Hello Fans of Science, Reason, and Critical Thinking!
I think it is fair to say that we are through the depths of short days and heading into days with longer periods of sunlight. Of course that isn't anything surprising or a new idea! However, I do find myself often thinking about how the understanding, perception, trust, and dare I say, “faith, in science” seems to be under attack. I try not to drag politics into this too much but it seems amazing, and terrifying actually, that science, which I consider to be our best chance for understanding our place in nature and on the planet and humankind's survival, is under such attack. Take note of the opening heading on the Union of Concerned Scientists Attacks on Science... “Updates to this feature are currently paused...” don't stop on page 1, there are 14! Note: If you read nothing else in this missive this week, read that!
Another resource to look at is Johns Hopkins Health Security Decoded and Tackling Rumors and Understanding & Strengthening Trust in Public Health Check out EDF Vital Sighs
I could go on and on about this. I think it is really important to be as informed and reasonable as possible to be able to discuss these issues with those that we don't agree with and think we are “the enemy”! Do you own research on this. Start with the search term “attacks on science”! OK, one more to check... Anthropcene Weekly Science Dispatch
I do think that living in the SF Bay area or other centers of creativity and science offers a unique opportunity. Consider all of the upcoming presentations we have listed on the Bay Area Science calendar. Here are a few that I think are worth your attention in the next week...
Wonderfest: Other Humans Tue @ 7:00 in Novato (Let's be honest. Novato is a long trip on a weeknight for most of us. Wonderfest has generously been posting videos of the talks at Wonderfest Science)
Exploring Lunar Eclipses' - Prepare for the Lunar Eclipse on Mar 13/14 on Thu @ 5:00 Get ready for next month!
Bair Island Walking Tour Sat @ 2:00 in Redwood City
Of course there are a lot of great presentations in the next two weeks. Check out the full list below.
I've been seeing lots of interesting stuff come up recently. I hope you enjoy some of these...
5 Ways RFK, Jr., Will Influence Public Health
One Week to Decide on Abandoning Climate Pollution Regulation
Paleontologist Answers Extinction Questions
Keep in mind that it isn't just because of the internet that crazy, by today's standards, ideas spread relatively rapidly and cause great harm... How the Printing Press Ignited Europe’s Deadly Witch-Hunt Frenzy
Did you know that France had a space program in 1963?... Félicette, the First Cat in Space
If you can access the site, Brave New Worldy Trends (it's a subscription) you will find an amazing sample of UFO and Conspiracy articles that truly astounds me.
Have a great week learning new, cool, and at least concerning things about science!
herb masters
“You can get into a habit of thought in which you enjoy making fun of all those other people who don’t see things as clearly as you do. We have to guard carefully against it.”
- Carl Sagan, 1987 CSICOP meeting
“‘Type one’ error is thinking that something special is happening when nothing special really is happening. ‘Type two’ error is thinking that nothing special is happening, when in fact something rare or infrequent is happening.’
- M. Truzzi
“In science it often happens that scientists say, “You know that’s a really good argument; my position is mistaken,” and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn’t happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.”
-Carl Sagan
“There are children playing in the street who could solve some of my top problems in physics, because they have modes of sensory perception that I lost long ago.”
- Robert Oppenheimer
So many quotes so little time.
Upcoming Events:
Click to see the next two weeks of events in your browser.
Monday, 02/17/2025
Informing Better Forestry Management Techniques for Fire Hazard Mitigation Through Information and Tools - 02/17/2025 12:00 PM
Sonoma State University - Biology Colloquium Rohnert Park
Speaker: Sean Reilly, UC Berkeley
Adrienne Correa, UC Berkeley, who was originally scheduled to speak today, will instead speak on April 7, 2025
UC Berkeley Condensed Matter Seminar - 02/17/2025 02:30 PM
Birge Hall Berkeley
Speaker: TBA
Analogies of the Higgs Field - 02/17/2025 04:00 PM
Sonoma State University - What Physicists Do Rohnert Park
Local artist Ned Kahn will show videos and discuss the analogies between his kinetic sculptures and some of the insights of Quantum Field Theory.
Bumps, wiggles, and vibrations: hints of dark matter in our Galaxy - Rescheduled - 02/17/2025 04:15 PM
Physics North Berkeley
The nature of dark matter remains one of the most pressing questions in physics, driving searches across a vast range of scales - from microscopic interactions of individual particles to macroscopic gravitational effects on the cosmos.
Speaker: Tongyan Lin, UC San Diego
Editor's Note: This seminar has been rescheduled for February 24, 2025. Today's seminar has been canceled.
Tuesday, 02/18/2025
Coordinated Learning-based Autonomy for Urban Air Mobility Operations - 02/18/2025 11:00 AM
Etcheverry Hall Berkeley
Speaker: Peng Wei, George Washington University
Room 3110
Los Angeles Wildfires: Risk, Resilience and Collective Action - 02/18/2025 12:00 PM
Social Sciences Building Room 820 Berkeley
As wildfires grow more frequent and devastating, they expose vulnerabilities in infrastructure, governance, and community preparedness. Tackling this escalating threat demands interdisciplinary solutions that address not just the immediate risks but also the broader systemic changes driving extreme weather events.
