The Lawrence Hall of Science buzzed with life Thursday night as adult science enthusiasts—gathered for The Future of Food and the Buzz of Science, a lively, bug-themed after-hours event exploring everything from pollinator science to Indigenous oral tradition to large-scale fire art.

The event marked The Lawrencer’s first adults-only evening in years, drawing a diverse crowd for a night of discovery and celebration. Guests were invited to explore insect evolution and ecology, engage in hands-on experiences with microscopes and virtual reality, and reflect on the deeper cultural significance of bees and other pollinators. Attendees who came dressed as bugs even received a $5 discount.

“It’s been a very challenging time for us as an organization,” said Lee Bishop, the Biotechnology Lead at The Lawrence, in welcoming remarks. “But we are really excited to keep the lights on for science—and feel very strongly about continuing our work creatively and adaptably.”

One of the evening’s most powerful moments came from Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino of the ’ottoy initiative, who shared an Ohlone story titled nefeja pin nanikma a taresh, or The Bees and the Man. The tale, recorded in 1921 and passed down through generations, tells of a man who exploits a hive: stealing honey, killing bees, and ultimately facing the swarm’s revenge. The story, Medina explained, is rooted in a concept of personhood that applies not only to humans but also to animals, plants, and ecosystems.

“This story takes the side of the bees instead of the side of the man,” he said. “It’s a reminder of Ohlone personhood and how that’s something still respected by our people today.”

Trevino added that the story’s themes of balance, respect, and consequence are especially resonant in today’s environmental climate. “We work at the intersection of Ohlone science and Western science,” he said, “and we’re proud to see our culture represented here at The Lawrence—not dismissed as folklore, but uplifted for the scientific principles embedded in it.”

The evening also featured presentations from UC Berkeley entomologists Dr. Nina Sokolov and Dr. Signe White. Sokolov captivated the audience with her deep knowledge of native bees and their medicinal behaviors. While most people associate bees with social hives, she explained that 90% of bee species are solitary.

“There are 1,600 species of bees in California alone,” Sokolov said. “And many of them are sick—infected with viruses and struggling with habitat loss. But they’re also incredibly smart. We’ve seen bumble bees use sunflower pollen to self-medicate against gut parasites.”

She encouraged guests to plant a diversity of flowers to help stock pollinators’ “food pantries and medicine cabinets.”

White, a lepidopterist, followed with a story about monarch butterflies and their use of milkweed toxins to fight off OE, a protozoan parasite. Infected adult monarchs, she explained, often choose to lay their eggs on more toxic milkweed plants, ensuring their offspring have a better chance at resisting infection.

“Animals have agency,” she said. “They know what they need—and they make choices that help them survive.”

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Microscopical Society set up stations for guests to peer into the miniature world of insect anatomy, diatoms, and even a delicate fish-shaped mosaic made from butterfly wing scales. Their goal? “To get people excited about the microscopic beauty all around us.”

A large crowd also gathered around Serenity, a glowing firefly installation by the Flaming Lotus Girls. The San Francisco-based collective, known for its interactive metal art and appearances at Burning Man, lit up the evening—literally. The sculpture featured a fire-breathing insect built by a team of artists ranging from newcomers to seasoned fabricators.

“Everyone can be a Flaming Lotus Girl,” said longtime member Caroline “Mills” Miller, who also works as a microscopist. “We’re all about demystifying art and empowering people to build amazing things.”

Also on display was a virtual reality experience by 10k Science, inviting participants to shrink down to the scale of the glassy-winged sharpshooter—a vineyard pest—and explore how its presence affects plant health. The interactive storyline allowed viewers to zoom through insect anatomy and even visualize the bacteria that cause disease.

As the sun set behind the Golden Gate Bridge, guests lingered in Dinosaur Lookout, pressing buttons to create bursts of fire from Serenity.

“We’re known in the Bay Area as a place for families and kids,” said Bishop, “but we also want to serve our adult community—and create spaces where curiosity, culture, and fun can thrive together.”

From the shimmer of insect wings under a microscope to the roar of fire sculptures against the night sky, The Future of Food and the Buzz of Science offered a reminder: science is for everyone and it’s anything but boring.

