Documenting Wildlife on the MayacamasCome and spend the morning with ACR Volunteer, Docent and Wildlife Camera Specialist Ginny Fifield to learn about some of the wildlife that inhabits the Modini Mayacamas Preserves. We'll learn about identifying field signs of mountain lions, bobcat, coyotes and more. We will also visit two wildlife trail cameras, where ...
Special event for SciSchmooze readers! Come meet editors Herb, Bob, and Minu and explore the wonders of the Elephant Seal breeding grounds at Año Nuevo State Reserve. Only 17 tickets available. No refunds.Here's how this will work: Since Año Nuevo does not handle group reservations, we have pre-purchased tickets for ...
Where: PescaderoCost: $7 per person (+ $1.24 service fee)
In preparation for Valentine's Day, this month we celebrate love under the sea with Marine Mammal Parents and Pups in a fun, educational way for both kids and adults. We recommend teaming our free classroom program with a Docent-led tour at 11am, 1pm or 3pm for a truly immersive marine mammal experience. FREE ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Point Reyes 12th Annual Fungus FairJoin us for the 12th annual Point Reyes National Seashore Fungus Fair! Learn about the fungi of the Point Reyes National Seashore. See remarkable colors and shapes of wild mushrooms that were collected right in the park. Attend lectures, and learn about edible and poisonous mushrooms in the Bear Valley ...
Where: Point Reyes StationCost: Free
Darwin Day Celebration: Luncheon and LectureEvolution of Species by Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin is one of the most influential books ever written. Darwin’s work unified the biological sciences and gave humankind an understanding of itself based on science.  Virtually all areas of human knowledge have been impacted by this understanding.  Given this ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Lecture is free, nominal charge for lunch
An Aquatic Evening: Newts and trivia!California Center for Natural History and East Bay Regional Parks are teaming up to bring you a Valentine’s Day treat - nature walk meets happy hour! Come for an evening tour of Wildcat Creek’s amorous amphibians, then mingle with fellow nature lovers at the Grizzly Bar and Grill (open late ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
An Aquatic Evening: Newts and trivia!California Center for Natural History and East Bay Regional Parks are teaming up to bring you a Valentine’s Day treat - nature walk meets happy hour! Come for an evening tour of Wildcat Creek’s amorous amphibians, then mingle with fellow nature lovers at the Grizzly Bar and Grill (open late ...
Water Birds at Lake MerrittMigrating birds are here! See which winter visitors are currently at Lake Merritt, the nation's oldest wildlife refuge.  Join us for a short walk along the lake. Learn about the Pacific Flyway and how to identify some winter migrants as well as year-round residents. We'll begin the walk in front of the ...
Enhanced Geothermal Systems are the unconventional resources of the geothermal world. Conventional geothermal resources require exploration and carry dry hole risk. Like unconventional oil and gas resources, EGS allows us to go into rock with high temperatures but now natural circulating geothermal system. If we can find a way to ...
Engineer's Week, Grades 3 - 8Launch a journey in innovation and prepare for National Engineers Week!This year’s exploration into the Engineering Design Process will explore the challenge of spaceflight as participants study a full scale replica of the Spaceship One spaceplane, complete a realistic spaceflight landing simulation, and work in teams to design, build and test ...
Where: San CarlosCost:
CLIMATE OF DOUBTA presentation of the PBS Frontline documentary that takes a fascinating view inside the organizations that seek to sow doubt in the public's perception of the scientific evidence of human induced climate change.
The talk will address recent developments in molecular photovoltaics and metal-halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The recent introduction of of Cu (I/II) complexes both as redox shuttles in liquid electrolytes and solid hole conductors has propelled the open circuit voltage of molecularly sensitized photosystems to over 1 V increasing dramatically their ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Tuesday, 02/14/17
Meet the Minds: The Science of Love and The Love CompetitionHow deep is your love? Can you look inside the living brain and tell what someone is feeling? Join us for a special Valentine’s Day Meet the Minds: The Science of Love, featuring filmmaker Brent Hoff and learn about the science of love.  "The Love Competition" will be shown as part ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Museum admission or museum membership
Constraining the Evolution of a Delta Deposit on Mars from OrbitDecades of planetary exploration have revealed widespread evidence for ancient fluvial activity on the surface of Mars, including deeply incised valleys, paleolake basins, and an extensive sedimentary rock record. Acquisition of high-resolution remote sensing data of the martian surface (e.g., images and topography) over the past 5-10 years have allowed ...
