SuperNatural FestivalGet into the Halloween spirit (and your costume) with some daytime SuperNatural fun at the Academy - home to thousands of slithering, crawling creatures, and millions of pickled and preserved specimens. Treat your family to thrills, chills, and spook-tacular activities:• Turn heads at an Academy costume parade• Complete a scavenger ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
Connections Workshop: Plankton PropertiesCome be our ghosts this Halloween when costumed kids (and grown-ups, too) haunt the exhibits and explore creepy crawlers-from giant insects and tarantulas of the San Francisco Bay Area Tarantula Society to blood-sucking leeches from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. Make and decorate sugar skulls with local artist Irma ...
EXTREME ASTRONOMY: EYEING THE COSMOS THROUGH A CUBIC KILOMETER OF ICEDr. Kirill Filimonov of the University of California, Berkeley will explain how and why physicists are fishing for elusive cosmic neutrinos using IceCube, the world's largest telescope located on the harshest continent on the planet.
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Neutrinos from Hell: the Dawn of Neutrino GeophysicSeismic waves have been for long time the only messenger reporting on the conditions deep inside the Earth. While global seismology provides amazing details about the structure of our planet, it is only sensitive to the mechanical properties of rocks and not to their chemical composition. In the last 5 ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Carbon Dioxide, Friend or Foe?In this talk I will explain that atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is not a pollutant but a beneficial and essential part of our atmosphere. Without CO2, higher forms of life would perish. Over most of geological history since the Cambrian, CO2 levels have been several times higher than now. Life ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Oil Spill AftermathRecovering from the explosion and spill that resulted in 4.9 million barrels of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico - a wound in the earth that could not be staunched for nearly three months - requires our best minds. Discover Cal offers perspectives from Berkeley experts about the effects ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 Advance, $25 at Door
Benjamin Dean Lecture: Determining the Age of the UniverseAssuming that the Universe originated in a Big Bang, one can imagine various ways in which we could measure the time elapsed since the Big Bang occurred. Rev. Coyne will describe a number of approaches and techniques for measuring the Universe's age, and explain which ones are doable and which ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 general, $10 seniors, $6 members
Energy Dashboards - An Analytical Understanding of Green Home PerformanceWe will discuss the importance of performance feedback in green homes and how user behavior will become a key piece of the energy efficiency and green building puzzle. We will present on the available monitoring tools and devices on the market today and provide real life case examples of residential ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: $10 Members Adv, $15 General & at door
iPad Revolution and the Future of Digital MagazinesMatthew Carlson, Principal of Experience Strategy and Design, Hot StudioMatthew Davis, Director of User Experience and Creative, Zinio Kevin O'Malley, President, TechTalk / Studio – ModeratorThe launch of the iPad signaled the start of a new era for magazine publishing. Editorial teams suddenly needed to consider multi-touch gestures, multiple orientations, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $8 members, $20 non-members, FREE for students (wi
How are the venomous personal attacks on climate scientists impacting their work? Is the scrutiny causing them to be even more cautious than they are by nature? A chilling effect? What needs to be done to make scientists better public communicators? Is Bjorn Lomborg's partial revision of his skeptical views ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $12 Members, Free Students
Computer simulations of convection and magnetic field generation in planetsDr. Glatzmeier will describe his studies of fluid flows and the magnetic fields they generate in the electrically conducting interiors of terrestrial planets, like the Earth, of giant planets, like Jupiter, and of satellites, like Europa, that orbit around giant planets. Dr. Glatzmeier develops computer models that solve a set ...
From Point to Pixel: Digitising Colour, Texture Shape and SizeThe advent of image and laser based systems have increased the profile of photometric and geometric (colour, texture, shape and size) data capture, particularly in the 21st century. Whilst the application of techniques like laser scanning and photogrammetry to cultural heritage are well documented, their relationship to each other and ...
