Great Plant Expeditions: UCBotanical Garden and BeyondJoin us for a look at some of the great plant expeditions that have occurred throughout the Garden's rich history.Speaker: Meghan Ray, Horticulturalist, UC Berkeley
'Peeling Atoms via Ultrasharp Nanostructures for Bio-Chemical-Environmental Sensing and Pollution Control'Ultra-sharp nanostructures exhibit interesting functionalities in devices including gas ionization sensors, field emission devices, ionmobility spectrometry, electrostatic precipitators and biological, chemical and agricultural sensors. We will present examples of engineered 1D semiconductor nanostructures in ultra-selective sensors and discuss their importance in chemical and biological detection; diagnosing medical symptoms of certain ...
Few places in the world are fueled by the intersection of science and technology like right here in the Bay Area-and that's reason enough to party! Treat yourself to an evening of cutting-edge science and the techy advances that fuel it. Hear from the team behind Google Expeditions and experience ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $12 General, $10 Members
Success Stories for California Marine Life: Sustainable Seafood and Marine Protected AreasPlease join a host of partners with shared goals to celebrate the bounty of California waters during Sustainable Seafood Week San Francisco. We often hear about the real problems of overfishing, habitat loss, and other impacts to fisheries which affect seafood supply and the ecosystem. This evening will focus on ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15
BRAINSTORM: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage BrainDr. Siegel's book BRAINSTORM: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain draws on groundbreaking research to illuminate how brain development affects adolescent behavior - and how parents can better relate to their teenagers during this tumultuous time. Some of the topics covered will include: popular myths about teenage behavior, ...
Where: PleasantonCost: General $10.
Medium's Evan Williams & Steven Levy in Conversation with John Hollar John Hollar, a former journalist himself, will sit down for an in-depth conversation with Medium's CEO Evan Williams, and the editor-in-chief of its tech hub Backchannel, Steven Levy. Medium was launched in 2012 as a beautiful platform for writers. Levy joined its ranks in 2014 after a distinguished career at ...
As travel to Cuba opens up, Americans are gaining access to a fantastic birding destination. Cuba is safe, birdy, with much protected habitat, and much to be discovered. In fact it may be the place where the Ivory-billed Woodpecker still lives! Alvaro Jaramillo will share some of Cuba's gorgeous bird ...
Open Source NeuroscienceWe want to understand how brains work. New technologies let us measure and manipulate neural activity, at the scale of large populations or entire brains, in behaving animals. However, this in turns yields a new challenge-how to make sense of our data. I will describe an ecosystem of open source ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
A discussion of the first JIT compiler with L Peter Deutsch and Allan M SchiffmanIn the 1984 POPL conference there appeared a paper, Efficient Implementation of the Smalltalk-80 System, by L Peter Deutsch and Allan Schiffman. This paper introduced the first truly modern just-in-time compiler and described several novel implementation techniques, still in widespread use, to improve the performance of object-oriented languages. ...
Presented by Dr. Nancy Merrick, author of "Among Chimpanzees: Field Notes from the Race to Save Our Endangered Relatives," and founder of ChimpSaver.org. Come learn about the risks chimps are facing as they struggle to co-exist with Africa's growing human population, and hear about efforts to improve the situation for ...
Where: OaklandCost: $12 - $20
Mirror-Making Machine, SIT Testing, and Shop StrategiesJeff Baldwin is a mirror maker in Lathrop, just south of Stockton. He has made approximately 400 mirrors. Recently he and a friend made a mirror-making machine that will produce mirrors up to about 46" in diameter. He is also using the Slit Image Test (SIT) to produce high-precision mirrors ...
Where: LivermoreCost:
Saturday, 09/19/15
Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day at Albany BulbCome join The Watershed Project staff for Coastal Cleanup Day, the state's largest shoreline cleanup project. On this international day of action, volunteers are needed to remove massive debris that accumulates on our beaches and inland shorelines. Together, we can help protect marine habitat. Bring your families and friends.Volunteers will ...
