Sourcing clarity in the fog of ideas. Lighting your way to ideas.
In-person and across the Bay.
The Bay's intellectual scene is rich, varied, and hard to find.
Burnoff brings it into view. Expand your horizon.
19 upcoming workshops and classes in the South Bay. 8 are in the next seven days; the list is updated daily.
Everything in the South Bay →Workshops across the Bay →The full calendar →Burnoff for iPhone →
More in the South Bay Lectures 171Book talks 19Conferences 16
Workshops elsewhere San Francisco 75Berkeley 26Oakland 11Santa Cruz 16East Bay 44North Bay 32
A workshop on Catholic social teaching and artificial intelligence, exploring how the Church's tradition of humanistic philosophy engages with AI ethics and technology. Part of the Markey Center's monthly Faith Meets World series, this session includes interactive discussion and reflection opportunities for all participants.
An interactive afternoon summit centered on youth voice and civic engagement for children and families. Participants will engage with hands-on stations in art, music, writing, and voting, with inspiring youth speakers, movement breaks, and a quiet room for reading and regrouping. Hosted at Santa Clara University.
As solar, wind, and battery storage displace conventional generators, the grid loses the stabilizing inertia that once came free from spinning mass. This interactive session explores how inverter-based resources can help maintain grid stability, what their limits are, and how reactive power support fits into the picture. Stanford IEEE's Power & Energy Society will walk through real-world grid events and their lessons, with live demos and open discussion. No power systems background required; open to all majors.
A live demonstration of how used cooking oil is transformed into soap through circular economy principles. Attendees will watch the soap-making process in action, learn about the environmental impact of cooking oil waste, explore the science behind the transformation, and discover ways to support sustainable solutions from everyday materials. The session explores both the practical methodology and the broader concept of converting waste into useful products.
A hands-on tutorial on compiling and debugging code on WAVE, Santa Clara University's High Performance Computing Center. The session opens with an informational presentation from WAVE support staff, followed by supervised practice time and direct Q&A with the technical team. Bring a laptop to access WAVE during the workshop.
A hands-on workshop on designing AI-integrated assignments that promote critical thinking, reflection, and deeper learning. Participants will redesign one of their own assignments and leave with a ready-to-use version. Led by Wendy Lee, Associate Professor in the College of Science at San Jose State University.
Lesley Currier of Shakespeare for Social Justice discusses the organization's work bringing Shakespeare courses and performing arts programs to fourteen California state prisons and rehabilitation centers since 2003. Participants will explore the crisis of mass incarceration in California and the U.S., and engage in creative exercises demonstrating theater's capacity to build empathy, foster connection, and transform lives. The event combines lecture with interactive workshop components.
A hands-on workshop on running AI models locally on your own computer. Participants will learn how to deploy and manage AI systems independently, without relying on cloud services or external platforms. Ideal for anyone interested in AI infrastructure, self-hosting, and practical machine learning applications.
Join the San Jose Astronomical Association for a hands-on solar observation event featuring white-light and hydrogen-alpha telescopes revealing sunspots, prominences, and the Sun's chromosphere. A short introductory talk at 1:30 pm will cover how the Sun works and the role of magnetic fields in solar activity. Attendees can observe the Sun safely through specially filtered equipment, ask questions about solar astronomy, and learn about the scale of the solar system. Bring your own filtered telescope to share views with others. Come prepared for outdoor conditions with hat, sunscreen, and water.
Participants translate handmade patterns into digital geometry and three-dimensional forms through computational design and digital fabrication. Led by computational designer Stepan Drunks, this workshop bridges traditional craft and emerging technology, exploring how new tools can transform cultural and personal patterns while preserving the stories behind them. Attendees will learn to move from 2D pattern to digital design to 3D printing, experiment with generative pattern-making, and investigate connections between craft, culture, and technology. New participants welcome; those from earlier sessions can continue developing their work.
An in-person tutorial on using WAVE, Santa Clara University's High Performance Computing Center. The session begins with an informational presentation followed by hands-on practice time and Q&A with the WAVE support staff. Bring a laptop to access the system.
A workshop on integrating AI tools into academic work, career planning, and daily life. Designed for students navigating rapid AI development and seeking practical guidance on deploying these resources effectively.
A practical workshop for small-business owners to learn how to use AI tools to grow their businesses online. Hosted by Grow with Google in partnership with San José's Mayor's Office, San José Public Library, and the Bay Area Council as part of the AI For All Initiative. No prior AI experience required; light refreshments provided.
A hands-on workshop where participants bring a small object, scan it into a 3D digital model using 3D scanning technology, and then place it back into the real world using augmented reality. No previous 3D or technical experience required. Learn the fundamentals of 3D scanning, 3D modeling, augmented reality, and spatial computing while creating your own digital clone. Hosted by the KLEVR Lab at San José State University's King Library, a resource for exploring emerging technologies in digital creativity and learning.
An interactive exchange connecting youth community organizers working at the intersection of environmental justice and climate action. Learn organizing strategies from representatives of HOPE Collaborative, Oakland Climate Resilient Communities, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, and the Indigenous Justice Coalition. Designed for SCU students, faculty, staff, and community members to explore collaboration opportunities and support transformative change. Faculty and community partners interested in community-engaged research and community-based learning are especially welcome.
Learn to build a personalized AI assistant that synthesizes email, calendar, and personal context into a daily briefing to help you identify priorities and organize your day. Patricia Rodriguez, Director of Resources and Operations at SJSU King Library, will demonstrate a real-world example and discuss how to adapt the approach to different roles and work styles. This hands-on workshop includes time to experiment with your own workflow, ask questions, and begin designing a morning briefing tailored to you. Bring your laptop.
A hands-on workshop exploring motion capture technology at San José State University's KLEVR Lab. Using just a laptop and webcam, participants will capture their own movements and animate a digital avatar in real time—no prior animation or technical experience required. The workshop covers how MoCap is applied across video games, film, animation, virtual production, sports, and research, and introduces creative and technical careers in animation, game development, 3D art, and virtual production. Attendees will leave with their own short character animation and a practical understanding of how human movement translates to digital media.
A guided exploration of the Palo Alto Baylands led by Environmental Volunteers docents, investigating the science and ecology of this unique saltwater habitat. Participants will learn how plants and animals survive saline conditions, why the environment changes seasonally and throughout the day, and how to protect this fragile ecosystem. Suitable for ages 6 and up; children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Low-impact hike.
Part of the monthly Faith Meets World workshop series on Catholic Social Teaching, this interactive session explores the church's preferential option for the poor and its radical call to social justice. Workshops include opportunities for conversation and reflection among participants.
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