New technologies have the potential to greatly enhance and expand the functioning of human memory, but they can also come with unintended consequences. Having access to smartphones and the Internet, for example, has changed how people remember (and often what they forget). In this talk, I will provide an overview ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free
Junior Rangers at the Refuge: Bird Beak BuffetLove learning about new habitats? Curious about wildlife? Our Junior Rangers at the Refuge program is perfect for your family! Join us each month as we explore the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge through fun, educational activities.This February, we'll discover how the Refuge can support over 280 species of birds ...
Brian is a marine ecologist who works on the foraging behavior, habitat associations, and spatial ecology of seabirds, and tries to incorporate these perspectives into spatial models of seabirds and their prey. Brian has worked on marine or aquatic birds within California, Alaska, Maine, Nova Scotia, and Wisconsin, and works ...
Designing, constructing, maintaining, and upgrading civil engineering infrastructure requires fresh thinking to reduce materials, energy, and labor. Meeting this goal depends on a deeper understanding of infrastructure performance - during construction and throughout its service life - enabled by innovative monitoring. The future of infrastructure will rely on smarter information: ...
The computational resources required to describe the full state of a quantum many-body system scale exponentially with the number of constituents. This severely limits our ability to explore and understand the fascinating phenomena of quantum systems using classical algorithms. Quantum simulation offers a potential route to overcome these limitations. The ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Finally, something goodStefan Sagmeister has designed for clients as diverse as the Rolling Stones, HBO, and the Guggenheim Museum. He’s a two time Grammy winner and also earned practically every important international design award. Stefan talks about the large subjects of our lives like happiness or beauty, how they connect to design ...
Why do countries rich in oil so often experience political instability and human rights conflict??In this lecture, Mona Shomali explores the idea of the “resource curse”??"a theory in international development that helps explain why vast natural wealth can fuel inequality, violence, and environmental harm rather than prosperity.?Drawing on real-world case ...
Campos agrícolas are fenced parcels spanning thousands of acres, owned or rented by Mexican-US agribusiness corporations, and characterized by intensive monoculture and large-scale production. There, surrounded by deserts and highways, transnational agricultural conglomerates have built “mini cities” as a frequent strategy to secure sufficient and available human labor. Each harvest ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Ultrafast Magnetism: The Physics Behind Faster, Greener ComputingWhat happens when magnets move faster than we thought possible??In our everyday devices, magnets store information by flipping their polarity - north becomes south, south becomes north. But compared to modern silicon electronics, this process is surprisingly slow.?Enter ultrafast magnetism. When magnets are struck with incredibly short laser pulses - ...
This presentation will discuss Scott Harris's new book, Why We Love Birds: 52 Birders on Birding. In the book, he interview 52 extraordinary birders about their spark bird, favorite bird, nemesis bird, and their favorite birding day. Accounts include Kenn Kaufman, Sy Montgomery, Pete Dunne, Debi Shearwater and Scott Weidensaul. Their answers ...
Dr. Timothy Chou began his commercial career at one of Silicon Valley's first startups, Tandem Computers. He retired as the first President of Oracle's cloud computing business, pioneering the software-as-a-service model that would reshape the technology landscape. Following his retirement from Oracle, Dr. Chou has served on several public and ...
Listening with Merlin: How Sound ID Works and What It Can (and Can’t) Do - LivestreamMerlin Sound ID has made it possible for anyone to identify birds by sound, but how does it actually work, and how should birders use it? In this talk, I’ll give an accessible overview of how Merlin Sound ID listens to audio and turns it into species suggestions. I’ll describe ...
Where: Cost: Free
NightLife: Lunar UndergroundWelcome the Year of the Horse with LED lion dances, fortune tellers, and a bustling night market. Plus, a special performance by Frankie Fictitious. Our Lunar New Year celebration is one you won't want to miss.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
After Dark: New Moon, New YearWelcome the Year of the Horse with traditional dances and uncover the significance of astronomical calendars.
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95 General, Free for members
Alison’s favorite photography subjects are tiny fungi and Myxomycetes (“Myxos” or “Slime Molds”), most so small that you would not see them as you walk through the forest. Alison will describe her evolution and process for creating beautiful photos of mushrooms and Myxos, most barely a few millimeters tall. She will share ...
NightLife: Friday Edition (18+)We're switching it up. For the first time ever, NightLife is landing on a Friday, and we’re opening the doors to guests 18+. Wander the museum after hours with a drink in hand, plus spend the night moving to sets from Shroomi, Maj, and MNTRA. Plus, explore vintage finds from ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
Saturday, 02/21/26
Open Community Hike Day at Bouverie PreserveCome out to the Bouverie Preserve in the Sonoma Valley, where we invite you to an open recreational day!Join us for the rare opportunity to explore the 535-acre preserve of mixed evergreen forest, riparian woodland, and chaparral. The preserve is home to a rich combination of plants and animals, including ...
Where: Glen EllenCost: Free
Baylands ExplorationsJoin expert EV docents for an exploration of the science and nature of the Palo Alto Baylands. What makes this habitat so special? How do the plants and animals survive the salty conditions? Why is it so different at different times of day or times of the year? How can ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Science Saturday: Reptile RevelryJoin us for Science Saturday celebrating the remarkable lives of reptiles and amphibians! With family-friendly games, crafts, and special guests, this event includes free admission to the Museum
Analyzing organic materials in artworks has long been associated with destructive techniques, which can be a major limitation when working with delicate or historically important objects. Recent developments, in both instruments and sampling strategies, have opened the door to approaches that require little to no intervention on the object itself. ...
Where: Cost: Free
Microbes vs. Climate Change: Bay Area EditionPOV: You are amongst the smallest and mightiest population in the Bay Area. Join us to see how microorganisms cope with climate trends!Imagine life as some of the smallest, but mightiest living things in the Bay Area: microbes! Join us for an interactive presentation and activity to learn about some ...
Where: AlvisoCost: Free
Spring FestivalKick off the Year of the Horse with culture, creativity, and connection! Join us for a day of activities and crafts for the whole family. Hear real-life stories of rescue-to-hero horses. Make your own lion dance puppets, and discover the foundations of Chinese dance. Immerse yourself in traditions old and ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
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
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 features darker skies ...
Where: Morgan HillCost: Free (registration required at weblink)
Jazz Under the StarsJazz Under the Stars is a FREE monthly public stargazing event! Usually occurring on the Saturday nearest the 1st quarter moon (check our Events Page), join us in Building 36 on the 4th floor observatory for a night of smooth jazz, bright stars, and a lot of fun! We play our ...
