While our doors may be closed, our science never stop! We're taking our annual Big Bang Gala online, offering an incredible array of speakers, special programming, and insights on the theme of connecting people to nature to inspire both conversation, and conservation. Register for free to hear from:

• Scott Sampson, PhD, Executive Director of the California Academy of Sciences as well as a paleontologist, science communicator, and passionate advocate for connecting people with nature. He's authored multiple books (though is perhaps best known as “Dr. Scott” of the Emmy-nominated series Dinosaur Train); he'll discuss "The Rewilding Revolution" and why it's so relevant and important to our planet’s future.

• Rue Mapp, founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, the nation's leading nonprofit organization and network that celebrates and inspires African-American connections and leadership in nature. Outdoor Afro's work has been championed by Oprah Winfrey, the Obama administration, Governor Gavin Newsom, and the National Wildlife Federation. In 2014, Mapp was appointed to the California State Parks Commission by Former Governor Jerry Brown and was named a National Geographic Fellow in 2019.

• Nicole Ardoin, PhD, the Sykes Family Director of the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program on Environment and Resources at Stanford University. Professor Ardoin researches the influence of place-based connections and environmental learning on individual and collective behaviors. As founder of the Social Ecology Lab, she and her team of social science scholars collaborate with community organizations to address pressing sustainability questions.

PLUS:
• Share your own thoughts about and experiences with nature and interact with our speakers via live chat, Q & A, and polling features.
• Learn the latest about what’s happening at the Academy, including how we’re taking care of our animals during the museum closure.
• Help us name one of our animals!
• And discover ways you can support us during this critical time