Event

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 computational cognitive scientist Rachel Jansen on What Is Math?  How is it that math summons feelings of anxiety—and even fear—for some, while others hold it in the highest esteem?
• Stanford computer scientist Andrey Kurenkov on What Are Present-Day AI Researchers Actually Doing?  How can recent, cutting-edge achievements give us the right (or wrong!) idea about what constitutes artificial intelligence?

NASA's recent Kepler Mission discovered that most stars in our Milky Way Galaxy host planets. Among those planets, Earth-size worlds are remarkably common. But the conditions for planets around their host stars vary with both distance from the star and mass of the star. Astronomer Gibor Basri will explore the issues surrounding habitability — the ability to support life — for planets and space around ALL types of stars.

Dr. Gibor Basri is Professor of Astronomy at UC Berkeley. In 2016, he received Wonderfest's Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization. 

NASA's recent Kepler Mission gave us good reason to believe that the Milky Way Galaxy is home to billions of habitable worlds. Of course, "habitable" does not mean inhabited, far less intelligent. In this Wonderfest presentation, science writer Michael Wall will discuss the big questions that permeate humankind's search for extraterrestrial intelligence: What are we looking for? How are we looking? How would the world respond to confirmed contact? Dr. Wall will also discuss the long view of human space travel — our effort to get out there, in the flesh.

Michael Wall, PhD, is Senior Writer for Space.com. His recent book is "Out There: A Scientific Guide to Alien Life, Antimatter, and Human Space Travel (for the Cosmically Curious)."

Despite its universal scope (every little thing) and precision (better than 10 parts per billion), quantum physics retains profound mysteries. What is really going on down there in the heart of matter?! Atom interferometers are instruments that rely on the quantum "wave nature" of matter for measurements of fundamental constants AND for use as super-sensitive detectors of acceleration, rotation, and gravity. This talk will explore the importance of atom interferometers in probing the quantum realm.

Our speaker, Eric Copenhaver, is a physicist at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. He is also a Wonderfest "Science Envoy," trained in — and reveling in — crystal-clear science communication.

Archaeology, the study of human history & prehistory through analysis of physical remains, is embracing modern technology. Advances in digital imaging and mobile capabilities are transforming the ways archaeology is practiced, experienced, and understood. This talk will explore remarkable breakthroughs in archaeology by visiting exemplar field projects from around the world, and discuss modern efforts for both sharing and saving our collective past.

Our speaker, Dr. Michael Ashley, has worked to modernize dozens of archaeological projects worldwide. He is Founder & President of Codifi, Inc., and he helps to lead the nonprofit Center for Digital Archaeology.

After Michael Crichton, but before Andy Weir, there was — and is — sci-tech thriller writer James Rollins. This New York Times #1 bestselling author has been featuring cutting-edge science and technology in his novels for 20 years. In his latest work, Crucible, Rollins explores how groundbreaking research in artificial intelligence may shine light onto the Spanish Inquisition and medieval witchcraft. Wonderfest joins BookShop West Portal in presenting James Rollins on A.I. in Crucible.

Our speaker, Steve Palumbi, is one of the planet's leading marine scientists. He is Director of the Hopkins Marine Station and Professor of Marine Science at Stanford University. He'll be joined by his son, author Anthony Palumbi.

• UC Berkeley astronomer Deepthi Gorthi on "The Cold Boiling Universe" — How, when, and why was the entire cosmos "boiling" not too long ago?
• UC Berkeley physicist Robert McGehee on "Illuminating Dark Matter" — What is the invisible stuff that constitutes over 80%(!) of the material universe?

Researchers have shown that an assortment of CRISPR proteins can be programmed to cut any sequence of DNA. The ability to precisely edit the genome of nearly any organism has revolutionized biology, medicine, and agriculture. From curing deadly genetic disorders to engineering drought-resistant plants, CRISPR genome editing technology will reshape modern medicine and equip us with tools to cope with a changing planet. UC Berkeley biophysicist Kevin Doxzen will unravel this groundbreaking technology and outline pressing questions that now confront society.

Our speaker, Julie Hui, is a PhD candidate studying the evolution of cooperation in the Anthropology Department at UC Berkeley. Julie has honed her science communication skills as a Wonderfest "Science Envoy."

Modern measurements of the fine-structure constant reach a precision of 0.2 parts per billion. This allows us to test the celebrated Standard Model of Particle Physics at unprecedented levels. It also allows us to look for new particles and forces arising from the “dark sector,” the enormous world of undiscovered particles that make up dark matter and dark energy.

Centers of technical excellence, and also symbols of our explorations, mission control has evolved with time, technology, and new missions. Of course, cathode ray tubes have given way to flat screens and touch screens. But has mission operations fundamentally changed from the glory days of Apollo? The closed world of mission control is starting to open, with open data and open-source software projects that allow anyone — citizen scientists and engineers — to participate.

Our speaker, Dr. Dan Kasen, is Associate Professor of Physics and of Astronomy at UC Berkeley.

Our speaker, Deborah M. Gordon, is Professor of Biology at Stanford University. She is also a member of Stanford's Neurosciences Institute and Woods Institute for the Environment.

Speaker Mariel Goddu is a cognitive psychologist and advanced PhD candidate at UC Berkeley. She is also a Wonderfest "Science Envoy," a thoughtful and compelling science communicator.