February LASER Event - Livestream - 02/18/2025 12:00 PM
Leonardo Art/Science Evening Rendezvous
Christina Agapakis(UCLA) on "AI as feminist technology: biology, computation, and new paradigms for engineering"Tina Rivers Ryan(Artforum Magazine) on "Media Art and/as Contemporary Art"Jason Eshraghian(UC Santa Cruz) on "Larger Language Models on Smaller Budgets"
On Zoom: Click here to register or here.
Scaling Classical and Quantum Semiconductor Light Sources - 02/18/2025 12:00 PM
Cory Hall Berkeley
Classical and quantum light sources play a fundamental role in science and technology from laser fusion, to communication, manufacturing, defense, sensing, medicine, or quantum computing. Fundamental challenges have prevented the “scaling” of light sources.
Speaker: Boubacar Kante, UC Berkeley
Register to attend in person or online at weblink
Insights from noble gases on the accretion and transport of volatiles on planets - 02/18/2025 12:00 PM
Braun (Geology) Corner (Bldg 320), Rm 220 Stanford
Delivery and loss of volatile elements and compounds (such as water, carbon, nitrogen and the noble gases) during Earth’s accretion set the stage for the rest of our planet's history.
Speaker: Rita Parai, Washington University, St. Louis
Attend in person or online (see weblink)
Sustainable Ambient Intelligence: Rethinking Perception and Computation in Everything Around Us - 02/18/2025 01:00 PM
Cory Hall Berkeley
We are moving towards a future where intelligence is embedded into everything around us, operating autonomously for years on harvested energy.
Speaker: Nakul Garg, University of Maryland
Quantum Mechanics, Identical Particles, and the Strange Case of Anyons - 02/18/2025 03:30 PM
Hewlett Teaching Center Stanford
Electrons are indistinguishable particles - you cannot tell one electron from another by the color of its hair, or the shape of its ears, or the way it laughs.
Speaker: Michael Manfra, Purdue University
Anomalous Low-Temperature Behavior of Glasses - 02/18/2025 04:00 PM
Latimer Hall Berkeley
In this talk I review the phenomenological picture of tunneling defects in low-temperature glasses. Despite the successes of this model, it has been very difficult to verify its microscopic foundations.
Speaker: David Reichman, Columbia University
Wonderfest: Other Humans - 02/18/2025 07:00 PM
Hopmonk Tavern Novato
We are members of the genus Homo, distinguished from other primates as bipedal great apes. So far, we have found fossil evidence for several other members of our genus, i.e., several other humans. How does a fossil gain entry into this exclusive club? How many members are there? What do we currently know about these possible relatives - and why aren’t they alive, today, walking upright among us?
Our speaker is biological anthropologist Julie Hui, Adjunct Professor at the College of Marin.
Mushrooms of Ecuador - 02/18/2025 07:30 PM
Mycological Society of San Francisco San Francisco
Ecuador, a country with roughly the same area as the state of Colorado is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and is home to countless species yet to be discovered, particularly fungi. The fragility of these ecosystems and looming threats of destruction mean the clock is ticking for species documentation. In this talk, Alan Rockefeller shows his favorite finds over five years of explorations in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Speaker: Alan Rockefeller, mycologist
Attend in person or online (see weblink)
Wednesday, 02/19/2025
Uncovering Microbial Potential: From Chemical Biotransformation to Resource Recovery - 02/19/2025 09:00 AM
Spilker Hall Stanford
Biotransformation plays a crucial role in understanding the environmental fate of anthropogenic chemicals in both engineered and natural environments.
Speaker: Yaochun Yu, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Attend in person or online (see weblink)
Dolphin communication: past, present and future research directions - Livestream - 02/19/2025 11:00 AM
Monterey Bay Research Institute
The idea that dolphins communicate with a complex form of language has been entrenched in our culture since the days of the TV show “Flipper.” I will discuss how this idea originated, and its continuing impact, bygiving a brief history of the study of dolphin communication. I will then discuss our current state of knowledge, including examples of recent research, focusing particularly on structure and function of individually distinctive signature whistles and less well-understood non-signature whistles.
Speaker: Laela Sayigh, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Register for Zoom at weblink
UC Santa Cruz Whole Earth Seminar - 02/19/2025 03:30 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz
Speaker: Susana Hoyos, UC Los Angeles
Energy and Resources Group Colloquium - 02/19/2025 04:00 PM
Giannini Hall Berkeley
As the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement approaches, climate targets - for reducing emissions, expanding clean energy, phasing out fossil fuels, and more - are as central to climate policy as ever. Yet targets are useful only to the extent that they drive action. This talk will examine how climate targets have shaped policy over the past decade and how their role might evolve in an uncertain climate future.
