Fall Baylands BioblitzJoin the Environmental Volunteers, in partnership with Nuestra Casa, for a Fall BioBlitz in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve and Byxbee Park. Fall is a wonderful time for migrating birds, and our waterways will be full of interesting critters. Join us to learn about some of our native and ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Green@Home Tour: Peninsula & South BayExplore homes throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, ranging from new construction to those transitioning from gas.Gain valuable insights from tour hosts on appliance selection, contractor decisions, installation processes, tax credits and incentives, making your transition to electric living informed and cost-effective.Attendees will have the opportunity to see firsthand ...
Where: Cost: Free
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, 10/19/25
Bair Island Walking TourJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a walking tour at the Bair Island Unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge! 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 ...
Theories of social interaction posit that in order to coordinate with other people effectively, separate minds must mutually adapt to each other and converge on overlapping mental representations. Through this, one can anticipate the behavior of other people, form joint goals, and operate as cohesive social units. However, the dynamics ...
In the absence of massive government subsidies, the economic viability of large-scale thermochemical conversions of biomass to biofuels is tenuous at best. While hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is an efficient way to upcycle wet biomass wastes, the resulting biocrudes require significant upgrading, and up to 50% of the feedstocks’ carbon partitions ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Macroalgae on a macro scale: Overcoming the scaling challenges of seaweed cultivation for climate mitigationThere is growing interest in seaweed cultivation as an environmentally regenerative form of aquaculture, a source of biofuels, low-carbon food and animal feed, and a potential strategy for carbon sequestration. To help address questions about the expansion of seaweed cultivation we have developed a dynamical model, the MacroAlgae Cultivation MODeling ...
Better, Bigger Ambitions for AIThe event will explore how AI can help us deliver positive impacts on people’s lives in areas such as developing better drugs faster, closing educational gaps, creating better weather forecasts, and others. The conversation between UC Berkeley Executive Fellow in Applied Technology Policy Dr. Arati Prabhakar (former Science and Technology ...
When an intense laser interacts with a gas of atoms, high-order harmonics are generated. In the time domain, this radiation forms a train of extremely short light pulses, of the order of 100 attoseconds. Attosecond pulses enable the study of electron dynamics in atoms and molecules using pump-probe techniques. This ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Just what is the Connection Between Physics and Music?What we are nowadays hearing of the language of spectra is a true "music of the spheres" within the atom, chords of integral relationships, an order and Harmony that becomes ever more perfect in spite of the manifold variety." - Sommerfeld (1919).From the Neanderthals to Pythagoras, through the Enlightenment, to ...
This session with the leaders of Stanford's Sustainability Accelerator will showcase the amazing work being undertaken by the Accelerator. The Sustainability Accelerator speeds the translation of Stanford research into scalable technology and policy solutions to address urgent global sustainability challenges. It also serves as a launchpad for catalyzing innovative ideas ...
CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics based in Geneva, is the world’s leading research center for high-energy particle physics. Over its 70-year history, the Organization has been adorned with groundbreaking discoveries - not least the Higgs boson in 2012 - which have significantly advanced humankind’s understanding of the fundamental ...
This talk highlights recent advances in piezoelectric acoustic devices for applications in millimeter-wave (mmWave) signal processing, ultrasound transducers, power resonators, sensors, and emerging technologies. We begin by introducing transferred thin-film lithium niobate (LN) and sputtered scandium aluminum nitride (ScAlN) as platforms for mmWave acoustic resonators and filters, demonstrating record-high electromechanical ...
Pre-eruptive magmatic H2O content influences whether eruptions are effusive or explosive, and therefore the hazard posed to nearby populations. Many arc volcanoes proximal to population centers (e.g., Pinatubo, Mt St Helens) have been active during historic times, elucidating the possible style of future eruptions. Others have been dormant, and knowledge ...
Extreme Ultraviolet light sources based on high-order harmonic generation in gases consist of extremely short light bursts, in the 100-attosecond range, allowing for outstanding temporal resolution. Attosecond pulses enable the study of atoms in an entirely new way. It is now possible to measure tiny time delays in photoionization and ...
