In pairwise accretion -- that is, the formation of bigger planets hierarchically from smaller ones -- the typical encounter speeds are comparable to the escape velocities of the dominant bodies, and the colliding bodies are of comparable size. This is a far cry from the two most commonly considered regimes: ...
Determining appropriate adaptation responses to climate change risks is critical. These responses should be understood in terms of the net benefits of the options available, the best scale of response, and timing for implementation. Michael Nolan, a technical leader at AECOM in the development of climate adaptation strategies for over ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 General, Free for members
We used to know how to things. That's how we guided our businesses, our government, our daily lives. But now there is so much to know and so much conflicting advice to listen to. It seems like everyone's an expert, and no one agrees with anyone else.This looks like a ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Pearson to Person: Social Networking in the EnterprisePearson is a large, international, highly geographically distributed media company. It has operations in 70 countries, 38,000 employees, and conducts business 60 languages.Pearson Education provides educational material and learning technologies, test development, processing and scoring services to educational institutions, corporations and professional bodies around the world. Pearson publishs across the ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
'DIVE! Living off America's Waste'Every year in America we throw away 96 billion pounds of food. That's 263 million pounds a day. 11 million pounds an hour. 3,000 pounds a second. Inspired by a curiosity about society's careless habit of sending food straight to landfills, the multi award-winning documentary DIVE! follows filmmaker Jeremy Seifert ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Mathematics and Magic Tricks: A Look behind the VeilThe way that a magic trick works can be just as amazing as the trick itself. I will illustrate with performance-level magic, whose workings involve a look at combinatorics, number theory, and higher algebra. This talk is aimed at a broad public audience; no prior 'mathemagical' knowledge required.Speaker: Professor Persi ...
Universal Access to All KnowledgeAs founder and librarian of the storied Internet Archive (deemed impossible by all when he started it in 1996), Brewster Kahle has practical experience behind his universalist vision of access to every bit of knowledge ever created, for all time, ever improving.He will speak to questions such as these:Can we ...
The changing California coast: relationships between climatic variables and coastal vegetation successionThe central California coast is characterized by a precipitation gradient from the relatively wetter and cooler north to the drier and warmer south. The primary objective of this project was to determine if vegetation succession rates are changing for the study area and to identify climatic variables associated with succession, ...
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 ecosystem thrive. Tour includes a short hike and is best suited for ...
Mr. Akira Tada, Senior General Manager of Global Business Development and Planning, Softbank Mobile, discusses the development of a global mobile application ecosystem with telecom carrier partners, such as Vodafone, Telefonica, KT, SK Telecom, China Mobile, NTT DOCOMO, AT&T, and Verizon. Previously, Mr. Tada was responsible for incubation and value ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Visual Evidence in Scientific PracticeAn account of visual evidence is provided and its changing roles in different domains of science are examined. The various roles are discussed in the context of molecular biology, biochemistry, and particle physics.Speaker: Otávio Bueno, Department of Philosophy, University of MiamiRoom 217
Experience life After Dark, an evening series exclusively for adults that mixes cocktails, conversation, and playful, innovative science and art events. Not a theater, cabaret, or gallery, After Dark contains aspects of all three. Each evening showcases a different topic-from music to sex to electricity-but all include a cash bar ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15, Free for Members
Cafe InquiryMeet 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.
Designing markets for pollution when damages vary across sources : Evidence from the NOx Budget ProgramExisting and planned emissions trading programs are almost exclusively "emissions-based", meaning that a permit can be used to o¤set a ton of pollution, regardless of where in the program region the ton is emitted. Designing programs in this way presumes that the health and environmental damages resulting from the permitted ...
The California Energy Commission (CEC) Public interest Energy Research (PIER) Program has produced many high efficiency end-use technologies capable of substantially reducing energy use, costs, and environmental impacts. The State Partnership for Energy Efficient Demonstrations (SPEED) Program is one of the key connections to the market for the PIER Program, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Go Wild! Kids Nature ProgramDid you know that there is a 30,000 acre wildlife refuge right here in the South Bay? That it is home to over 280 species of birds each year? Join us as we learn more about Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge with stories and fun activities
Modern cosmological observations imply that the first stars in the universe were unique objects that strongly influenced their environment, despite their brief existence. This talk will present the current data and theoretical ideas on these stars, and how future telescopes can detect them.Speaker: Dr. Aparna Venkatesan, University of San Francisco
Where: San MateoCost: 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, 12/03/11
Ethical Bird Photography for BeginnersHave you ever wanted to photograph that snowy egret stalking its dinner in the shallows? Join docent and published wildlife photographer Mark Bohrer to discover where to find those wary birds, what behavior to look for, and how to ethically capture them on pixels or film. You'll need a lens ...
Get up close to hundreds of wild mushrooms at the 42nd annual Fungus Fair, being held this year at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Our hallways and classrooms will be filled with wild-mushroom displays. Eat edible mushrooms, meet vendors displaying everything from cultivation kits to T-shirts, and watch culinary demonstrations ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free with admission
Creek Walks to see spawning Coho SalmonExplore the Lagunitas Creek watershed with SPAWN's experienced naturalist on a quest to see the endangered coho salmon.Advanced registration required at the event web link below.Additional details and exact meeting location provided via email after you register.
Where: Cost: Free
Marshlands of DreamsJoin Paul Mueller on a 1-mile walk of the LaRiviere Marsh Trail to find traces of the past. Prior to marsh restoration, learn how Californians utilized the area for farming, quarrying, salt production, and transportation. There are opportunities for bird watching as well.