Speaker: Taryn Fransen, World Resources Institute
Creating Technology Solutions for the Energy Transition - 02/19/2025 04:30 PM
Shriram Center Stanford
A discussion on the challenges presented by the energy transition and ExxonMobil's research to develop technical solutions to reduce emissions while meeting growing global energy demand.
Speaker Nick Clausi, ExxonMobile
Structural Dynamics Applications and Research at Los Alamos National Laboratory - 02/19/2025 04:30 PM
Munger Graduate Residence 4, Paul Brest Hall
Many peoples’ perception of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is tied to activities associated with the Manhattan Project that occurred from 1943 to 1945. Those perceptions have been reinforced by the recent movie Oppenheimer. Although led by scientists, that project was a large-scale, multidisciplinary engineering effort. Today, approximately half of LANL’s technical workforce are engineers.
Speaker: Charles Farrar, Los Alamos National Laboratory
In the Footsteps of Galileo - Livestream - 02/19/2025 05:00 PM
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
In this 90-minute workshop classroom and informal educators will experience activities recreating the observations Galileo used to promote the heliocentric model of the solar system.
When Copernicus set out a heliocentric model for the solar system, there was scant evidence in support of the idea. It took the observations of Tycho, the calculations of Kepler, and the observations and promotions of Galileo to solidify scientific support for the notion the Sun, not the Earth, was the center of the solar system.
Registration closes February 9, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
Living Longer, Living Better: The Art and Science of the New Longevity - 02/19/2025 05:30 PM
Commonwealth Club San Francisco
Every day, 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 - a statistic that underscores one of the most significant demographic shifts in history. But the story of longevity is not just about aging, it's about learning new ways of living, working, and thriving across all life stages. From doctor's offices to government policies to popular culture, far too many of us erroneously associate aging with decline.
How can we redefine aging to prioritize quality of life?
Speaker: Barbara Waxman, Gerontologist & Author; Michael Krasny, San Francisco State University, Emeritus, Moderator
The Pleiades Experience: Cross-cultural Connections in Polynesia, Mesoamerica, and the Andes - RESCHEDULED - 02/19/2025 07:00 PM
San Francisco Amateur Astronomers San Francisco
Editor's Note: This talk has been rescheduled for April 16, 2025
Exploring Astronomy Through Touch Using 3D Printing - 02/19/2025 07:00 PM
San Francisco Amateur Astronomers San Francisco
The possibility of a future in astronomy, or any STEM field, seems daunting for students with blindness/visual impairments (B/VI). Three-dimensional (3-D) printing, however, holds promise for students with blindness/visual impairments (B/VI) in addressing astronomy content, concept development, and providing access to information normally displayed visually.
Speaker: Thomas Madura
When Machines Meet the Universe: AI and the Future of Astronomy - 02/19/2025 07:00 PM
Hewlett Teaching Center Stanford
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are not only transforming industries such as autonomous vehicles and healthcare - they are also revolutionizing science. In astronomy, early applications of ML focused on using algorithms to process datasets too large to be inspected manually by scientists. These efforts were significantly bolstered by the contributions of 'citizen scientists' - members of the public who classified astronomical images and provided valuable training data for the algorithms.
Speaker: Dayla Baron, Stanford University
Attend in person or online. See weblink to register
Thursday, 02/20/2025
Lunch Break Science - Livestream - 02/20/2025 11:00 AM
The Leakey Foundation
Lunch 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 and have your questions answered on air.
A window into our evolutionary past: insights from ongoing hybridization and demographic change in the wild - 02/20/2025 12:30 PM
Valley Life Sciences Building Berkeley
Speaker: Arielle Fogel, Cornell University
State of Secure Communications in 2025 - 02/20/2025 12:30 PM
South Hall Berkeley
Have you ever wondered why cybersecurity professionals recommend messaging apps like Signal or use terms like “zero-knowledge encryption” and “privacy by design”? Join the UC Berkeley Cybersecurity Clinic and Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity as we demystify these topics and talk about the state of secure communications in 2025 for organizations and individuals.
Speakers: Martin Shelton, Freedom of the Press FOundation; Holmes Wilson, Fight for the Future. Additional speakers TBA
CMOS-Nano Neuromorphic Neural Interfaces - 02/20/2025 01:00 PM
Cory Hall Berkeley
Understanding how a large number of neurons connect to create higher functions holds central importance in neuroscience and is key to bridging artificial intelligence and natural intelligence. Extracting such a functional synaptic connectivity map from biological neuronal networks is, therefore, one of the most widely pursued yet daunting tasks.
Speaker: Jun Wang, Harvard University
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is already a dominant force in the realm of public discussion. From the proposed national "Stargate" project, to the "DeepSeek" announcement that shocked the high-tech world, to the forthcoming and much heralded ChatGPT-5, A.I. has very much been in the news. It should be no surprise to EX-Ls that A.I. is already having a transformative impact on scientific research and that Berkeley Lab scientists are playing major roles.
