William G. Dauben LectureSociety depends on polymeric materials now more than at any other time in history. Although synthetic polymers are indispensable in a wide array of applications, ranging from commodity packaging and structural materials to technologically complex biomedical and electronic devices, the negative impact of their synthesis and disposal ...
Dr. Manfred Boudreaux-Dehmer is the inaugural Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). His principal responsibility is to realize the Allies’ vision for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in support of NATO’s purpose to safeguard freedom and security for its 32 member nations. He is tasked ...
In this talk, Professor Ajoy will present their experiments leveraging electron and nuclear spins out of equilibrium to build highly sensitive, deployable quantum sensors. These sensors utilize solid-state systems, such as semiconductors, where nuclear spins can be optically "hyperpolarized" to levels thousands of times greater than thermal equilibrium. Remarkably, these ...
Understanding the mechanisms of DNA repair, one molecule at a timeThe Passmore lab uses biochemical reconstitution, structural biology and functional studies to gain mechanistic insights into mRNA processing, mRNA stability and genome integrity - fundamental processes that affect all eukaryotes. DNA must be passed on faithfully from cell to cell and across generations. This lecture will discuss work on the ...
Achieving ballistic charge and energy flow in materials at room temperature is a long-standing goal that could unlock ultrafast, lossless energy and information technologies. The key obstacle to overcome is short-range scattering between electronic particles and lattice phonons. I will describe two promising avenues for realizing ballistic transport in two-dimensional ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
When Eagles Roar - The Amazing Journey of an African Wildlife AdventurerJames Currie is a safari guide with the world-renowned company Wilderness Safaris. As a lifelong wildlife enthusiast and native of South Africa, he has led professional wildlife and birding tours for many years, and his passion for adventure and remote cultures has taken him to nearly every corner of the ...
Wonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with special communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:UC Berkeley biologist Kristy Mualim on Genetic Biodiversity Loss in the Anthropocene - In the Anthropocene, the age of planet-wide ...
This month, we’ll be joined by two Steward Observatory graduate students: Aafaque Khan will be telling us about how to use small satellites to study the collision between our very own Milky Way and its nearest neighbor, and Lily Whitler will be talking about the very earliest galaxies to exist ...
Dr. Meier will present the problems associated with severe mushroom poisoning from her perspective as the Senior Toxicology Management Specialist at the San Francisco Division of California Poison Control. This presentation will focus on the most dangerous poisoning syndromes, mechanisms of toxicity, clinical aspects, and medical managementSpeaker: Kathi Meier, ...
The widepread deployment of AI systems in critical domains demands more rigorous approaches to evaluating their capabilities and safety. While current evaluation practices rely on static benchmarks, these methods face fundamental efficiency, reliability, and real-world relevance challenges. This talk presents a path toward a measurement framework that bridges established psychometric ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Acorns, Shellfish, and Uplands: Archaeology in the Santa Cruz MountainsThe archaeological record of the Santa Cruz Mountains, particularly around the San Vicente Creek Watershed, provides evidence of human occupation and utilization from approximately 4000 BP to the present. Despite extensive anthropogenic modifications??"resulting from over a century of logging, mining, and topographic restructuring??"the preserved deposits within this watershed offer a ...
Genome editing as an enabling tool has been revolutionizing the ways scientists advance basic understanding of biology and speed up application in medicine and agriculture. Creating and breeding broad-spectrum disease resistance to elite crops is critical to sustainable agriculture. Prime Editing, as one of CRISPR-based genome editing technologies, offers advantages ...