Where: FremontCost: Free
Mad Science: Exploring ElectricityDon't insulate yourself from this electrifying class! Visit the circuit circus and discover its positives and negatives. Apply your knowledge and build your own static tube. Join us for this entertaining and educational program with Mad Science! Attendance is limited to the first 30 children. Grade levels: 3-6.
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Creek Walks to see spawning Coho SalmonExplore the Lagunitas Creek watershed with SPAWN's experienced naturalist on a quest to see the endangered coho salmon.Advanced registration required at the event web link below.Additional details and exact meeting location provided via email after you register.
Where: Cost: Free
Plight of the Chinook SalmonYears later and many millons of dollars invested, the endangered Chinook population is not recovering in ways hoped. What have scientists recently discovered? Is it something in the water? Find out more and feel free to share information with Ranger Linda.
The little things that make life deliciousThese two ancient foods owe their glory to microscopic magic. Stroll through quaint San Francisco neighborhoods while stopping at parks and shops to explore the role of unseen organisms in creating flavors and textures. Get your hands on some gluten, admire the microbes on ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $50, use discount code 'Schmooze'
Lands End: Explore the Night SkyLands End is one place in San Francisco where we can still enjoy the beauty of the night sky. The National Park Service is committed to protecting natural lightscapes where it can, and the construction of the new visitor facility here reflects that awareness.Please join us for an evening of stargazing ...
What goes on in the Zoo once the rest of the guests leave? You'll find out when your group spends the night at the Oakland Zoo! A variety of themes allows you to visit the rain-forest, be a detective and snoop your way around the Zoo, or even create your ...
Where: OaklandCost: $60
Jazz under the StarsVisit our roof top observatory to see the first quarter moon and Jupiter thru telescopes.Dress warmly and come by anytime between 8 and 10 pm."Jazz" night is Saturday Dec. 3 from 8-10 PM. Free parking in Marie Curie Lot 5.No food or drinks in the observatory. Children are welcome and need to be ...
Get up close to hundreds of wild mushrooms at the 42nd annual Fungus Fair, being held this year at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Our hallways and classrooms will be filled with wild-mushroom displays. Eat edible mushrooms, meet vendors displaying everything from cultivation kits to T-shirts, and watch culinary demonstrations ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free with admission
Creek Walks to see spawning Coho SalmonExplore the Lagunitas Creek watershed with SPAWN's experienced naturalist on a quest to see the endangered coho salmon.Advanced registration required at the event web link below.Additional details and exact meeting location provided via email after you register.
Where: Cost: Free
Conservation Photography Workshop: Defining Conservation PhotographyConservation photography is a vision of photography that has a long history with a new purpose. A conservation photographer's work begins once they click the shutter. It's what you do with these images that matters as it takes you into the active role of affecting conservation for the natural world. ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $50 General, $40 Members
Stanford'se ARPA-e Sensor and Behavior InitiativeSmart meters and related sensing technologies promise that energy information will change energy use. Poorly designed interactions with energy information, however, jeopardize billion dollar infrastructure investments. The current problems are numerous: sensor information is complex and dull, incentives are inappropriate, informational barriers to action are high, and social context is ...
The Milky Way is both a beautiful sight in the night sky and the nearest galaxy that astronomers can study. It is also home to many of the most spectacular images coming from the Hubble Space Telescope. But in its heart of darkness lurks a black hole with a mass ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $10 Seniors, $6 Members
Tuesday, 12/06/11
Richard Alley: The Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science CommunicationRichard Alley will receive the first $10,000 Climate One award in honor of the late Stanford climatologist Stephen Schneider.Dr. Alley, host of the PBS documentary "Earth: The Operators Manual," once testified before Congress using his bald head to illustrate ice age cycles and recorded a video explaining geoscience while strumming ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 standard, $12 members, $7 students
Pacific Energy Center: 20 Years of Educating and Serving Building ProfessionalsJoin us for a "thank you" celebration where invited speakers will discuss California energy efficiency leadership, the evolving workforce education and training environment, and how the PEC has helped to increase customer knowledge and reduce building energy use. RSVP online.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
San Francisco Math Circle Teachers' Circle - December MeetingIn a new program, just for teachers, SFMC is sponsoring monthly real-food dinners with a special Math Circle speaker. Come to the meeting, eat delicious food, and investigate the beautiful world of mathematics with other teachers! The December Teachers' Circle will be led by Tom Davis. Tom Davis's main interest ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free if you RSVP
A Debate: Who Was the Hobbit? Found on an obscure island, the tiny, small-brained, big-footed Homo floresiensis, or "the hobbit", is unlike any other discovery. Where did this being come from, and who are its ancestors? In this light-hearted debate, two eminent biological anthropologists, Dr. Robert Martin of Chicago's Field Museum, and Ian Tattersall of the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: General Admission: $15 / Members and Seniors: $12
Digital OverloadDebate continues unabated over the extent to which connectivity is changing the quality of our relationships and reshaping our communities. Now there are major concerns about how it's changing our brains. Pulitzer Prize winning NYT tech reporter Matt Richtel, Wired's Steven Levy (In the Plex), and Rabbi Joshua Strulowitz join ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20-$25 General, $17-$22 Members, $10 Students
Kepler's Quest for New Worlds Public Talks - SOLD OUTCatching Shadows: Kepler's Quest for New WorldsHumankind's speculation about the existence of other worlds like our own turned into a veritable quest with the launch of NASA's Kepler spacecraft in March 2009. The mission is designed to survey a slice of the Milky Way to identify planets orbiting other stars. ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Purchase of book or $10 gift card
Two Session Climate Action Workshop Series Join the Ecology Center and a small group of community members as we work to minimize our greenhouse gas emissions and maximize our sense of community In this two-session series, you will: -Receive information and ideas for taking action to reduce your ecological footprint, facilitate community building, and drive political ...
