This Year's Theme
The theme of our twenty-second event shines a well-deserved spotlight on the scientific method and those who use it to better humanity. Living in the Golden State, it seems there is no shortage of inspiring examples:
- we've witnessed spectacular advancements in gene editing, developed by researchers in Berkeley, helping us find new ways to feed vast populations or stop the spread of disease,
- our friends at Lawrence Livermore National Labs have achieved net-positive fusion energy,
- we've seen the successful application of mRNA vaccines, which saved billions of lives, thanks to the research and clinical trials conducted throughout the UC system,
- after its assembly in Redondo Beach, we launched the James Webb Space Telescope to improve our view of the stars, and
- new developments in machine learning by dozens of companies in Silicon Valley are making information more accessible in creative ways.
Of course, these discoveries come with new challenges and ethical questions that are of no surprise to any fan of science-fiction.
But today, we choose to focus on the hope that science brings us and those who have dedicated their lives to its advancement. We'll celebrate the growth of STEM in our schools and a new wave of students inspired to pursue a career in science, right here in California... because science is golden... and there's no better time to acknowledge that than today, and no better place than here at our state capitol.
This Year's Lineup
Here's our lineup of speakers, live entertainment, authors and podcasters, awardees and scholarship winners, and more. You can also view the event schedule.