Rachel Carson describing the danger of pesticides in Silent Spring.Carl Sagan using the Heike crab to explain natural selection in Cosmos.James Balog’s extraordinary quest to photograph glaciers in Chasing Ice.What do these things have in common? They’re thrilling tales that have changed the lives and minds of many, but they also ...
Where: Moss LandingCost: Free
I'm Not Blind, But I Can't See: Resources for Those with Low VisionLow vision occurs when a person's vision cannot be corrected with contact lenses or glasses. This talk will briefly review common conditions that may result in low vision, what is involved in a low vision evaluation, and what supportive services and resources are available in the San Francisco Bay Area.Speaker:Marlena ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $8 Members, $7 Students
Science Speakeasy No. 3- A Giant Advantage: Baseball in our BonesIn this Science Speakeasy we’re stepping up to the pitcher’s mound! First, we’ll explore the connection between long distance precision throwing and our evolutionary split from other primates with evolutionary biologist Nathan Young, who uses modern technology to study human evolution. Then, San Francisco Giants’ official orthopedic surgeon Ken Akizuki ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10
Tesla: Impossible Until It's NotIt’s crunch time as Tesla begins production of its Model 3 sedan this summer and races toward its goal of making 500,000 cars a year. Morgan Stanley says that that production level won’t be reached until 2024. Still, the stock market considers Tesla a tech company with a value higher ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $12 Members, $7 Students
Making Contact: Jill Tarter and the Search for Extraterrestrial IntelligenceIn July, Pegasus Books will release 'Making Contact: Jill Tarter and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence' by Sarah Scoles. Jill has been a pioneer in SETI research --Â it has been and still is her life's work. Jill currently holds the Bernard M. Oliver Chair for SETI at the SETI Institute, ...
Are you ready for the sky event of the decade? Â Dr. Andrew Fraknoi is going to entertain & educate with an illustrated, nontechnical talk, as he gets us ready for the big "all-American eclipse" that's coming up on August 21.On Monday, August 21, 2017, there will be an eclipse of ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Friday, 07/14/17
Shark Awareness DayJoin us at Aquarium of the Bay for Shark Awareness Day on July 14, for special shark programming including Shark talks and activities! Here at the Aquarium you’ll get to meet sharks face to fin like sevengills, leopard sharks, and pacific angel sharks, while uncovering the mysteries of their majesty ...
Cut paper into props and characters for shadow puppet theater and play around with this ancient form of dramatic art. All ages welcome.Daniel Barash holds an M.A. in elementary education from New York University and has led arts-in-education workshops for over twenty years. He has pioneered the use of shadow puppetry ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Included with museum admission.
Surviving space radiation: lessons from microorganismsOne of the biggest problems of interplanetary human missions and space settlement is the exposure of biological systems to high levels of cosmic radiation. Solving this problem will not only enable humans to reach Mars safely, but will unleash the path for planetary colonization in centuries to come. On Earth, ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: Free ($3 parking)
Evenings with the Stars: Mark Ammons - SOLD OUTOur 'Evenings with the Stars' programs are held annually as part of our Summer Series. Each year we bring world-renowned astronomers to the summit of Mount Hamilton for a night with the "stars" you won't forget!Activities include:Astronomy talk by "star" scientistsViewing through the historic 36-inch Great Lick Refractor telescopeViewing through ...
Where: Mt. HamiltonCost: $20
Saturday, 07/15/17
BUG EATERS: All about Carnivorous PlantsFamily members of all age are invited to discover some of the fascinating and beautiful plants that can eat insects. Get up close with the amazing leaf adaptations as you learn more about them.
Where: BerkeleyCost: $16 General, $12 Members
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 will opportunities for bird watching as well.
In the past decade one trend in neuroscience has been to switch away from using simple, controlled experiments, and instead to study how the brain reacts to more complex, natural situations. Alex Huth will talk about one experiment in which subjects listened to hours of natural, narrative stories from The ...
On Monday, August 21, 2017, there will be an eclipse of the Sun visible throughout the U.S. and all of North America. People in a narrow path from Oregon to South Carolina will see a spectacular total eclipse, with the Moon briefly covering the Sun completely, and day turning into night. Everyone ...
Note: Workshop is limited to 10 participants. Purchase your tickets early.Take a deep dive into the art of shadow theater in this hands-on workshop. Guided by artist Caryl Kientz, this workshop reveals the process of building a shadow theater performance from the ground up. You’ll learn about each of the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Ticketed program, no museum admission.
Play around with paper in three activities inspired by our new Wildcard exhibition.Paper CircuitsUsing copper tape and surface-mount LEDs allows you to make fully functional simple or complex electrical circuits on a flat surface, such as a piece of paper. You can make light-up greeting cards, origami animals come to life, or ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Included with museum admission.
