'How Galaxies Form Stars'Observed star-forming galaxies convert their gas into stars inefficiently. The typical time on which available gas in galaxies is depleted is ~5-10 Gyr which is orders of magnitude longer than any physical timescale relevant for star formation. The origin of long depletion times is a long-standing puzzle. Many galaxy simulations ...
The particle that makes up the dark matter of the universe could be an axion or some other light boson. A collection of axions can condense into a gravitationally bound Bose Einstein condensate called an axion star. It is possible that a significant fraction of the axion dark matter is ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Hunting for topological phases amidst Hofstadter butterflies and disordered landscapes In this talk, rich topological behavior in two related models will be  discussed - the Majorana wire and a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger ladder- in the presence of potential energy landscapes. An introduction of the two models and of techniques that directly provide information on edge-state properties will form the starting point for ...
IEEE Workshops on Machine Learning, Convolutional Neural Networks and TensorflowAs data sources proliferate along with the computing power to process them, going straight to the data is one of the most straightforward ways to quickly gain insights and make predictions. Machine learning brings together computer science and statistics to harness that predictive power. It’s a must-have skill for all ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: $175
STORING ENERGY AND INFORMATION USING ELECTROCHEMICAL ION INSERTIONDr. Yiyang Li of Sandia National Laboratories will describe how electrochemical ion insertion is used to store energy in lithium-ion batteries and store information for low-power neuromorphic computation, meeting our society’s goals in energy storage and low-power computing.
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
The Challenges of Self-Driving TrucksIn this talk, Jur will share his passion for the specific application of autonomous vehicle technology to moving freight on highways, as it meaningfully downscopes the technical challenges of autonomous mobility in multiple ways, while at the same time allowing for a compelling business case. He will explain in detail ...
Efforts to make swift and deep reductions in the electricity sector will require an unprecedented amount of policy change, market reform, and technological innovation. UCS’s Laura Wisland will discuss what she believes it will take to dramatically scale up the use of clean electricity in a cost-effective and socially equitable ...
Nerd Nite East BayLearn how machines are teaching themselves about atoms, hear why termites are overturning theories of personality and speciation, and hear a bit on the history of the banjo in America and follow its recent worldwide invasion.The Banjo in America, The European Invasion, and How to Play (A Little)Like a strange ...
Where: OaklandCost: $8 Advance, $10 at door
Relying on Discourse Analysis to Manage Dialogues for a ChatbotChatbots are becoming fairly popular, however, open-source chatbot systems are lagging behind. We introduce a platform for transactional and question-answering chatbot based on machine learning and linguistic analysis of OpenNLP for search engineers and generalists. We will learn how to design a dialogue manager for a given domain as well ...
For 150 million years, all over planet Earth, mammals were successful ... but tiny. The death of the dinosaurs signaled a major change as mammals shot up to the size of dogs ... and elephants ... and beyond. How did we get so big? And how did such changes usher ...
Where: NovatoCost: Free
Tuesday, 09/25/18
Putting AI to WorkArtificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and assistive technologies will transform the future of work, with wide-ranging effects on employment, wages, and income distribution. Despite dystopian forecasts of robots replacing workers, AI and intelligent tools can also be applied to make the workforce more inclusive. As industries evolve, how can AI ...
Our group is particularly inspired by natural products not only because of their importance as synthetic targets but also due to their ability to serve as invaluable identifiers of unanswered chemical, medicinal, biological, and biophysical questions. One major focus of our research has been the selective halogenation of alkenes. Dihalogenation ...
One Tam: Wildlife Picture Index ProjectCome contribute to the Marin Wildlife Picture Index Project.This project depends on volunteer "Community Scientists" to help maintain wildlife cameras and process photos, and we are especially looking to train and retain volunteers for the long-term.At this training, we will be viewing and cataloging photos (on the computer) acquired from ...
