All Events by Category

CalTV Interviews on Sproul

CalTV is interviewing Cal Day visitors about their Berkeley experiences. Make your viewpoints known, and see them aired at www.caltv.org.

Getting Oriented

Alumni Association Open House

Visit Alumni House for information, refreshments, and a place to take a rest. Check out the display cases of historic Cal artifacts; students who have applied for Leadership Scholarships can check on the status of their application.

ASUC Lecture Notes

This service has been delivering quality lecture notes to Berkeley students for more than 30 years. Learn about this great study aid that students value.

CalSO Information Tent

Cal Student Orientation (CalSO) is the first stop for new students (after Cal Day, that is!). Learn about campus resources for new Cal Bears from student counselors, and get the scoop on orientation programs for students and their parents.

MLK Student Union Open House

Visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union, including the Cal Student Store, ASUC Art Studio, Gelateria Naia, and the Bear's Lair restaurants, including our Bear's Lair Pub -- one of the "top 25 sports pubs" nationwide. From magnificent Pauley Ballroom to its many small meeting places, the location can't be beat!

The New Student Calendar

There's a new place to find out what's happening for students at UC Berkeley: studentcalendar.berkeley.edu. The calendar is by and for students. Check it out at home, and come by the project's table at Cal Day.

Three Undergraduate Requirements and How to Satisfy Them

Undergraduates can satisfy Berkeley's breadth requirements in American Cultures and American History and Institutions by choosing from classes in more than 50 departments. Hear about some of the exciting courses being offered in the coming year, and learn the when, where, why, and how of satisfying these requirements. Director Victoria Robinson and Program Specialist Candace Khanna, American Cultures Center

American Cultures in Engineering: Cases and Conflicts in Engineering Ethics

Engineers are challenged daily by issues of culture, security, poverty and under-development, and environmental sustainability. Learn about a new course (which satisfies the American Cultures requirement) that focuses on understanding engineering in cultural contexts and the ethics of decision-making that affects communities and nations. Technical Communication Program Director Maggie Sokolik and Lecturer Will Seng

Go Global! International Opportunities for Cal Students

Calling all incoming Berkeley students! Hear a panel of students discuss choosing a major, study-abroad opportunities, internships, honors programs, minor programs, and limitless career options. Parents are welcome.

Bear Talk: Q&A With Cal Students

Want to know more about student life, academics, and campus resources? Real, live students who are Cal Student Orientation (CalSO) counselors will share their first-year experiences and answer your questions. New students and parents welcome!

Cal Traditions and Songs

Traditions, yells, and fight songs -- the UC Rally Committee and alumni will give you a crash course to get you ready for the spirit rally at noon on nearby Sproul Plaza. Go Bears!

Cool Stuff at Cal from CalTV

View student life from the journalistic perspective of the campus TV station. CalTV covers the news, campus events, and your fellow students. We'll tell you how to succeed at Cal in style!

Starting Off on the Right Foot at Berkeley

Get tips for a successful transition from high school to Cal. Learn about the three keys to academic success, time management and getting organized, avoiding procrastination, managing stress, dealing with homesickness, and more.

Summer Bridge Information Session

Summer Bridge is a six-week intensive academic residential program. If you were invited to participate in Summer Bridge 2008, come to this session to learn all about the program and how it will benefit you. Parents and family members are welcome! Program Director Nora Sandoval

Fall Program for Freshmen Information Session

Attention students admitted for spring semester! The UC Berkeley Extension Fall Program for Freshmen is now in its 26th year. Learn about the unique benefits of starting your Cal career as part of this program. A presentation on housing and a Q&A session will follow.

Cal 101: A Bear's Necessities

Incoming students: Is Cal for you? Join us to learn about Berkeley. A panel of current students shares college experiences and answers questions. Bring your parents -- we'll have a separate panel presentation for them (or they can relax at the Cal Parents reception in Alumni House).

Housing

African American Theme Program

Want to know more about this residential community with an academic focus? Come to the Residential Living Theme Housing table, #68 in the Information Marketplace, to pick up a schedule of activities for the day. Prior to Cal Day, contact the Black Recruitment and Retention Center, 510/642-6224, for a schedule of events.

Residence Hall and Living Group Tours

Visit campus residence halls for an orientation and a look at a student room, dining areas, and Academic Service Centers. Tours leave every 30 minutes, with the last departing at 3:30 pm. Also tour some of Berkeley's student co-ops and theme houses.

Tour the Global Environment Theme House and Green Suite

Starting from Foothill Student Housing, take a 30-minute tour of this environment-friendly housing and learn about the simple steps and choices students can make to lessen their impact on the Earth. For details, go to the Residential Living Theme Housing table, #68 in the Information Marketplace.

Women in Science and Engineering

This living and learning environment is for women with a strong interest in math, science, and engineering. Learn how the program helps WISE students expand their awareness, understand potential fields of study, and gain the skills to succeed at Cal.

Student Family Housing

Tour the new West Village apartments in Albany, available to married or partnered students, with or without children, and to students who are single parents. An additional 324 apartments (including three-, two-, and one-bedroom units) will open in August 2008 as part of University Village -- three miles from campus on the 52L and 18 bus lines.

Fraternities and Sororities at Cal

Have questions about Greek life at Berkeley? Learn about the four pillars of CalGreeks -- friendship, scholarship, leadership, and service -- and how joining can enhance your experience at Berkeley.

Student Co-ops: Affordable Housing and So Much More

What is co-op living all about? Student co-op members and officers will share their experiences and answer your questions.

Study Abroad

Education Abroad Program Student Panel

Cal students discuss the experiences they've had through UC's Education Abroad Program. EAP students can fulfill major, minor, and breadth requirements, learn languages, and complete independent-study projects or internships on the road to becoming global citizens. Find out why students who have studied abroad think it's one of the best experiences of their lives!

