Conversations At The Herbst Theatre

In this series, the Academy has partnered with City Arts & Lectures, Inc. to present distinguished scientists, professors, writers, thinkers, photographers and artists who discuss important and timely scientific and environmental issues. These conversations are held downtown at San Francisco's beautiful Herbst Theatre on Van Ness Avenue.

Maude Barlow
In Conversation With Alan Snitow
Senior Advisor On Water to the President of the UN
2005 Right Livelihood Winner * Food and Water Watch * Blue Planet Project

Time: Thursday June 3rd at 8:00pm
Maude Barlow is considered by many to be one of the world's leading experts on water issues. "This notion that we'll have water forever is wrong. California is running out. It's got twenty-some years of water." Barlow talks about how our misuse of water may actually be changing the hydrological cycle and contributing to global warming. In 2008, she was appointed as the United Nation's first senior adviser on water issues, a role she hopes to use to establish water as a human right. She is also the co-founder of the Blue Planet Project, a group that works to protect fresh water from trade and privatization around the world. Barlow chairs the board of Washington-based Food & Water Watch and is also an executive member of the San Francisco-based International Forum on Globalization. Barlow holds several honorary doctorates and has written or co-written 16 books including the international best seller Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and The Coming Battle for the Right to Water.

Reservations: For tickets, call 415-392-4400 or visit City Box Office.  Adults: $20; Academy members: $18.

Events Listed By Date

Take a look at our full listing of lectures and special programs organized by date and theme.

• Special Lectures
• Author Talks
• Pritzker Series
• Benjamin Dean Series

Special Lectures and Programs

Special lectures run the gamut from Academy scientists sharing insights about their research and expeditions to partnerships with the Leakey Foundation to the opportunity to hear firsthand from an author about his or her new book.

Special San Francisco Premier

Green Living Project
South America To Maine

Time: Wednesday April 28th at 6:30pm
Held in downtown San Francisco at 111 Minna Gallery, this multi-media entertainment event will showcase GLP’s expeditions spanning from the tip of South America all the way to Maine!

Experience the team’s journey and witness the latest efforts towards sustaining the Amazon rainforest, wildlife research stations, eco-lodges, brazil nut harvesting, traditional haciendas, indigenous communities, adventure tourism, and marine conservation.

Come on out for an inspiring and fun evening spent with friends, great food and drink, and compelling stories of sustainability from all over the world. Learn about responsible adventure travel, sustainable living practices, and how you can get directly involved with these exciting projects. Great giveaways are always a highlight. You’ll also have a chance to meet face-to-face with members of the Expedition Team!

Special Free Gear For 1st 100 Attendees: This event is open to the public. A voluntary $5 donation is requested at the door with a portion being donated to a featured project to be selected by the attendees. Free beverages, food and prize raffles. Learn more about the Green Living Project