and processes that function from the nanoscale to the macroscale. The understanding of the functions provided by species and processes found in living nature can guide us to design and produce bioinspired surfaces for various applications. There ...
On Avoided Emissions - LivestreamThe urgency of climate change mitigation has led to widespread adoption of emissions avoidance projects to both reduce and offset emissions. At the core of offset integrity lie leakage, additionality, and permanence. Leakage and additionality, carbon market shorthand for imprecise measures of the economics concept of elasticities and externalities in ...
Where: Cost: Free
Societal Impacts of AI: Challenges and OpportunitiesThe rapid adoption of data-driven technologies has outpaced our foundational understanding, leaving critical questions unanswered; yet, these technologies are deeply embedded in our society, driving high-stakes decisions in policy, science, business, and beyond. To ensure these systems serve society effectively, we must confront key questions: What challenges and opportunities arise ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Free Screening and Opening: Monterey's Fishing Village - SOLD OUTJoin us at the Musuem for a special screening of “Monterey’s Chinese Fishing Village” a beautiful and thought-provoking documentary created by Ibis Education & Media in partnership with the Musuem, Monterey Waterkeeper, the Quock Mui Foundation, and Fishing Village descendants. This impactful film is an important one to watch, and ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
NightLife: Fat & HappyAccess should not be contingent upon body size. Celebrate fat liberation and community with us at a Nightlife centered on making and taking space.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
After Dark: Glow OpeningOur special exhibition Glow returns this winter with brand-new artworks and luminous experiences!Age 18+
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95 General, Members Free
Join us to learn about cutting-edge agriculture and forestry technologies and strategies for reducing carbon emissions!Join us in person for an evening filled with insightful discussions and innovative solutions. Learn from experts in the field and network with like-minded individuals passionate about making a difference. Don't miss out on this ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, Free for Students
After years in the works, Noah's new book with Christian Schwarz, the long awaited _Mushrooms of Cascadia: A Comprehensive Guide to Fungi of the Pacific Northwest is now out! With photographs of over 800 species, detailed descriptions of nearly 750, and many hundreds more discussed. Much like MotRC, but working ...
Where: SebastopolCost: Free
Charging Forward: A clarion call for justice in the quest for clean energyBookshop welcomes Chris Brenner and Manuel Pastor for a reading and signing of their new book Charging Forward: Lithium Valley, Electric Vehicles, and a Just Future??"a clarion call for justice in the quest for clean energy.Speakers: Chris Benner, UC Santa Cruz; Manuel Pastor, University of Southern CaliforniaRSVP at weblink
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free
The GalàpagosThe islands of the Galàpagos offer an almost unmatched biodiverse environment for scientists and naturalists alike to closely study evolution, ecology and natural history. With a relationship dating back to 1905, the California Academy of Sciences has and continues to work through its collections and research from the islands and ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Friday, 11/22/24
Seed Spoon Science Fair - RescheduledSeed Spoon Science is a group of UC Santa Cruz faculty and undergraduate researchers dedicated to inspiring new generations to pursue an education and career in STEM.Join our community outreach science fair with STEM-related activities for elementary school-aged children. Activities will be hosted by UCSC students majoring in different STEM ...
Join us for a special live taping of TecHype, hosted by Brandie Nonnecke, featuring an exclusive conversation with Clara Chappaz, French Minister of AI and Digitalization. This event will include a dynamic discussion on the international AI governance landscape, its challenges, and the potential paths forward.As AI technologies continue to ...