Where: AlbanyCost: Free
Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day at Shimada Friendship ParkCome join The Watershed Project staff for Coastal Cleanup Day, the state's largest shoreline cleanup project. On this international day of action, volunteers are needed to remove massive debris that accumulates on our beaches and inland shorelines. Together, we can help protect marine habitat. Bring your families and friends.Volunteers will ...
Where: RichmondCost: Free
California Coastal Cleanup DayEvery year, on the third Saturday in September, people join together at sites all over California to take part in the State's largest volunteer event, California Coastal Cleanup Day. Last year, San Mateo County had over 4,200 volunteers collect over 19,000 pounds of trash and recycleables. This year MSI plans ...
Where: Half Moon BayCost: Free
California Coastal Cleanup Day Marin CountyJoin us for the 31st Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 19, 9am-Noon. Be part of California's largest volunteer event! Come together to celebrate and share in the appreciation of California's fabulous coast and waterways. Free BBQ at the Bay Model from Noon-3pm. Door Prizes and fun! There ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Volunteering
Pine Flat History WalkCome and enjoy this casual walk through Pine Flat with Joe Pelanconi, author of Quicksilver Mining in Sonoma County: Pine Flat Prospect Fever. Learn about the Pine Flat boomtown of the mid-1870's and some the personalities involved. Joe will also have copies of his Book, if you'd like to buy ...
Where: GeyservilleCost: Donations appreciated
Hayward Fault Walking TourOver the last million years, the natural beauty of Fremont has been shaped by the Hayward Fault. Instructors will be leading these 'ground breaking' tours and exposing the science and beauty of the Hayward Fault. This fault is one of several active faults in the world actually creeping at 5 ...
Where: FremontCost: $15
Revealing the Identity of Type Ia SupernovaeType Ia supernovae are famous for the role they play in determining the accelerating expansion of the Universe, which led to the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics. In addition, they spread their nuclear burning ashes throughout galaxies, over time producing a large fraction of the heavy elements in the Universe. ...
Our Hawk Talks and Banding Demonstrations occur every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2 pm (weather permitting – heavy fog or rain cancels) during September and October, except for Fleet Week weekend. The Hawk Talk begins at noon, when a GGRO volunteer speaks about hawk migration and identification, and ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Community Program Volunteer Organization!The Education group at the Lawrence Hall of Science is dedicated to making science education enjoyable and accessible to the community. To achieve this, we have developed the Inventor's Lab Workshop, a hands-on, drop-in style, engineering design challenge designed for full-family engagement. We would like to build up our volunteer ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: FREE
Saturday CinemaSaturday Cinema is a core weekly program that captures the ideas which animate the Exploratorium. We highlight works that blend observation, poetry, and surrealism, and celebrate films that utilize unique, handcrafted processes. Appropriate for all ages and mediated by cinema arts staff, these screenings encourage the viewer to respond to ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Included with museum admission
Come explore with the California Center for Natural History! Get a look at the part of Lake Merritt you might be unfamiliar with- the tiny critters beneath the lake's surface that make up a pivotal part of the food web! Because of the close proximity to Oakland's shipping port, we'll ...
Public Astronomy Program On Mt DiabloPlease join Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society for the September 19th. astronomy program in the Lower Summit Parking Lot of Mt. Diablo State Park. The program starts at 6:30pm (enter the park at least 45 minutes earlier) until 11:00pm. This month's program is "the Moon" : How would Earth be different ...
Where: Walnut CreekCost: Free ($10 park entrance fee)
A Biological Perspective on the Meaning of TimeLife is a phenomenon that integrates processes ranging from the near instantaneous reactions of photosynthesis to the more stately pace of evolution. How are these processes with radically different time scales creating and maintaining the diversity of life on earth? What are the clocks that nature uses to time them? ...
Where: Mill ValleyCost: Free
Jazz Under the StarsSee the first quarter moon, the rings of Saturn, and more through our telescopes, while listening to KCSM Jazz 91 FM. Dress warmly and come by anytime between 8:00 & 10:00 pm. Free parking in Marie Curie Lot 5. Directions here.
