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DemocracyInfancy

Democracy in Infancy

In recent decades, developmental psychologists' discoveries about the powerful cognitive mechanisms that underlie children's early learning have led them to dub children "little scientists." Appreciating the surprising potential in children’s natural abilities to solve problems, reason, and experiment can help us make better decisions for our families and communities. In addition, the lessons we can learn from young children’s cognitive flexibility — including their abilities to seek evidence and change their beliefs — are a model for 21st-century cognitive citizenship.
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.

Mariel Goddu

WHAT: Democracy in Infancy: Early Cognitive Development and Good Citizenship
WHO: Mariel Goddu, Psychology Department, UC Berkeley
WHERE: Osher Marin JCC, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael [http://www.marinjcc.org]
WHEN: 2018-09-25 — 1:00pm, Tuesday, September 25, 2018
HOW: Please register early for this Wonderfest event by calling the Marin JCC at 415-444-8000. Self-declared "friends of Wonderfest" receive the JCC member discount ticket price of $8 when registering before September 25th. (During registration, note that the JCC may be using this event title: "Learning Unlimited: Cognitive Development & Good Citizenship.")
BigAnimals

Big Ideas about Big Animals

For 150 million years, all over planet Earth, mammals were successful ... but tiny. The death of the dinosaurs signaled a major change as mammals shot up to the size of dogs ... and elephants ... and beyond. How did we get so big? And how did such changes usher in the Age of Mammals? More recently, as human populations have been spreading during the past 50 thousand years, over half of those large animals have become extinct, and at an accelerating rate. What's happening? And what does it mean for saving the last big animals left today?

Speaker Ashley Poust is a UC Berkeley paleobiologist studying the links between major events in evolution and animal life history. Speaker Nicholas Spano is a UC Berkeley paleoecologist studying large-scale consequences (and modern-day implications) of ice-age extinctions.

Ashley Poust & Nicholas Spano

WHAT: Big Ideas about Big Animals
WHO: Ashley Poust & Nicholas Spano, Paleontologists, UC Berkeley
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato [http://www.hopmonk.com/novato/tasty-food/]
WHEN: 2018-09-24 — 7:00pm, Monday, September 24, 2018
HOW:

Please use the "Tickets" box, below, to make a tax-deductible contribution to Wonderfest.

ExtremeWeather1

Extreme Weather

Drought, wind, rain. Wildfire, flooding, crop failure, species extinction. Changes in the magnitude and frequency of extreme weather events are likely the most serious consequence of human-induced global warming. Understanding what the future portends is vital if society hopes to adapt to a very different world.

Or speaker, Dr. Michael Wehner, is senior staff scientist in the Computational Research Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Dr. Michael Wehner

WHAT: Extreme Weather in a Changing Climate
WHO: Dr. Michael Wehner, Senior Staff Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
WHERE: Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak Street, Alameda, CA 94501
WHEN: 2018-09-16 — 2:00pm, Sunday, September 16, 2018
HOW:

Thanks to the thoughtfulness of Wonderfest supporters, this event has no admission charge. If you, too, would like to contribute to The Bay Area Beacon of Science, please use the "Tickets" box, below.

CosmicPerspective

A Cosmic Perspective

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Are we alone? Humans have been asking this question throughout history. Accordingly, we want also to know where we came from, how we fit into the cosmos, and where we are going. We want to know whether there is life beyond the Earth and whether any of it is intelligent. As we look up and look out, legendary SETI pioneer Jill Tarter says: "We are forced to see ourselves from a cosmic perspective; a perspective that shows us as all the same, all Earthlings. This perspective is fundamental to finding a way to sustain life on Earth for the long future."
Dr. Jill Tarter is Chair Emeritus for SETI Research at the SETI Institute in Mountain View. Dr. Tarter was the inspiration for Jody Foster's character in Carl Sagan's novel and movie, "Contact."

Dr. Jill Tarter

WHAT: A Cosmic Perspective: Searching for Aliens, Finding Ourselves
WHO: Dr. Jill Tarter, Chair Emeritus for SETI Research, SETI Institute
WHERE: Cushing "Mountain" Amphitheater, Pan Toll Road at Ridgecrest Blvd, Mt. Tamalpais State Park
Map: [http://goo.gl/maps/iRRFR]
WHEN: 2018-09-15 — 7:30pm, Saturday, September 15, 2018
HOW: Mt. Tamalpais State Park closes at sunset; on September 15th, that's ~ 7:20pm. Only vehicles with an Astronomy Program parking pass will be admitted thereafter:
  •    Print a FREE Astro Program parking pass at this Eventbrite website.
  •    After sunset, vehicles lacking a parking pass may be cited.
  •    Vehicles can exit the Park until 10:30pm; after that, remaining vehicles may be cited.
This event is presented, admission-free, by Wonderfest, the Friends of Mt. Tam, the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers, and Mt. Tamalpais State Park. Optional sky tour and telescope viewing will follow.
Bring a flashlight and — even though mountaintop weather (above the fog) is often warmer than down at sea level — wear warm clothes in layers. If rain or wildfire threatens, call 415-455-5370 after 4pm on event day.
StandBeforeCosmos

The Modern Origins Story

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Our story begins in the remarkably simple early universe, devoid of the complexity around us today. UC Berkeley astrophysicist Eliot Quataert shows how the universe has evolved to its current state from simple beginnings: how gravity reigns supreme and builds up the planets, stars, and galaxies required for biological evolution to proceed.
Dr. Eliot Quataert is Professor of Astronomy & Physics at UC Berkeley. He is also Director of Berkeley's Theoretical Astrophysics Center.