The Future of California’s Forests - A Conversation with State Forestry LeadershipJoin state and federal leaders for a moderated discussion about the progress California has made towards treating our forested ecosystems to create healthier, more fire resilient forests. Panelists will share their thoughts on successes, challenges, and opportunities each of their agencies have seen in recent years, particularly as they relate ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: 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, 11/23/24
Seed Spoon Science FairSeed Spoon Science is a group of UC Santa Cruz faculty and undergraduate researchers dedicated to inspiring new generations to pursue an education and career in STEM.Join our community outreach science fair with STEM-related activities for elementary school-aged children. Activities will be hosted by UCSC students majoring in different STEM ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Crawlies Aren't CreepyCome learn about some of the most interesting animals that call our planet home! Interact with some insects and other arthropods, and get a chance to touch some! This program will show the importance of the world’s “creepy crawlies.”Register at weblinkAges 4 - 12
Where: Los GatosCost: Free
Glow FestRecharge your winter wonder with luminous artworks that will surprise and delight the whole family??"paint with light and shadow, soak in colors, and play with exhibit prototypes in the Light Lab. Don’t miss Glow, our seasonal exhibition that celebrates the art and science of light! To make the weekend extra ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
Thanksgiving Under the MicroscopeGet into the Thanksgiving spirit and help us pilot activities for our upcoming exhibition, Future of Food. Join The Lawrence and SF Microscopical Society for a close-up look at all your Thanksgiving favorites. Under the microscope, examine turkey, pie, and more. We will also learn about traditional Ohlone foods and ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Event is included with admission
Come join the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics-SF for food and fun at our 2024 Annual Banquet on November 23rd. Help us celebrate with this year’s Section Awards winners. Your ticket includes lunch, admission to the Chabot Space & Science Center and its exhibits, and a presentation from our ...
Where: OaklandCost: TBA
Sunday, 11/24/24
Glow FestRecharge your winter wonder with luminous artworks that will surprise and delight the whole family??"paint with light and shadow, soak in colors, and play with exhibit prototypes in the Light Lab. Don’t miss Glow, our seasonal exhibition that celebrates the art and science of light! To make the weekend extra ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
Tule Boat and Doll-making with Ohlone Cultural LeadersCelebrate National Native American Heritage Month in the Outdoor Nature Lab with 'ottoy Initiative leaders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino. On both Sundays, they will demonstrate how to create traditional dolls and boats and provide materials so participants can make their own to take home.Event is included with admission to ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Event is free with admission to the science center
Join Counter Culture Labs for an exciting workshop focused on DIY just-for-fun biotechnology. We will be making colorful agar art with our engineered glowing microorganisms. Agar is the substrate on which microbes grow on.In this workshop, you will draw out a picture on the petri dish using our microbes and ...
Where: OaklandCost: $50 adult, $25 youth under 18 with student ID
Evolving understanding of electric fields and enzyme catalysisLocal internal electric fields created by the organized environment in complex systems like proteins can be measured using the vibrational Stark effect (VSE). We have found that these fields can be very large and can affect chemical reactivity. I will briefly explain the underlying physical concept and strategy we have ...
Condensed matter physics has witnessed emergent quantum phenomena driven by electron correlation and topology. Such phenomena have been mostly observed in conventional crystalline materials where flat electronic bands are available. In recent years, moiré superlattices built upon two-dimensional (2D) materials emerged as a new platform to engineer and study electron ...
Over the past decade, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has captured thousands of high-resolution images of the Moon's surface??"far more than humans can manually review. To tackle this challenge, scientists have developed an automated system that quickly identifies scientifically significant images from the LRO data, making it the first anomaly ...
In principle, we all love to hate political gerrymandering. But how can we learn to deal with it, to manage it, ... to hack it? In the past decade, mathematicians and computer scientists have developed inventive and revealing tools to find all kinds of gerrymanders: from the pretty-but-partisan, to the ...
Where: NovatoCost: Free
Wednesday, 11/27/24
Globalization, Localization, and Energy Storage ChaosComparing the electrification goals with industry readiness and discuss how we can achieve those goals fasterKeynote Speaker: Samo Burja, Bismarck AnalysysPanel: Cameron Dales, Peak Energy; Bob Galyen, Galyen Energy; Deshan Naidoo, Afrivolt; Tal Sholklapper, Voltaig; Sama Aghnlaey, Jon Gates ConsultingLocation revealed after you purchase a ticket
Where: Cost: $20 General
Virtual Skeptics in the Pub: Becoming better consumers of informationThis is a casual night of socializing with fellow skeptics who live in various locations around the oblate spherical planet Earth.Please join us! This is a free event brought to you by Bay Area Skeptics. All are welcome.See weblink to connect.
Where: Cost: Free
Saturday, 11/30/24
Science Saturday: Monarch Madness!Join us for our Free Science Saturday event, where we will explore the fascinating world of monarch butterflies. Learn about their incredible migratory journey, the challenges they face, and the vital role they play in our ecosystem. This engaging day will feature collection displays, informative talks, and activities for the ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
Family Astronomy: Discovering the Whole New Worlds of ExoplanetsCreate a new holiday tradition full of fun and learning - bring the family together with an interactive and engaging astronomy workshop designed for curious minds. Explore the wonders of exoplanets - distant, mysterious worlds beyond our solar system - through hands-on activities perfect for families with children ages 6-12. ...