Where: San MateoCost: free
Coastal Cleanup: Rodeo Lagoon RestorationCelebrate the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day with stewardship at Rodeo Lagoon. Coastal Cleanup Day is the highlight of the California Coastal Commission's year 'round Adopt-a-Beach program. This is a great way for families, students, service groups, and neighbors to join together to take care of our fragile marine environment. ...
Where: SausalitoCost: FREE
Sunday, 09/20/15
4th Annual Wine Country Optics and Nature Festival Binoculars, Bat, Badgers, Beavers, Art and MusicJoin us at the historic Sonoma Barracks on the plaza to Celebrate Sonoma's Good Nature! Over 50 Northern California nature organizations plus distinguished nature artists, musicians and Native American organizations. Ten world class optics companies that manufacturer binoculars and spotting scopes will demo and sell products. Even Smokey Bear will ...
Where: SonomaCost: Free
Hike The HeadlandsBring your family and friends for a day of discovery and learning in nature. Proceeds from Hike the Headlands will help us open children's hearts and minds to the wonders of science and nature. Experience:Musical entertainment and numerous family activitiesOptional hikes of varying lengths and degree of difficulty led by ...
Join us in kicking off the beginning of Sea Otter Awareness Week at The Marine Mammal Center!Did you know that the sea otter is the furriest animal in the entire world? The smallest marine mammal is also one of the most special with adaptations to stay warm, find food, and ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Wetlands Walking TourOur refuge consists of salt marshes, salt ponds, tidal and non-tidal sloughs. How do humans and wildlife depend on our wetlands? Come enjoy a 0.5 mile walk through the wetlands, while be depict the life and death struggles of our marsh inhabitants. Open to all ages but best suited for ...
Our Hawk Talks and Banding Demonstrations occur every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2 pm (weather permitting – heavy fog or rain cancels) during September and October, except for Fleet Week weekend. The Hawk Talk begins at noon, when a GGRO volunteer speaks about hawk migration and identification, and ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Evolution in the Anthropocene: How Human Activity is changing the Shape of LifeThe current geological age is known as the Anthropocene, wherein human activity is the dominant influence on climate and the environment.Human impacts on Earth are dramatic, massive, and changing the very state of our oceans, the atmosphere, and terrestrial environments. In fact, human-driven evolution is rapidly changing the traits of ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Learn Biohacking skills - Protein Purification ClassProtein expression and purification should be foundational skills in any Biohacker's repertoire. In this class we will perform and learn about heat and chemical precipitated protein purification of Taq polymerase, an enzyme well known for its use in PCR. We will then run SDS PAGE gels and learn how analyze them ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: 50
Field Geology with Andrew Alden!Right now, after the goats have groomed the poison oak and before the rainy season, is the best time to access the rock outcrops of Knowland Park. This vigorous, fieldwork-style outing for people interested in geology will take a limited group off the trails and across this rare unspoiled stretch ...
Fall Tarantula Hike with Lindsay Wildlife at Mount DiabloExplore the habitat of loca tarantulas along the north face of Mount Diablo with an experienced naturalist. Fall is the time for these eight-legged, carnivorous yet docile creatures to come out of hiding in search of mates. The hike covers a distance of 2 miles, hiking shoes and bottled water ...
Where: Walnut CreekCost: $10 Members ($15 non-members)
Animal SenseJoin us for a discussion on animal intelligence and perception with four of our current Artists in Residence: Alexey Buldakov, Wioleta Kaminska, Nandipha Mntambo, and Heather Smith. Together, through personal, scientific, and artist lenses, we will try to adopt the mind's eye of the animal world and consider the environment ...
Macro Dark MatterDark matter is a vital component of the current best model of our universe, Lambda-CDM. There are leading candidates for what the dark matter could be (e.g. weakly-interacting massive particles, or axions), but no compelling observational or experimental evidence exists to support these particular candidates, nor any beyond-the-Standard-Model physics that ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
DIRECT FROM PLUTOA presentation of the Science Channel video "Direct from Pluto". We will see the first results from the New Horizons probe, a NASA spacecraft sent to explore Pluto, and the fastest spacecraft ever launched. We will follow up with some additional images and findings from recent weeks.