The long and the short of it: Mechanistic insights into the mRNA poly(A) tail machineryCells are defined by the genes they express. Moreover, rapid changes in gene expression allow cells to respond to their environments. The Passmore lab uses biochemical reconstitution, structural biology and functional studies to gain mechanistic insights into mRNA processing, mRNA stability and genome integrity - fundamental processes that affect gene ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Energy and Resources Group ColloquiumPersistent spatialized, racialized, and socioeconomic disparities characterize drinking water access in the U.S. Despite California’s legal recognition of the human right to water more than a decade ago, many residents face challenges accessing safe and affordable water. California presents a critical case to examine how state-society interactions shape water access. ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Carbon, Climate, and Humanity Join us live for a journey into the world of carbon, the most versatile element on the planet. Your tour guide is New York Times bestselling author Paul Hawken.Carbon is the only element that animates the entirety of the living world. Though comprising a tiny fraction of Earth’s composition, our ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25 in person, $10 online, members get discount
A Logic For The Future: International Relations in the Age of TurbulenceStephen Heintz and Kim Stanley Robinson will discuss our polycrisis, and the swift and holistic reform of global governance institutions that is needed to respond to these urgent transnational and planetary challenges we are facing.We are living in an age of exceptional complexity and turbulence. What distinguishes this period in ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: TBA
Two Eyes are Better than One: JWST and ALMA Look at Star FormationStars and their planetary systems form in cold interstellar gas and dust clouds impermeable to the optical light our eyes can see. By contrast, light at much longer wavelengths is able to penetrate these regions allowing us to directly observe stars that are currently forming. The Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) aboard ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Waves of Change: Ensuring Equity in Coastal Access - LivestreamMany people across the Bay Area face safety, cultural and economic barriers when trying to access our shared outdoor spaces. How can we begin to change this? Join us as we explore equitable ways for communities to safely experience the beauty of the California coast. Find out how you can ...
Where: Cost: Free
Exploring BioAstronautics: A Path to the Stars - LivestreamRight now, we’re at the dawn of a new space age. As humanity prepares to return to the moon and beyond, one might ask: how can I be a part of this? Join Ben Foehr, BS in Aerospace Engineering and former graduate student studying Human Spaceflight at Colorado University at ...
Discover the intricate process of traditional cheese-making, focusing on the vital interactions between bacteria and fungi. This presentation emphasizes the scientific methods used to explore microbial communication and its implications for health and cheese production.Did you know that the unique flavors, textures, and aromas of traditional cheeses are crafted by ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free
Thursday, 03/20/25
Lunch Break Science - LivestreamLunch Break Science is a dynamic live web series featuring fascinating short talks, engaging interviews, and lively Q&A with Leakey Foundation scientists. Each episode digs deeper into the latest human origins discoveries, with topics like Neanderthals, chimpanzee behavior, and more! Even better, you can interact with researchers during the show ...
We introduce an empirical framework for valuing markets in environmental offsets. Using newly-collected data on wetland conservation and offsets, we apply this framework to evaluate a set of decentralized markets in Florida, where and developers purchase offsets from long-lived producers who restore wetlands over time. We find that offsets led ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
The evolution and genomics of migratory body shape in a marine fishAnimal migration is one of the most fascinating phenomena in the natural world. While we know that animal migrations are often driven by food availability or tradeoffs between survival and breeding, we know relatively less about the evolution of migration at the genetic level. This seminar will explore the evolution ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
The Ocean's Stories Symposium - Afternoon SessionJoin us for a transformative day focused on the future of our oceans. Through lightning talks, expert panels and an inspiring keynote address, we’ll explore the critical role oceans play in our planet’s health. We’ll highlight how, together, marine scientists, journalists and entrepreneurs can address major challenges in an era ...
The ocean is vital to all living beings but still needs to be explored, leaving many questions unanswered. Fortunately, underwater robotics has greatly improved ocean exploration by accurately mapping the seafloor in high resolution and tracking animals in midwater. However, these platforms are often too expensive to build and operate, ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free
Super-Earth Laboratory: Using HD 20794 d to Understand Habitability - LivestreamWith over 7,000 exoplanets identified in our galaxy, scientists are shifting their focus to studying these worlds' characteristics in the quest for extraterrestrial life. The backdrop for one team is the discovery of super-Earth HD 20794 d, an exoplanet detected by researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and NCCR ...