Eliot Quataert

WHAT: How the Universe Went from Smooth to Lumpy: The Modern Origins Story
WHO: Eliot Quataert, Professor of Astronomy & Physics, UC Berkeley
WHERE: Cushing "Mountain" Amphitheater, Pan Toll Road at Ridgecrest Blvd, Mt. Tamalpais State Park
Map: [http://goo.gl/maps/iRRFR]
WHEN: 2018-08-18 — 8:00pm, Saturday, August 18, 2018
HOW: Mt. Tamalpais State Park closes at sunset; on August 18th, that's ~ 8:00pm. Thereafter, vehicles will not be admitted. Please note these new rules:
  •    Vehicles can exit the Park until 10:30pm; after that, remaining vehicles may be cited.
  •    After sunset, vehicles lacking a dashboard Astro Program parking pass may be cited.
  •    Print a FREE Astro Program parking pass at this Eventbrite website.
This event is presented, admission-free, by Wonderfest, the Friends of Mt. Tam, the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers, and Mt. Tamalpais State Park. Optional sky tour and telescope viewing will follow.
Bring a flashlight and — even though mountaintop weather (above the fog) is often warmer than down at sea level — wear warm clothes in layers. If rain or wildfire threatens, call 415-455-5370 after 4pm on event day.
RobotArmWrestle

Musk vs. Zuck: Is AI a Threat?

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has surpassed humans at Jeopardy and Go, and driverless cars are widely believed to be around the corner. News articles claim we’re on the brink of a "Singularity" where robots will steal 50% of our jobs. Are AI and Robots an existential threat to humans as Elon Musk warns? Or is Mark Zuckerberg right in stating that humans have many good years ahead?
Drawing on his experience as a robotics and AI research expert, UC Berkeley's Ken Goldberg will explore the AI/Robotics issues in three parts: 1) What Isn’t New, 2) What Is New, and 3) How We Can Prepare. Ultimately, Goldberg will argue that new innovations tend to empower humans, not replace them, revealing the potential for new trends such as "Cloud Robotics" and "Multiplicity."

Dr. Ken Goldberg

WHAT: Musk vs. Zuck: Are AI and Robots a Threat ... or an Opportunity?
WHO: Dr. Ken Goldberg, Professor & Chair, Industrial Engineering & Operations Research, UC Berkeley
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato [http://www.hopmonk.com/novato/tasty-food/]
WHEN: 2018-07-23 — 7:00pm, Monday, July 23, 2018
HOW: This event is FREE. But what value does this knowledge have FOR YOU? Please use the "Tickets" box, below, to contribute to Wonderfest accordingly, ... and deduct it from your taxes!
NorthernDeLights

Northern DeLights – May 19

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The Northern Lights (aurora) can appear as a deep red glow here in California. In Alaska, it more often appears as a bright green band, glowing across the night sky. Scientists are still researching why these dynamic lights look the way they do. Come learn more about the underlying reasons for auroras, their connection to the activity on the Sun, and how photographers are helping us better understand the different ways these lights manifest ... and delight.
Our speaker, physicist Laura Peticolas, is Scientist and Associate Director of Education & Outreach at Sonoma State University.

Dr. Laura Peticolas

WHAT: Northern DeLights: From Deep Red Glow to Shimmering Green Curtain
WHO: Dr. Laura Peticolas, Assoc. Director of Education & Outreach, Sonoma State Univ.
WHERE: Cushing "Mountain" Amphitheater, Pan Toll Road at Ridgecrest Blvd, Mt. Tamalpais State Park
Map: [http://goo.gl/maps/iRRFR]
WHEN: 2018-05-19 — 8:00pm, Saturday, May 19, 2018
HOW: Mt. Tamalpais State Park closes at sunset; on May 19th, that's ~ 8:15pm. Thereafter, vehicles will not be admitted. Please note these new rules:
  •    Vehicles can exit the Park until 10:30pm; after that, remaining vehicles may be cited.
  •    After sunset, vehicles lacking a dashboard Astro Program parking pass may be cited.
  •    Print a FREE Astro Program parking pass at this Eventbrite website.
This FREE science event is presented by Wonderfest, the Friends of Mt. Tam, the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers, and Mt. Tamalpais State Park. Optional sky tour and telescope viewing will follow.
Bring a flashlight and — even though mountaintop weather (above the fog) is often warmer than down at sea level — wear warm clothes in layers. If rain or wildfire threatens, call 415-455-5370 after 4pm on event day.