Speakers: Don Ganem, Novartis; Lalita Ramakrishnan, University of Washington; William R. Jacobs, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Thumbi Ndung'u, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa; Ana Rodriguez, New York University; Sara Sawyer, University of Texas Austin; Madhukar Pai, McGill UniversitySee web link for topicsBerdahl Auditorium
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free, registration required
Natural Discourse Symposium at the UC Botanical GardenThe creative minds behind Natural Discourse: Artists, Architects, Scientists and Poets in the Garden present a diverse group of speakers who will address questions about how man's invention and interpretation of nature has influenced their practice.This one-day symposium brings together creative minds from disciplines within the humanities, sciences and arts ...
Green FridayLincoln Shaw will share his slides and talk about his experiences working with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) to disrupt Japanese whaling in the Antarctic whaling sanctuary. Shaw served on the crew of the Bob Barker during the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's 2009-2010 campaign. During his 81 days at sea, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $2 Donation
Saturday, 01/12/13
Journey South: Elephant Seals and Whale WatchingJanuary is a special time at the tip of Point Reyes, as we are visited by magnificent marine mammals. First, from the bluffs above the historic lighthouse, we will keep a lookout for gray whales that are migrating southward from their arctic feeding grounds to their birthing lagoons in Baja ...
Where: Point Reyes StationCost: $50 General, $40 members
Wildflower trails of Mt. DiabloJoin us for our popular series of free public lectures on a broad array of topics related to plants and natural history. Named in honor of its founder, the Wayne Roderick Lecture Series takes place in the Visitor Center of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden. These illustrated presentations are enjoyable for ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Beach Clean UpMeet on the steps at the end of Taraval at noon. We'll pick up trash and look for shorebirds along 1.5 miles of Ocean Beach. Bags and gloves will be provided. We'll finish up with refreshments at the Park Chalet! Heavy rain cancels.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Run of the SalmonYears later and many millions 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.
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
History of the U.S. Army Corps of EngineersJoin Ranger Bill to learn about the "When/Where/Why/What/ How," the diverse, complex, many faceted missions, goals and objectives of the USACE's "Birth" in 1775 under General George Washington.
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
The Basics of Salt Pond RestorationJoin Park Ranger José Garcia to find out how construction in former salt ponds A16 and A17 ties into the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. This ambitious project seeks to convert 15,100 acres of former industrial salt ponds to endangered species and other wildlife habitat using adaptive management. Presentation will be in the auditorium and ...
Where: AlvisoCost: Free
Low Tide WalkSome years we find only a few perfect Saturdays when the moon and sun allign to let us play a good low tide. 2013 is different. We have LOTS of chances! But beware, it looks like 2014 will have very few opportunities, so make this the year to explore tide ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: $20 General, $10 Members
San Mateo County Astronomical Society Star PartyThe City of San Carlos Department of Parks and Recreation and the San Mateo County Astronomical Society have open Star Parties. These events are held in Crestview Park, San Carlos California. Dates and Sunset times are below. Note that inclement weather (clouds, excessive wind and showers) will cause the event ...
Join us for an evening of silence, inspiration, and conversation with paleontologist and science communicator Scott Sampson, PhD ("Dr. Scott" on the PBS KIDS series Dinosaur Train).Sampson will speak on what he considers one of the most pressing needs of our time – Falling in Love with Nature. He will ...
Where: San RafaelCost: $25 General, Free for members
Guided Nature WalkExperience the beauty and rich natural history of Audobon Canyon Ranch's 535-acre Bouverie Preserve. Participants are divided into small groups and paired with a trained Bouverie volunteer to explore the mixed evergreen forest, flower-carpeted oak woodland and rugged chaparral. Guided Nature Walks range from two to five miles. Visitors of all ages are ...
Discover the wonder of an old-growth redwood forest in winter on this leisurely walk on the Fern Creek and Alice Eastwood trails. Look for salmon, mushroom displays, winter wildflowers, waterfalls, and more!Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes as the trails are steep and may be muddy.Bring water and ...
The Marine Mammal Center is pleased to present a monthly series Marine Science Sundays, held on the 2nd Sunday of the Month! These fun-filled days of family-friendly tours, classroom activities and more will be centered around a new theme each month.This month as we bundle up with the cold weather, ...
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. Younger Lagoon is excellent for bird watching and seeing animals that call the reserve's intact coastal dunes home, such as: bobcats, foxes, seabirds, raptors, and ...
Grid Flexibility and Research Challenges to Enhance the Integration of Variable Renewable Energy SourcesGrid flexibility is a characteristic that is proposed to help the integration of variable renewable energy resources. However it has proven very difficult to quantify and this has spurred intense research efforts over the past few years. There are many sources, sinks and enablers for flexibility in the grid and ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Leonardo Art/Science Evening Rendezvous The LASERs are a national program of evening gatherings that bring artists and scientists together for informal presentations and conversation with an audience. See the program for the whole series.Leonardo ISAST and USF invite you to a meeting of the Leonardo Art/Science community. See below for location and agenda.The event ...
Where: San FranciscoCost:
Beginning Mushroom Identification I - FULLIntroduction to the terminology used for mushroom identification. A PowerPoint presentation will systematically go over the salient features needed for successful ID of fruiting bodies. Reservations required.Mycological Society of San FranciscoRoom 401
Where: San FranciscoCost: $5 General, Members free
Tuesday, 01/15/13
Skeptics in the StudioNorth Bay Skeptics are: humanists, atheists, freethinkers, agnostics and undeclared, who embrace modern skepticism. We celebrate the scientific method, and the application of logic and evidence to all claims. As in the tradition of many Skeptical groups world wide, we like to gather for lively discussion on current topics and ...