Speaker: David Liu, Harvard UniversityG. N. Lewis Memorial Lecture
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Inside Data Science: Hackers and the Making of a New ProfessionData scientists dominated conversations in the big-data era, as industries, disciplines, and public agencies that had previously done without coding and math sought new specialists. But the new hires had no clear tasks and felt uneasy under the spotlight.How did some scattered nerds and hackers turn mostly familiar and partly ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Popping the Science Bubble - Two TalksSolving Cold Cases is Star-Forming RegionsSpeaker: Eleanor Greenspoon, UC BerkeleyOur greatest telescopes are billions of light years awaySpeaker: Riley Owens, UC BerkeleyAttend in person or click here to watch online
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
SHARKTOBER with the Monterey Bay White Sharks TeamThe Monterey Bay White Shark Project is an interdisciplinary research program involving scientists from Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and the University of Washington. Together the team is using cutting-edge technologies including electronic tags, genomics, environmental DNA, drones, and ecological and oceanographic models to ...
Let's dive deep into the magical world of fungi and fermentation spotlighting koji - an ancient fungi whose role has affected human civilization for over 2,500 years. In this talk, we will learn what koji is, and its historical significance in food preservation. Learn how a fungus is able to ferment simple ingredients into extraordinary ...
Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) in the Hawaiian Archipelago are low-light and presumably oligotrophic environments, yet contain a high diversity and abundance of macroalgae. What processes are driving the high abundance and diversity of these algae? Measurements of macroalgal tissue nutrients, stable isotopes, and irradiance profiles in the water column were ...
Where: Cost: Free
Establishing AI Risk Thresholds: A Critical Global Policy Priority - LivestreamAs artificial intelligence continues to impact our lives, it increasingly poses serious risks to our economy, security, and social institutions. From job displacement, discrimination, and fraud to new emerging threats in bioweapon creation and cyberattacks, the risk space has grown as capabilities advance. This raises a critical question; who is ...
Where: Cost: Free
Accelerating Medical Innovation - From Ideas to Biomaterials to ImpactAccelerating medical innovation depends on approaches that efficiently move promising ideas toward patient care. Translation is often slowed by technical complexity, regulatory requirements, and the challenges of bridging laboratory research with clinical practice. Combining materials science, clinical insight, and bioinspired design offers a path to overcome these barriers and create ...
Climate warming heats up the web of biological interactions and accelerates community change from the base and top of oceanic food chains. Warming oceans have fueled the decade long epidemic of sea star wasting disease, causing a top-down trophic cascade and massive changes to near-shore kelps from California to British ...
This talk explores the forms of public and private governance that facilitate localized corporate domination, aiming to contextualize contemporary enclaves - like Elon Musk’s municipal incorporations in Texas, Disney’s special district near Orlando, and global “private city” movements - within a longer history of capital-governed communities. I argue that local ...
Spices are dried plant parts, including seeds, fruits, bark, roots, and buds, used to flavor and color food for thousands of years. They contains high levels of polyphenols and other bioactive compounds. These compounds offer antioxidant, anti-inflammaroty, and antimicrobial properties that may help prevent chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular conditions, ...
The semiconductor industry is entering a new era. The explosive growth of AI is driving exponential demand for advanced logic and memory devices, requiring lateral and vertical scaling, complex 3D architecture design, all while managing cost efficiency and prioritizing sustainability goals. This complexity of manufacturing next-generation chips is quickly surpassing ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Bay Area BatsCome learn about our CA native bats with Director of NorCal Bats Corky Quirk. Through her slideshow and audio presentation, we will dive into the nature of bats, and discover the importance of bats in our environment. We’ll also discuss the harmful myths that surround these animals. Live bats will ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $5 -$20
A Storm of Stars - POSTPONEDJoin the NASA Night Sky Network along with Shane Larson, where we’ll discuss the discovery of the Milky Way, how our perceptions of it constantly shape and change our understanding of other galaxies, and the Cosmos on much larger scales.For most of human history, we have been aware of the ...
Where: Cost: Free
Language of the Land: Life in the North Bay for Mountain LionsMountain lions in the North Bay live a fragile existence, precariously trying to survive in a densely human-inhabited landscape.This talk, hosted by Sonoma Land Trust, will explore what has been learned from almost 10 years of studying these elusive and iconic American top-carnivores, and how one goes about coexisting with ...