Alumni

Alumni Association Open House

Visit Alumni House for information, refreshments, and a place to take a rest. Check out the display cases of historic Cal artifacts; students who have applied for Leadership Scholarships can check on the status of their application.

Cal Lodge at Tahoe

Visit the information table for Cal Lodge, an affordable Tahoe destination for Cal students, alumni, and the public. Built and owned by Cal students, the lodge offers a beautiful setting and reasonable rates.

From Plugs to Bling: A Century of Cal Student Fashion

From once-traditional battered hats (plugs) to sparkly accessories (bling) to outfits, T-shirts, gym clothes, and band uniforms, all are on display in this exhibit, chronicling more than 100 years of campus clothing trends. Take a look at the enduring sense of Cal student style.

Cal Traditions and Songs

Traditions, yells, and fight songs -- the UC Rally Committee and alumni will give you a crash course to get you ready for the spirit rally at noon on nearby Sproul Plaza. Go Bears!

Cal Spirit Rally

Get in the Cal spirit (it's impossible not to!) with the UC Rally Committee, Cal Band, Cal Dance Team, Mic Men, and Oski, as they put on a blue-and-gold event to welcome Cal Day guests, especially prospective students and families.

DeCal Class: Cal History -- The University Through Its People

Sample this student-run class, offered by DeCal -- Democratic Education at Cal -- the largest student-initiated education program in the country. Learn about UC through the colorful Nobel laureates, chancellors, faculty, and future entrepreneurs, leaders, innovators, and others it has produced since its founding in 1868. Distinguished guest lecturers add to the experience during the semester.

Anthropology & Archaeology

Play With Clay

Learn how to make and decorate your own ceramics the way people did in the past. Clay available -- bring your own kids!

A Llama Caravan in Southern Peru

Traveling with a traditional llama caravan bearing salt and tubers, archaeologists recently journeyed to the highlands of Peru to carry out an ethnoarchaeological research project. See a documentary of the experience and hear from the research director. For more information visit the project site online at http://www.mapaspects.org/caravans/2007_project.

How the Vikings Told Stories

The Vikings are famous for many things, including their colorful, vibrant stories. Learn about the storytelling techniques they used, and then try retelling a Viking tale.

Open House at the Hearst Museum of Anthropology

Visit the museum and view its exhibits on Native California cultures, Rajasthan, Ancient Egypt, and more! For a better understanding of all the museum has to offer, take the docent-led tour at 1:15 pm, following the 1 pm Taiko performance.

Marking the Landscape in Stone and Paint

What is rock art and what can we learn about the images produced during the Paleolithic era? Find out!

Flintknapping

Have you ever tried flintknapping? Stop by to see Berkeley archaeologists in action and feed your curiosity about how stones are made into tools.

Rock-Art Painting

Try your brush and hand -- literally -- at making paints and helping paint a rock-art mural.

Bridging the Gap Between Real, Imagined, and Virtual at a 9,000-Year-Old Archaeological Site

Hear about the innovative archaeological research at Çatalhöyük, Turkey, and discuss the findings of that project.

Rock-Art Recording

No, not with mixers and synthesizers, but with actual rocks! Learn how archaeologists record rock art in this hands-on activity at Berkeley's very own rock-art site.

Historical Archaeology and Hansen's Disease: A New Perspective from Hawai'i

Hear about the ongoing historical archaeological research being done at the former Hansen's disease (leprosy) colony on Molokai, Hawai'i.

Anthropology of Things That Matter: Marking Nuclear Waste Sites Forever

Debate over nuclear waste raises the concern that buried waste might not stay in place forever. How could waste sites be marked clearly for thousands of years to come? An anthropological study suggests we should be skeptical of the proposals for marking such sites, and explains what people think about cultural continuity and the persistence of things we make.

Attention: Excavation in Progress

Don't miss this chance to see Berkeley students working on their continuing investigation of the historic Cheney House archaeological site on campus.

OKAPI Island in Second Life

Visit OKAPI Island in the 3-D, virtual environment of Second Life, and explore the past and present of Çatalhöyük, a 9,000-year-old village located in present-day Turkey. The island, constructed by undergraduate research apprentices, features virtual reconstructions of the excavation site and multimedia exhibits of research data.

Andean Ceramics of South America: A Journey Through Space and Time

Hear about the social and technological construction of Andean ceramics and how these artifacts can be used to answer important archaeological questions.

Art

Play With Clay

Learn how to make and decorate your own ceramics the way people did in the past. Clay available -- bring your own kids!

GIANT Presents "Filmmaking at Berkeley"

View clips of films written, directed, and produced by the members of GIANT, an organization of students majoring in film studies, art practice, media studies, and other disciplines. The films include class projects, group efforts, and works by individual filmmakers.

Producing Computer-Graphics Animation at Cal

Ever wonder how all those great computer graphics are done? Join us for an overview of what goes into designing and creating eye-popping computer graphics and animations.

Guided Tour of "Enrique Chagoya: Borderlandia"

Berkeley graduate students in Chicano studies, English, and history of art will lead tours of this acclaimed show, a 25-year survey of the work of the Mexican-born, San Francisco-based artist. The show, which runs until May 18, features the scathing and often humorous political satire of an artist whose influences span hundreds of years and thousands of miles. The museum is open free of charge for Cal Day, 11 am to 5 pm.

Introduction to Visual Thinking

Hear an overview of Art Practice 8, the department's most popular lower-division survey course. It will expose you to all the different ways to think about making art.

Rock-Art Painting

Try your brush and hand -- literally -- at making paints and helping paint a rock-art mural.

Throw a Pot Near Sather Gate

Just steps from Sather Gate, try your hand at throwing a pot at one of six potter's wheels. All ages are welcome!

Open House: Berkeley Art Museum

Enjoy free admission to one of the nation's finest university art museums. This is your opportunity to explore the site, tour the exhibits, and maybe get a bite to eat in the museum's own Café Muse.

Rock-Art Recording

No, not with mixers and synthesizers, but with actual rocks! Learn how archaeologists record rock art in this hands-on activity at Berkeley's very own rock-art site.

