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Big Bang Gala 2016 to feature M. Sanjayan, Wendy Schmidt, Andrew Revkin, and Adam Savage
Annual fundraiser supports the Academy's world-class scientific exploration and engagement programs.
SAN FRANCISCO (March 11, 2016) – The California Academy of Sciences will host its 30th annual Big Bang Gala on April 28, 2016. This year’s event will highlight the critical role of science communication in creating a more environmentally literate public and engaging the planet with global sustainability issues, areas at the core of the Academy’s mission to explore, explain, and sustain life on Earth.
The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 6:00 pm, followed by guests' choice of two Insightful Conversations. In How Nature Can Save Us, M. Sanjayan, conservation scientist and Emmy-nominated presenter, will share a global perspective on the important lessons humans can learn by forming closer connections to the natural world, and in turn, discover how to sustain our planet into the future. In Words Into Action: Inspiring Sustainability, philanthropist Wendy Schmidt and award-winning science journalist and New York Times writer Andrew Revkin will discuss the current state of environmental reporting and how the ever-changing media landscape influences how we tell stories and consume news. The conversations will be followed with a seated dinner by McCalls, presenting a menu of locally sourced, sustainable fare.
At 8:30 pm, a second wave of guests will arrive for Big Bang: Party After Dark. In addition to an open bar of inspired libations and gourmet sweets, Gala and Party After Dark guests will enjoy electrifying entertainment, including a special appearance by Adam Savage (host of Mythbusters), live DJ set by acclaimed indie band Purity Ring, a silent funk disco featuring music by DJ Dave Paul of “Michael Jackson vs. Prince” fame, photo booths, and more.
The Big Bang Gala is a fundraising event to support the Academy’s world-class programs of scientific exploration and public engagement, aimed at exploring, explaining, and sustaining life on Earth. Event Chairs Susan and Bill Oberndorf and Liebe Patterson, Honorary Co-Chairs Diana L. Nelson and John C. Atwater, Janice and Matthew Barger, Randi and Bob Fisher, and Mary and Jerome C. Vascellaro invite guests to attend in dazzling cocktail attire. Major supporters include Jennifer Caldwell and John H.N. Fisher, Kate and Bill Duhamel, and Huifen Chan and Roelof Botha, and Corporate Chair Oliver Jenkyn, Visa Inc. The evening is generously supported by Presenting Sponsors Carmel Partners and Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
What: Big Bang Gala 2016
Where: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, 94118
When: Thursday, April 28, 2016 from 6:00 pm to midnight
Tickets: Big Bang Gala tables start at $25,000; advanced tickets to Big Bang: Party After Dark are $75 ($100 after March 28). Proceeds benefit Academy research, education, and public programs.
To purchase, visit www.calacademy.org/bigbang or call (415) 379-5411.