Spring 2024

UC Berkeley is renowned for cutting-edge, curiosity-driven scientific research that results in paradigm-shifting discovery — fundamentally changing our understanding of nature, the universe, and ourselves. This tradition continues as strong as ever. Do you share our curiosity? The College of Letters & Science’s Division of Biological Sciences and Division of Mathematical & Physical Sciences invite you to join this series of enlightening virtual discussions, featuring our brilliant faculty and students.

All events will be held via Zoom at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Use one of the Register buttons below to sign up in advance.

Follow Your Curiosity

Schedule

What Black Holes Reveal About Gravity's Strangest Properties
Thursday, March 21, 2024 | 5:00 PM

From hunting for black holes in the night sky, to discovering a new class of gravitational waves produced by black hole binaries, to studying how black holes obey the rules of quantum mechanics, three astrophysicists will expose how these mysterious massive objects hold the key to a fascinating new understanding of gravity.

Moderated by
Steven Kahn, Dean, Division of Mathematical & Physical Sciences
Emily Liepold, Postdoctoral Researcher, Astronomy Department
Luke Kelley, Assistant Adjunct Professor of Astronomy
Luca Iliesiu, Assistant Professor of Physics
Berkeley Science Breakthroughs in the News
Monday, April 22, 2024 | 5:00 PM

Can CRISPR cure sickle cell disease? Does antimatter “fall up”? Can we harness the immune system to fight tuberculosis? Join us as our faculty experts break down some of the biggest scientific questions of the past year.

Join the Zoom meeting here.

Moderated by
Barbara Jacak, Professor of Physics
Danielle Hodgkinson, Postdoctoral Researcher, Physics Department
Ross Wilson, Assistant Adjunct Professor of Molecular Therapeutics; Director of Therapeutic Delivery, Innovative Genomics Institute
Jeffery Cox, C.H. Li Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Endocrinology; Professor of Immunology and Pathogenesis
The Science of Teaching
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The spark that ignites a student’s curiosity for science and mathematics can happen anywhere, but it is crucially nurtured in the classroom. In this session, three Distinguished Teaching Award winners will discuss what it takes to engage students in scientific inquiry.

Join the Zoom meeting here.

Moderated by
Jennifer Johnson-Hanks, Executive Dean, College of Letters & Science
Alex Filippenko, Professor of Astronomy
Alexander Paulin, Assistant Teaching Professor of Mathematics
Marla Feller, Paul Licht Distinguished Professor in Biological Sciences
From Neanderthals to Plants to Pathogens: Human Co-evolution With Other Organisms
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | 5:00 PM

As humans have evolved over the last 300 thousand years, we have shared the planet with many living things, interacting with and affecting one another in many ways. Join us as three biologists discuss the intricacies of our species’ co-evolution with other beings.

Join the Zoom meeting here.

Moderated by
Priya Moorjani, Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Elena Zavala, Miller Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology
Benjamin Blackman, Associate Professor of Plant & Microbial Biology
Britt Koskella, Associate Professor of Integrative Biology

Contact

To connect with us, please fill out this form or contact External Relations at . If you require an accommodation for effective communication in order to fully participate in this series, please provide as much advance notice as possible and at least seven days before a specific event date.