Who do you call when you've found an injured raptor? We're speaking with Craig Nikitas, of Bay Raptor Rescue, about his work in the San Francisco Bay Area.Bay Raptor Rescue is operated by Craig Nikitas, a retired San Francisco urban planner. He has worked with wild, rehabilitating, and captive raptors ...
The spooky season is finally here! Dust off your cobwebs, set up your 12ft tall yard skeletons, and mark your calendars for the Nerd Nite SF 2025 season finale! It’s our last show of the year and we’ve got talks to cover spooky situations like falling into a time vortex ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15
Virtual Skeptics in the PubThis is a casual night of socializing with fellow science-forward skeptics and with others inhabiting our oblate spheroidal planet.
Changing the Conversation: An Introduction to Effective Climate Change Communication - LivestreamStruggling to get people to connect with climate change? Facts and science are essential, but they’re not always enough. Social science gives us proven strategies for making climate change messages resonate. Join the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) for a special ASL (American Sign Language)-accessible presentation ...
As both climate disasters and climate denial intensify, the battles over how - and how quickly - to transform our industrial systems have become increasingly heated. Drawing on comparative case studies from Europe, Asia, and the US, this talk examines how coalitions can succeed in driving rapid sustainability transitions despite ...
After Dark: Death and LifeCelebrate life - and its decline and renewal - tonight with fascinating talks, thought-provoking exhibits, and a close look at how the end of life leads to new beginnings in nature. Find out what death has taught scientists about living beings, revive tardigrade from cryptobiosis, and honor Dia de los ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95
Artful Intelligence: A Panel Discussion on Empowering Human CreativityThere is a growing sense that AI and algorithmic thinking are encroaching on key areas of our social, professional, and creative lives. In partnership with the newly launched Artful Intelligence Institute, and to celebrate the release of Thinking Like a Human: The Power of Your Mind in the Age of ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $5 early bird, $10 general
Where: Pacific GroveCost: $15 General, $10 Members
NightLife: Día de los MuertosDónde la música y la memoria se encuentran. Join us for our third annual Día de los Muertos celebration, una noche en Oaxaca, honoring tradition through art, music, and community. In partnership with CarnavalSF, Mission Lotería*, and Academy Latine affinity group CONCIENCIA, we’re transforming the museum into a vibrant showcase ...
Fred Ritchin, a prominent figure in visual journalism, explores how photojournalists and visual storytellers need to rethink authenticity through new ethical frameworks, transparency standards, and contextual tools that help maintain credibility in an age where images can be created, not just captured. Moderator: Professor Ken Light.
Where: BerkeleyCost:
Friday, 10/24/25
Morning Hike at Lower Bear Creek RedwoodsJoin us for this beautiful hike! A POST volunteer will share a few words about POST’s decades of conservation success before the hiking group explores a moderate 3.5 mile hike with ~350 feet of elevation gain.In one of the county’s best-preserved, second-growth coastal redwood forests, we’ll pass redwoods, oaks, and ...
We know that some professional authors are beginning to use AI tools to help produce their fiction writing. Are readers using AI to generate fiction, too? Thanks to a unique public dataset called WildChat - containing more than one million “real world” conversations with ChatGPT, all shared with user consent ...
Expanding the spatiotemporal control of light into the subwavelength and subcycle domain represents an important milestone in the development of new photonic materials and technologies. In this talk, I will introduce high-Q dielectric Mie resonant metasurfaces as a viable material platform in this endeavor and show how subwavelength all-optical refractive ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Spooky AstronomyGet in the Halloween spirit with a night of cosmic chills and family thrills. Join us for a frightfully fun event featuring ooey gooey science demos, creepy crafting, pumpkin carving, and not-so-scary storytime! See weblink for ticket information
Where: OaklandCost: TBA
Bats Alive! - An Evening ExplorationJoin the Youth Science Institute (YSI) for a fascinating evening all about one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures - bats! Hosted by YSI’s former Executive Director and bat expert, Dave Johnston, this special program will shed light on the vital role bats play in our ecosystems. Learn about their incredible adaptations, ...