Speaker: Jonathan Carter, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Back-propagating Ruptures in Fast and Slow Earthquakes - 02/20/2025 01:00 PM
Mitchell Earth Sciences Building (04-560) Stanford
Back-propagating ruptures, characterized by a secondary front reversing into previously ruptured regions - such as boomerang earthquakes and rapid tremor reversals - have been recently documented due to advances in seismological techniques. While rupture complexity is often attributed to fault heterogeneity, its underlying physics remains unclear.
Speaker: Yudong Sun
Attend in person or online. See weblink
Room 350/372
Accelerating AC Optimal Power Flow with Deep Learning - 02/20/2025 01:30 PM
Environment and Energy Building (Y2E2) Stanford
As power grids integrate renewable energy sources and grow in complexity, efficiently solving AC Optimal Power Flow (AC-OPF) is essential for grid stability, operational efficiency, and market participation. This talk presents two complementary approaches to accelerate AC-OPF solutions while ensuring accuracy and reliability.
Speaker: Yu Zhang, UC Santa Cruz
Performance at The Core: Geostationary Satellite Payloads - 02/20/2025 04:00 PM
Sonoma State Dept. of Engineering Science Rohnert Park
What’s the secret sauce that makes geostationary satellites a critical resource in commercial communications and defense applications? Let’s explore the the critical role of satellites in geostationary orbit, with an emphasis on the importance of the payload in mission success.
Speaker: Ian Furiss, Astranis Space Technologies
Countering the Next Phase of American Anti-Vaccine Activism - 02/20/2025 04:00 PM
Skeptical Inquirer
Anti-vaccine activism has been present throughout American history, but the movement gained considerable momentum in the twenty-first century based on false claims that vaccines cause autism in the 2000s and “health freedom” protests against childhood immunization mandates in schools in the 2010s. Anti-vaccine disinformation may have hit a new peak during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that won’t be the end of it.
Routine childhood immunizations are falling, which means it’s vital we take a hard look at the status of childhood immunizations in the United States and find new opportunities to advocate for vaccines or counter rising anti-vaccine activism.
Speaker: Peter Hotez, Baylor College of Medicine
The Macroeconomic Impact of Climate Change: Global vs. Local Temperature - Livestream - 02/20/2025 04:30 PM
Mitchell Earth Sciences Building (04-560) Stanford
For its February seminar, the Stanford Sustainable Finance Initiative (SFI) is delighted to host Adrien Bilal, Assistant Professor of Economics at Stanford University as he discusses: The Macroeconomic Impact of Climate Change: Global vs. Local Temperature*. This paper estimates that the macroeconomic damages from climate change are six times larger than previously thought.
Non-Stanford attendees register at weblink to receive streaming information.
Stanford Community may attend in person in the Hartley Conference Room.
Exploring Lunar Eclipses' - Prepare for the Lunar Eclipse on Mar 13/14 - Livestream - 02/20/2025 05:00 PM
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
This 90-minute workshop will help prepare you to engage your audiences and/or students in the wonder of the total lunar eclipse visible across North America the night of March 13-14.
Unlike a total solar eclipse, a total lunar eclipse is observable over an entire hemisphere. As long as you can see the Moon, you can view a lunar eclipse. On the night of March 13-14, 2025, people across North America will have the chance to see a total lunar eclipse. This is a fantastic opportunity to have learners of all ages experience an astronomical phenomenon from the comfort of their own home.
Registration closes February 19 at 11:59 pm
Lend an ear: Studying Hearing in Songbirds - Livestream - 02/20/2025 06:00 PM
Golden Gate Bird Alliance
Songbirds communicate with one another for many reasons - to find and attract a mate, to defend their territory, or even to band together to ward off a predator. However, levels of human-generated noise, also known as anthropogenic noise, and encroachment into bird habitats continue to rise year after year. Birds are thus faced with the ever-increasing challenge of still communicating with one another amidst these changes. The naturally occurring mixed-species flocks of black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, and white-breasted nuthatches offer the perfect means to understand how anti-predatory behaviors are affected by noise, and how these behaviors may be explained by the species’ auditory physiology.
Speaker: Trina Chou, University of Tennessee
Click here to watch the lecture
NERD NITE SF #148: Gumbo, Virtual Gynecology, and Red Light Fights - 02/20/2025 07:00 PM
Rickshaw Stop San Francisco
Greetings beloved nerds, and welcome to the 2025 Season of Nerd Nite SF! Get ready for your monthly dose of nerdy delight starting with our inaugural show! Seek refuge from the chaos of 2025 with fun, funny, inspiring talks about the art of a classic Nawlins dish, the future of healthcare, and the power of collective action.
The Art of Gumbo
The secret history and tasty tricks behind a beloved dish.
Speaker: Lawrence Mckendell
The Virtual Approach to Gynecology
Whether or not you’ve had a Pap test yourself, have you ever stopped to wonder, “How do people learn how to do that before they start seeing patients?”