Worth Ryder Gallery

See "The Dirt Show," a display of work by this year's undergraduates in ceramics classes taught by Professor Richard Shaw.

ASUC Art Studio Spring Sale

Don't miss this opportunity to shop for ceramics, photography, jewelry, and other affordable, beautiful, handmade items created in the ASUC Art Studio. Proceeds support educational programs at the studio.

Astronomy & Space

Live! From Hat Creek Radio Observatory

Visit the Radio Astronomy Laboratory to see this live video feed showing the new Allen telescope array and astronomy demonstrations.

Stellar Explosions: Celestial Fireworks!

Supernovae represent the explosive deaths of some stars -- without them, humans would not exist, for we are made of the debris of ancient explosions. Hear what recent studies on supernovae have found, from the 2006 National Professor of the Year.

Undergraduate Astronomy Laboratory Open House

Tour the lab where undergraduate astronomy students spend their time. Find out how fast the sun is spinning and what our students observe. Take the elevator to the 6th floor, turn left, and walk upstairs. Professor James Graham and students

Open House at Earth and Planetary Science

Visit the department's Ramsden Study Center to hear undergraduates answer questions about student life and the six EPS majors: atmospheric science, environmental earth science, geology, geophysics, marine science, and planetary science.

Black Holes: The Science Behind the Science Fiction

Find out what black holes are (and what they are not), how they are discovered, and how they give rise to some of the most remarkable and bizarre phenomena in the Universe.

Is Anybody Out There?

Hear about Berkeley's SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program at the world's largest telescope, the Allen telescope array. Through the popular SETI@home, volunteers have a small but captivating chance that their computer will detect the first signal from a civilization beyond Earth.

Tour the Space Sciences Lab and Mission-Operations Center

See Berkeley's own home of cutting-edge space science research. Learn about the Stardust mission and SETI project, and visit the mission-control center and 36-foot satellite dish. Hear about the science behind these missions, see satellite models and science demonstrations, and participate in hands-on activities for all ages. Free mission-related materials available.

Biology

Got Bugs? We Do!

See the Essig Museum's display of amazing insects and arachnids from its research collection, and take a look at live arthropods.

Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Centennial Celebration!

The MVZ is 100 years old this year, so it's time to celebrate! The museum is a research facility -- open to the public only one day a year. Take a look inside, learn how it's evolved, and see some of the rarest, most fascinating specimens from a century of collecting. It's fun for all ages: children can be field adventurers, touch live animals, play games, and see a puppet show; students learn how to get involved in research and museum programs; and adults can browse displays, attend seminars, and talk to scientists.

Berkeley Natural History Museums Tent

Have you heard of the UC Berkeley Natural History Museums? Collectively they have the largest holdings of any museum on the West Coast. Each museum has Cal Day activities, and together they are hosting a celebration of natural history and culture. Come by for hands-on activities for all ages and shows on the hour featuring spiders, carnivorous plants, artifacts, puppets, and more!

Biology Laboratory Demonstrations

Lab displays highlight topics covered in the general biology laboratory course, along with demonstrations of biology research techniques.

Museum of Vertebrate Zoology 30-Minute Seminars

Catch some of the seven talks given by museum staff, faculty, and graduate students:

10 am: "Antarctic Passengers and Asian Invaders: Geological History and Mammalian Diversity of Australia and New Guinea," Postdoctoral Fellow Kevin Rowe

10:30 am: "From Flashy Males to Cryptic Tails: How Birds Use Color in Their Everyday Lives," Research Associate Karen Rowe

11 am: "Birds, Molecules, and Evolutionary Patterns Among Africa's Islands in the Sky," Professor Rauri Bowie

1 pm: "DNA in Action: A Hands-On Demonstration," Lab Manager and Researcher Lydia Smith

1:30 pm: "Blood, Guts, Bones, and Flesh-Eating Beetles," Museum Scientist Monica Albe

2 pm: "MVZ Adventures and Expeditions Into the Field," Museum Scientist Allison Shultz, Laboratory Technician Rebecca Chong

2:30 pm: "Behavioral Ecology of Brown Capuchin Monkeys in Suriname," Graduate Student Rachel Walsh

Marine Science Demonstrations

See live marine animals at the entrance of McCone Hall, plus, in the lobby, watch demonstrations by Berkeley students of beach-bucket science and other projects. And don't forget to visit the Lawrence Hall of Science to learn more about marine science!

Bottled Water and the Environment

There's been a dramatic increase in demand for bottled water in recent years, and it's had an impact on the environment. Compare local tap water with various bottled waters, and then compare your experience with a Berkeley research report on the subject. Professor Bill Berry and students

Integrative Biology

Biological Science: Activities and Displays

See a touch tank with live sea animals, and discover other animals that students learn about at Berkeley. Don't miss the games and activities for kids!

Displays from Integrative Biology Classes

Hear what students in Integrative Biology have learned about plants, animals, marine life, and how they all react to changes such as global warming.

Integrative Biology Information Table

Find out what integrative biology is, and learn about the department's classes and research programs. Stop by to pick up information and ask questions.

Adhesives, Artificial Muscles, and Running Robots

Studying geckos, cockroaches, and other living organisms can inspire new man-made technology. Learn how it's done at the Center for Interdisciplinary Bioinspiration in Education and Research (CIBER).

Can Worms Teach Us About Our Immune System?

Worms and other basic organisms help us understand how the human immune system develops and responds to disease. Hear what studies tell us.

Studying Integrative Biology at Berkeley

Learn about the Integrative Biology major and how its students discover the interconnections among living things. Faculty, students, and advisers discuss how IB students develop their understanding of health sciences, ecology, and evolution.

Molecular & Cell Biology

Molecular and Cell Biology Major Information Table

MCB students and advisers will answer questions about the undergraduate program. Learn about student life in the department and pick up information on the major.