In recent decades, developmental psychologists' discoveries about the powerful cognitive mechanisms that underlie children's early learning have led them to dub children "little scientists." Appreciating the surprising potential in children’s natural abilities to solve problems, reason, and experiment can help us make better decisions for our families and communities. In ...
Where: San RafaelCost: $10 General Advance, $12 at door, $8 Members
'Neutrino cosmology and large scale structureIn this talk, I will present studies of the model-dependence of cosmological neutrino mass constraints. In particular, I will focus on two phenomenological parameterizations of time-varying dark energy (early dark energy and barotropic dark energy) that can exhibit degeneracies with the cosmic neutrino background over extended periods of cosmic time, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
IEEE Workshops on Machine Learning, Convolutional Neural Networks and TensorflowAs data sources proliferate along with the computing power to process them, going straight to the data is one of the most straightforward ways to quickly gain insights and make predictions. Machine learning brings together computer science and statistics to harness that predictive power. It’s a must-have skill for all ...
The Bay Area is currently the jewel in the crown of capitalism - the tech capital of the world and a gusher of wealth from the Silicon gold rush. It has been generating jobs, spawning new innovation and spreading ideas that are changing lives everywhere. It boasts of being the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $10 Members, $8 Students
September Point Bonita Sunset HikeJoin park staff and volunteer docents for a tour down the Point Bonita Trail, through the hand carved tunnel and out to the Lighthouse. We will walk along the half-mile Point Bonita Trail, which is steep in places. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight. Meet at the Point Bonita Trailhead. ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Two Talks: ECC Memory in Automotive Solutions / Deep Learning with AWS DeepLensISSI’s ECC Advantage for Memory Subsystem Consideration in AutomotiveISSI offers a broad portfolio of SRAM, DRAM and Flash devices. In this presentation we will examine how ECC has been used to enhance the features and benefits of these devices. We start with a discussion of SRAM, DRAM and Flash and the ...
7:00-7:25: Hank Greely(Director of the Stanford Center for Law and the Biosciences) on "The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction"Two different biotechnologies are coming together in a way that will change how we make babies...Read more7:25-7:50: Irina Raicu (Santa Clara University/ Director of the Internet ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Think Beyond PlasticMarcy Rustad, COO of Think Beyond Plastic, will speak about Think Beyond Plastic’s important projects in California and globally, to address plastic pollution by accelerating the circular economy for plastics. Since 2009, Think Beyond Plastic has led the shift away from fossil fuel-based plastics towards bio-based, bio-benign materials from renewable ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Cryo-EM: Amazing 3-D Views of Life’s Molecular MachinesCryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a revolutionary technology for making 3D images of the inner workings of cells in much higher resolution than ever possible before. Under development for four decades, it’s seen such rapid progress over the past few years that three of its developers were awarded a Nobel ...
Evidence from ecosystems around the world suggests that jellyfish blooms are increasing in terms of frequency and severity most likely due to human activities such as overfishing, habitat modification, and species introductions. Although jellyfish have some positive benefits to humans in terms of food production and the aquarium trade, most ...
The Oiled Wildlife Care Network: Program overview and how to get involved What is the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN)? The OWCN is the world's only oiled wildlife response organization boasting more than 40different Member Organizations comprising world-class aquaria, universities, scientific organizations and rehabilitation groups. Established in 1994 by the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) ...
The study of biological function in intact organisms and the development of targeted cellular therapeutics necessitate methods to image and control cellular function in vivo. Technologies such as fluorescent proteins and optogenetics serve this purpose in small, translucent specimens, but are limited by the poor penetration of light into deeper ...
If you’ve never heard of the Embarcadero Seawall, you’re not alone. This rock and concrete barrier running from Fisherman’s Wharf to AT&T Park is mostly hidden from view, but it protects San Francisco’s waterfront against flooding and erosion.The Seawall has served us well for over a century, but it needs ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free, RSVP Required
Drinkering and TinkeringJoin Chabot Space and Science Center for a tinkering and drinkering happy hour! Bring a friend, grab a beer, and start making stuff! We will bring the tools and technology for you to explore, from circuit building to sewing!No preregistration required. Just show up!
