Remote island regions face many challenges when establishing reliable Internet connections and introducing technology into schools and communities. This talk draws from Professor Hosman's in-the-field experiences with technology-for-development projects, focusing on the PISCES Project, a multi-partnered, education-focused technology project in Micronesia. Using solar powered long-distance wireless connections and an all-in-one ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Can We Computerize an Elephant?The talk shows how techniques from computer science and software engineering can be applied beneficially to research in the life sciences. We discuss the idea of comprehensive and realistic modeling of biological systems, where we try to understand and analyze an entire system in detail, utilizing in the modeling effort ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Harbor porpoises re-occupy San Francisco Bay - POSTPONEDInstead of the harbor porpoises discussion, RTC will hold two graduate lead discussions on:1. Sublethal effects of the cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa on the copepod Pseudodiaptomus forbesi, Rita duMais, Kimmerer Lab2. The impacts of eelgrass restoration on aquatic invertebrate communities, Cassie Pinnell, Boyer LabThe RTC Seminar Series brings leading local, national, and international scientists to a ...
Genetic Adaptations to New Environments in Human PopulationsThe history of human evolution and dispersal was associated with remarkable environmental changes over time and space, which resulted in major challenges to homeostatic systems. Professor Di Rienzo's group has developed approaches for detecting the impact of selective pressures associated with environmental factors and they have applied them to genome-wide ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Ingress: a massibely multiplayer geo game from Google Ingress is a massively multiplayer geo game that was recently launched by Google's Niantic Labs. Players move through the real world using an Android device and the Ingress app to discover and tap sources of a mysterious energy. Players acquire objects to aid in their quest, deploy tech to capture ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Astronomy from the Stratosphere: NASA's SOFIA MissionWhy would NASA buy a used passenger airliner, cut a 10' x 10' hole in the fuselage, add a roll-back door, and install a 17-ton telescope inside? In his lecture, open to the public, Dr. Backman will introduce you to the engineering marvel and international scientific facility called SOFIA -- ...
Clarence Hamilton Kennedy was an entomologist, an artist, and the first person to carry out a comprehensive census of dragonflies in the western United States. In 1914 and 1915, he travelled throughout California and Nevada, compiling lists of species that he encountered at specific sites along with notes on environmental ...
Extreme Climate Events and Human HealthExtreme events are a hot topic for both climate scientists and public health professionals. Why? There is good evidence that the frequency and strength of some disasters--such as storms, floods, landslides, extreme heat, drought, and wildfires--will be affected as climate change progresses. Low-income groups and low-income countries are likely to ...
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 ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
For Goodness SnakesThis one-of-a-kind educational experience will introduce you to the fascinating world of reptiles. Come enjoy the opportunity to hold and interact with their docile animals.
Speaker: Dr. Danny Shechtman, Professor, MSE, Technion, Haifa and MSE, ISU, Ames, 2011 Nobel Laureate in ChemistryRoom 101/102
Where: StanfordCost: Free
NASAScience4Girls and Their FamiliesThe Sun is our closest star! Join us and find out how NASA is helping us learn about our Sun, what it can teach us about other stars, and the many ways it affects our life on Earth.
The effects of the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami and Canterbury Earthquake Sequence are discussed with respect to their impact on regional and international economics, national practices for security and recovery, and worldwide energy policy. The lecture explains why these events require a fundamental re-thinking of the way we evaluate the ...
STEM Symposium - Computer Science: Classroom to CareerThe purpose of the STEM Symposium is to develop partnerships, mentorships, networks, and STEM-education opportunities for regional STEM-related educators and business personnel. Co-sponsorsed by Oracle, we plan to offer dinner and hear from leaders in Computer Science education: K-12 educators, Oracle Academy, CSTA, and MESA with a focus on Computer ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: Free
Cafe InquiryMeet up with rationalists, skeptics, and freethinkers south of San FranciscoCafe Inquiry is a social event hosted by the Center for Inquiry|San Francisco. We'll meet at Café Borrone http://www.cafeborrone.com/ between Kepler's Books and the British Banker's Club! Look for the black balloon.For more information or if you have questions please ...