BERKELEY, CA – The Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley’s Public Science Center, invites the public to join us on Saturday, May 10 for STEM Day. The event celebrates the innovative work that UC Berkeley, including the Lawrence Hall of Science, has done to shape science education in schools and other learning spaces, like museums and science centers. The special displays and interactive experiences will include:

• The East Bay Academy of Young Scientists (EBAYS) will present a display on their Urban Youth Participation in Community and Citizen Science project, which engages youth of color between 14 and 18 years of age in community-driven science investigations of local environmental issues. EBAYS is studying the impact that participation in these programs have on students’ perceptions and awareness of science and STEM careers.
• Virtually Human is an exhibition that introduces museumgoers to artificial intelligence (AI), and invites them to explore how AI approaches solutions to different problems. The Virtually Human team is researching how young children make sense of and interact with AI. Visitors will prototype new AI experiences currently in development for inclusion in a new iteration of the exhibit.
• Supporting Rightful Presence in Museum Spaces is a model of participatory design with indigenous communities. The project created the tappenekšekma Ohlone Science Diplomats Program, in which Ohlone youth & families co-create Ohlone Science mixed reality exhibits at the Lawrence Hall of Science through a series of participatory design workshops that center and celebrate Ohlone cultural and scientific knowledge.
• Innovative, NSF research-based TK–12 science activities developed by The Lawrence! Our instructional materials, used across the U.S. and internationally, are brought to TK-12 classrooms through partnerships with leading publishers. The Lawrence designs our instructional materials aligned to national standards, and include the programs Amplify Science (TK-8), FOSS (TK-8), SEPUP, and the Ocean Sciences Sequence.
• Several partners from UC Berkeley and beyond including The Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), the NSF Center for Genetically Encoded Materials (C-GEM), and Dynamoid will showcase their innovative research to museumgoers.

STEM Day participants can also explore our engaging hands-on exhibits including the Planetarium, Outdoor Nature Lab, Animal Discovery Zone, Curiosity Corner/Esquina Curiosa, Playtopia/Juegolandia, and so much more at this celebratory event.

STEM Day is on Saturday, May 10 from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Admission to The Lawrence for the day is reduced to a special discounted rate of $5 per person. A free shuttle will run in a continuous loop from the Downtown Berkeley BART station to The Lawrence (every 20-30 minutes) to increase access to the science center on this celebratory day.

Why we are featuring these programs and projects

Throughout our history, federal funding, including major support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), has made possible important innovations from the basic research on learning that led to the creation of new approaches to teaching science, preparation of educators to use high quality instructional materials and methods, and studies on the effectiveness of STEM education in serving the needs of all students. Without federal funding, our visitors would not have been able to experience some of The Lawrence’s most beloved programs, including the Planetarium, our outdoor nature activities, the Virtually Human exhibit, and our outdoor science park, Forces That Shape the Bay.

STEM Day was originally envisioned, in part, as a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the National Science Foundation and the many innovations and discoveries that have been made possible by NSF support over the years. “We want our community to be able to experience and see examples of the impactful projects and programs made possible by past NSF support. On STEM day visitors will engage in science discovery and learning made possible by these investments  and learn more about STEM learning and research across UC Berkeley,” said Rena Dorph, Ph.D, Director of The Lawrence Hall of Science.

About The Lawrence Hall of Science

The Lawrence Hall of Science (The Lawrence) is UC Berkeley’s public science center. Opened to the public in 1968, The Lawrence’s mission is to inspire and engage through scientific discovery and learning in ways that advance equity and opportunity. We activate hundreds of thousands of Northern CA youth, families, educators and communities through fun and rigorous, hands-on science learning at our Berkeley-based science center and with extensive outreach programs. Nationwide, The Lawrence reaches over 20% of US K–12 students through its science curricula (including Amplify Science, FOSS, SEPUP). We also impact millions of people worldwide via its effective STEM learning programs, educator professional learning, and STEM learning research and design.

Press Contact

Newsroom@berkeley.edu

This material is partially based upon work that was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2241805.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

The Animal Discovery Zone (ADZ) houses over 40 live animal ambassadors (reptiles, mammals, amphibians, insects, etc.) at The Lawrence Hall of Science. ADZ Animal Caretakers & Facilitators provide care for the animals in this exhibit space and facilitate experiences for visitors of all ages to observe and interact with our animal ambassadors, educating them about the behavior, conservation needs and habitats of exotic species. If you love animals and children, please apply!

