October 23 – November 1—Created by the Bay Area’s scientific, cultural, and educational institutions, the 4th-annual Bay Area Science Festival returns with a 10-day run from October 23 through November 1. The Science and Health Education Partnership (SEP) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is pleased to produce the festival alongside a core group of science institutions. The 2014 festival includes a wide range of science and technology activities across the Bay Area, including lectures, debates, exhibitions, concerts, plays, workshops, and more.
View the Festival's Complete Online Calendar
Meet the scientists from the California Academy of Sciences at these featured events:
Friday, Oct. 24, 7 pm
Chabot Space & Science Center
Dr. Michelle Trautwein, Assistant Curator, Entomology
What would you share with an audience if you only had five minutes? Buckle up and enjoy Academy fly-expert Michelle Trautwein’s mad look into the insects that live on our bodies and in our homes. In 20 slides or less, Trautwein uncovers the identities of our unexpected houseguests and explains why insect biodiversity is worth protecting.
Grab a glass of wine and a snack for the live show, and stay late to view the stars through one of Chabot’s historic telescopes.
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 7 pm
Rickshaw Stop
Story Collider is coming to San Francisco! This live show focuses on four personal science stories that are sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, and always true. Hosted by Mythbusters’ Adam Savage, Erin Barker, and Ben Lillie.
Dr. Brian Fisher, Curator and Chair, Department of Entomology
It’s impossible to pack Brian Fisher’s epic ant-focused career into ten minutes. Instead, he’ll focus on his first research trip to Africa and a series of unexpected events that caused his extended-stay at a nearby Pygmy village.
Shayle Matsuda, Graduate Assistant, California Academy of Sciences
Shayle Matsuda says science saved his life. From studying biology in the Bay Area to cataloguing marine invertebrates in the Philippines, find out how his scientific career has paralleled a very personal, and profound, journey of his own.
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 6:30 pm
El Rio
Shayle Matsuda, Graduate Assistant, California Academy of Sciences
Grab a drink and hit the back patio of the El Rio for an intimate evening at Science, Neat—the Bay Area’s favorite stop for PowerPoint-free, hands-on science. This month, step into the “Living Room” and meet five scientists sharing their research and stories about how their work has shaped their lives in surprising ways. Lightning talks start at 6:30 pm, followed by the chance to continue the conversation at each presenter’s research table.
Thursday, Oct. 30, 10 am
Online-only
Dr. David Blackburn, Associate Curator, Herpetology
Science is always on the menu at Reddit, a massively popular online community with nearly 115 million unique users every month. This year, BASF participants plan to storm the site’s “Science AMA (Ask Me Anything)” series for several multi-hour, user-driven interviews. David Blackburn—the Academy’s resident African frog expert—will field real-time questions about exciting African expeditions, his fascination with amphibians and reptiles, and life as a scientist during one of Reddit’s anything-goes AMAs.
Thursday, Oct. 30, 6 pm
California Academy of Sciences
Meg Lowman, Chief of Science & Sustainability
Brian Malow, 2014 Osher Fellow, Science Communicator and Comedian
The creatures come out at night as NightLife partners with the Bay Area Science Festival for an evening of spine-tingling delight on Halloween. Discover the science and spectacle behind werewolves, vampires, zombies and other creatures that go bump in the night. Every Thursday night a new adventure unfolds. Set out with friends on a journey to the stars and to the depths of the sea with a cocktail in your hand and wonder in your eyes— only at NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences. 21+, ID required for entry.
Saturday, Nov. 1, 11 am
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is transformed into a science wonderland for the concluding event of the Bay Area Science Festival—a FREE science extravaganza on Saturday, November 1 from 11 am–4 pm. Last year, more than 30,000 people enjoyed a non-stop program of interactive exhibits, experiments, games, and shows, all meant to entertain and inspire. With more than 150 exhibits, everyone can unleash their inner scientist.
Experience more than 150 hands-on exhibits and activities from leading science and technology organizations from across the Bay Area. Universities, science museums, research labs, after school organizations, and local companies join forces for an unprecedented opportunity to meet scientists and engineers. Presenters will focus on health and medicine, engineering, technology, biotechnology, climate science, and so much more. This year, each exhibit is framed as investigative questions to encourage explorations and curiosity we hope will continue throughout the school year.
Academy participation
Fireside Chats
Join the Academy’s Executive Director Jonathan Foley and Ichthyology Graduate Student Moises Bernal for a casual meet-and-greet in AT&T Park’s brand new 4,320 square-foot garden.
Hands-On Presenters
Department of Entomology
Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy
Department of Ichthyology
Department of Herpetology
Department of Microbiology
Academy Dive Team and Steinhart Aquarium Biologists
Planetarium
In an effort to raise awareness and engage our residents in the amazing science of the region, over 25 of the Bay Area’s museums, cultural institutions, universities, and corporations have joined forces to create and contribute to the Bay Area Science Festival.
Celebrate the Bay Area’s scientific wonders, resources, and opportunities by exploring the role of science, engineering, and technology locally and from around the world.
The mission of the Academy's Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability (IBSS) is to gather new knowledge about life's diversity and the process of evolution—and to rapidly apply that understanding to our efforts to sustain life on Earth.