Ertharin Cousin is the former executive director of the World Food Programme and US ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome, nominated by President Obama. In these roles, she led efforts to address issues related to nutrition and agriculture, including the relationship between climate change and ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: $10 Genera, Free Members & Students
If ye value critical thinking, and if ye scorn the flim-flam man, join us, your friends. We are a group who informally discuss the latest in science or pseudoscience over good eats & ale. Sponsored by Bay Area Skeptics.WHY: Because we’re curious creatures.
Where: MillbraeCost: Free
taste of science: Science of taste and finding E.T.Power Your Taste with Super SonicsDiscovery your good taste and what are the underlying forces that can shape your quality of life.Speaker: Wan-Jin Lu, StanfordFinding E.T.: How to detect extraterrestrial life on planets and moonsHow are we going to find E.T? Are we even looking for E.T. and what would ...
Air-Traffic Control for Angry BirdsOne hundred miles east of New York City lies a tiny speck of land called Great Gull Island. Formerly an U.S. Army fort, it is now a research station of the American Museum of Natural History. It is also the summer home of over 20,000 common and roseate terns. These ...
Wonderfest: The Ecology of Systems Without Central ControlMany systems - ant colonies, brains, and some data networks - operate without central control. Local interactions, collectively, regulate the behavior of the system. There are more than 14,000 species of ants, in every conceivable habitat. Their diverse behavior helps us understand how collective behavior evolves to deal with different ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: Free
Thursday, 09/27/18
Photo Processing with Your iPhoneYou have all these photos you have taken with your phone. What if you knew how to make them better through the apps that already exist and are free? In this class Doc Miles covers all the features of both Apple Photos on your iPhone or desktop and on the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Donations encouraged
Imaging All the Sky All the Time in Search of Radio ExoplanetsAll the magnetized planets in our solar system, including Earth, produce bright emission at low radio frequencies, predominantly originating in high magnetic latitudes and powered by magnetospheric currents. It has long been speculated that similar radio emission may be detectable from exoplanets orbiting nearby stars, potentially providing the first direct ...
Speaker: Myung-June Lee, Senior Principal Hardware Development Engineer, Oracle
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Star Formation Law in Nearby GalaxiesStar formation governs the secular evolution of galaxies. Within galaxies, we usually describe star formation in terms of an empirical "law" that relates the local star formation rate to local conditions such as molecular gas density. While this model serves as a good first step, it breaks down beyond normal ...
You know what time is because of your daily experience, but what seems constant and unchanging is not. In 1905, Albert Einstein threw a monkey wrench in our perception of time and space. Join us as we examine a few of these quirks on a conceptual non-mathematical level. Yes, you can age ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: 17.95 advance, 19.95 door, AD members free
PubScience: The CRISPR Generation - How might we edit ourselves?Curious about what CRISPR is or how it works? Excited that we might be able to cure disease, yet concerned about the ethics of changing the DNA of our kids? Join us to learn about CRISPR and discuss the ethical considerations of genome editing.Â
Where: El CerritoCost: Free
Geektoberfest @ The TechJoin us for the fourth annual Geektoberfest!Dive into the biology of beer with tastings from local and regional craft breweries, presented by The Tech Museum of Innovation, in partnership with BioCurious. We’ll also have demos, hands-on experiments and live German music by Zicke-Zacke band. More than a dozen local breweries will be ...
The Hayward Fault in the heart of the Bay Area is one of the most urbanized faults in the US.Studies of the fault reveal that it has produced 12 large earthquakes in the past 2000 years spaced 100-220 years apart.There is nearly a 3 out of 4 chance of a ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Friday, 09/28/18
Two KIPAC Tea TalksConstraining Self-Interacting Dark Matter with Galaxy WarpsSpeaker: Kris Pardk, PrincetonHeating of the lamppost corona in Seyfert GalaxiesSpeaker: Yajie Yuan, Princeton
Getting the Best of Nanomaterials: Intercalated Graphene/Quantum Dot Hybrid PhotodetectorRecently, hybrid graphene quantum dot (Gr/QD) systems have emerged as high responsivity photodetectors, taking advantage of the high charge carrier mobility of graphene and the high light absorption of PbS quantum dots. However the performance of this hybrid system is still limited by the charge carrier diffusion length of quantum ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
PIC simulations of magnetospheres in laboratory and astrophysical scenariosParticle-in-cell (PIC) is a method to solve the self-consistent interaction between plasma particles and fields with nearly no approximations for space and time scales larger than the quantum scales. Being able to resolve plasma kinetic scales, PIC simulations are an excellent tool to model the interaction between plasmas and magnetized ...
Friday Nights @ CHM: The Silicon Valley Science Fiction Short Film Festival Returning for the second year to the CHM, the Silicon Valley Science Fiction Short Film Festival will show 18 phenomenal films from around the world! The collection ensures to appeal to everyone with features such as 8-bit animations on the nature of gaming to powerful romantic comedies that explore the ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost:
Grounds for Science: Regeneration, replacement, and renewal: lessons from fish teethWhen we lose our baby teeth, they are typically replaced with our permanent adult teeth. But what happens when we lose our permanent teeth? Why are they not replaced again? In non-mammalian vertebrates, like sharks, fish, and reptiles, teeth are continuously regenerated throughout their adult life. Harnessing natural variation in ...
Where: EmeryvilleCost: Free
Summer Hike Series: Adult Night HikeThe journey begins at sunset from the Center into the beautiful surrounding redwood forest. We’ll hike along some of the most popular trails and learn about local history as we uncover evidence from early settlers and will examine local plants as we discuss the ecology of the forest. The evening ...
Where: OaklandCost: $30 General, $27 Members
Buffalo Road ShowBuffalo Field Campaign’s Co-Founder and Campaign Coordinator Mike Mease is hitting the road this fall for his annual BFC Road Show! Come out and join us as we celebrate 21 years of the Road Show!As he has done since 1999, Mike will be visiting communities in Washington, Oregon, and California ...
Where: OaklandCost:
'Queen' @Bay Area South Asian Film Festival Fame - Ethics - Science COLLIDE in Madhuri Shekhar’s Queen.Bees are dying everywhere. Governments are worried. The significant economic losses that the world faces due to systemic Colony Collapse Disorder are just the tip of the iceberg in the impact on humanity.  MIT, Stanford and a host of other top-notch universities are racing to ...
Where: CupertinoCost: 25
Saturday, 09/29/18
Huddart Park BioBlitzJoin us for our fall San Mateo County Parks BioBlitz! We will spread out at Huddart Park to discover species of birds, plants, mammals, fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and more that the park has to offer!Please meet on Saturday, September 29th at 8:45 AM at a TBD location in the Park. ...
Guided Nature WalkExperience the beauty and rich natural history of this 535-acre preserve. Our guided nature walks are on Saturdays throughout fall and spring. Participants are divided into small groups and paired with a trained Bouverie volunteer to explore the mixed evergreen forest and flower-carpeted oak woodland. Guided Nature Walks begin at 10:00am ...
Where: Glen EllenCost: $20 suggested donation
Science Saturday: Journey to Outer SpaceIn September, Science Saturday turns its gaze skyward for Journey to Outer Space. View meteorites, learn how much you would weigh on the moon, create your own orbiting planet craft, and more!
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
Sharktoberfest 2018Celebrate the Annual Return of White Sharks at SHARKTOBERFEST!Enjoy shark science, shark experts, shark art, shark films, shark conservation, food and live music!Event Schedule- Main Event Free!!11am: All art & science activity stations open, food truck & refreshments available.11am-1pm: Live Music- Ukulele Friends 11:30am: Special Programs (see below)1pm: Ocean Life ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Main Event FREE!!
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory Hawk TalkThe Hawk Talk begins at noon, when a GGRO volunteer speaks about hawk migration and identification, and what we do here at the GGRO. Conditions permitting, a banding volunteer will bring up a newly banded hawk, talk about the banding program, and release the hawk in front of the crowd. ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Trekking the ModelJoin a Ranger or docent on a 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
'Queen' @Bay Area South Asian Film Festival Fame - Ethics - Science COLLIDE in Madhuri Shekhar’s Queen.Bees are dying everywhere. Governments are worried. The significant economic losses that the world faces due to systemic Colony Collapse Disorder are just the tip of the iceberg in the impact on humanity.  MIT, Stanford and a host of other top-notch universities are racing to ...
Do you sometimes see paw prints in mud or scat (poop) on the trails and assume that a dog left it? It could be from something else. Come along with me and I will show you how to distinguish and identify the markings of a gray fox. Gain some insights into the fox’s nature and ...
Where: FremontCost: Free
Sunday, 09/30/18
Alcatraz Gardens Class Series: Botanical ImpressionsCreate your own plaster casting of amazing botanicals through this fun, easy and rewarding process. Sue Fordyce-Darden, an instructor from Alden Lane Nursery will guide you through the steps. Wet clay is used to impress flowers, stems and/or leaves, then the physical plants are removed and plaster is poured into ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $60
Hike at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve (SynBioBeta)Join Founder of SynBioBeta John Cumbers on a guided hike of the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. Nestled high in the Oakland Hills, the preserve offers breathtaking views of the City of San Francisco from across the Bay and some amazing volcanic rock formations and wildlife.
Where: OaklandCost: Free
Low budget Moonshots to move science forward (BioCurious)Biotech starts with the misfits, the rebels, and the round pegs in the square holes. Join BioCurious for a workshop to explore some of the current problems we are working to solve. You will get the chance to work on hands on projects in BioHacking. We will demonstrate how we ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: Free
Community Science DayStep into the (close-toed) shoes of a scientist and explore biology at this community-wide science event! Visit UC Berkeley’s campus to experience a range of activities designed for visitors of all ages. Discover the fascinating power of DNA, the instruction manual for life. From the basic foundations of biology to the latest genome ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory Hawk TalkThe Hawk Talk begins at noon, when a GGRO volunteer speaks about hawk migration and identification, and what we do here at the GGRO. Conditions permitting, a banding volunteer will bring up a newly banded hawk, talk about the banding program, and release the hawk in front of the crowd. ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Agar Art - Painting with Bacteria! (Counter Culture Labs)Come and learn how to make colorful and unique living art. Design your own art piece using our colorful bacteria.Counter Culture Labs has been partnering with the American Society for Microbiology for their yearly Agar Art Contest (http://www.asm.org/agarart). This workshop will cover the basics of agar preparation and bacterial growth. Participants ...
Learn how to listen to the air. Join the Oakland Museum, the Exploratorium, and artist Rosten Woo for a listening party and the launch of artist project Mutual Air, a set of networked bells that will be installed throughout the city of Oakland. Each bell connects to global climate data and hyperlocal ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free
The Art Inside of Us (Ulux)Join biologist, artist and designer Una Ryan for a gallery showing of her artwork.  Una’s work combines her life as a microscopist and now artist as she combines images of the very small under the microscope and the very big from satellite imagery.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
GATTACA Movie Screening (SynBioBeta)Join us for a screening of the 1997 thriller GATTACA that explores the widespread deployment of genetic engineering in the near future to achieve a more “perfect†society.Come early to enjoy Una’s fabulous The Art Inside Us art exhibit!