What now? Advancing Sustainable Energy during the new AdministrationJoin program directors from Audubon, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Rocky Mountain Institute, Union of Concerned Scientists, United Nations Foundation, U.S. Green Building Council, World Resources Institute as they discuss how their strategy changes with a new administration. What are the challenges and opportunities and how do these NGOs ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Engineer's Week, Grades 3 - 8Launch a journey in innovation and prepare for National Engineers Week!This year’s exploration into the Engineering Design Process will explore the challenge of spaceflight as participants study a full scale replica of the Spaceship One spaceplane, complete a realistic spaceflight landing simulation, and work in teams to design, build and test ...
Come join us for an evening full of Valentine's workshops with the mad scientists at Counter Culture Labs. Individual workshops are $10-15 each. Please sign up on Meetup through the links below:6-7pm: Celebrate Spring with the Guerilla GraftersSpring is coming! The sap is rising, and buds are bursting - time for a ...
Where: OaklandCost: $10-15
Love Letter to Mt. DiabloSeth Adams, longtime land-conservation director for Save Mount Diablo, tells first hand the fascinating story of "Re-assembling the Diablo Wild Lands" -- one of the Bay Area's most significant conservation efforts. Championing this landmark and its many ecosystems, Save Mount Diablo has expanded protected lands from 6,800 acres to a ...
Energy Security & Energy PovertyGlobal energy consumption occurs on a scale that is difficult to comprehend. Although the global demand for energy continues to grow with population and industrialization, the rate of growth is slowing, owing mostly to improvements in energy efficiency, technology, and energy education.The global energy mix is driven by the need ...
Engineer's Week, Grades 3 - 8Launch a journey in innovation and prepare for National Engineers Week!This year’s exploration into the Engineering Design Process will explore the challenge of spaceflight as participants study a full scale replica of the Spaceship One spaceplane, complete a realistic spaceflight landing simulation, and work in teams to design, build and test ...
This talk will focus on the challenge that Paul took up at the heart of his work - how to win, or at least understand, a global climate transition that’s fair enough to actually succeed, even in the face of the extraordinary physical and political challenges of climate stabilization. Today, ...
In the last few years social media has created supportive spaces in which sexual assault victims can share their testimonies and describe the ongoing impacts of sexual violence on their lives. Victims who turn online have access to advice, information, and narratives offered by others in similar situations and instill ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Experience Emerging Research and More Around Immersive AnalyticsInterested in learning more about Immersive Analytics? Join Todd Margolis from Qlik as he discusses this area of emerging research that blends analytical reasoning with immersive virtual spaces to enhance collaborative decision support. Through the use of new technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and large scale tiled display ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: Free
Killing the ColoradoThe story of the American West is deeply rooted in the Colorado River, which delivers fresh water to 30 million people. For years, there has been more Colorado water on paper and in people’s minds than in the river itself. Now climate disruption is making the situation even more troubling. ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $12 Members, $7 Students
Beyond our Future in SpaceThe Space Age is half a century old. Its early successes were driven by a fierce super-power rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States, obscuring the fact that exploration and risk-taking is built into human DNA. Decades after we last set foot on the Moon, and several years ...
Nerd Nite SF #81: Memorization, Lock-picking, and Ancient Yeast!This month we have a Trump regime-survival troika! First, yuck it up with a memory champ and a bunch of comedians. Then learn how to get out of the handcuffs you may find yourself in when your post-brunch protest turns riotous. Finally, make yourself nice and numb with some beers ...
Engineer's Week, Grades 3 - 8Launch a journey in innovation and prepare for National Engineers Week!This year’s exploration into the Engineering Design Process will explore the challenge of spaceflight as participants study a full scale replica of the Spaceship One spaceplane, complete a realistic spaceflight landing simulation, and work in teams to design, build and test ...
Circuit BenchSonoma Country Day School elementary students, led by Network Administrator and Maker Extraordinaire Sean Marshall, built a musical/light up bench as part of their science curriculum and donated the finished product to the CMOSC. Join them on this special evening to hear more about the inspiration that lit up students ...
Where: Santa RosaCost: Free
SF Beer Week NightlifeIt’s the most refreshing event of the year, SF Beer Week is here! Taste your way through the Bay Area's master brewers to learn all you can about the tastiest microbrews around!Celebrate SF Beer Week with a froth-filled evening of brews. Sip your way through a pop-up beer garden with dozens ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members
The Brower Center is excited to present Polar Obsession, the first National Geographic show in the Bay Area since 2009. This exhibition will feature nearly 40 striking images of the world’s polar regions from photographer Paul Nicklen, delivering a unique close-up of wildlife in the Arctic and Antarctic. Nicklen grew ...