New Monoprints and Paintings - Artist RecpetionCindy Miracle's work explores the innate perspective, the atmospheric textures and the emotional impact found in architectural photographs, and the relationship between mankind and these structural environments. Combining photographic elements with printmaking, graphic mark making, painting and collage, she creates unique works on paper. www.cindymiracle.com  June 27 - August 5, 2017 ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Trekking the ModelJoin a ranger guided tour of the Bay Model, a 1.5-acre hydraulic model of the San Francisco Bay and Delta. Discover the stories of the two major operations that took place at this location between 1942 - 2000.
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
RESCHEDULED Bill Nye the Science Guy to Sept 10This event has been rescheduled to 9.10Bill Nye the Science Guy joins us for one unforgettable evening to read and sign his new book, Everything All at Once.Everyone has an inner nerd just waiting to be awakened by the right passion. In Everything All at Once, Bill Nye will help ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $42.50, includes a copy of Bill Nye's new book
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 ...
Where: FremontCost: Free
Owl on the Prowl: Critters at Night (6 - Adult)California Nursery Historical Park has many old trees that are ideal for Owls and other Raptors to roost, nest and hunt in search of food. Bring your flashlight and walk through the grounds at dusk, this is a good time to spot an owl in the trees or hunting for ...
Where: FremontCost: $15
What is an Eclipse?The August 21st solar eclipse starts about 9 am Pacific Time. Get a pair of eclipse glasses! Could you see a solar eclipse from other planets? See Jupiter and Saturn with their moons in telescopes.Excitement for the whole family! Participate in hands-on astronomy activities followed by supervised observing through the ...
Sandra Faber’s research focuses on the formation and evolution of galaxies and the evolution of structure in the universe. She utilizes ground-based optical data obtained with the Lick 3-meter and Keck 10-meter telescopes; she also has several projects on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). She does most of her work ...
Where: Mt. HamiltonCost: $45-$210
Sunday, 07/16/17
Stellar Sunday @ The TechCool off with a day of fun and surprises during Stellar Sunday @ The Tech!  Build a balloon rocket, take a ride in a jet pack chair, and take a selfie of your astronaut self! We’re also thrilled to welcome the San Jose Astronomical Association, which will show you how ...
Where: San JoseCost: $19 - $24
Ice Cream Day: Sunday FundayCelebrate National Ice Cream Day by using chemistry to create your own frozen treat. Then enjoy the classic Bay Area taste of Fenton’s Ice Cream.
Whales are the largest animals on our planet and have unique ways of eating small prey. Some of the largest baleen whales - blue whales, fin whales, and humpbacks - fall into a family (called rorquals) that have an unusual method of feeding. These whales feed by lunging with their ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Monday, 07/17/17
Begin with the End in Mind: The Impact of Trauma on Children’s Brains and BodiesEvolving brain science has taught us much about the impact of trauma on developing brains. As a foster parent and as CEO of Lincoln, a Bay Area nonprofit serving children and youth, Christine Stoner-Mertz brings a deep understanding of the many ways trauma associated with poverty, community violence and mental ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $8 Members, $7 Students
Pollution of industrial chemicals into the environment is one of the greatest threats to the world and all the species that inhabit it. Every year in just the US, 2.2 billion pounds of pesticides are released in farms, which gets into our food and water supply. Coal and heavy metal ...
Astrophysicist and bestselling author Mario Livio describes cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience in an exploration of the origin and mechanisms of human curiosity. His latest book, "Why?" weaves current findings with fascinating stories of such paragons of curiosity as inventor Leonardo da Vinci and physicist Richard Feynman, alongside interviews with physicist Fabiola Gianotti, astrophysicist/rock ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members
Tuesday, 07/18/17
Toward Automated and Black-box Vehicle Cybersecurity TestingCurrent automotive cybersecurity testing methods are often performed manually, and not automated, to find security vulnerabilities. The downside is that it is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive to find security risks. Therefore, it is necessary and beneficial to conduct automated and black-box security testing during the cycle of car development, pre-production ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Why We Ask 'Why?' with Astrophysicist Mario Livio"Why?" --It's the question that sits at the heart of our quest for knowledge and understanding.Astrophysicist Mario Livio traveled deep into the impulsiveness of our inquiry, interviewing dozens of question-seekers in fields from biology, mathematics, neuroscience and all the way to rock & roll to discover just why it is ...
Despite the fact that Jupiter has been observed for decades from the ground and in situ by spacecraft, we still do not know its bulk composition nor do we understand its global atmospheric dynamics well. The sensitivity upgrade to the Very Large Array (VLA), combined with novel data reduction techniques, ...