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Hoppers-wide

Animal Behavior – Apr 26

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What if we could communicate — clearly and deeply — with animals? In Disney and Pixar’s new feature film HOPPERS, scientists have discovered how to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing us to communicate with denizens of the animal world as animals. Wonderfest comes to the Napa Valley to help present this special Science In Cinema event. Immediately following the screening of HOPPERS, UC Berkeley biologist Dr. Eileen Lacey answers our questions about animal behavior in HOPPERS and in the real world.
 
Dr. Eileen A. Lacey is Professor and Chair in Biological Sciences at UC Berkeley’s Department of Integrative Biology. At Cal’s Lacey Lab, her research focuses principally on vertebrate social behavior. Dr. Lacey also works with Cal’s Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.

Dr. Eileen Lacey

WHAT: HOPPERS: Animal Behavior
WHO: Dr. Eileen Lacey, Professor of Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley [https://laceylab.weebly.com]
WHERE: Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574 [https://www.cameocinema.com]
WHEN: Sunday, April 26th — 1pm
COLLABORATORS:
Cameo Cinema [https://www.cameocinema.com/movie/hoppers-science-in-cinema-event]
HOW: For advance ticket purchase ($10) at the Cameo Cinema event webpage (linked directly above), scroll down and click the "1:00 PM" box under "Times & Tickets."
JawsOfLife

Jaws of Life – Nov 14

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One of the defining features of all mammals is, surprisingly, the set of bones that form the hearing system. Those bones evolved from jaw components in our mammalian ancestors. In the evolutionary process of repurposing them for hearing, mammals came to possess a jaw configuration different from all other jawed vertebrates. Here is the story of how the unique jaws of mammals fundamentally changed the form and function of how we bite.

Our speaker is Dr. Jack Tseng, Associate Professor of Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley, where he directs the Functional Anatomy and Vertebrate Evolution (FAVE) Laboratory. Dr. Tseng’s specialties include the evolution of humanity’s best friend, the dog.

 


Dr. Jack Tseng

WHAT: Jaws of Life: The (R)evolutionary Story of the Mammalian Bite
WHO: Dr. Jack Tseng, Assoc. Professor of Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley [https://sites.google.com/site/zjtseng/laboratory]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: 2023-11-14 — 7pm, Tuesday, Nov 14 (1.5 hr)
HOW:

This event is FREE and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have for YOU? Accordingly, please consider a donation to nonprofit Wonderfest via the Eventbrite window, below.

Person+Seiler

Animal Behavior; Machine Learning – Apr 11

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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 zoologist Erin Person on What’s the Point? Animal Behavior and the Value of Niche Science — We share our planet with many strange and wonderful animals. As David Attenborough has taught us, their ways of life can be fascinating. But beyond satisfying our curiosity, studying animals can teach us about evolution, ecosystems, and even ourselves.

• Stanford statistician Ben Seiler on Understanding Machine Learning — Computers automate important decisions across our society. Unfortunately, we cannot always understand how and why complex algorithms and statistical models are making these decisions! How can we make such machine learning more transparent and interpretable?

 

WHAT: Ask a Science Envoy: Animal Behavior & Machine Learning
WHO: Erin Person (UC Berkeley); Ben Seiler (Stanford), Wonderfest Science Envoys
WHERE: ONLINE, via Zoom [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81656633476]
WHEN: 2022-04-11 — 8pm, Monday, April 11th (1 hour)
HOW:

This event is free. But 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 our outstanding Science Envoy Program.