Big Bang Gala 2017 to feature Katharine Hayhoe and Patrick Brown

SAN FRANCISCO (March 30, 2017) – The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park will host the Big Bang Gala, the institution’s largest annual fundraiser, on April 27, 2017. This year’s event will highlight bold ideas for an evolving planet and the game-changing scientific innovators who challenge the boundaries of what’s possible—from how we consume food sustainably to how we communicate climate change.

The evening begins at 6:00 pm with a cocktail reception, followed by guests' choice of two thought-provoking talks. In Climate Change: Faith and Fact, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, leading atmospheric scientist and professor of political science at Texas Tech University, will describe her work untangling the complex science of global warming and fostering an open dialogue within faith-based communities to effectively communicate climate change. In Sustainable Meat: Myth...or Impossible?, Dr. Patrick Brown, founder and CEO of Impossible Foods, will share the incredible story of how—and why—he and a team of curious scientists decided it was time to rethink the way we make and consume meat. The conversations will be followed with a seated dinner by McCalls, presenting a menu of locally sourced, sustainable fare, including a special opportunity for guests to enjoy an Impossible Foods entrée.

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 live DJ set by acclaimed indie-electro band Hot Chip, plus beats by dj christopher b. Down in the aquarium, revelers can groove with the fishes while tuning in to a silent disco by DJ Motion Potion of Silent Frisco. Plus, guests will enjoy custom photo booth and video experiences throughout the museum. After dancing up an appetite, guests can nosh on delicious fare from SF food trucks Senor Sisig and Grilled Cheese Bandits, serving up savory snacks all night long. This year, guests can take a trip to the Summer of Love as African Hall transforms into a psychedelic cocktail lounge inspired by the sights and sounds of the 1960s.

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 Kana Muraki and Larry Miao, Corporate Chair Oliver Jenkyn, Visa Inc., and Honorary Co-Chairs Wendy and Eric Schmidt, Diana L. Nelson and John C. Atwater, Randi and Bob Fisher, and Mary and Jerome C. Vascellaro invite guests to attend in dazzling cocktail attire. Vice Chairs include Jennifer Caldwell and John H.N. Fisher and Kate and Bill Duhamel. The Party After Dark is generously supported by Carmel Partners.

What: Big Bang 2017 (www.calacademy.org/bigbang)

Where: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 94118

When: Thursday, April 27, 2017 from 6:00 pm to midnight

Tickets: Big Bang Gala tables start at $25,000; tickets to Big Bang: Party After Dark are $125. Proceeds benefit Academy research, education, and public programs. To purchase, visit www.calacademy.org/bigbang or call (415) 379-5411.