Molecular and Cell Biology Classroom Laboratory Tour

See state-of-the-art facilities used to instruct MCB students in current laboratory techniques. Tours are led by faculty, staff, and students who can answer questions about classes and the program. (Tours begin promptly.)

Molecular and Cell Biology Undergraduate Program

Learn about MCB undergraduate program requirements, objectives, and opportunities for students who major in the field.

The Case of Legionnaires' Disease: How the Immune System Detects Infections

Our immune system constantly wards off infections -- but how does it know when we've been infected and how does it defend us against infections it has never encountered? Learn the answers by examining the history and biology of a prime example: the immune system response to Legionnaires' disease.

Panel Discussion with Molecular and Cell Biology Students

Hear current MCB students discuss their Cal experiences and answer questions about the undergraduate program.

Natural Resources Biology

Life as a College of Natural Resources Student

A panel of current CNR students answers your questions about majors, research opportunities, college organizations, student life, and more. Meet major advisers and faculty.

You've Got Options: Biology in the College of Natural Resources

Which biology major is right for you? With a dozen biology-based programs at Berkeley -- from the micro to the macro -- learn more about the options in the College of Natural Resources. Whether you want to attend medical school or become a wildlife ecologist, learn how to choose a major that best fits your interests.

Business

Haas School of Business Self-Guided Tours

Tour the business school's open facilities, including its computer center and library.

Haas School of Business Student Clubs

Meet student members of undergraduate business clubs and learn about their activities.

Haas School of Business Undergraduate Advising

Staff and students offer general information for new and prospective business students and their parents.

Haas School of Business Undergraduate Program: For Non-UC Berkeley Students

Prospective students, parents, and counselors can learn about the admission process for non-UC Berkeley students interested in transferring to the Haas School of Business Undergraduate Program. Hear about the minimum eligibility requirements and get answers to questions about the process.

Haas School of Business Undergraduate Program

Hear the director, staff members, and undergraduates discuss Berkeley's nationally acclaimed undergraduate program in business.

Self-Guided Tour of the Business and Economics Library

Tour the Thomas J. Long Business and Economics Library and use its electronic services, including the business and industry database, the Dow Jones interactive database, and corporate reports.

Majoring in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research (IEOR) and Operations Research & Management Science (ORMS)

The science of better: Professionals in these fields develop ways to predict how systems will behave and, in turn, promote better decision-making. Learn about the majors (both IEOR and ORMS) and how students use information technology and mathematical modeling to solve problems. Professor and Chair Ilan Adler, Professor Shmuel Oren

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research in the Real World

Interested in both business and engineering? Learn about projects -- with real companies and organizations -- that improve decision-making for managing real-world systems.

Cal Parents

Cal Parents Hospitality Tent

Cal Parents volunteers and staff are on hand to answer questions and share their experience with families of current, newly admitted, and prospective students. Stop by table #77!

Cal Parents Reception

Take a break and have a snack with Cal Parents at this informal reception for families of current and newly admitted students. Don't miss this opportunity for conversation with other parents of Berkeley students.

Chemistry & Chemical Engineering

College of Chemistry Information Tables

Want to learn more about the College of Chemistry? Visit these tables hosted by undergraduate advisers and student organizations.

Chemistry: Molecules, Materials, and Us

Most of what is around and inside us is made of molecules. See dramatic, illuminating demonstrations and Chem Quizzes that will help you explore the principles that underlie the formation, reaction, and function of molecules. Lecturer Michelle Douskey, Lab Supervisor Lonnie Martin

College of Chemistry Undergraduate Programs

Join prospective students and their families to learn about the programs and opportunities in chemistry, chemical biology, and chemical engineering at Berkeley. An informal Q&A session follows the presentation.

Computer Science

Computer Science Information Tables

Staff and student groups discuss the computer science programs and share what life is like at Berkeley.

Tours of Soda Hall

Where can you find Berkeley computer science students? Meet them where they live and pick up information about the computer science programs at Berkeley.

EECS and CS Undergraduate Research Poster Displays

Join electrical engineering and computer sciences students as they showcase their research, and find out about the work involved.

GamesCrafters: Undergraduate Game Theory Research

Play some of the games that freshmen and sophomores have created and added to the ongoing GamesCrafters research project.

Innovation Everywhere in Product Design

Berkeley's student-run Product Design Group will demonstrate innovative projects, such as shuttle tracking, environmental ring tones, and "wait loss."

On View: Computer Animation with UCBUGG

See a continuous showing of graphics and animation projects produced by undergraduates in the UC Berkeley Undergraduate Graphics Group (UCBUGG).

Tele-Immersion: Long-Distance Collaboration in Real Time

See how tele-immersion allows computer users in different locations to work together in real time in a shared simulated environment -- as if they were physically in the same room.

Computer Animation: An Example from Start to Finish

The fusion of technology, art, and entertainment is cool -- just ask the students of the UC Berkeley Undergraduate Graphics Group. They'll guide visitors through creating a compelling story, collaborating in teams, and bringing their vision to life using the Autodesk Maya software. Their short films will be screened continually.

The Letters and Science Major in Computer Science

This information session offers all the details on the Bachelor of Arts program in computer science at Berkeley.

Cartooning and Computer Science? Absolutely!

See illustrations from the Computer Science Illustrated Project, which creates compelling visual imagery to aid in teaching computer science. Cartoon characters explain difficult course material using powerful and memorable visual metaphors. Undergraduate Student Ketrina Yim

CITRIS: Berkeley's Newest Building

Take a virtual walkthrough of the home of the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS), set to open in 2009. Hear about research in computer graphics, geometric modeling, and computer-aided design tools, and learn about the design, modeling, and construction of the new building.

Dance & Theater

Showtime on Sproul

Enjoy student groups displaying their talents through colorful traditional and cultural dances, songs, and skits!

Tour the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies

See the department's performance and rehearsal spaces: dance studios, newly-relit Zellerbach Playhouse, the Durham Studio Theater, and the Blackbox Theater. The tour departs at 12:10 pm from Zellerbach Playhouse (across from Alumni House and Haas Pavilion).