Speakers: Barbie Klein & Rosalyn Plotzker, UCSF
Red Light Revolt! How Sex Workers Fought Gentrification in 1917 San Francisco
1906: San Francisco has been leveled by earthquake and fire. As the city rose again from the ashes, opportunistic speculators and moral reformers sought to mould the city in their own image. This included the erasure of the Barbary Coast, the city’s legendary vice district. In 1917, 300 sex workers stormed the church of the Rev. Paul Smith, a notorious anti-vice crusader. Kicking the man of the cloth off of his pulpit, they pleaded with his congregation, demanding better wages for working women and a cessation of the mass evictions they faced. Join historians Ivy Anderson and Devon Angus as they discuss a brief history of sex work, suppression and resistance in San Francisco from 1849 to today.
Speakers: Ivy Anderson and Devon Angus are historians, writers, and filmmakers based in San Francisco.
See weblink for tickets
'Try It and See' Film Presentation - 02/20/2025 07:30 PM
Bay Area Mycological Society Berkeley
Are you interested in mushrooms for dying fabric? BAMS is hosting an exclusive presentation of this beautiful film, which showcases the early work of two well known Mendocino mycologists, the pioneering mushroom dyer Miriam Rice, and her watercolor artist partner, Dorothy Beebee, as they explore, document, illustrate and publish groundbreaking information on using mushrooms for dying wool and silk. In this loving tribute produced by her children, Myra and Martin Beebee, Dorothy gives us a behind the scenes look into the discovery of mushroom dyes, the documentation of her work with Miriam in three books, and her thoughts on the future of mushroom dyes.
Friday, 02/21/2025
The Science and Policy of Energy and Climate Justice - Livestream - 02/21/2025 10:30 AM
UC Berkeley
Climate change disproportionally impacts low-income and vulnerable communities around the world, the people and places least responsible for the problem. Berkeley professor Daniel Kammen will discuss the science and policies that address the root causes of climate change - and the social, racial, and environmental injustices entangled with it - and possible paths forward to create an equitable and sustainable future for all.
Register at weblink
UC Santa Cruz Geophysical & Planetary Physics Seminar - 02/21/2025 12:00 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz
Speaker: Eva Scheller
Catalysis Achievements and Needs for the Refinery of the Future - 02/21/2025 04:00 PM
Latimer Hall Berkeley
As we wish to gradually transform our society in a more sustainable and circular one, it is important to revisit our main chemical production complexes, thereby aiming to build the so-called refinery of the future. This requires a.o. new needs from a chemistry and chemical engineering point of view, including the development of new or improved catalyst materials as well as novel reactor concepts, thereby increasingly making use of green electrons and hydrogen.
Speaker: Bert Weckhuysen, Utrecht University
This is lecture 1 of 2. The second one will be held on February 28, 2024.
Mushrooms + Culture of Greece - 02/21/2025 06:00 PM
Sebastopol Grange Sebastopol
Take a visual journey into the diverse and lush natural world of Greece. Ancient forests, traditional land-based living still exists, providing a rich culture weaved within nature itself. Connections to fungi are ever-present and they’re only gaining attention. Take a look into the relationships the locals have with certain species of mushrooms, plants & some of their associated recipes.
Speaker: Olga Tzogas, Smugtown Mushrooms
Attend in person or online (see weblink for Zoom link). Presentation begins at 7:00.
Astro 101: From the Big Bang to Biosignatures - 02/21/2025 06:00 PM
San Jose Astronomical Association San Jose
This event is one of several different introductions to astronomy offered by SJAA. During this hour, you'll take a tour through our universe's 13.8 billion years of evolution, touch on some of the highlights of discovery that led to our understanding of that long history, and get a glimpse of what's ahead.
Your presenters are Mahika Khosla and Jaya Bhattacharyya, the founders of Astro Revolution (https://sites.google.com/view/astrorevolution/home), a high school student-run organization that brings astronomy to kids of the community. During this hour, they'll share some astronomy with you!
In Town Star Party - 02/21/2025 07:15 PM
San Jose Astronomical Association San Jose
Come 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 welcome). If you like to be a volunteer with or without a telescope please email at "itsp@sjaa.net".SJAA as an all volunteer-nonprofit org depends on the City of San Jose to use facilities at Houge Park. To maintain this relationship, we must provide facility-use data to the city. Therefore, we ask you to sign in (no traceable personal data collected) when you arrive at the event.
Saturday, 02/22/2025
Stewardship Saturday: A Walk through the Marshes with Cafe Ohlone - 02/22/2025 09:00 AM
Coyote Hills Parking Lot Fremont
This free program for high school students features rotating events along our 600-mile range exploring various realms of conservation.
Join Cafe Ohlone co-founders and chefs Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino and The Marine Mammal Center as we take a walk through the marshes, build our own miniature tule boats, and taste some pickleweed. Learn about Ohlone language, culture, and history; how the Ohlone people use shoreline plants; and the importance of diversifying our diet and material choices to support humans and animals long term. Our hope is that you leave this event knowing more about Ohlone culture, as well as what you can do to conserve local ecosystems and traditions.
See weblink for additional information and registration
AI Enhanced Project Management - 02/22/2025 09:00 AM
UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus Santa Clara
Welcome to our immersive AI technology workshop series. During these sessions you will be introduced to new and established AI tools that will help you create and manipulate content in new and powerful ways. Each session is led by an industry expert who will guide you through the material and share its real-world implications.
