The heat is rising in San Francisco, and you know what that means: late summer has finally arrived, and back-to-school season is finally upon us. This time around we’re focusing on the fun parts of academia, so whether you want to learn about the science of psychedelics, how to study geysers (and not get blown up), or just how to learn better, we’ve got something for you!
Your favorite monthly lectures are September 18th at 7pm at the Rickshaw Stop. Tickets $15
“Psychedelics & Science – A Very Brief History”
By: Imran Khan
Psychedelics are firmly back in the mainstream. Scientists are researching them, veterans are lobbying for them, Elon Musk is microdosing them – but how did we get here? How did western society encounter psychedelics in the first place, why did they become banned and stigmatized, and what brought them back? And what even counts as a psychedelic anyway? Find out answers to all of this, and more, in a talk from Imran Khan of the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics.
Imran Khan was appointed Executive Director of the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics in 2022, and now serves as an adviser to the organization. He’s been working at the intersection of science and society for most of his career, with previous roles including being CEO of the British Science Association, and Executive Director of the UK’s Campaign for Science and Engineering. Born and raised in Manchester, England, he now lives in a floating home in Sausalito, California. He loves trail running, gaming, bothering his dog, and trying to make the perfect daal.
“The New Science of Learning”
By: Zeke Kossover
Learning for the test is hard, learning for the end of the semester exam is harder, and learning well enough to remember the material for the 10-year reunion is harder still. Researchers, though, are starting to tease out what it takes to create experiences that create new understandings that last a lifetime. Experience some of the innovations that are revolutionizing science instruction.
Marc “Zeke” Kossover was an Albert Einstein Distinguished Education Fellow and 21-year veteran teacher before dying and going to teacher heaven becoming an educator at the Exploratorium.
“How to Blow Yourself: Geysers and Hydrothermal Explosions in Yellowstone”
By: Mara Reed
Move over megafauna—geysers are the real stars of Yellowstone National Park. These wet and wild geologic features provide insight into water circulation through the Earth’s crust. After exploring why geysers exist in Yellowstone and how their plumbing systems make eruptions possible, we’ll discuss what prompts some geysers to blow themselves to bits during hydrothermal explosions.
Mara Reed made the questionable financial decision to shoehorn her geyser obsession into PhD study at UC Berkeley. When not watching water boil or trying to graduate, she likes to rappel down strange holes in the ground to pursue cave photography. Her favorite place to be is asleep in bed.
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