Expedition Spotlight: Assassin Spiders from Around the WorldJoin arachnologist Hannah Wood as she talks about her field expeditions to Madagascar and other remote places in the world. They may be small, but assassin spiders are among the most dangerous spiders on the planet - if you're another spider, that is. A classic example of convergent evolution, Wood's ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
When a Billion Chinese Jump: Why Japan and the world are concerned about China's environmental crisisChina's environmental challenges differ from anything experienced by other countries during a similar stage of development. Drawing on more than 200 interviews with senior politicians, scientists, businessmen and individuals the length and breadth of the country, Watts considers four questions: "How environmental destruction became the new 'China threat?', "Why history ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Elements of ProgrammingThis talk is an introduction to the book Elements of Programming published by Addison Wesley in 2009. The book presents practical programming as a mathematical discipline, where every programming construct has its place.Check out the book's website http://www.elementsofprogramming.com, which has links to several suppliers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
How the West Can Accommodate High Penetrations of Wind and Solar PowerWhat happens when you put lots of wind and solar power onto the power system? Do you need more storage? Do you need more reserves? When does the system 'break'? What actions can be taken to integrate wind and solar power into the power system without large cost increases to ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Solving America's Health Care Challenges through 21st Century Solutions Following passage of health insurance reform, a fundamental challenge – and opportunity – facing our nation today is how to advance the medical delivery system into the 21st century. As CEO of the largest medical group in the nation, Pearl is responsible for the health care of over 3 million ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $12 Members, $7 Students
Permaculture in Today's Home - Self Sufficiency and Closed Loop Systems Permaculture is an approach to creating holistic systems that feed, house, and otherwise sustain humans. Instead of just building separate systems with different functions, we build relationships that enhance life. In our homes, a Permaculture approach is looking at the whole system and integrating home site systems together using existing ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $10 Members Adv, $15 General & at door
What Technology WantsMost of us have a love/hate relationship with new inventions, such as the "crackberry," for example. Kelly declares this conflict as inherent to all technology. But he also argues that technology is not anti-nature, but rather the "seventh kingdom" of life; it now shares with life certain biases, urges, needs ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $8 Members, $7 Students
Exploring the TeV Energy States at the Large Hardon ColliderProf. Jeffrey Richman of the Univ. of Calif. at Santa Barbara will give a Physics/Applied Physics colloquium entitled, "Exploring the TeV Energy States at the Large Hadron Collider."
How Stars Are MadeOn a clear night, the sky is filled with countless stars. These objects must be the natural outcome of processes that occur all the time, throughout our Galaxy and others. Indeed, images taken with radio and infrared telescopes show us new stars forming relatively nearby. The progenitor objects are large ...
Where: AlbanyCost: Free
Ecology and Spirituality: Can Wonks Alone Save the World?Ernest (Chick) Callenbach will discuss the role in the struggle for a sustainable future of such imponderables as our relations to the universe and our biotic and social communities. Are our attitudes and emotions more important than policy analyses? Callenbach is the author of the classic Ecotopia and its prequel, ...
Special Space Shuttle Discovery Launch ProgramPostponed: New launch date and time TBDOn Nov. 3, 2010, the space shuttle Discovery will launch from the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:53 p.m. PDT. The STS-135 mission will deliver and install the Permanent Multipurpose Module, the Express Logistics Carrier 4 and provide critical spare components to ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Thursday, 11/04/10
Ride a CometCome ride along with NASA for a comet encounter that is out of this world-only the fifth time in history that a spacecraft has made such a rendezvous! NASA's EPOXI mission will fly by Comet Hartley 2 early on the morning of Thursday, November 4, 2010. Come to Chabot and ...
Where: OaklandCost: $3
Resourcing: The New ArchitectureGlobal interdependence, recurring financial crises and pressing environmental concerns demand that we as architects rethink our position toward resources. Sustainable architecture requires that complex solutions be built upon resource inventiveness. Accelerating the pace of innovation is especially important in regions experiencing extreme economic and environmental pressures. These challenges will be ...
Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour Experience the wildlife and natural beauty that make Younger Lagoon an exceptional local treasure on this docent-led tour to the lagoon and its beach habitat. Learn about the ongoing research and habitat restoration work that help this vital habitat thrive. Tour includes a short hike and is best suited for ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Application Driven Network TransformationsTraffic patterns have drastically changed over the past 20 years. Technology advances in the consumer market such as the iPhone, YouTube, and cloud computing have put new requirements and demands on the transport network. These new requirements along with advances in packet-based transport and optics have led to a transformation ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
HYBRID ROCKET PROPULSION - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTUREHybrid rocket motors have been in existence since 1933 yet in large part, their performance has not met the expectations of the rocket community. Nevertheless, a small group of engineers continue to work on hybrid rocket propulsion because of the promise of safe and inexpensive operation that the concept offers. ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Environmental Success Stories: Monterey Bay, California and Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico Come be inspired through the success stories of two environmental rescue efforts. Learn about a bay restored to health and a lagoon saved for birthing whales and local villages. Palumbi will reveal how a community mobilized and fought to rescue their once-beautiful Monterey Bay from ecological ruin. From Scherr and ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $8 Members, $7 Students
Center for Inquiry: Beer & BooksMeet up with rationalists, skeptics, and freethinkers south of San Francisco. Beers and Books is a social event co-hosted by the Center for Inquiry|San Francisco. We'll meet at Cafe Borrone http://www.cafeboronne.com/ between Kepler's Books and the British Banker's Club! Look for the black balloon.First Thursday of Each Month6pm to ???
Where: Menlo ParkCost:
Exploratorium After Dark: FearWhat are you afraid of? Spiders? Earthquakes? Things that go bump in the night? Or something more social, like saying the wrong thing, looking like a fool, getting hurt by someone you trust? Or are all fears simply masks for the big fear-the great unknown beyond the veil of death?Fear ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, Free Members
Hawaii NightLifeNightLife and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau team up to bring paradise to Golden Gate Park. On Thursday, November 4th, join us for a cultural extravaganza celebrating the scientific side of Hawaii. Learn all about ancient and modern Polynesian voyaging, wayfinding, and star navigation from Imiloa Astronomy Center, then ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $10 Members
'Descent' Opening Reception with artist Peter Tonningsen Peter Tonningsen combines scanned images of dried birds from U.C. Berkeley's Museum of Vertebrate Zoology with a background of the original field notes and other ephemera, creating an assemblage that invokes the heyday of the gentleman naturalist. Vividly colored specimens and faded notes create a stunning symbiosis between art and ...
Rebuilding Safe, Satisfactory, and Sustainable Houses After EarthquakesBuild Change is a non-profit social enterprise that designs earthquake-resistant houses in developing countries and trains builders, homeowners, engineers, and government officials to build them. With programs in Indonesia, China, and Haiti, Build Change's work has improved over 18,000 homes and permanently upgraded the skills of 2,000 builders and construction ...
What's so good about the Smart Grid - A Look at RenewablesAs serious environmental issues become part of dinner conversation, utilities are faced with not only technology upgrades, but also dealing with new systemic impact that occur behind the meter. Adding renewable energy resources into distribution and transmission power systems can be accomplished through a smarter power grid when the integration ...
Bedtime with the Beasts is a special overnight program for youth groups (ages 6-18) and their chaperones. An Oakland Zoo education specialist will lead your group on an evening hike around the zoo where you'll get a look at what the zoo is like after all of the guests leave. ...
Where: OaklandCost: $60
From Earth to MarsFrom Polar Bears to asteroid impacts, please bring a warm jacket and join us for an exciting evening of adventure in the High Arctic, learning about cutting edge Mars exploration technology and science, and peer into the future of manned misions to Mars!The Haughton impact crater site on Devon Island, High Arctic, is one of the ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Saturday, 11/06/10
Human Evolution: Investigating Our OriginsHuman Evolution: Investigating Our OriginsScience is always evolving. New discoveries shape our current understanding of human evolutionary milestones such as bipedalism, the use of tools, dietary adaptation, changing body shapes and sizes, and life history. Join us to reflect on the roots of humanity as we explore key early hominin ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $30 General, $25 Members
Science Safari: Dinosaur and Fossil FunUnleash your inner paleontologist and join us for some fossil fun at YSI Vasona. Find clues hidden in fossils, while learning about dinosaurs and other prehistoric life. Participants will dig in our Paleontology Pit and make a fossil model to take home!Fee: $10/adult; $5/child; $25/family FREE if redeeming a Member ...