See Bay Area robots in action, from functional helpers to those working in the arts. Check out the work of local robot design studio BeatBots; robotic performance art group Survival Research Labs; camera control bot-makers Bot and Dolly; and Robot Garden's robot hackerspace. The managing director of nonprofit Silicon Valley ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $10 Members
Photovoltaic Technologies & The Solar Efficiency RaceThe Solar industry is engaged in an intense technology race to produce the most efficient solar cells. This solar efficiency race has intensified as a response to the declining price of crystalline silicon modules and panels from China. More efficient solar cells justify a higher panel price. How does this ...
Where: San JoseCost: $6.50
Teaming up for Cures: Progress and promise of stem cellsLight snacks will be provided and a cash bar will be available.Come learn how your state stem cell agency is fueling the development of new therapies for debilitating diseases and conditions like blindness, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.California's stem cell agency, the ...
On Thursday March 7th, Stewart Brand and Isabella Kirkland will discuss their combined efforts to keep recently extinct species from completely fading away. Kirkland has created a series of paintings featuring endangered and extinct species (on display at the David Brower Center in Berkeley – where the talk will be held) and Brand is working with molecular and conservation biologists ...
Po Bronson on the science of winning and losing / Top DogWhat are the differences between a winning and losing performance? Why are we able to rise to the challenge one day, but wilt from it the next? Can we in fact become better competitors? In Top Dog Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman tackle a subject we all face every day-in ...
Elton Sherwin, Senior Managing Director of Ridgewood Capital, and author of Addicted to Energy, will detail how he dramatically cut his own home energy usage - and his prescription for cutting energy waste in government and business sectors as well. Join Acterra for a series of exciting conversations focused on ...
Limits to Limiting Greenhouse Gases: Intertemporal Leakage, Spatial Leakage, and Negative LeakageThis paper contributes to the recent literature on the Green Paradox (Hoel, 2011 and Harstad, 2012) that distinguishes between regulated and unregulated regions in a Hotelling framework. In our model, different grades of oil are characterized by different costs, emission factors, and underground reserves; furthermore, the clean backstop experiences cost-reducing ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Public Star Viewing NightsJoin Sonoma State University's Physics and Astronomy department for a star party.Topic: Jupiter and the Winter Circle
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Saturday, 03/09/13
Meet the Animals at the Randall MuseumOn Saturdays a special selection of the Randall Museum's animal ambassadors venture from their cages, pens, and perches to greet museum visitors up-close! Kids and their families can meet rodents and amphibians, check out a Great Horned Owl, and maybe even touch a tortoise! The Randall Museum is home ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Trekking the ModelLearn about the history of the delta - from the early 1800s up to 2012 - from framing, discovery of gold, railroad building, and levee building to the present time with Ranger Bill. 1,000 miles in scope, 60-80 man made islands, and a population that exceeds 500,000! Historical. Educational. Informative.
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
For Goodness SnakesThis one-of-a-kind educational experience will introduce you to the fascinating world of reptiles. Come enjoy the opportunity to hold and interact with their docile animals.
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Low Tide Walk - FULLSome 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 ...
Where: San CarlosCost: Free
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 ...
Where: Glen EllenCost: Donations appreciated
Sunday, 03/10/13
On the Move: An Exploratorium Roadshow - BayviewJoin us in the Mission, Bayview, and Embarcadero for a free, pre-opening extravaganza that's part road show, part street festival, and all Exploratorium.On the Move features a fleet of moving trucks equipped with museum exhibits and experiences accompanied by artworks, films, food, family activities, and live performances culminating in a ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
On the Move: An Exploratorium Roadshow - EmbarcaderoJoin us in the Mission, Bayview, and Embarcadero for a free, pre-opening extravaganza that's part road show, part street festival, and all Exploratorium.On the Move features a fleet of moving trucks equipped with museum exhibits and experiences accompanied by artworks, films, food, family activities, and live performances culminating in a ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
On the Move: An Exploratorium Roadshow - MissionJoin us in the Mission, Bayview, and Embarcadero for a free, pre-opening extravaganza that's part road show, part street festival, and all Exploratorium.On the Move features a fleet of moving trucks equipped with museum exhibits and experiences accompanied by artworks, films, food, family activities, and live performances culminating in a ...