Computer vision has made remarkable advances through data-driven learning of image-text associations. Large-scale vision and language models like CLIP, SAM, and ChatGPT can generate compelling descriptions of images. However, these models, trained with scripted data and limited grounding, often struggle to provide detailed visual evidence and to generalize across a ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Evolution, Education, and a Century of Scopes - LivestreamThis July, the Center for Inquiry and the Freedom From Religion Foundation are teaming up to host the Scopes Trial Centennial conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This special event will explore the landmark trial’s history and its lasting impact on science, education, and the law.One of the featured presenters at that ...
Pre-laboratory preparation in chemistry education often depends on students’ ability to interpret textual descriptions from lab manuals and mentally construct representations of unfamiliar spatial phenomena. Conventional pedagogical approaches??"such as passive video demonstrations or static manual-based instruction??"frequently fall short in effectively conveying the complex laboratory processes.Virtual reality (VR) chemistry laboratories present ...
Join us for an enlightening presentation that bridges the gap between ornithology and entomology. We'll explore how insects share fascinating parallels with birds while playing equally crucial roles in our ecosystems. This talk will illuminate the remarkable world of insects, highlighting their complex behaviors, intricate social structures, and vital ecological services. ...
Where: Cost: Free
The Ocean's Stories Symposium - Evening SessionJoin us for a transformative day focused on the future of our oceans. Through lightning talks, expert panels and an inspiring keynote address, we’ll explore the critical role oceans play in our planet’s health. We’ll highlight how, together, marine scientists, journalists and entrepreneurs can address major challenges in an era ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
NightLife in the DeepMysteries of the deep meet cocktails of the night. Plunge into the deep sea at our new exhibit, Unseen Oceans.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
After Dark: See for YourselfUncover the secrets of the cosmos: what are the green patches on Mars? How do NASA spacecraft communicate with each other? And what was the final message of the Curiosity rover? Find the answers to these celestial mysteries - and more - at After Dark, plus our Open Question session ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95 General, free for members
Exploring Mental Health and Wellness: An Experiential Event In an era of fragmentation and uncertainty, having collective and safe spaces that allow for sharing and fully hearing each others’ experiences is as vital as ever. We invite you to join us at Commonwealth Club World Affairs for an interactive and experiential event exploring a breadth and depth of ...
Alcatraz Island Brandt’s Cormorants moved into San Francisco Bay in the early 1990s during a coastward population shift. Alcatraz is now one of the largest Brandt’s Cormorant breeding colonies, outperforming its ocean counterparts despite a high level of human disturbance in this urban setting. The bay hosts a large anchovy ...
Spring has sprung and here at Nerd Nite SF headquarters, we’re preparing - as so many critters in the natural world do - to strut our stuff in the sunshine. We’ve put together a program to help you look and feel your best as the weather warms and longer days ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Open Question: Health Tech - When does Tech Make Us Healthier?Technology has made health seemingly quantifiable and trackable, but does it actually improve our well-being? Co-presented with UC Davis Grand Challenges, this Open Question session invites you to explore the intersection of technology, fitness, and happiness.Part of After Dark
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
Molecular Confinement Effects by Self-Assembled Cages Size does matter in host-guest chemistry. In the early days, crown ethers and macrocyclic hosts recognized metal ions and small molecules in their cavities. However, due to the size limitation (typically, 1500 ų) was obtained, which demonstrates the ability to completely encapsulate medium-sized molecules (M.W. 1000 - 2000), which are ...