Physical Education Dance Program

Enjoy three 30-minute dance performances -- each beginning on the hour -- that showcase an eclectic array of dance styles. Pieces feature faculty and student choreography from classes in ballet, modern, lyrical jazz, and technique and performance of dance. Stick around after each show to meet the teachers and performers.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The Musical

BareStage Productions stages this wild Stephen Sondheim musical, one of the hottest burlesque shows ever on Broadway. Join a raucous gaggle of ancient Romans for a bawdy, fast-paced look at the seamy underside of classical Rome, through hipster's shades. Ticket sales at the door begin one hour before the performance; $10 general admission, $8 students.

Earth & Planetary Science

McCone Hall Rocks!

Wander our halls and explore rock and mineral displays (1st and 3rd floors), faculty profile posters, and photos from space. Visit the Berkeley Seismology Lab on the 2nd floor and take part in activities with professors and students throughout the day.

Ocean Exploring

Join a faculty oceanographer as he describes his experiences at sea with robotic exploration of the ocean-atmospheric carbon cycle.

Earthquake!

Learn about earthquakes through hands-on demonstrations and activities. See displays about seismic hazards, earthquake monitoring, and recent and past events -- including the 2004 Sumatra earthquake and tsunamis and last October's Alum Rock earthquake centered near Milpitas, Calif.

A Tectonic Time Bomb in Our Backyard: Earthquake Potential of the Hayward Fault

Tick, tick, tick. Recent research has found that large events on the Hayward Fault occur about every 140 years -- and the last major quake there occurred on Oct. 21, 1868. (You do the math!) The head of Berkeley's active tectonics research lab discusses what the future might hold.

Marine Science Demonstrations

See live marine animals at the entrance of McCone Hall, plus, in the lobby, watch demonstrations by Berkeley students of beach-bucket science and other projects. And don't forget to visit the Lawrence Hall of Science to learn more about marine science!

Open House at Earth and Planetary Science

Visit the department's Ramsden Study Center to hear undergraduates answer questions about student life and the six EPS majors: atmospheric science, environmental earth science, geology, geophysics, marine science, and planetary science.

Bottled Water and the Environment

There's been a dramatic increase in demand for bottled water in recent years, and it's had an impact on the environment. Compare local tap water with various bottled waters, and then compare your experience with a Berkeley research report on the subject. Professor Bill Berry and students

Geocaching Treasure Hunt

Using only satellite-linked global-positioning-system (GPS) units and clues, we'll search for hidden prizes! Fun for the whole family -- bring your GPS unit, if you have one.

Field Geology and Digital Mapping

The Berkeley-Oakland hills harbor an archive of geological history, going back more than 100 million years. A vivid record also tells us much about the geological processes active today. Enjoy a pictorial history of the hills and hear how we reconstruct the past and predict the future, using such methods as digital mapping, base maps, global-positioning systems, and lasers.

Water in the West: Past Droughts and Floods in California and Beyond

How has climate in California changed and what might this mean for its future? With a growing population in a drought-prone state, we need to know the history of precipitation and runoff over the long term to better understand the variability in our climate and water supply, and the frequency and magnitude of extreme flood events.

Economics

Better Living Through Economics

The 2007 Nobel Prize in economics was awarded to three economic theorists "for having laid the foundations of mechanism design theory." Learn how economic theory and mathematical rigor inform the design of efficient operations, such as setting the casino spread for betting on football games, planning auctions for selling artwork, or assigning interns to hospital residencies.

Self-Guided Tour of the Business and Economics Library

Tour the Thomas J. Long Business and Economics Library and use its electronic services, including the business and industry database, the Dow Jones interactive database, and corporate reports.

Decisions Under Uncertainty: Determining What's Rational

Economics is all about uncertainty, so modeling decision-making in uncertain conditions is key. But how do economists use experimental evidence to confront their theories of choice under uncertainty? Learn about this work and how it affects economic theory and policy.

The Science and Economics of Carbon Sequestration: The Climate Change Question

Where does carbon come from, and what's its role? What are the benefits and drawbacks of planting trees to sequester carbons? How does economics enter into decision-making, and can nations work together to stem carbon emissions? Hear how an economist and a physical scientist use different strategies to approach the challenge of carbon emissions. Professors Maximilian Auffhammer and Dennis Baldocchi

Education

Peter E. Haas Public Service Award Presentation and Lecture

"Hope in the 'Hood" is the topic of this annual lecture, given this year by Haas Award winner and alumnus Washington Burns, executive director of the Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement. As a volunteer, he works to bring educational, health-care, and arts programs to low-income children and adults in the West Oakland neighborhood he once called his own. Chancellor Robert Birgeneau will present the award, one of Cal's top alumni honors, prior to the lecture.

Celebration of Children's Literature

Join the Graduate School of Education and the Cal Student Store for this popular event, a free book fair for kids of all ages. There will be signings by leading authors and illustrators: Marissa Moss, Thacher Hurd, Gennifer Choldenko, Elisa Kleven, LeUyen Pham, Sarah Klise, Jane Wattenberg, and Oliver Chin. Also on the agenda are Joel ben Izzy and other professional storytellers; music by Gary Lapow; appearances by Curious George; art activities; and more. Visit gse.berkeley.edu/childlit.html for a schedule and details.

Restructuring School Funding

As California schools brace for severe budget cuts, distinguished panelists discuss alternative ways to put education on sound financial footing. Education and Public Policy Professor Bruce Fuller, Law Professor Goodwin Liu, former California Assemblymember Carol Liu, and local principals and teachers

Energy

Blue and Gold Make Green: CNR Green Taxi

Need help getting to College of Natural Resources events? Our hybrid car will be giving visitors free lifts between pick up points at the Campanile and the West Circle near Mulford Hall.

