Big Bang: Party After Dark

Thank you to everyone who supported the Academy's Thriving California initiative at the Bay Area’s best afterparty of the year.

It was a spectacular night of science, exciting live music, tasty bites, craft cocktails, and so much more! 

Featuring DJ Umami

Bay Area powerhouse, San Francisco Giants' resident DJ, and member of the all-female DJ crew 'Peaches," DJ Umami has an unmistakable flavor and fervor she brings to any dance floor. A former DJ for the Golden State Warriors, she has opened for Dua Lipa, Anderson Paak, Questlove, Outside Lands, SXSW, and more. Don't miss her spinning live beats at Party After Dark!

Panel Discussion: Inspiring Change and Activism

This generation is the most active in environmental justice—watch this candid conversation about the inspiring power and critical perspectives younger generations have in the movement to solve the climate crisis. Moderated by Chloé Stowell Colón, a member of the 2024 California Creators for Nature cohort, featuring the panelists below:

Alexii Sigona
Alexii is a current PhD Candidate in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley. Using ethnographic research methods, his research examines opportunities for tribal land access and co-management through collaborative stewardship. As an Amah Mutsun Tribe member, he is active in the Protect Juristac Campaign, the Amah Mutsun Land Trust Lands Committee, and was the supervisor for the 2023 Amah Mutsun Native Steward Intern program.

Sharaya Souza
Sharaya Souza (Taos Pueblo, Ute, Kiowa), is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the American Indian Cultural District, dedicated to recognizing, honoring, and celebrating American Indian legacy, culture, people, and contributions. Sharaya is an ambassador for promoting equitable resource distribution to American Indian communities, increasing Native visibility and political representation, and protecting and preserving American Indian cultural resources in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Vishal Subramanyan
Vishal Subramanyan is an award-winning wildlife photographer (and undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley) known for his stunning images of California nature—from elusive bobcats to rare badgers. Using camera traps, telephoto lenses, and other photography techniques, he captures unique imagery that raises awareness about conservation and inspires action. With an academic background in ecology, Subramanyan integrates science into his storytelling efforts to create deeply compelling stories.

Nelson ZêPequéno
Nelson ZêPequéno is a Ghanaian-American Artist and founder of 'Black Men With Gardens', a publication spotlighting the connection African American men cultivate with nature through agriculture and the arts. Exploring cultural identity and environmental stewardship through his Los Angeles-based studio 'Sustain Creative', his current body of works offer a fresh perspective on sustainable contemporary design. ZêPequéno additionally served as an Advisory Board member for the development of Thriving California's new California Creators for Nature program.