Topics Include
Benefits of Adopting Generative AI for Project Management Effective Prompt Engineering to Optimize Generative AI usage along with Case Examples Identifying Use Cases for Generative AI in Project Management AI-Driven Insights for KPI & Project Performance Measurement
Science Saturday: Fabulous Fungi - 02/22/2025 10:00 AM
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Pacific Grove
Join us for our Free Science Saturday event, where we will explore the fabulous world of Fungi and Mushrooms. Learn about native mushrooms and fungi local to the central coast and the vital role they play in our ecosystem. This engaging day will feature collection displays, insightful facts, and activities for the whole family.
Salamander Search at Sanborn - 02/22/2025 10:30 AM
Sanborn Science and Nature Center Saratoga
Sanborn is famous for its amphibians; you just need to do some extra searching to find them! Join us for a fun day of looking under rocks, logs, and other unique hiding spots that Sanborn’s Salamanders call home!
Register at weblink
Ages 4 - 12
Foothills Family Nature Walk - 02/22/2025 11:00 AM
Foothills Nature Preserve Los Altos
Environmental Volunteers’ Family Nature Walks program is designed to help community members get to know our local open space areas. Small 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 activities, and a chance to learn more about the plants and animals all around us. Join us for some fun, outdoor learning!
Each group will have a maximum limit of 12 participants. Meet at the Boronda Lake Dock.
Families/groups are welcome to sign up for as many as they like. The nature walks are intended for all ages 6 and up, but children must be accompanied by an adult.
When Giants Ruled the Sky - 02/22/2025 11:00 AM
Hiller Aviation Museum San Carlos
The U.S. Navy’s Zeppelins were the largest, most expensive, most technologically sophisticated aircraft of their day. Intended to patrol the Pacific to prevent a surprise attack by Japan in the days before radar, Zeppelins were also poised to become the dominant form of long distance transportation. In fact, Moffett Field was built as the premier airship base on the west coast to house the Navy’s state of the art Zeppelin, the USS Macon (ZRS-5). This 60 minute talk is based on research for Mr. Geoghegan’s book, WHEN GIANTS RULED THE SKY, and will be lavishly illustrated with rare photographs and vintage film clips.
Speaker: John Geoghegan, author
CuriOdyssey Weekend Workshop: Dissection Lab - 02/22/2025 01:00 PM
CuriOdyssey San Mateo
Biologists can learn as much from the insides of animals as they do the outside. This workshop will explore the internal anatomy of squids, eggs, flowers, and learn about the importance of x-rays.
Ages 5 to 10 years old
Radical Then, Critical Now: Interdisciplinary Strategies in Environmental Conservation - 02/22/2025 01:30 PM
Hay Barn Santa Cruz
Join us at the Hay Barn for our annual public natural history symposium: Radical Then, Critical Now: Interdisciplinary Strategies in Environmental Conservation. The event features: UCSC speakers, including Distinguished faculty Dr. Karen Holl and Dr. Gary Griggs; participatory art with Norris Center Art + Science graduate fellows; live music; and a conservation career networking pre-event for students only (starting at noon). See the detailed schedule here. Free admission with $10 donation strongly suggested for all non-students 12 & up.
Bair Island Walking Tour - 02/22/2025 02:00 PM
Bair Island Wildlife Refuge & Trail Redwood City
Join 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 can do to contribute.
This easy 1 mile walk with little to no elevation gain will highlight the wetlands and the marine life that live within, such as: Endangered Ridgeway’s rails and salt marsh harvest mice. Also cottontail rabbits, peregrine falcons, pelicans, egrets, terns, and stilts. We recommend bringing binoculars to catch sight of some of the beautiful birds at Bair Island.
Register at weblink
Starry Nights Star Party - 02/22/2025 06:30 PM
Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Preserve Morgan hill
Join 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 Oro Open Space Preserve, is just 30 minutes south of downtown San Jose, and features darker skies than viewing from the city. It's dark enough to see the band of our Milky Way galaxy during the Summer months.
Registration required (at weblink). See weblink for additional information.
The Dragonfly mission to Titan, and the search for life in other liquids - 02/22/2025 07:30 PM
East Bay Astronomical Society Oakland
The Dragonfly mission to Titan is under construction and scheduled to launch in July 2028. Titan is the largest Moon of Saturn and has a rich organic chemistry with lakes of liquid methane and ethane on its surface. The goals of the Dragonfly include the search for signs of life including life based on liquid methane and ethane.
Speaker: Chris McKay, NASA Ames
Attend in person or online (see weblink)
Sunday, 02/23/2025
Twilight Tales at the Refuge - 02/23/2025 04:30 PM
Don Edwards Refuge Environmental Education Center Alviso
Join us for an evening at the refuge in Alviso to hear tales of rails, tales of tails, and tales of gold, silver, and … garbage. You’ll learn why the refuge was created and why it is so important to all of us. Then as the sun sets, you’ll go on an easy stroll through the marsh on our boardwalk to find out how and why this area, a restoration of the original natural environment, is being adapted for the future.