Nanotechnology Research Showcase

A dozen Berkeley science and engineering departments are working on nanotechnology projects, ranging from early disease detection, to faster computers, to clean sustainable energy production. Hear an overview of Berkeley teaching and research in nanotechnology (presented by faculty and students), give your own feedback, and ask questions about the field's implications and opportunities for our future.

Solar Car

See the latest in student design and engineering of Cal's solar car. Completely student-led and open to all Berkeley students, CalSol designs and builds one-seater solar vehicles that represent UC Berkeley in amazing competitions.

Tour the Global Environment Theme House and Green Suite

Starting from Foothill Student Housing, take a 30-minute tour of this environment-friendly housing and learn about the simple steps and choices students can make to lessen their impact on the Earth. For details, go to the Residential Living Theme Housing table, #68 in the Information Marketplace.

Riding a Segway!

Why are Berkeley researchers studying these unconventional, stand-up scooter gizmos? Learn how Segways were used in research aimed at getting more people onto public transit. Transportation Sustainability Research Center staff

Voyage for Cleaner Energy

Learn about this program -- a five-year commitment to create an international cohort of leaders to help preserve Antarctica, highlight the importance of renewable energy, and emphasize the significance of climate change for the future. Hosted at Berkeley by the Energy Biosciences Institute, the program involves students and industry leaders working to effect personal change and influence policy.

Cool Cars: Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell and Smart Car Demo

What are the pros and cons of hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles, and are they really the next generation of low-emission vehicles? What else is on the horizon? See a demonstration of the "F-Cell" car and learn about other fuel-efficient vehicles now being researched at Berkeley. Research Director Timothy Lipman, Transportation Sustainability Research Center

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions With Nuclear Power

Learn about the new technologies for using nuclear energy to produce hydrogen, a substitute for natural gas and oil in industry and transportation.

Achieving the Promise of Sustainable Biofuels

Corn ethanol and biodiesel are often thought to be "green fuels," but are they? Hear about new developments that will help eliminate the competition among food, fuel, and land. Learn about the role "next generation" biofuels and other solutions play in lowering carbon emissions worldwide. Professor and Director Alex Farrell, Transportation Sustainability Research Center

Engineering

Smaller Is Better: Tiny Telephones and Ring-Sized Radios

Smaller has been better in electronics, but just how many other things really get better as they get smaller? Quite a few, according to Berkeley's interdisciplinary engineers. Making something smaller -- using nanotechnology or MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) -- generally makes it go faster and last longer on a battery. Hear about the little things on the horizon!

Engineering Information Table

Berkeley engineers excel -- find out why! Engineering faculty, student-affairs staff, students, and alumni are on hand to answer your questions and distribute information about the College of Engineering.

Steer Around Traffic: GPS in Your Cell Phone

The unpredictability of traffic plagues our lives. What if a quick glance at your cell phone or dashboard could give you a real-time picture of road conditions up ahead? See this developing next-generation technology based on a GPS chip in cell phones, including footage from Mobile Century, the landmark field test held this spring. (And don't miss the talk on the project at 11 am in 502 Davis Hall.) Researcher and Policy Analyst Steve Andrews, California Center for Innovative Transportation

American Cultures in Engineering: Cases and Conflicts in Engineering Ethics

Engineers are challenged daily by issues of culture, security, poverty and under-development, and environmental sustainability. Learn about a new course (which satisfies the American Cultures requirement) that focuses on understanding engineering in cultural contexts and the ethics of decision-making that affects communities and nations. Technical Communication Program Director Maggie Sokolik and Lecturer Will Seng

Nanotechnology Research Showcase

A dozen Berkeley science and engineering departments are working on nanotechnology projects, ranging from early disease detection, to faster computers, to clean sustainable energy production. Hear an overview of Berkeley teaching and research in nanotechnology (presented by faculty and students), give your own feedback, and ask questions about the field's implications and opportunities for our future.

Engineering Student Vehicles

Move over Detroit! See the latest in student design and engineering in Berkeley's Formula SAE racer. Engineering student vehicle team

Information Tables: Engineering Student Societies

There is an engineering student group to match every interest, all under the umbrella of the Engineers' Joint Council. Meet engineering students and stop by their tables for information, demonstrations, and contests.

Flying Saucers and Hovercrafts: Transportation Futuristics

The jetpack, the sky railroad, the "Nuclear Eel Submarine," the "Saucerbus" -- what happened to these futuristic modes of transportation dreamed up in the 19th century? Was there sound engineering behind the ideas? Take a visual journey through some kooky concepts. Art supplies will be on hand for kids to build their own futuristic vehicles. Transportation Librarian Rita Evans

Engineering Tour on Northside

The northeast quadrant of campus is home of the College of Engineering. Join students for a guided outdoor walking tour of the engineering buildings.

Meet the Engineering Dean

Get the answers to your questions when you hear the college's executive associate dean for academic affairs and a panel of engineering faculty, students, and staff discuss the programs in the College of Engineering.

National Society of Black Engineers Jr. Poster Session

See young engineers in action! Berkeley's chapter of the NSBE Jr. -- high-school students aspiring to attend college and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math -- will present posters on their research projects. The session highlights projects that the students have been researching for the past six months, under the mentorship of current Berkeley engineering students.

Tea With SWE (Society of Women Engineers)

Join society members to learn what it's really like to be a student in the College of Engineering at Berkeley. Learn about classes, what to do on weekends, how to use that engineering degree once you graduate, and anything else you want to know about engineering!

CITRIS: Berkeley's Newest Building

Take a virtual walkthrough of the home of the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS), set to open in 2009. Hear about research in computer graphics, geometric modeling, and computer-aided design tools, and learn about the design, modeling, and construction of the new building.

Bioengineering (BioE)

Pre-Med Program in Bioengineering

Interested in medical school? Find out how a bioengineering degree offers an excellent pre-med education.

Bioengineering Information Center

Get to know the Department of Bioengineering. Pick up information, ask questions, and meet faculty, staff, and students.

