Tix: https://squareup.com/store/nneb/

This month learn about humanity’s attempt to live underwater at Sealab, see the physical changes in East Bay cities driven by the Black Panther Party, and find out how EBMUD is replacing 4,200 miles of pipes right beneath your feet.

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Why Don’t We Live Underwater?
The True Story & Science of Sealab

In the 1960s the United States spent millions of dollars exploring both outer space and the deep oceans, but today only one of those programs still exists. Learn why space colonies are more likely than underwater cities, what it would take to build a settlement on the seafloor, and what it’s like when serious scientists have to report their findings while breathing a necessary mix of helium. Get the true story of Sealab, the first attempt at an underwater colony, with a winding history that includes astronauts, game shows, steep scientific odds, and a rescue dolphin named Tuffy.

Rose Eveleth is the creator and host of Flash Forward, a podcast about possible (and not so possible) futures. In her writing and producing career she explores how humans tangle with science and technology, and has covered everything from fake tumbleweed farms to million dollar baccarat heists. She’s also logged hundreds of hours underwater and would absolutely live at the bottom of the ocean if she could. http://roseveleth.com/

Transformation of the East Bay Urban Landscape by the Black Panther Party

Many modern political actions that deal with issues of racial inequality are directly influenced by the radical activism of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and 1970s. Based in Oakland, the Black Panther Party is well-known for changing the political landscape of the East Bay, but the Party also contributed to changes in the physical landscape that remain to this day. See contemporary and historical photographs of sites used by the Party, including important historical sites not yet memorialized, and consider the risks of collective amnesia that may come with a rapidly changing Oakland.

Dr. Alaina Morgan is a historian of the African diaspora, specializing in the history of Black radical and anti-colonial movements. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University where she is finishing a project on Black Islam and Anti-Colonialism. In the Fall of 2019, she will start her dream job as Assistant Professor of United States History at the University of Southern California. A native New Yorker, Alaina lives in Oakland. She misses the pizza, but not the weather.

Rebuilding the East Bay’s Water Pipeline Infrastructure

EBMUD has 4,200 miles of underground pipelines, many several decades old, and is ramping up a massive replacement program that uses the latest innovations to replace this labyrinthian network in a safe and sustainable manner. See how artificial intelligence is used to identify pipelines for replacement, and how new industrial-scale pipes are actually installed. Learn how new pipes are constructed to be resilient in the next earthquake, and how modern engineering and construction ensure that drinking water continues to arrive at your tap.

Tim Harris is a Construction Superintendent at EBMUD with 30 years of experience working in the trenches and supervising construction work. His grandfather played for the Oakland Oaks, and Raimond Field in West Oakland is named after Tim’s extended family. David Katzev is a Senior Civil Engineer at EBMUD with over 20 years of engineering experience and has worked on projects related to water in coastal and urban environments. David grew up in Oregon’s rain, so creating intricate water channels came naturally. Tim and David are both married to school teachers, each have two daughters, and enjoy beer, skiing, and their Labrador retrievers.

With music from DJ Rubberband Girl, drinks from Club 21, eats available for purchase from Grilled Cheese Guy, and brain filling info from the Oakland Public Library.

Club 21 doors and drinks at 7PM, TALKS BEGIN AT 7:30PM! 21+.

Ticket link is found at top of page