Monday, 02/24/2025
Habitat Conservation Planning, a Legal Framework for Reconciling Development and Ecological Needs - 02/24/2025 12:00 PM
Sonoma State University - Biology Colloquium Rohnert Park
Speaker: Christian Marsh, Downey Brand LLC
Eccentric Binaries and their Disks - 02/24/2025 12:10 PM
Campbell Hall, Rm 131 Berkeley
Speaker: Alexander Dittmann, Institute for Advanced Studies
Symbolic Systems Forum - 02/24/2025 12:30 PM
Stanford Symbolic Systems Forum Stanford
Speaker: Catherine Nicole Coleman, Stanford University
See weblink for building admission information
Circuit assembly and plasticity of the vertebrate retina - 02/24/2025 04:00 PM
James H. Clark Center (Bldg 340) Stanford
Speaker: Rachel Wong, University of Washington
Room: Auditorium
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope: A quest to explore the restless, high-energy Universe - 02/24/2025 04:00 PM
Sonoma State University - What Physicists Do Rohnert Park
Prof. Peter Michelson from Stanford University, will discuss the development of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, an international observatory led by NASA, and its many discoveries during the past 16 years of operation.
Speaker: Peter Michelshon, Princeton University
Bumps, wiggles, and vibrations: hints of dark matter in our Galaxy - 02/24/2025 04:15 PM
Physics North Berkeley
The nature of dark matter remains one of the most pressing questions in physics, driving searches across a vast range of scales - from microscopic interactions of individual particles to macroscopic gravitational effects on the cosmos. In this talk, I will explore two exciting avenues for probing dark matter: direct interactions with materials and its influence on stellar streams.
Speaker: Tongyan Lin, UC San Diego
This seminar was originally scheduled for February 17, 2025.
AI and the Future of Citizenship: Preparing for a Digital Democracy - 02/24/2025 06:00 PM
Commonwealth Club San Francisco
As artificial intelligence becomes an ever-present force in our lives, it’s clear that this technology is not going away. And as it continues to transform education, governance and civic engagement, one crucial aspect remains largely unexplored: how to develop informed, engaged citizens for a democracy shaped by artificial intelligence.
This event brings together experts in artificial intelligence, democracy building, and civic education to explore how AI intersects with the ways people learn about democracy, government and civic responsibility.
Speaker: Saanvi Arora, Youth power Project; Jerry Kaplan, Stanford University; Ace Parsi, iCivics; Rachael Myrow, KQED, Moderator
Attend in person or online (see weblink for tickets)
Free for educators and students
Building Advanced AI Applications and Agents in One Hour - 02/24/2025 06:30 PM
Valley Research Park Mountain View
This workshop combines the best of two engaging sessions, offering a comprehensive and hands-on experience in building advanced AI applications and AI agents. We will use the state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs) and Vision Language Models(VLMs) to explain the process. Participants will explore practical techniques to leverage these powerful models for tasks such as Natural Language Understanding (NLU), Natural Language Processing (NLP), decision-making, text/image generation, and task automation.
Speaker: Mehdi Bahrami, Fujitsu Research of America
Attend in person or online (See weblink)
Presentation starts at 7:15
Wonderfest: Ask a Science Envoy: Black Holes & Kelp Forests - 02/24/2025 07:00 PM
Hopmonk Tavern Novato
Black Holes: Discovering the Invisible
Black holes are among the most extreme objects in the universe. They push the boundaries of our knowledge, holding many unsolved mysteries. This talk will explore black holes from “small” to enormous, including how to detect these invisible marvels. In the process, we will probe the very frontiers of astrophysics.
Speaker: Natasha Abrams, UC Berkeley
The Structure of Kelp Forests
Kelp forests constitute one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, and they’re hidden right beneath the waves of our coastline. To research how these ecosystems function, we need to study what lives there. Come learn how scientific diving and modern genetics are helping us unravel the complex structure of kelp forests.