Information Session on the Bioengineering Major

Bioengineering is one of the most exciting, challenging, and interdisciplinary departments at Berkeley. Want to know what it's like to be a BioE student? Hear a panel of faculty and students, and get the scoop about classes and research opportunities -- plus tips to help you succeed. Professors Steve Conolly and Daniel Fletcher and bioengineering students

Bioengineering Undergraduate Research Posters

Check out student research projects and talk with students about their cutting-edge work.

Noninvasive Imaging of the Human Body

CT, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine -- today's medical imaging methods provide exquisite pictures of anatomy and disease, but they can be prohibitively expensive. Hear about a low-cost imaging method called Prepolarized MRI, improvements on the horizon for MRI, and new imaging for tracking stem cells in the body.

Bioengineering Lab Demonstration: Biotechnology and Tissue Engineering

Take a look at the bioengineering lab techniques learned by Berkeley undergraduates. See how they detect cell behavior and coax cells into performing as required for cell-based therapies.

Crawling, Swimming, and Wiggling: A Hands-On Look at Cell Movements

Cells have evolved an amazing variety of movements to find food, escape predators, and seek out more comfortable surroundings. Try your hand at learning how cells get around. Professor Daniel Fletcher, Graduate Student Vivana Risca, and students

Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE)

Liquefaction: When Earthquakes Turn Ground to Liquid

The soil that lies between bedrock and any structure can control how an earthquake is felt. Even firm soil can be turned temporarily into a fluid-like quicksand. Learn how this can happen, and the potential effects on bridges, houses, and other structures.

Go With the Flow

Visit this unique transparent lab station, used in teaching undergraduate fluid mechanics. Watch the open-channel flow of fluids under various conditions, and learn what it means for the environment.

Civil and Environmental Engineering Undergraduate Research Posters

CEE students have many opportunities to participate in hands-on research projects. See their results and hear first-hand how they got involved.

Concrete Canoe Team

Concrete that floats? Cal's concrete canoe team is considered one of the top five in America. Stop by to see last year's canoe and hear what goes into competing and racing at the national level.

Environment Team Exhibition

See a Berkeley student team devise a method to treat polluted water with only the resources they have on hand. Who wants the first sip?

See Where Civil and Environmental Engineering Education Happens!

Meet faculty and join student-led tours of labs, classrooms, and other facilities to see where CEE students study and hang out.

Steel Bridge Team

Watch Berkeley's steel bridge competition team assemble their 1:10-scale model of a replacement bridge built to span an environmentally sensitive river.

Mobile Century Traffic Project: GPS in Your Cell Phone

New Berkeley-based technology could transform the way drivers navigate through congested highways and check road conditions. Hear how GPS-enabled mobile phones might be used to monitor real-time traffic flow, while preserving the privacy of the phone users. (And don't miss demos of the project in the plaza outside McLaughlin Hall.)

Meet the Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering

What do civil engineers do? What is life like at Berkeley as a civil engineering student? A panel of current students and the department chair provide details about the program and answer questions for prospective students and their families.

Steel Column Test

How much pressure will a steel column withstand before it breaks or buckles? To design safe high-rises, bridges, and other structures, civil engineers need to know.

Timber Test

Can you guess how much pressure a wooden beam can take before it breaks? Join us to find the answer.

Concrete Column Test

Watch as a concrete column is tested to its breaking point -- and find out what structural engineers learn from such tests.

Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences (EECS)

Tours of Soda Hall

Where can you find Berkeley computer science students? Meet them where they live and pick up information about the computer science programs at Berkeley.

All Day at EECS

EECS faculty, staff, and students will be on hand to direct a daylong list of activities and open labs. Through demonstrations and hands-on activities, learn about cutting-edge research projects and instructional labs. A complete schedule is available in Cory and Soda Halls.

Automated Robot Racing Cars

Student-made vehicles race a 100-meter course under computer control, avoiding obstacles and staying on track.

"Wingardium Leviosa" at Cal

Harry Potter uses the famous levitation charm, "Wingardium Leviosa," to make objects rise and hover. Watch the "magic" of control theory in action, as Berkeley researchers cast their own spells in this demonstration of the Magnetic Levitation Project.

Cory Hall Tours

Join electrical engineering students for a tour of their building. Tours leave every 20 minutes.

Embedded-Systems Design Laboratory

Students show off their latest and greatest projects, including a climbing Roomba, Wii Wand, and Berkeley's version of the iPhone.

Berkeley Institute of Design Lab

This institute takes a deeply interdisciplinary approach to design for the 21st century, spanning human-computer interaction, mechanical design, education, architecture, and art practice. See the lab and some of the work in progress. Professor John Canny and students

EECS and CS Undergraduate Research Poster Displays

Join electrical engineering and computer sciences students as they showcase their research, and find out about the work involved.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Information Tables

Here's your chance to talk to staff and undergraduate student groups about the EECS program and what life is like at Berkeley.

Microsystems for Understanding Insect Flight

Berkeley engineering research has found a way to control insect flight -- from take-off to landing. See how it's done!

Roomful of Bats: Finding Things With Electronic Ears

See a demonstration of acoustic localization research. Using a laptop, FPGA, camera, and microphones, learn how to implement beamforming algorithms into practical applications. Bring the kids (honest!).

Statistical Analysis of Online News

Too much information? Berkeley researchers are after user-friendly, graphical representations of large amounts of text data obtained from online news. Their project explores fundamental problems involving sparse graphical modeling, online learning, and distributed computations.

View From the Top: What Impact Is Berkeley EECS Having on the World?

Hear how Berkeley's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences is tackling global issues and providing innovative solutions.

The Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Major

Why choose EECS at Berkeley? Faculty members will discuss this exciting major and answer your questions.

Finding Unused Frequencies in the TV Bands

See a working demo of a current research project, including its hardware, software, and research results.