Our new temporary exhibit "From the Real to the Unreal" displays pieces from the West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative. Enjoy a special documentary screening to learn more about the history of this amazing collective and make some art yourself! Space for this special evening is limited, so make sure to reserve ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: $15 General, Free for members
In Town Star PartyCome join San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) for an evening of stargazing.Event details:Events are held at the parking lot of our headquarters, Houge Park San Jose. The event duration is 2 hours. SJAA volunteers will share night sky views from their telescopes.Please refrain from bringing your own telescopes (Binoculars are ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday, 03/22/25
Aquatic Exploration at Alum RockSpringtime is a great time for creek exploration! Come to Alum Rock to learn about the creek habitat and what calls it home. Meet some real animals and then go out and see what you can find in Penitencia Creek.Register at weblinkAges 4 - 12
Where: San JoseCost: Free
CuriOdyssey Weekend Workshop: Sensational SensesEmbark on an exciting journey to discover your five senses and the amazing information they help us observe about the world. Through fun activities and experiments, you’ll learn how sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell work together to enhance our everyday experiences.Ages 5 to 10 years old
Where: San MateoCost: $45-$55
Xixoxa’s Spaceship: A Space OperaJoin us for the inaugural performance of our Spring Concert Series: Xixoxa’s Spaceship. Set 500 years in the future, Xixoxa’s Spaceship is a 21st-century opera that utilizes the backdrop of futuristic technology, galactic colonization, and the infinite cosmos to tell a groundedly human story of love and loss.Composed by Victoria ...
Where: OaklandCost: $25 Ages 18+
Starry Nights Star PartyJoin the San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) and Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) for an unforgettable night of exploring the night sky. Our knowledgeable docents, members of SJAA, will be your guides to providing valuable insights into the wonders of our universe. The viewing site, Rancho Canada del ...
Where: Morgan HillCost: Free
Sunday, 03/23/25
Alviso Bird WatchingJoin us at the Youth Science Institute for an engaging morning of birdwatching in the beautiful natural reserve of Alviso. This event is perfect for bird enthusiasts of all ages, offering a unique opportunity to observe a diverse array of bird species in their natural habitat. Whether you're a seasoned ...
2024’s The Thinking Game takes us on a fascinating journey into the heart of DeepMind, one of Earth’s leading AI labs, as it strives to unravel the mysteries of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Inside DeepMind’s London headquarters, Nobel laureate Demis Hassabis and his team are pursuing the creation of AI ...
Where: St. HelenaCost: $10
Living with Lions: Coexistence with an Iconic American CarnivoreJoin Willow Camp for an exciting lineup of local speakers at their beautiful outdoor venue. The series features experts in various fields who will share their knowledge and insights with you.Large cat expert Dr. Quinton Martins, founder of True Wild and our partner on the Living with Lions project, will ...
Speaker: Russell Huddleston, Environmental Protection Agency
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Non-crystalline altermagnetismAltermagnetism (AM) has gained recognition in the last few years as a new form of collinear magnetism, distinct from ferromagnetism (FM) and antiferromagnetism (AFM). It was defined by expanding our classification to account for symmetries in real space as well as spin space, where altermagnetism emerged as a distinct class ...
The demonstration of energy gain by nuclear fusion in the laboratory and its eventual utilization as an unlimited energy source has been a grand challenge for physicists and engineers for 70 years. The realization as an industrial energy source would have a tremendous impact on our society and would change ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Are We Smart Enough to Curb AI’s Environmental Impacts?Proponents of artificial intelligence (AI) proclaim that its potential for solving thorny problems outweigh the risks. At the same time, the Department of Energy estimates that data center energy demands will double or even triple in just the next three years - though new players such as China’s DeepSeek could ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General/$10 Members in person, $5/free online
Defense Against LLM and AGI Scheming with Guardrails and ArchitectureA January 2025 paper called “Frontier Models are Capable of In-Context Scheming”, https://arxiv.org/pdf/2412.04984, demonstrated how a wide variety of current frontier LLM models (i.e. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Llama) can, under specific conditions, scheme to deceive people. Before models can scheme, they need: a) goal-directedness, b) situational awareness, including an ...