Where: Los GatosCost: See description
Underwater Robotics Orientation for Teachers/Parents, grades 6-12Learn how to incorporate marine science, technology, and physical science concepts into your curriculum by spending a day at the pool building an underwater robot! This is the first session of a two-part ROV workshop series. Part 2 will be held on Saturday, December 4 for teachers/parents and their students. ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: See link above
Flight of the VoyagerSilicon Valley startup enterprises collectively comprise a fundamental innovation source. However, there often are many surprising twists and turns along their usually-harrowing journeys. Within that context, this presentation examines a specific startup enterprise, namely the aircraft industry's Voyager Aircraft Inc. and Rutan Aircraft Factory Inc. partnership. Triumphantly circling the world ...
Where: San CarlosCost: Free with admission
History of the Bay ModelWhat was it that brought about the need for the Bay Model? How did the Bay Model help save San Francisco Bay from being developed into a mere puddle of water surrounded by giant freshwater dams?
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Sea Turtle SaturdayJoin the Sea Turtle Restoration Project for an afternoon of family fun and learning about the amazing ocean reptiles that have survived since the time of the dinosaurs. The Aquarium of the Bay is located at Pier 39 in San Francisco. We will be having: Documentary film screenings with beautiful ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: See website
Seed Saving WorkshopThis Seed Saving Workshop will be a user-friendly orientation to the mysteries of saving, harvesting and processing plant seeds. The workshop will include an introduction to the philosophy of seed saving, how to distinguish which seeds are easy to save and which are not, processing techniques and demonstrations, as well ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15
Underwater Robotics Orientation for Teachers/Parents, grades 6-12Learn how to incorporate marine science, technology, and physical science concepts into your curriculum by spending a day at the pool building an underwater robot! This is the first session of a two-part ROV workshop series. Part 2 will be held on Saturday, December 4 for teachers/parents and their students. ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: See link above
Wonderfest 2010Wonderfest 2010, the Bay Area Festival of Science Saturday, Nov. 6, 1:00-10:00 PM at Stanford's Hewlett Teaching Center Sunday, Nov. 7, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM at UC Berkeley's Stanley Hall *** ENTIRELY FREE ADMISSION ***Science bends your mind at Wonderfest 2010, the oldest science festival in the United States. ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
A History and Tour of the El Cerrito Recycling CenterThe El Cerrito Recycling Center is one of the oldest municipal recycling centers on the West Coast -- and still one of the best. Early next year, the city will demolish the existing center to create an improved center that will provide more services, including environmental education. Come say goodbye ...
Where: El CerritoCost: Free
Meet the Author: Betty-Ann KissiloveTraverse the universe with Kissilove as she informally discusses her new book about our cosmic journey. Through a blending of science and art, explore the historyof our planet and the evolution of life as we know it. Learn more about how this book can engage young people and adults in ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
What's the flux? Measuring and Modeling Microbial MetabolismMetabolism, the flow of mass and energy through the cellular reaction network, is of fundamental importance to all biologically produced compounds, and yet metabolic modeling and measurement techniques are generally applied as afterthoughts in many successful metabolic engineering projects. In my talk, I will discuss the challenges to "industrializing" the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Takes on Sound and Spaceswissnex San Francisco invites two Swiss sound specialists to GAFFTA on November 6, 2010, Roberto Favaro, from the Swiss-Italian Accademia di Architettura of Mendrisio, who examines the relationships of sound and music to built environments throughout architectural history, and Joel Vacheron, a London-based writer and cultural theorist on how sound ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Donation $5 - $20
Saturday Night Stargazing — on the LHS PlazaSee the Moon, Planets, Stars, Galaxies and MoreStargaze through astronomical telescopes Ask questions and talk with amateur astronomers Learn how to use a star map to find constellations Share in the wonder of the universe with your friends Saturday Night Stargazing is a free public viewing program sponsored by LHS ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
SMCAS Star PartyThe City of San Carlos Department of Parks and Recreation and the San Mateo County Astronomical Society have open Star Parties twice a month. Note that inclement weather (clouds, excessive wind and showers) will cause the event to be canceled without notice.If you have kids interested in space or planets ...
