Sharon Levy's 'Once and Future Giants' book signingWhat caused the megafauna die-out at the end of the last ice age? Sharon Levey, in her "Once and Future Giants", tells that fascinating story from all angles. She even goes further and covers a plan to, in a strange way, replace the vanished species. At 7 P.M. she will ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: FREE
Come to Foothill Observatory and join us in the exploration of our Universe!Foothill Observatory Friday Evening ProgramCome to Foothill Observatory and join us in the exploration of our Universe!Foothill Observatory is open for public viewing every clear Friday evening from 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Visitors can view the wonders of the universe through the observatory's new computer-controlled 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Views ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost:
Saturday, 09/17/11
San José Clean Energy ShowcaseCome see the latest in solar, wind turbine, electric vehicle and solar hot water technologies. Bring the family and get everyone excited about clean energy! The time for clean energy is now! With money-saving rebates from the State, making home energy improvements has never been easier or more affordable. Come ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Field Journal Workshop with John Muir LawsRenowned California naturalist Jack Laws will share his techniques for observing the natural world and recording observations in field journals on Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 10:00 am to 5:30pm at Pepperwood Preserve. Laws will demonstrate sketching plant close ups, animals that move and mastering the five minute landscape during ...
The discovery of extrasolar planetary systems has overturned entrenched ideas about how our own planetary system formed. Around other stars we find exotic planets like nothing we see around our Sun: hot Jupiters, super-Earths, and massive planets at Kuiper Belt distances and beyond. Where do they come from, and can ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
FIRST Robotics LeagueWhat the Olympics are for sports and the Nobel Prize is to science, FIRST Robotics is to kid's engineering.Take part in the most prestigious robotics competition for youth in the world this fall by joining Celsius and Beyond team. You will learn about project management, computer programming, robotics design, analytical ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $950 in full, $330 per month
Come to Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands and get an up-close view of the fall raptor migration with the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO), a cooperative program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and National Park Service.A GGRO docent gives an hour-long talk about hawk monitoring and identification ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Fermented Favorites: The Science of Wine and Cheese Walking TourDiscovery Street Tours partners with Sommelier Carla McKay for an afternoon of touring, tasting and vino-culinary education all in one!Join us as we stroll through quaint SF neighborhoods visiting local cheese and wine purveyors to taste and learn. Between the wine and cheese tastings, we'll stop at parks and explore ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $125
Jack Laws Workshop for Teachers, Docents and Parents at Pepperwood PreserveDynamic naturalist, artist and author Jack Laws will teach field journaling for hike guides, docents and educators at the Dwight Center at Pepperwood Preserve. Students can register online here.Laws will present his dynamic workshop designed for teachers, docents, hike guides, parents, docents and teachers who wish to incorporate field journaling into family ...
Where: Santa RosaCost: $10
After-Dark Fungus FestivalJoin park staff and Morgan Hill mushroom growers for a night of mushroom madness. Learn about mushrooms, molds and other fungus that thrive in the damper regions of our parks. Afterwards munch on mushrooms (if you're not squeamish) while watching the creepy monster classic "Mantango: Attack of the Mushroom People." ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday Night StargazingSee the Moon, Planets, Stars, Galaxies and More* Stargaze 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 friendsStargazing is always weather permitting-be sure to dress warmly. Foggy and overcast ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Sunday, 09/18/11
Insect-induced Plant Galls of CaliforniaPlant galls provide a fascinating array of color and texture on most of the plants in our California landscape. Galls, growths of plant cells that are not normal plant organs, can be induced by a number of organisms. The most numerous as well as most beautiful and intriguing are those ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $140 General, $115 Jepson Friends
Medicinal Plants of the Bay AreaFrom the mist shrouded sea cliffs to the sun-baked arid expanse of its eastern most regions, the San Francisco Bay area provides us with a chance to view a large variety of botanical specimens all within a relatively small geographical range. Join us as we discover together the diverse array ...
Come to Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands and get an up-close view of the fall raptor migration with the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO), a cooperative program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and National Park Service.A GGRO docent gives an hour-long talk about hawk monitoring and identification ...
Sharks and rays are well adapted for life in the ocean, some as top predators. Join Greg Cailliet of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories as he provides insight into the methods that scientists use to study these incredible creatures including their population ecology, and aspects of their life histories, such as ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Religion and Science Part 1: Beliefs and the BrainPanel discussion with Drs. PZ Myers, William Hurlbut and Mahan MirzaInside Islamic Science: Dialogues and DiscussionsModerated by Angie CoiroThe events are moderated by acclaimed interviewer Angie Coiro.Each interview, panel discussion, or lecture offers constructive dialogue on culture, religion, knowledge and beliefs, sparked by The Tech Museum's latest exhibition, Islamic Science ...
