Prescribed Burns; Exploding Stars–Mar2
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:
- Stanford evironmental scientist Rebecca Miller on "Prescribed Burns in California" — Over the past several years, California has experienced record-breaking wildfire seasons. Recent wildfires have prompted important policy conversations about prescribed burns, fires that are purposefully set to remove ground vegetation and reduce fire risks. What are the challenges that have prevented us from using prescribed burns in California, and how might we wisely expand the use of this valuable fuel treatment?
- UC Berkeley astrophysicist Kishore Patra on "Exploding Stars" — The atoms in everything around us — the oxygen in the air, the carbon in our bodies, the gold in our jewelry — were forged in stellar furnaces. We owe our very existence to stars that died in cataclysmic explosions known as supernovae. What is the cosmic story of our elemental origins? What do we know about supernovae, and how do astronomers study them?
What value do these science insights have FOR YOU? Accordingly, please use the space below to contribute to nonprofit Wonderfest, and help to promote the scientific outlook broadly — as through the outstanding Science Envoy Program.
CRISPR Crops – June 22
Gene editing is revolutionizing agriculture by changing how we design, produce, and consume food. But how is this technology being used, and what does this mean for farmers, consumers, and society at large? We'll take a holistic journey through the history of plant breeding to understand how this cutting-edge technology — and CRISPR gene editing, in particular — is being used to meet the needs of a growing human population and a warming world.
Our speaker, Evan Groover, is a PhD candidate and researcher in UC Berkeley's Department of Plant & Microbial Biology. He is also a Wonderfest Science Envoy. Evan will answer qustions during the video premiere via the YouTube "chat" bar AND, afterward, via live Zoom seminar.
Evan Groover
8:00pm — Click this YouTube video "Premiere" link: <https://youtu.be/KKFoHXedP4g>.
8:45pm — Click this Zoom meeting link: <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84112518506>.
Our Future with Bees
Bees are amazing critters. They build ideal hexagonal honeycombs; they communicate through dance; and they solve the “traveling salesman” math problem while pollinating $20 billion worth of US crops each year. The world’s bees can improve economic and ecological sustainability, too, if only we let them. We know the vital importance of bees, yet we also know that they are dying off. What does the future human condition look like in a world that incorporates bees into our architecture, healthcare, and everyday lives? Join Noah Wilson-Rich for a dynamic discussion about bees and how they fit into our future.
Noah Wilson-Rich, PhD, is a behavioral ecologist and beekeeper. He is the author of The Bee: A Natural History (Princeton University Press, 2014) and founder of The Best Bees Company.
- WHAT: Our Future with Bees
- WHO: Dr. Noah Wilson-Rich, behavioral ecologist, The Best Bees Company
- WHEN:7pm, Monday, April 6, 2015
- WHERE: PianoFight, 144 Taylor Street, San Francisco (close to BART Civic Center)<http://tinyurl.com/ol8qntj>
- ADMISSION: FREE admission. Please register, below.
- WHY: Because we’re curious creatures.
Image Credit: inhibitat.com Snohetta Vulkan Beehive
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