In the Balance: Bringing Science to Justice with David FaigmanI sit in my chairAnd filled with despairThere's no one could be so sadWith gloom everywhereI sit and I stareI know that I'll soon go madIn my solitudeI'm afraidBillie Holiday, "(In My) Solitude"Ashker v. Governor of California was a federal class action ...
Caring deeply about our children is part of what makes us human. Yet the thing we call “parenting†is a surprisingly new invention. In the past thirty years, “parenting†has transformed child care into an obsessive, controlling, and goal-oriented effort to create a particular kind of child. Drawing on the ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: $22 General, $12 Member, $5 Student
When a small vial arrives in her mailbox from “Lewis Carroll,†Ayelet Waldman is at a low point. Her mood storms have become intolerably severe; she has tried nearly every medication possible; her husband and children are suffering with her. So she opens the vial, places two drops on her ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $29
Everything Matters: PotassiumCome be in your elements with Exploratorium host and scientific raconteur Ron Hipschman. Follow tales of intrigue and invention, join in dynamic demonstrations, and uncover fascinating connections between individual elements and our collective human experience.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission to After Dark
Friday, 02/17/17
Livermore BioBlitzAs part of February's Science and Engineering Month events, a BioBlitz is scheduled for Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18.  Participants may register observations on iNaturalist for the project "Livermore BioBlitz".  Observations welcome from anywhere in Livermore. One point of interest is north Livermore's open space on February 18 anytime ...
Deep-diving odontocetes (sperm, short-finned pilot, and beaked whales; and Risso’s dolphins) are known to forage at deep depths in the ocean on squid and fish. These marine mammal species are top predators, and for this reason they are very important for the ecosystems they live in; they can affect prey ...
Where: Moss LandingCost: Free
Engineer's Week, Grades 3 - 8Launch a journey in innovation and prepare for National Engineers Week!This year’s exploration into the Engineering Design Process will explore the challenge of spaceflight as participants study a full scale replica of the Spaceship One spaceplane, complete a realistic spaceflight landing simulation, and work in teams to design, build and test ...
Where: San CarlosCost:
Owls of MarinOwls are creatures of rare beauty and unique biological interest that play an enormously important role in keeping the balance in nature. Come spend an evening with these creatures with large eyes and silent flight, and learn why they are so magical. In this talk we will learn about the ...
Where: RossCost: $20
'The Nature Fix'For centuries, poets and philosophers extolled the benefits of a walk in the woods: Beethoven drew inspiration from rocks and trees; Wordsworth composed while tromping over the heath; and Nikola Telsa conceived the electric motor while visiting a park. Intrigued by our storied renewal in the natural world, Forence Williams ...
Where: Corte MaderaCost: Free
Sharing our Love of AstronomyNASA recognizes how effective amateur astronomers are at sharing the wonder of space within their communities and, along with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, formed the Night Sky Network to provide resources and support to astronomy clubs across the US. Find out about the ToolKits, handouts, and programs offered ...
Where: LivermoreCost: Free
Saturday, 02/18/17
Get Ready for the Great North American Eclipse!On August 21, 2017, the Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun, a phenomenon viewable throughout the country! Â While the path of the total solar eclipse passes through Oregon, observers in northern California will experience from a 75 to 90 percent partial solar eclipse. Â At a time when ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $50
Baylands Scavenger HuntParticipants will become Baylands "detectives" by following clues that reveal surprising facts about nature and lead to various locations along the trails.
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
DNA Barcoding of Fungi for BeginnersAlan Rockefeller will teach DNA barcoding of fungi, enabling the discovery of new species and understanding of how known species fit into the tree of life. We will start with DNA extraction from fresh or dried mushrooms, PCR with ITS and LSU primers and gel electrophresis. You can bring mushrooms ...
Where: OaklandCost: Donations accepted, not required
Livermore BioBlitzAs part of February's Science and Engineering Month events, a BioBlitz is scheduled for Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18.  Participants may register observations on iNaturalist for the project "Livermore BioBlitz".  Observations welcome from anywhere in Livermore. One point of interest is north Livermore's open space on February 18 anytime ...
Ten years ago, astronomers discovered a brief and surprisingly bright blast of radio waves that appeared to come from far outside our galaxy. The naive interpretation of that burst argued for a new class of extragalactic object called a “Fast Radio Burst†(FRB). The problem was that the apparent distance ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Twilight Marsh WalkExperience the salt marsh at twilight on an easy stroll along Tidelands (1 1/3 mile) Trail. At the setting of the sun we will observe the beginning of nature’s night shift. Come discover the sights, sounds, and smells of the refuge as night descends. Not suitable for young children. RESERVATIONS ...