Speaker: Will Johnson, Stanford University
Editor's Note: This event was originally scheduled for February 25, 2025
Tuesday, 02/25/2025
Nucleic Acid Chemical Biology - 02/25/2025 11:00 AM
Latimer Hall Berkeley
Bystander T cell activation: an immunologic double-edged sword - 02/25/2025 11:00 AM
Weill Hall Berkeley
Estimating Circadian State from Wrist-Worn Wearables Measuring Light - Livestream - 02/25/2025 12:00 PM
Stanford Sleep Community Series
Revolutionizing Micromachine Manufacturing: AI-Driven Design and MEMS 2.0 with the Matter Compiler - Livestream - 02/25/2025 12:00 PM
Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center
Data Grab: The New Colonialism of Big Tech and How to Fight Back - 02/25/2025 12:00 PM
Social Sciences Building Room 820 Berkeley
The Legacy Survey of Space and Time - 02/25/2025 03:30 PM
Hewlett Teaching Center Stanford
Plasmonics for Sustainability and Societal Impact - 02/25/2025 04:00 PM
Latimer Hall Berkeley
Birdy Hour: Western Snowy Plovers in a Changing World - Livestream - 02/25/2025 05:30 PM
SF Bay Bird Observatory
Dragonfly - 02/25/2025 06:00 PM
Hacker Dojo Mountain View
James Web Space Telescope: Revealing the Invisible Universe - Livestream - 02/25/2025 06:00 PM
Night Sky Network
Wonderfest: Ask a Science Envoy: Black Holes & Kelp Forests - RESCHEDULED - 02/25/2025 07:00 PM
Hopmonk Tavern Novato
K Allado-McDowell on Neural Media - 02/25/2025 07:00 PM
Long Now Foundation San Francisco
An Evening with Amy Tan: The Backyard Bird Chronicles - Livestream - 02/25/2025 07:00 PM
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts Mountain View
Nicaragua Humpback Whales - What Do We Know About Them? - Livestream - 02/25/2025 07:00 PM
American Cetacean Society
Wednesday, 02/26/2025
Changing ice in a warming climate - 02/26/2025 03:30 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz
Energy and Resources Group Colloquium - 02/26/2025 04:00 PM
Giannini Hall Berkeley
Driving the next mass solar technology (tandems) when 'solar is done' - 02/26/2025 04:30 PM
Shriram Center Stanford
Offshore Wind Energy Project: Morro Bay California Out of Sight Maybe, But Out of Mind Definitely Not - Livestream - 02/26/2025 05:30 PM
Stanford Energy Science and Engineering
The greatest career mentor in chemistry: the ocean - 02/26/2025 07:00 PM
Museum of Art and History Santa Cruz
New Luddites vs. Biopiracy and AI - 02/26/2025 07:30 PM
Shaping San Francisco San Francisco
Thursday, 02/27/2025
Silicon Valley Leaders Symposium - 02/27/2025 12:00 PM
Silicon Valley Leaders Symposium San Jose
UC Berkeley Integrative Biology Seminar - 02/27/2025 12:30 PM
Valley Life Sciences Building Berkeley
Fire Safe Sonoma Speaker Series - Livestream - 02/27/2025 02:00 PM
Audubon Canyon Ranch
NightLife - 02/27/2025 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco
After Dark; Mars - 02/27/2025 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
Firewise Landscaping Panel - 02/27/2025 06:00 PM
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Pacific Grove
A Conversation with Tom Steyer on Climate Progress in 2025 - 02/27/2025 06:00 PM
Manny's San Francisco
DeepSeek AI: What You Need to Know & Why It Matters - Livestream - 02/27/2025 06:00 PM
UC Santa Cruz
Friday, 02/28/2025
Signal (re)processing: How disease states shape signal transduction in CD8+ T cells - 02/28/2025 11:00 AM
Weill Hall Berkeley
Insomnia and Inflammation: A Two Hit Model of Depression Risk, Treatment, and Prevention - 02/28/2025 12:00 PM
ChEM-H/Neuroscience Building, James Lin and Nisa Leung Seminar Room (E153) Stanford
UC Santa Cruz Geophysical & Planetary Physics Seminar - 02/28/2025 12:00 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz
Advances in Operando Spectroscopy and Microscopy of Catalysts to Make Chemicals from CO2 and Plastic Waste - 02/28/2025 04:00 PM
Latimer Hall Berkeley
Saturday, 03/01/2025
Mt. Tamalpais Turtle Observers Training - 03/01/2025 09:00 AM
Lake Lagunitas Parking Lot Fairfax
First Saturday: Free Tour of the Santa Cruz Arboretum - 03/01/2025 11:00 AM
Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden Santa Cruz
Sunday, 03/02/2025
Morning Hike at Lower La Honda Creek - 03/02/2025 09:00 AM
La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve La Honda
Are There Constitutional Constraints Against President Trump's Actions? - 03/02/2025 11:00 AM
Mountain View Senior Center Mountain View
Monday, 03/03/2025
NuMA Mechanically Reinforces the Spindle Independently of its Partner Dynein - 03/03/2025 12:00 PM
Sonoma State University - Biology Colloquium Rohnert Park
Galactic Accretion through the Dynamic Circumgalactic Medium - 03/03/2025 12:10 PM
Campbell Hall, Rm 131 Berkeley
Symbolic Systems Forum - 03/03/2025 12:30 PM
Stanford Symbolic Systems Forum Stanford
Air-Borne - Life in a Breath - Livestream - 03/03/2025 03:00 PM
Commonwealth Club
UC Berkeley Structural & Quantitative Biology Seminar - 03/03/2025 04:00 PM
Stanley Hall Berkeley
The Development of Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy - 03/03/2025 04:00 PM
Alumni House Berkeley
What Physicists Do - 03/03/2025 04:00 PM
Sonoma State University - What Physicists Do Rohnert Park
Reconstructing Our Galactic Story with Stellar Sound - 03/03/2025 07:30 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco