Calling Bullshit: The Art Of Skepticism In A Data-Driven World - LivestreamToday’s world is more thoroughly quantified than ever before. We are awash in numbers, statistics, figures, algorithms, and data graphics. Quantitative information is power: it is used to convey objectivity, to strengthen arguments, and to inform decisions - and all too often it is used to impress, overwhelm, and persuade without ...
Where: Cost: Free
Saturday, 05/28/22
NASA’s Artemis TakeoverIn Artemis I, the most powerful rocket in the world takes flight, leading the way for humanity’s return to the Moon. To mark this summer’s historic launch, NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley is taking over Chabot Space & Science Center with a day of hands-on learning. Get ready ...
Prepare for time-travel during this prehistoric Science Saturday, when we'll set our sights on the age of the dinosaurs. This event will feature fossils, footprints, and more as we learn what made the dinosaurs so successful, and also what led to their extinction.
Where: Cost: Free
Urban Hikes: City College to San Francisco StateLearn about the struggle for union rights and a Free City College, visit the Urbano Sundial, and end at the historic SF State University campus, where the 1968-69 student/faculty strikes led to the establishment of the first College of Ethnic Studies in the U.S.RSVP required: shaping@foundsf.org to obtain specific location ...
Where: Cost: Free
Sunday, 05/29/22
NASA’s Artemis TakeoverIn Artemis I, the most powerful rocket in the world takes flight, leading the way for humanity’s return to the Moon. To mark this summer’s historic launch, NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley is taking over Chabot Space & Science Center with a day of hands-on learning. Get ready ...
It’s there for us year round, lighting our days and providing energy for our lives, so maybe it’s time to give it a closer look. Join SJAA for amazing and detailed views of the Sun, and be assured that we’ll be using special telescopes that will keep your eyeballs perfectly ...
Recent evidence reveals that psychedelics seem to be helpful for the treatment of several mental health conditions. Specifically, clinical findings show that psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, ayahuasca, ibogaine, and ketamine may be effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, depression, alcohol and substance use disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. ...
Educating the Planet with Social Entrepreneur Sal Khan“Free worldclass education for anyone anywhere.†That’s the ambitious mission of the popular online learning platform Khan Academy. Join us for a rare and candid discussion with visionary founder Sal Khan, winner of the CHM Patrick J. McGovern Tech for Humanity Luminary award.  Sal will share insights and ideas about ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Java in the Real World - LivestreamJava developers are broadening the scope of this popular language, applying it to new kinds of projects in diverse industries. Join two of our most popular Java instructors for a quick overview of what's new in the field and the kinds of work projects you can enjoy once you ...
Where: Cost: Free
Deep Sea Mining, Coming Soon to an Ocean Near You?Global demand for technologies like cellphones and laptops is increasing every year, and the transition to green energy is creating a need for more and new batteries. These both result in huge projected increases in metal demand which are now driving mining companies into the deep ocean in search of ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free
Thursday, 06/02/22
Modeling Energy Injection Effects in the Early Universe - LivestreamDark matter annihilations or decays could generate high-energy particles which in turn would reshape the history of our cosmos, leaving traces of their existence in ionization and heating of the intergalactic medium, and in background radiation from the cosmic dark ages and the epoch of reionization. I will describe new ...
Where: Cost: Free
NZ Citizen Astronomers and Asteroid Occultations - LivestreamWho doesn’t want to be able to contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Cosmos? As part of the Unistellar/SETI network, that is exactly how several New Zealand-based citizen scientists spend their free time. The Unistellar network has now spread to New Zealand, where citizen astronomers Michael Camilleri and Gareth ...
Where: Cost: Free
After Dark: Discover WonderSpark your curiosity at After Dark! As the Sun sets, we’ll hit the rainbow lights, turn the music up, and open our doors, inviting you to take your imagination out to play. Fuel up with a cocktail and prepare to roam free through six spacious outdoor and indoor spaces. Be ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
Insects get a bad rap, but deserve awe and wonder! From pollinating plants to decomposing waste, insects are the foundation of the food web and crucial to thriving ecosystems. This NightLife, these hard-working, often overlooked critters take center stage as we highlight some of the world’s most fascinating bugs. Walk ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.25 - $17.50 depending on time
NightSchool: Life on Reefs - LivestreamJoin three Academy postdoctoral researchers for a night covering the latest in coral reef research, from the lab to the reefs, and from corals themselves to the vast range of marine life they support.Ecologist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Jennifer Hoey has just returned from doing fieldwork in Curaçao, where she ...
Since the earliest times, we humans have attempted to understand and explain the world around us by observing our surroundings. By building tools such as telescopes and microscopes, we have been able to see phenomena ranging from the cosmological scale to the nanoscale, and, on the way, we have learned ...
African-American ornithologist John C. Robinson utilizes his own personal and transformational experiences to explain the multiple ways that inner city and minority youth and young adults can become motivated to discover and appreciate nature through bird-watching. This presentation will focus on the barriers (and opportunities) to reaching a wider, more diverse audience to let ...
Tackling Methane Emissions from Cattle with Microbial BiologySpeaker: Blake Downing, UC Berkley
Where: AlbanyCost: Free
Friday, 06/03/22
Observations in support of the DART mission: Understanding the Didymos-Dimorphos binary systemThe binary near-Earth asteroid (65803) Didymos is the target of NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission, the first demonstration of asteroid deflection by a kinetic impactor. The DART spacecraft will impact Dimorphos (the secondary in the Didymos system) in late September 2022 and modify its orbit through momentum transfer. ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free
First Friday: RainbowsHow are rainbows formed? What is the meaning behind their bright colors in the LGBTQ+ community? Activities, community partners and demonstrations highlight the rainbow as both a phenomenon in nature and an important symbol for LGBTQ+ Pride.Â
Where: OaklandCost: $15 General, $10 kids/seniors, $5 members
Astronomy Talk - LivestreamSan Mateo Astronomical Society Annual Meeting and ElectionSpeaker: Dr. Norm Nasise, Starchaserz.org
Road to a Livable Climate - Bike and Walk for the Planet! Oakland Goes Green Walk4.5 mile walk with route featuring historic Downtown Oakland, adaptive reuse buildings, public transportation, energy retrofits, and more.The science is clear - climate change is here, and it's not pretty. Droughts, wildfires, storms, floods, sea level rise - you name it. The good news is that we ...
Where: OaklandCost: $35
Gravitational Waves: The Discovery that Won the Nobel Prize - LivestreamOn September 14, 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) received the first confirmed gravitational wave signals. Now known as GW150914, the event represents the coalescence of two distant black holes that were previously in mutual orbit. LIGO's exciting discovery provides direct evidence of what is arguably the last major ...
Artist: While Album EnsembleAstronomy Speaker: Dr. Shelley Wright is a faculty member at UC San Diego at the Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences. Her research focuses on developing innovative astronomical instrumentation and observations using some of the world’s largest optical telescopes. She is the Project Scientist for one of ...
Where: Mt. HamiltonCost: $55 General, $95 Preferred
Sunday, 06/05/22
Road to a Livable Climate - Bike and Walk for the Planet! This 3.5 walking loop route features the Napa Flood Control Project and Oxbow Commons, Fuller park, green building examples, tree canopy, infrastructure improvements, and local climate action highlights.The science is clear - climate change is here, and it’s not pretty. Droughts, wildfires, storms, floods, sea level rise… you name it. ...
The magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), a device comprised of two ferromagnetic electrodes with a thin (~1nm) insulating tunnel barrier in between, was first proposed in a Ph.D. thesis by Michel Jullière in 1975 and reached widespread commercialization nearly 30 years later as the read sensor in hard disk drives. MTJs ...
Prof. Raffaella Margutti will share how new capabilities to study the night sky have led to recent discoveries and new ways to think about the universe around us. Astronomical transients are events that appear and disappear in the sky and are signs of catastrophic events in space, including the most extreme ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members & Seniors
Supermassive black holes remain some of the most elusive engines in our Universe. However, after decades of observations and over 1 million of them cataloged, certain aspects of their formation and growth still remain unknown. Combining large amount of observational data with state-of-the-art computer simulations, we are slowly unraveling the ...
Where: Cost: Free
Wednesday, 06/08/22
Exploring the Future of CybersecurityCybersecurity has become a central part of the discussion on how we work, live and communicate as a society. It is not just confined to the world of IT and digital technologies anymore. During one of the largest conferences about cybersecurity, the RSA Conference in San Francisco this ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
June LASER Event - LivestreamSarah Cole (Columbia University) on "James Joyce's Ulysses at 100"Register at weblink to receive connection information
During times of a changing climate, how can we ensure fair and resilient solutions for everyone? Sea level rise, drought, heat waves and wildfires will impact Bay Area communities in the coming years. Violet Saena will talk about addressing these climate issues in an equitable way. Violet, Founder and Executive ...
Join The Leakey Foundation for a free virtual event featuring Dan Lieberman, Harvard human evolutionary biologist, in conversation with Evan Hadingham, Senior Science Editor for PBS’s NOVA series. They explore some of the most exciting and groundbreaking surprises revealed by human origins research.Over the past fifty years, researchers have made ...
Will you go to prom with us? Bust out your powder blue suit and best merfolk attire - we’re celebrating World Oceans Day under the sea. Strike a pose at the photo booth, craft your own prom accessories, and dance the night away to a special guest performance.
Where: San FranciscoCost: $18 - $16 depending on entrance time
After Dark: Pride - Unheard StoriesIn honor of Pride Month, join us in celebrating LGBTQ+ heritage and culture. Tonight, we come together to share unheard stories, past and present - stories of LGBTQ+ identities, histories, resilience, and achievements. Everyone is welcome. We invite you to share your story with us.
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
Every autumn, billions of birds migrate thousands of kilometers from their breeding grounds to more favorable environments. Migrations of raptors and songbirds often overlap in space and time, creating predator-prey interactions that shape behaviors and migration strategies. However, the wide-ranging movements of a migrating avian community make specific ecological interactions ...
It is sometimes claimed that trying to convince a science denier with facts will only backfire. The latest research, however, shows that this is mistaken and that there ARE effective techniques that can be used to keep someone from becoming a science denier and even help them to overturn mistaken ...
 Sometimes, bigger is better. The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will collect 9 times more light than the largest currently existing telescope and, with adaptive optics, make images 9 times sharper. Overall, that’s 81 times better! The TMT International Observatory (with members from the US, Japan, China, India, & Canada), together ...
Where: Cost: Free
Friday, 06/10/22
Cephalopod Week: Movie NightScience Friday and Deep Look team up to talk all about tentacles! From octopuses to squids, and cuttlefishes to nautiluses, join us for a screening of short films featuring these highly intelligent creatures.Presented by KQED LiveÂ
Where: San FranciscoCost: In Person: $10 / Livestream: Free.
Saturday, 06/11/22
STEM Saturday Summer Science SeriesThe mission of the STEM Summer Science Series is to provide a safe atmosphere for scholars (Girls & Boys) to learn and explore the scientific process through fun hands on experiments.All participants will develop foundational skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math using scientific processes through fun, hands-on science activities, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Science at Cal - Pathways to the Pharmacy: Discovery, Development, and Access to New MedicinesHow are new medicines discovered and developed? How can universities help create products to benefit patients? How do the government and private companies decide which projects to invest in? Drug discovery often follows a long, rocky and winding road to success. In this talk, Dr. Schaletzky will highlight some innovative ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Sunday, 06/12/22
Afternoon Hike at Mindego HillJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful 5-mile hike from the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve to the top of the POST-protected Mindego Hill. You will be guided by POST ambassadors who will share details about how we protected this beautiful property featuring panoramic views of redwood ridges and ...
Where: Los AltosCost: Free
Tuesday, 06/14/22
Open House: Machine Learning, the mortar of modernizationMachine Learning is advancing the civilization and is one of the key drivers of economy today. Machine Learning literacy may one day become essential the way computer literacy is today. This talk intends to explain Machine Learning concepts to wider audiences by using easy to relate real world analogies and ...
Over the past fifty years, researchers have made extraordinary discoveries that help us to understand For tens of thousands of years, sharing knowledge about the natural world has been part of what makes us human. Indeed, humans have many adaptations for fireside storytelling, shared experiences, artistic imagery, and “jokey joke ...
Where: Cost: Free
How the National Science Foundation Supports and Translates Innovation - LivestreamThis program will give background on how technology research, innovation and transformation occurs from discoveries and research supported by the National Science Foundation.The National Science Foundations supports deep, early and foundational research across a wide range of fields and is funded by the American taxpayer. However, bringing those discoveries and ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 in person, $5 online
Towards the Direct Imaging of Habitable Exoplanets with Extremely Large Telescopes Fifty-three years ago, 600 million people watched the Apollo 11 astronauts take the first human steps on another world. In 1969, the number of worlds worth walking on was small: just the few dozen planets and moons that make up the Earth’s siblings orbiting the Sun. Today, astronomers know that ...
Measurements of the afterglow of the Big Bang, the cosmic microwave background, have allowed physicists to piece together much of our modern understanding of the origin, composition, and evolution of the Universe. Future measurements hope to answer tantalizing questions ranging from the transient nature of the radio sky to the ...
Where: Cost: Free
Nerd Nite SF #126: Hey Girl! Bingo + DNA Sequencing + Nuclear Energy - POSTPONEDJoin us for Nerd Nite SF, the Pride month party edition!We’re very excited to announce that we’ll be partnering with the bearded bingo babe herself, Shelix, for Hey Girl! Bingo before the talks begin. Come early to kick off the evening with a drink and a bingo card! Nerdy prizes ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 advance online, #20 at door
Healthy soil plays a vital role in the nutrient density of our food, can help prevent agricultural runoff and erosion, and has a direct impact on our changing climate. And yet, by ignoring what’s directly beneath our feet, we can expect to lose all of the world’s topsoil within a single ...
Where: Cost: Free
Science at Cal - Can We Make Green Hydrogen Fuel a Reality? - LivestreamHydrogen gas plays an important role in the future of clean energy with the potential to replace fossil fuels for many daily and essential applications, from making fertilizers to producing chemicals for plastics. In this Midday Science Cafe, we’ll be hearing from scientists who study different processes working toward the ...
Where: Cost: Free
Virtual Talk: Leaves with Sori: The Ferns (online)Our "Year of Leaves" theme continues this month as we focus on the fascinating plants that shed spores from their leaves, the wonderful world of ferns. For this Zoom presentation, the Garden is pleased to host Dr. Susan Fawcett, research botanist and fern curator at the University and Jepson Herbaria, ...
Where: Cost: Free
After Dark: See for YourselfSpark your curiosity at After Dark! As the Sun sets, we’ll hit the rainbow lights, turn the music up, and open our doors, inviting you to take your imagination out to play. Fuel up with a cocktail and prepare to roam free. Plus, excavate underground histories and discover the past with ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
NightLifeCalling all creatures of the night: explore the nocturnal side of the Academy at NightLife and see what's revealed. With live DJs, outdoor bars, ambiance lighting, and nearly 40,000 live animals (including familiar faces like Claude the albino alligator), the night is sure to be wild.Step inside the iconic Shake ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.25 - $17.50 depending on time
In the evergreen forest of the Pacific Northwest, two species of wood warbler that hybridize are on the brink of forming a new species. A more northern species, the Townsend’s Warbler Setophaga townsendi and a more southern species, the Hermit Warbler Setophaga occidentalis, overlap in range and hybridize. This provides ...
Calling all future gastropod enthusiasts: We're exploring the wide world of snails, from venomous ocean-dwellers to garden-loving city inhabitants.Featuring:Dr. Mandë Holford, Associate Professor in Chemistry at CUNY Hunter College and The CUNY Graduate CenterChrissy Piotrowski, Collections Manager of Invertebrate Zoology, California Academy of SciencesDr. Jann Vendetti, Associate Curator & Twila ...
Where: Cost: Free
Friday, 06/17/22
Astro 101: Sights of the Cosmos, Intro to AstronomyThis event provides a different introduction to astronomy than our Intro to the Night Sky talks. During this hour, you'll gain an appreciation for the size and scale of the cosmos and our place within it. You'll see many examples of the beautiful objects visible in the night sky, learn ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
In Town Star PartyCome join San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) for an evening of stargazing.We plan to have a short introduction to night sky of the day followed by an observing session where SJAA volunteers will share night sky views from their personal telescopes.Please refrain from bringing your own telescopes (Binoculars are welcome). ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday, 06/18/22
Family Nature Walks - Baylands Nature PreserveEnvironmental Volunteers’ Family Nature Walks program is designed to help students and their families get to know our local open space areas. Small family groups will be guided by a knowledgeable environmental educator during an exploration of a local open space. These small groups will be introduced to fun nature-based ...
You might have heard of the Peregrine Falcon, but have you met its robotic counterpart? Inspired by the fastest animal on Earth, the lunar lander code-named “Mission Peregrine†will experiment on the Moon this summer and deposit the remains of science fiction legend Arthur C. Clarke, the author of 2001: ...
Any review of the history of astronomy will likely discover a large telescope called the “Leviathan of Parsonstownâ€. Built in Ireland in 1845 by the 3rd Earl of Rosse, it was the largest telescope in the world for 70 years until surpassed by the 100″ Hooker Telescope on Mt. Wilson. ...
Where: Cost: Free
Binocular Stargazing at Coyote Valley Open Space PreserveBinocular Stargazing is hosted by the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority with help from members of the San Jose Astronomical Association.Want to learn the night sky? Want to see the Milky Way and the stars contained in it? Did you know that you don’t need to spend a ton ...
 The shorebirds are always an exciting yet vexing group for birders. Join us for a talk by Jon Dunn and Lara Tseng to learn about identification of a subset of, certain Calidris sandpipers of the families in this group. In addition to identification, other important aspects will be covered, like ...
Where: Cost: Free
Tuesday, 06/21/22
Weekday Morning Hike at Rancho Cañada del OroJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for an excursion where you’ll explore the Mayfair Ranch - Longwall Canyon trails of Rancho Cañada del Oro! You will be guided by POST Ambassadors who will share with you the history of the preserve, the region, and the importance of conservation in the area. The ...
What does it mean to be female? (... Ovum-producing? ... Nurturing? ... The "weaker sex"?) In her latest book, Bitch: The Female of the Species, zoologist Lucy Cooke reveals a marvelous cast of animals that enlarge our understanding of biological femininity. Rebecca Giggs of The Atlantic, writes: "[Cooke] is motivated ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 In Person, Free online with discount code
Using SPUR as a Testbed for Decarbonization In San Francisco - LivestreamInspired by the call in San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan for commercial buildings to cease use of fossil fuels by 2035, SPUR has partnered with the Danish Energy Agency and San Francisco Department of the Environment to craft a roadmap for how to decarbonize the SPUR Urban Center, our downtown ...
Where: Cost: Free
Propagation Techniques for Herbs and PerennialsJoin us for a lunchtime plant propagation workshop. Learn multiple techniques and best practices to grow new plants from seed, cuttings, and more. This class covers horticultural basics in starting your plants, soil, light and water requirements, and care, with a focus on growing sun perennials including herbs.
Healthy soil plays a vital role in the nutrient density of our food, can help prevent agricultural runoff and erosion, and has a direct impact on our changing climate. And yet, by ignoring what’s directly beneath our feet, we can expect to lose all of the world’s topsoil within a single ...
A new observatory is being constructed to conduct an unprecedented survey of space and time over half the sky and far back into the history of our Universe. The result of ten years of observations will be a digital movie that captures the dynamism of creation to address fundamental questions ...
Pride is more than a party; it’s the culmination of working people contributing their perspectives to the bigger picture. Tonight, celebrate LGBTQ+ community members who are creating an inclusive future where everyone can be themselves in all parts of their work. Learn how they involve their identities in what they ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
Pride NightLifeKick off Pride weekend with NightLife and SF's only all-Black drag show, Reparations. More details coming soon!
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.25 - $17.50 depending on time
Friday, 06/24/22
Bair Island Interpretive WalkJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a walking tour at Bair Island! You’ll be guided by POST ambassadors who will share the history of this beautiful protected space, information about the species that live there, and what you can do to contribute. This easy 1.5 mile walk with little to no ...
Where: Redwood CityCost: Free
Walk on the Cowell-Purisima TrailJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful walk along the Cowell-Purisima trail that POST helped create by protecting adjacent farmland. While it may be foggy, we hope to catch gorgeous views of the ocean, nearby farmland, and glimpses of harbor seals, pelicans, hawks, rabbits, and whales during the winter ...
Astronomy Speaker: Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, UC Santa CruzTickets go on sale April 13 at noon. See weblink.
Where: Mt. HamiltonCost: $25 General
Saturday, 06/25/22
BubbleFestChabot’s 2nd BubbleFest celebrates the joy of bubbles with shows, activities, music and more that will blow you away! Learn about the science of bubbles with captivating shows from famous bubble artists and poppin’ activities throughout the Center.
Where: OaklandCost: $24 General, $15 Youth
STEM Saturday Summer Science SeriesThe mission of the STEM Summer Science Series is to provide a safe atmosphere for scholars (Girls & Boys) to learn and explore the scientific process through fun hands on experiments.All participants will develop foundational skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math using scientific processes through fun, hands-on science activities, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Power in the Field - LivestreamIn this talk I will show how easy it is to measure the power required to operate all of our typical astronomy equipment from mounts and pcs to dew heaters, camera coolers and everything in between. I will also review the different types of lithium power sources which are becoming ...