California reservoirs are at healthy levels this year but the state's water system remains in crisis. Projected changes in the Sierra snowpack and precipitation patterns along with growing population present challenges for hydrating the state's citizens and economy. How will the federal government help the state secure future water supplies ...
Catalysis and EnergyHeterogeneous catalysis is a key technology for chemical synthesis and for production of fuels. Fundamental studies of reactive processes provide a framework for increasing energy efficiency in large-‐scale processes. An overview of challenges in catalysis and examples of how fundamental studies provide guiding principles for developing more efficient, "green" processes ...
Many think of Death Valley as a land of geological wonder and remarkable wildflowers, but few know its protection has not been simple. Ackerman will speak about the conflicting forces driving decisions made in Death Valley, part of the National Park Service for nearly 80 years. Ackerman will discuss policies ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, Free for Members, $7 Students
In recent years, scientists have recorded dramatic drops in fisheries catches around the world. But what if the declines are even greater than we've realized? Dr. Jackson examines how we know what we think we know about the changing oceans with some of the top names in marine science and ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $10 Seniors and Members
Burn Morels in the DNA AgeTodd Osmundson will discuss the state of morel taxonomy and his current research on morel diversity in post-burn habitats, using this work to put "DNA taxonomy" and its frequent - and sometimes bewildering - name changes into perspective. For more information on Todd's research, see: http://nature.berkeley.edu/~tosmunds.Speaker: Todd Osmundson, UC Berkeley
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Wednesday, 09/21/11
Free Wednesday at Cal AcademyFree admission is available to visitors on the third Wednesday of every month, through the generosity of The Bernard Osher Foundation. Admission is on a first come, first served basis, and early arrival is recommended due to the likelihood of high demand. Also, please note that final entry to the ...
Organohalogen flame retardants, structurally similar to banned substances such as DDT and PCBs, are used at high levels in furniture, baby products, and other consumer and building products. These chemicals are semi-volatile and migrate from products into dust which ends up in people, animals, and the environment. Extensive research shows ...
Looking Around Corners: New Opportunities in Femto-PhotographyCan we look around corners beyond the line of sight? Our goal is to exploit the finite speed of light to improve image capture and scene understanding. New theoretical analysis coupled with emerging ultra-high-speed imaging techniques can lead to a new source of computational visual perception. We are developing the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Passive House in California - Success in SustainabilityThe Passive House Standard is a rigorous, voluntary energy efficiency standard for buildings of all types that originated in Europe in the late 1980s. The first Passive House building in the US was constructed in Urbana, Illinois in 2003 and the first Passive House retrofit in California was completed in ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 Members Advance, $15 General and at door
Think Art-Act ScienceThink Art-Act Science is an exhibition of projects by artists who took part in the Swiss artists-in-labs program, completing an immersive nine-month residency in a scientific research institute or a university science department. During these residencies, the artists gained deep insights into the methodologies of scientific research in areas ranging ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
SpaceX and the Dragon SpacecraftWith the retirement of the Space Shuttle this past summer the United States entered a new era, one in which U.S. astronauts will be flying only aboard the Russian Soyuz vehicle in order to access Low Earth Orbit and the International Space Station. California headquartered Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Nerd Nite SF #16: Special Effects, Beer, and UrbanismBeer! The city! Tiny spaceships that get blown up! September brings back-to-school back-to-stage and back-to-the-bar, as we hear from experts on practical special effects, the history of beer, and the urban land- and mindscape. Be there and be square!"Practical Special Effects: Livin' Large in Miniature" by Fon DavisFon is a ...
Speaker: Professor Alastair Iles, Environmental Science, Policy and Management, Division of Society & EnvironmentRoom 470
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Explorer 1 AnomolyOn January 31, 1958, NASA successfully launched America's first satellite, Explorer I, into orbit around the Earth. As is well known, not only did this achieve the political goal of putting the United States back in the space race it was losing badly to the Soviet Union, but instruments onboard ...
Nutrition and Cancer: Some Myths and LegendsWhen someone is diagnosed with cancer, the search is on for information. People look to something they can control, like food. There are often many misconceptions out there regarding food which can be confusing. This talk will focus on some of these "questionable" foods/nutrients and help you understand the real story.Speaker: ...
Ground water is among the Nation's most important natural resources, providing half of our drinking water as well as being essential to agriculture and industry, and the health of ecosystems throughout the country During the past 50 years, groundwater depletion has spread from isolated pockets to large areas in many ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Does the Weirdness of Quantum Physics Influence the Brain?Neuroscientists say that there is a mystery at the core of our understanding of consciousness. Physicists say that there is a mystery at the core of our understanding of quantum mechanics. Do these two mysteries have anything to do with each other? UC Berkeley physicist Stan Klein, a founding member ...
