Donor Events

Reopening Critical Periods with Psychedelics (and why we gave octopuses MDMA)
Wednesday, February 19 | 6:00 pm

Donors are invited to a special reception with hors d'oeuvres and beverages prior to the Chen Brain & Mind Lecture featuring Dr. Gül Dölen. Dr. Dölen will share insights on how you can "teach an old dog new tricks" and how psychedelics can reopen critical periods offering healing therapy for a scope of disorders.

RSVP by February 10

Why Dinosaurs? Member & Donor Premiere
Sunday, March 9 | 10:00 am

Join us for a special documentary screening about dinosaurs and the people who love them. Follow father-son duo Tony and James Pinto on a journey around the world, interviewing paleontologists about the latest dinosaur research, digging up real dinosaur bones, and encountering dinosaur fanatics from all walks of life—from seasoned paleontologists and amateur fossil hunters to paleo artists and fans of the Jurassic Park movie franchise. 

Following the film, Dr. Scott Sampson, the Academy’s Executive Director, will host a Q&A session with Tony and James Pinto, as well as scientists and experts featured in the film. Donors are invited to enjoy a meet and greet with the filmmakers and special guests in the Naturalist Center following the Q&A session.

RSVP today!
(Limited spaces available)

Unseen Oceans Donor Exhibit Premiere 
Wednesday, March 19 | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Donors and their families are invited to the Exhibit Premiere for Unseen Oceans, before it opens to the public on March 21. Join us for a reception and special preview of this immersive and mesmerizing exhibit that explores the mysterious wonders of the deep sea and highlights the Academy's incredible research, collections, and mission. 

RSVP by March 7

Local Expedition: Point Reyes
Resilience & Biodiversity
Leadership Circle donors at $25,000 and above are invited to join Academy scientists, Jack Dumbacher and Durrell Kapan, for a day exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Forest. Chronicling biodiversity through birds and other wildlife, we will discuss forest regeneration and witness the aftermath of the Woodward fire in 2020.

Donor Exhibit Premiere and Reception:
California: State of Nature
Academy supporters and partners enjoyed a special premiere of our newest exhibit highlighting the surprising connections between people, places, and species that make our state thrive. 

Enjoy the mesmerizing musical piece, Big Sur: The Night Sun by Emmy-Award winning composer, John Wineglass was performed by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Indigenous performers Jayson Fann, Marcie Chapa, Emiliano Campobello, and Kanyon Sayers-Rood. 

Lilienthal Lecture & Donor Reception:
Two-Eyed Seeing: Integrating Indigenous and Western Science to Heal the World
Dr. Shannon Tushingham discusses historical ecology, the importance of "two-eyed seeing," and current efforts to integrate Native and Western science approaches to transform conservation research and restore healthy ecocultural systems.

Virtual Event: Resilience & Regeneration
In partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Luiz Rocha, the Academy’s Curator and Follett Chair of Ichthyology and Hope for Reefs Co-Director, and Dr. Cédric Robillot, Executive Director for the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program at the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, as they discuss the findings of a deep reef monitoring dive off the Australian coast during a projected coral bleaching. Hear about the landmark dive and solutions for regenerating the Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs globally.
Watch the recording here

Lilienthal Lecture & Donor Reception
Fossils, Ecosystems, and Ecological Regeneration:
Explaining the Past, Predicting the Future
Dr. Peter Roopnarine, the Academy’s Curator of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology, discusses his research studying the rise and fall of ancient ecosystems to understand how ecosystems today may respond to current human-driven crises, such as biodiversity loss and climate change. This lecture is part of the Claire Matzger Lilienthal Distinguished Lecture Series.
Watch the recording here.

Legacy of Hope
In partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the Academy offers a special program for our Eastwood Associates to hear directly from our esteemed experts. View our past virtual programs here:

• November 2020: Adapting Together for an Evolving Future
• May 2020: Preserving History for the Future
• November 2021: Ocean to Sky
• November 2022: Sparking Scientific Curiosity
• December 2023: Species Preservation in Action

LEGACY SYMPOSIUM: HOPE FOR REEFS

Senior Director of Steinhart Aquarium, Bart Shepherd, dives into Phase II of the Academy’s Hope for Reefs initiative, where the team is creating powerful pathways—biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement—to reverse the rapid decline of Earth’s reefs in this generation. Opening remarks by Scott Sampson, PhD, Executive Director and William R. and Gretchen B. Kimball Chair, California Academy of Sciences. 
Click here to watch the recording.

Eastwood Associates Symposium: Thriving California

The Academy’s Sarah Jacobs, Assistant Curator of Botany and the Howell Chair of Western North American Botany, digs a bit deeper into our Thriving California initiative.

Check out the recording here.