The CITRIS People and Robots Initiative will host a weekly seminar series every Monday Sept. 21 – Oct. 26 from 4-5 pm and every Monday Nov. 2 – Dec. 7 from 3-4 pm. The seminars will be held in room 250 Sutardja Dai Hall. Each week three 15-minute informal "lightning" ...
Nearly all the fuels and chemicals produced and consumed today are derived from fossil resources. This talk will describe recent efforts to develop new, renewable pathways to produce the same kinds of fuels and chemicals that our society relies on, though in a sustainable manner. In particular, the talk will ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Tuesday, 09/22/15
Completing the Census of Exoplanetary Systems with MicrolensingMeasurements of the demographics of exoplanets over a range of planet andhost star properties provide fundamental empirical constraints on theories of planet formation and evolution. Because of its unique sensitivity to low-mass, long-period, and free-floating planets, microlensing is an essential complement to our arsenal of planet detection methods. Dr. Gaudi will ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Silicon Valley 2.0: Understanding Climate Risk and Resilience in the South BayThe newly released Silicon Valley 2.0 project, a report and web-based tool, characterizes the climate risks that face Santa Clara County and the steps that can be done to mitigate them. Learn about what's next and participate in a live, interactive demonstration to better understand the impacts and costs of ...
Where: San JoseCost: $10 General, Free for members
Arctic Melting and RisingMost Americans will never travel to the Arctic, and few give much thought to the land of Santa and polar bears. But the Arctic matters much more to American life and economy than people realize. Arctic sea ice influences the very jet stream that drives much of our weather. If ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $12 Members, $7 Students
SuperBetter Author Jane McGonigal in Conversation with NPR's Laura Sydell In 2009, game designer and author Jane McGonigal suffered a severe concussion that wouldn't heal. Unable to think clearly, or work, or even get out of bed, she became anxious and depressed, even suicidal-a common symptom for concussion sufferers. But rather than let herself sink further, she decided to get ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost:
Astronomy Lecture September 22nd. with Aaron Lee (UC Berkeley)Our monthly meetings begin with a short "What's Up" presented by one of our members, followed by a speaker. This month's speaker is Aaron Lee, PhD candidate from UC Berkeley. Lee will be discussing evidence of the earliest stars born in our universe. Monster stars thousands of times brighter than ...
Where: Walnut CreekCost: 0
Wednesday, 09/23/15
Innovations in Renewable EnergyStuart Macmillan is a consulting professor at Stanford University and a chief scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He has been active in the development of several global open communities and was on the founding team of JavaSoft. Stuart holds a M.S. and Ph.D. from Stanford University.
Frances C. Moore recently started as a Ciriacy-Wantrup Post-doctoral Fellow in the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics at UC Berkeley. Her work bridges environmental science and economics in order to better understand climate change impacts and adaptation. Her PhD work focused on agriculture and on the development of new econometric ...
The life of an outdoorsman can be dangerously exciting. From leading a five-week expedition to find Bigfoot, to being charged by a grizzly bear at point-blank range, the list of stories Tom Stienstra, outdoors editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, has is extensive. Join us as Stienstra showcases his experiences ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $8 Members, $7 Students
The state of the art Marine Mammal Center, headquartered in Marin Headlands, contributes to the critical understanding of the state of our greatest resource - the oceans. The center oversees 600 miles of coastline and has treated over 18,000 marine mammals since 1975. Join leading expert, Claire Simeone on assignment ...
Where: SonomaCost: $8
Science and Reason with Skeptics in the Pub, West BayIf ye value critical thinking, and if ye scorn the flim-flam man, join us, your friends. Skeptics in the Pub is a group of like-minded people informally discussing the latest in science or pseudoscience over good eats & ale.Skeptics in the Pub is a monthly meeting for discussion of topics ...
Where: MillbraeCost: Free
SF Bay Area Caves: A Ramble Through the Underground RealmBruce Rogers will give us a scientist and explorer's insight into selected caves of the Greater San Francisco Bay Region. The region is not noted for its abundance of known stygian sites, but they aren't absent. Some you can visit and some you'll likely never see for yourself, given the ...