Circuit Lab Gets Practical With Touch and Orientation Sensors

A first course in circuits employs practical sensors used in today's electronic devices. Understand how orientation and touch sensors work and test the demos or even your own designs.

Hands-On Electronics Experiments

Circuits are the building blocks of the electronics we rely on every day. Come to the lab and get exposed to electrical engineering. Build simple circuits and learn to solder. Student members, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Life in EECS From a Student Perspective

A student panel answers questions from prospective students and their families and offers tips about life at Berkeley. Don't miss this great opportunity to get the real deal about programs in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and in the Letters and Science major in computer science.

Visit the Automation Laboratory

See a student demonstration in Berkeley's Automation Lab -- a center for research in automated manufacturing, computer-assisted surgery, and networked telerobotics.

Engineering Science

Go With the Flow

Visit this unique transparent lab station, used in teaching undergraduate fluid mechanics. Watch the open-channel flow of fluids under various conditions, and learn what it means for the environment.

Engineering Science Information Session

What is the Engineering Science Program? Faculty and students give an overview and details about the interdisciplinary studies majors in engineering science: computational engineering science, engineering mathematics and statistics, engineering physics, environmental engineering science, and the engineering undeclared major.

Industrial Engineering & Operations Research (IEOR)

Majoring in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research (IEOR) and Operations Research & Management Science (ORMS)

The science of better: Professionals in these fields develop ways to predict how systems will behave and, in turn, promote better decision-making. Learn about the majors (both IEOR and ORMS) and how students use information technology and mathematical modeling to solve problems. Professor and Chair Ilan Adler, Professor Shmuel Oren

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research in the Real World

Interested in both business and engineering? Learn about projects -- with real companies and organizations -- that improve decision-making for managing real-world systems.

Having Fun With Robots

See small robots that make their own decisions, without benefit of remote control. Help set up obstacle courses, and find out how clever these robots are.

Visit the Automation Laboratory

See a student demonstration in Berkeley's Automation Lab -- a center for research in automated manufacturing, computer-assisted surgery, and networked telerobotics.

Materials Science & Engineering (MSE)

Aging and Risk of Bone Fracture

Berkeley's top materials science professors give a series of talks, on the half hour, on the marvels of new materials (see additional talks beginning at 1 pm). The series starts with a look at the microstructure of our own bones, and what we can learn from it.

It's Materials!

How do engineers keep making things faster, stronger, cheaper, and better? It's materials! Faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students demonstrate the amazing ways that current materials can be used.

Materials Science: Of Superballs, Superconductors, and Strawberries

Berkeley materials scientists demonstrate the wonders of their world. Learn about liquid-nitrogen ice cream, metal alloys that deform and "spring back" to their original shapes, phase transformations in chocolate-dipped strawberries, high-temperature superconductors, polymeric superballs, and insulation for space flight.

The Mystery of Nanoscience

Materials scientists today can change materials -- atom by atom -- to produce new materials with the exact properties needed to get the job done. Learn how they are unlocking this potential by thinking very, very small.

Optoelectronics: What Is That?

What does light have to do with electronic devices, and what does it have to do with how well your computer works? Hear all about it, and about the advances Berkeley engineers are making in the field.

The World of Soft Materials

Look around. Nearly everything is made of soft materials, from the synthetic -- like plastic cups or clothing fabrics -- to the natural -- like your hair or DNA. Berkeley materials scientists tell you how they manipulate molecules to generate functional soft materials for nano- and biotechnology.

Computational Nanomechanics

It can take decades, and endless experimentation, to develop customized new materials, whether for an artificial knee joint or a spacecraft's heat shield. But can computer models help scientists streamline the process and get the material behaviors they want? Yes, they can!

The Science of Energy Conversion

How do we convert light and heat into electricity, and vice versa? The history and the physics behind these processes help you understand how they work and how we can make them work better.

Mechanical Engineering (ME)

Combustion and Engineering Instructional Labs

Love cars and motorcycles? Visit these labs to see real-time experiments and demonstrations. Development Engineer Scott McCormick, Lab Mechanician Mike Neufer

Student-Access Machine Shop

Visit the fully equipped mechanical engineering machine shop, used by students. Lab Mechanician Mick Franssen

The Ballistic Materials Testing Lab

Ready, aim, fire! Ever wondered what it would take to stop a speeding bullet? Visit the lab and see materials used for ballistic protection put to the test. Watch as projectiles are fired at the materials, and then, through high-speed video, see what happens when the missile hits a stationary target. Professor George Johnson and graduate students Tim Kostka and George Mseis

Computer Mechanics Laboratory

Want to store more and more information on your computer's hard-drive? See what mechanical engineers do to make that happen. Professor David Bogy and graduate students

Computer-Assisted Design Laboratory

Discover how tomorrow's engineers will design next-generation products using tools like those demonstrated in this lab. Professor Dennis Lieu, Programmer/Analyst Rene Viray

Engineering Design Projects From Freshman Students

See a variety of group design and analysis projects from freshman students. Professor Alice Agogino and graduate students

Mechanical Engineering Information Booth

It's all about ME! Stop by to meet department students and staff, who will answer your questions about the mechanical engineering major. Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Pi Tau Sigma (PTS), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and staff

Mechatronics and Controls Laboratory

Learn how students program robotic systems and watch an instructional robot as it uses "vision." Student projects, robots, and control systems will be on display. Instructor George Anwar, Development Engineer Tom Clark, and graduate students

The Laser Thermal Laboratory

Have you ever used a magnifying glass to focus the light from the sun? How does light melt or ignite materials? Come to the lab to see how light, a quadrillion times more intense than that of the sun, can blast materials. Ultra-fast images show the breakdown and explosion of whatever is irradiated. Professor Costos Grigoropoulos and Graduate Student Travis Owens

The World of Micromachines and Nanomachines

Visit this lab to see the tiniest devices being made at Berkeley to solve myriad engineering challenges, from transportation to health-care issues. Professor Arun Majumdar and Graduate Student Yang Zhao