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 ...
The Saratoga Historical Foundation is sponsoring this lecture by Life Fellow and IEEE DL Paul Wesling. The story goes back to the 1910’s - to angel investors in new technology, the sinking of the Titanic, local ham radio operators trying to break RCA tube patents, Fred Terman and Stanford University, ...
Where: SaratogaCost: $10 advance, $15 at door
Baja in Spring - An Extravaganza of Marine Life - LivestreamMarine Biologist Marc Webber will be fresh off his annual Spring boat trip leading whale lovers down the Pacific coast of Mexico and up the Gulf of California.Join us as Marc shares his knowledge and photos from what truly is an extravaganza and celebration of marine life. We will be ...
Where: Cost: $10 Donation encouraged
The Great Chatbot DebateChatbots based on large language models (LLMs), like ChatGPT, answer sophisticated questions, pass professional exams, analyze texts, generate everything from poems to computer programs, and more. But is there genuine understanding behind what LLMs can do? Do they really understand our world? Or, are they a triumph of mathematics and ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
The Hubble Deep Field 30 Years LaterUnder the direction of then-director of the Space Telescope Science Institute, Bob Williams, the Hubble Space Telescope was pointed at a seemingly empty patch of sky for 10 days. The result of that image, filled with thousands of unknown galaxies, forever changed the way we look at the universe.Join us ...
Project AZORIAN was a CIA project to covertly recover the sunken Soviet ballistic missile submarine, K-129. The K-129 went down with all hands approximately 1,600 miles northwest of Hawaii on 8 March 1968 at a location that was unknown to the Soviets. However, using underwater surveillance technology, the U.S. Navy ...
Where: Cost: Free
An Evening with Kara SwisherJust when we thought the era of “move fast and break things” might be over, the biggest tech billionaire of them all has moved lightning-quick to “fix” the federal government. Who better to consult about the confusing entanglements of technology and power today than “bad-ass journalist and OG chronicler of ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 advance, $25 at door
The National Institutes of Health is the major funder of America's medical research, which is the finest in the world. Cuts in staff and funding at NIH could stall the development of treatment for diseases like Alzheimer's, stroke, cancer and infectious disease epidemics. Bruce Miller, Clausen Distinguished Professor of Neurology ...
Where: San RafaelCost: $15 General, free for students, discounted members
Though parasol mushrooms are very beautiful mushrooms, their history is muddled, and their naming still far from complete. But, they have fantastic characters, and perform fascinating roles in nature. We'll delve into all of the above and more!Else Vellinga is a mycologist who is interested in naming and classifying mushroom ...
In our seat upon the California Coast, we who live in the territory of Yelamu are favored with remarkable biodiversity. A conversation between Sara Moncada, the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone Director of Native Ecology, and Obi Kaufmann, author of The State of Fire: Why California Burns as well as the ...