Book Discussion: 'Too Smart for Our Own Good: The Ecological Predicament of Humankind'We will continue to discuss Craig Dilworth's unique history of our species written from the perspective of the failure of technology to ultimately solve our deepest problems: Too Smart for Our Own Good: The Ecological Predicament of Humankind. In this book the author presents the thesis, the "Vicious Circle Principle", ...
The Sentinel B612 Telescope - Finding Asteroids Before They Find UsWe know how to deflect asteroids, but our technology is useless if we do not scan the skies to look for asteroids to know well in advance if one is on a collision course with Earth. The Sentinel Space Telescope, the first privately supported deep space mission, is designed to ...
What emotional state are you in about global warming? Shock, denial, anger, depression… or acceptance and readiness for action?Bring a brown bag lunch and help move yourself toward action.Meet Ranger Will Elder at the temporary visitor center, 105 Montgomery St. at Lincoln Blvd.Fully accessible.
As changing weather patterns create uncertainty about the future, farmers and ranchers, like many other business owners, are facing the question of how to both reduce their contribution to climate change and adapt to its effects. Meanwhile, the implementation of California's cap-and-trade legislation is presenting both financial opportunities and challenges ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 General, Free for Members
This talk will discuss ongoing research at the JHU Engineering Research Center for Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology (CISST ERC) to develop CIIS systems that combine innovative algorithms, robotic devices, imaging systems, sensors, and human-machine interfaces to work cooperatively with surgeons in the planning and execution of surgery and other ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Chopin and the Nature of Genius - Firinn TaisdealChopin was a musical genius. Yet what do we mean by "genius," exactly? Is genius only a matter of specialized brain function, or is it the result of specific character qualities operating over time? After all, in every era there are prodigies, but most prodigies only go on to become ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
River Management Challenges: a European perspective to 2020The need to advance an interdisciplinary approach to river management that incorporates hydrology, geomorphology, ecology, engineering and the social sciences is now widely accepted by both academics and policy makers. This talk explores what this means in practice for river management in an environment dominated by human-modified landscapes with uncertain ...
Paleontologist and evolutionary biologist Neil Shubin is famed for discovering the fossilized Tiktaalik roseae, the missing link between ancient sea creatures and land dwellers. His bestselling book, Your Inner Fish, shows parallels between human anatomy and the structures of the fish that first wriggled landward 375 million years ago. In ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25 General, $20 Members, $15 Students
Overconfidence and the Frailty of KnowledgeWhile self-confidence is a prized human attribute, too much confidence can be obnoxious, pernicious, and even deadly. This audience-participation skeptalk will present a simple 10-question quiz to measure an important aspect of individual self-confidence. With analysis and discussion of these measurements, audience members will be better able to calibrate properly their ...
Not long after the transit tunnels of Muni and Bart went in below Market Street in the '70s, a San Franciscan butterfly - the Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) moved into an ecosystem freshly lined with one of her host trees: the London Plane sycamore (Plantanus acerifolia). She lays eggs ...
Strategic Energy and ControlFind out why strategic energy control (SEC) can be a smart approach for reducing energy consumption in this informative free event. SEC expert Yilmaz Sahinkaya describes the benefits of controlling the amplitude and duration of electrical power and outlines the technical specifications of these breakthrough technologies. He then goes on ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
What's Trending? Sustainable, Prosperous and Greener CorporationsToday, leading companies are using dramatically fewer materials, less energy and safer chemicals when they manufacture products. These innovations impressively address climate change and natural resources depletion while generating corporate profits, community benefits and professional pride. Engineers, managers and interested citizens hear a hopeful, future story based on real-world examples ...
Mandrills are the largest of old world monkeys and according to Darwin are the most brightly colored of all primates. Over the last 5 years the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) in the Republic of Congo has rehabilitated nearly 20 of these highly threatened and heavily hunted primates as they were ...
Where: OaklandCost: $12-20 General, $10-20 Members
BLUEMIND: Putting The Science of Emotion Into Ocean ConservationDr. Wallace J. Nichols believes that the environmental "Green Movement" misses the boat with ocean conservation. "J," as he is known, proposes a makeover, what he calls a "Blue Movement," and has founded BLUEMiND: The Mind + Ocean Initiative, merging the fields of cognitive science and ocean exploration. His approach to conservation ...
Where: SausalitoCost: $5 Suggested Donation goes toward Student Research
Why Girls Love ScienceDr. Close is an Assistant Professor at Stanford University's Aero/Astro Department. She heads up the Space Environment and Satellite Systems Lab. She co-hosted the 2011 series, "Known Universe," for the National Geographic Channel. Also, Dr. Close was featured on the PBS Nova program, "Space Dangers." This branch meeting will focus ...
Southernmost South America evokes images of incredible mountain scenery, Cape Horn, and expansive Patagonia. It also has some of the oldest forests on Earth, the Pampas grasslands made famous in stories of the gauchos, and the little-known Chaco dry forest. The Humboldt Current is perhaps the richest part of the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $5 donation General, members free
Was it ecocide? The collapse of the mini-civilization on Easter Island (Rapa Nui) has long been considered one of the great Green morality tales. Once the people there cut down the last tree, story goes, they were doomed. Their famous statues were an arms race that completed the exhaustion of ...