Where: OaklandCost: $25 Adults, $15 Youth
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 ...
It'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 ...
By our nature, humans need challenge. We get bored easily and stop playing a game if it is too easy. We are happiest when we are living a purpose driven life, that is "just challenging enough". This talk will dive into the importance of Mastering Mindset, and discuss the question ...
Lithium battery technology is critical to the decarbonization of air transport via electric aircraft, and is the enabler behind new concepts in air transportation such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi services. The needs of battery technology for electric aviation are greatly different from consumer electronics and ...
For this session, we are honored to be joined by David Dill, the Donald E. Knuth Professor in the School of Engineering, Emeritus. In 2004, Prof. Dill founded the Verified Voting Foundation, whose mission is "to strengthen democracy for all voters by promoting the responsible use of technology in elections.” We ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Getting to YesGood technical and analytical work is the foundation of every successful project, but by itself, it is not enough to ensure that a needed project moves from the drawing table to the ribbon cutting. Ms. Menard will describe key lessons learned during a 40-year career as local government water utility ...
An estimated 133 million - or nearly half - of all Americans suffer from one or more chronic diseases. Chronic diseases consistently account for 5 of the top 10 leading causes of death. Moreover, 90% of annual healthcare expenditures are attributed to chronic diseases. Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) and Type ...
Dr. Tian is a Scientific Director at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. The Tian Laboratory for Optical Neurophysiology engineers biosensors and optical probes for monitoring and controlling brain activity in living, behaving research animals. Dr. Tian and her team have created a novel class of genetically encoded indicators ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Building AI PolicyEffectively governing AI stands as a grand challenge for the 21st century as we reckon with this generation-defining technology. In this talk, I will present my theory for change, articulating why academia is vital for creating superior-quality AI policy. My research embodies this, as I describe through three lines of ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Chemical methods to monitor and manipulate the proteomeThe development of potent probe molecules and drug leads for proteins that lack deep pockets remains an important and difficult problem. This seminar will focus on methods being developed in the Kodadek Laboratory to address this problem. Topics to be discussed will include the development of “beyond rule of 5” ...
Statistical methods for assessing the factual accuracy of large language models We develop new conformal inference methods for obtaining validity guarantees on the output of large language models (LLMs). Prior work in language modeling (Mohri & Hashimoto, 2024) identifies a subset of the text that satisfies a high-probability guarantee of correctness. These methods work by filtering a claim from the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
An Exploration of the Milky Way: Our Cosmic HomeOur Universe is made up of many billions of galaxies, yet astronomers are still trying to figure out how they form, evolve, and assemble themselves. The question of how and when galaxies - including our own - take shape across cosmic time is among the most fundamental in modern astronomy. ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members & Seniors
The chemical synthesis of natural products provides an exciting platform from which to conduct fundamental research in chemistry and biology. Our group is currently pursuing the synthesis of several structurally complex natural products, with a particular focus on the development of new convergent fragment coupling and annulation strategies. The ...
This talk will explore the state-of-the-art methodologies for assessing carbon emissions across the lifecycle of natural gas production in the U.S. The difficulty in providing a reasonable carbon intensity (CI) numbers for the US natural gas lies in unorganized production facility data reportage and long-standing underestimates of super-emitter activities in ...
As concern about climate change intensifies, there is increasing demand for ‘actionable’ information to help mitigate to effects of climate change through sustainable policy. As this demand has increased, so has the complexity and resolution of Earth System Models (ESMs) and Global Climate Models (GCMs), which play a central role ...
For the closing keynote of our autumn 2024 series of weekly seminars, we are very happy to welcome Ryan Harty, Division Lead of Sustainability and Business Development at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Ryan will share insights into Honda’s efforts toward clean energy, carbon neutrality, and resource circularity, focusing on ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Disruptive & low-cost solutions on AI-enabled platformComputer Ghost of Christmas Past says: "Remember the whirr of dial-up tones and floppy disks? Ah, simpler times when every kilobyte was precious!"Computer Ghost of Christmas Present says: "Look at the world now - always online, apps for everything, and streaming cat videos in 4K! Enjoy the moment, for technology ...