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 ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Monday, 03/11/13
I Think, Therefore I AmIs the mind computable? Can we build sentient machines? What are the implications for humanity if we can?The human race may be singular, unique across all of time and space. It may be just one of multitudes. Most likely, however, it is an extremely rare thing, an exquisitely precious consequence ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost:
Moons around AsteroidsAfter decades of speculation, the existence of multiple asteroids---asteroids with one or several companions around them---has been observationally confirmed thanks to the advanced imaging capabilities of large telescopes. Asteroid multiplicity is an astronomical prize for observers and theorists alike, since it helps constrain theories on the origin of our solar ...
I have the privilege of telling you about the wonders of condensed matter physics (CMP), also known as solid state physics. CMP is the largest branch of physics, and it can be argued that because of the technological and medical applications it generated, this field has had the largest influence ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
March LASER EventProgram:6:45pm-7:00pm: Socializing/networking.7:00-7:25:Terry Berlier(Stanford) on "Where the beginning meets the end"Making visible technology's vulnerabilities and illustrating how easily modern inventions can become footnotes to a bygone era...Read more7:25-7:50: Curt Frank(Stanford Univ) on "Historical Pigments: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"Art, Chemistry and Madness: the Science of Art Materials...Read more7:50-8:10: BREAK. ...
NASA's most recent visitor to Mars, "Curiosity," touched down last August in Gale Crater. Curiosity is a rolling, robot geologist, carrying high resolution cameras and a suite of sophisticated analytical instruments which make up the Mars Science Laboratory. Blank is a member of the MSL Science Team, whose main goal ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $8 Members, $10 Seniors
Future-Proof WaterThe Bay Area is growing rapidly. It's riven with earthquake faults. And it's already experiencing climate change. Given all this, how is your water supplier preparing to meet future demand? A new SPUR report sizes up the region's water supply and demand and recommends ways to improve water reliability and ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 General, Free for members
The 34th match for the America's Cup will be held on San Francisco Bay this summer. For the first time, the America's Cup will be contested by mutual consent in multihulls. A new class, the AC72, has been agreed upon as a new class for America's Cup competition. These are ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
NASAScience4Girls and Their FamiliesThe Sun is our closest star! Join us and find out how NASA is helping us learn about our Sun, what it can teach us about other stars, and the many ways it affects our life on Earth.
Michael C. Sekora: Technology-Based Planning, the Foundation of All Competitive AdvantageSekora, who was the founder and director of Project Socrates, a U.S. intelligence community initiative under President Reagan, will posit that the shift from technology-based planning to economic-based planning has caused our nation to lose its ability to compete economically. Sekora contends that technology-based planning is the key to competitive ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 standard, $8 members, $7 students
Dr. Rogers will start with basic facts about Alzheimer's disease, many of which are often misunderstood even by the most experienced caregivers. He will then cover what's being done at SRI and other research organizations around the world to treat this terrible disorder. Although there have been recent disappointments, there ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Right-Sizing Precision: Save Energy, Power, and StorageMost computer programs use far more precision than needed, because programmers find it easier to use excess precision as insurance against rounding or overflow errors instead of analyzing what precision is actually needed. Sometimes we might actually need more precision. We are attempting ever more ambitious calculations with ever less ...
Dr. Laughlin won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1998 for his part in research to explain the quantum Hall effect in semiconductor physics. He is currently the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Physics at Stanford University.This talk follows the course of Dr. Laughlin's recent book of ...