Student Assistant II
Starting Pay Range: $18.67-18.92, dependent on experience

Hiring Timeline

We might not hire every semester, depending on current staffing levels. Applications received after “apply before” dates may be deferred to the next term. Off-season hiring happens occasionally based on operational needs.

Scope Overview

We are currently looking for student staff available to work from summer to fall 2025, or longer. This is not your typical campus lab position. This job integrates animal care and education. Our animal care team’s main duties consist of providing the daily care needed to maintain a healthy animal colony, and interacting and engaging with visitors in the Animal Discovery Zone. Visitors consist mostly of school groups (primarily elementary-aged) and families with young children. This position also involves working with and supporting ADZ youth and adult volunteers. Training guides and on-the-job-training will be provided and generally takes 1-2 months to complete.

Time Commitment

Work hours are between 9am-5:30pm, Sun-Sat. This is NOT just a school break (winter or summer) position, and Animal Caretaker and Facilitator student assistants are encouraged to commit to at least 2 semesters. ***Animal care is a big commitment and animals must be cared for 7 days a week, regardless of holidays or weekends.*** 

On weekdays, the Hill Shuttle leaves from Hearst mining circle every half hour and goes directly to the Lawrence Hall of Science. There is no direct public transportation option on weekends. Weekends and holidays will require carpooling with other staff or driving your own vehicle. 

Key Responsibilities

• Upholds the daily quality of life for the ADZ animal ambassador colony, including feeding; watering; monitoring habitat parameters; providing enrichment; communicating health concerns; providing medication as needed (usually oral or topical treatment); etc.
• Maintains and creates functional, species-appropriate and safe enclosure habitats for an aesthetically pleasing and enriching display for our animal ambassadors and the public to enjoy.
• Delivers basic public educational program presentations both informally (in conversation with a small number of guests) and/or in a more structured manner (a presentation for a bigger audience or guided activity for a school group)
• Participates in professional learning with peers and independently, including attending monthly ADZ staff meetings, practicing safe animal handling, and reviewing animal care guides and resources. Engages in critical self-reflection to develop as an informal educator over time.
• Guides and supports ADZ adult volunteers. Mentors, provides work direction and trains youth volunteers assisting in the ADZ.
• Miscellaneous husbandry, administrative and lab duties: mopping, sweeping, data entry, maintaining an organized and clean work space.

Knowledge or Skills

Required:

• You must be currently enrolled as a UC Berkeley undergraduate student
• School breaks (winter, spring, summer) require a minimum of 16-35 hours/week, including 1 weekend day. When school is in session (spring/fall/summer school), availability to work 12-19.5 hours/week is required, including weekdays and at least 1 full (8hr) weekend day, as well as some holidays and school breaks. 
• Ability to work for an extended period in a fast-paced and occasionally loud environment
• Effective reading, verbal, written communication and presentation skills.
• Basic understanding of what is involved in taking care of animals and previous experience with being the primary caretaker for an animal, including pets.
• Previous experience with or interest in learning how to handle a diversity of exotic animals, including snakes, spiders and insects.
• Enjoys interacting with children and adults
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 lbs.
• Reliable transportation to The Lawrence Hall of Science on weekends and holidays (public transit is only available Mon-Fri; carpooling with other staff is an option)

Preferred:

• Previous experience with or ongoing interest in informal education, science communication and customer service best practices preferred. 
• Flexible schedule and availability for 2 semesters preferred. Prefer applicants who are available for all or winter and/or summer breaks. 
• Experience in mentoring students 14-17 years of age preferred (background check required for working with minors). 
• Experience working with the public, including young children, in an educational setting is also preferred. Prior experience with reptiles and their unique husbandry needs is a plus.

To Apply

Send the following to Alondra Blandon at ablandon@berkeley.edu with the subject line: ADZ Student Position Application:

1. A screenshot of your summer school schedule, including what session(s) you’re taking, if applicable
2. Resume/CV
3. Cover letter