Science on Tap

By david

Events, Science on Tap

State of the River Speaker Series— What’s up with Water Quality?

11 May

The Local Grape presents, Science on Tap. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources Co-sponsored by the Upper Merced River Watershed Council What's up with Water Quality? Subtitle Whether you swim, float, picnic, or cast a rod along the Merced River, you know that water quality is vital for river health and its communities of life. For nearly two decades the Upper Merced River Watershed Council has worked in partnership with the National Park Service to monitor water quality in the Merced Wild and Scenic River. Come learn about this work, the volunteer citizen science program, what's new with water quality, and what it tells us about the river our community loves. Jim Soldenwagner is the Lead Physical Science Technician on the National Park Service's Water Quality Monitoring Program in Yosemite National Park; Kristina Rylands, Watershed Director for the Upper Merced River Watershed Council (UMRWC); and Gigi Knowlton, Americorps Service Member and Watershed Project Coordinator for UMRWC. May 11th, 2026 5:30 pm Free Admission The Local Grape 5021 CA-140 Mariposa, CA 95338 Concessions: Cheese boards and paninis will be available for purchase during the event from The Local Grape! Mission: Science on Tap brings regional scientists together with Mariposa community members to share the joy and urgency of recent discoveries— from the outermost reaches of space and time to the everyday laboratory in our backyards.

By david

Events, Science on Tap

Bárbara Dos Santos, Did You Know UC Merced Has a Smart Farm?

13 Apr

The Local Grape presents, Science on Tap. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources Featuring, Bárbara Dos Santos, Research Coordinator, UC Merced Did You Know UC Merced Has a Smart Farm? Come take a look inside Join us for an inside look at UC Merced's Experimental Smart Farm, an innovative agricultural space that many in our region do not even know exists. This talk introduces the farm as a hub for research, collaboration, and hands-on learning, bringing together scientists, and community organizations. We will share what is currently happening at the farm, including the crops being planted this season, ongoing research, and the technologies used to study and improve agriculture. You will also learn about the people behind the work and how this local farm connects science, agriculture, and community in a practical and meaningful way. April 13th, 2026 5:30 pm Free Admission The Local Grape 5021 CA-140 Mariposa, CA 95338 Concessions: Cheese boards and paninis will be available for purchase during the event from The Local Grape! Mission: Science on Tap brings regional scientists together with Mariposa community members to share the joy and urgency of recent discoveries— from the outermost reaches of space and time to the everyday laboratory in our backyards.

By david

Events, Science on Tap

Dr. Stephen Wooding, Expedition to Amazonia: Exploring Yuca, and Ancient Indigenous Crop

09 Mar

The Local Grape presents, Science on Tap. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources Featuring, Dr. Stephen Wooding Associate Professor, UC Merced Expedition to Amazonia: Exploring Yuca, and Ancient Indigenous Crop Nearly every plant we eat is domesticated. Rice, corn, wheat, soy, and sugar fill our plates. But how did they get there? The answer begins 10,000 years ago. On Monday, join us on a journey to the Amazon River, where Anthropologist Dr. Stephen Wooding is exploring the domestication of yuca. Yuca, a starchy root, is a focal point of life for indigenous peoples throughout the Amazon basin, the place of its birth. It is grown in the old ways, planted and tended by hand, sifted and pressed using palm basketry, and cooked in handmade pots. Visiting villages, talking with growers, and returning to the laboratory, Dr. Wooding is unearthing the mystery of this unassuming plant. March 9th, 2026 5:30 pm Free Admission The Local Grape 5021 CA-140 Mariposa, CA 95338 Concessions: Cheese boards and paninis will be available for purchase during the event from The Local Grape! Mission: Science on Tap brings regional scientists together with Mariposa community members to share the joy and urgency of recent discoveries— from the outermost reaches of space and time to the everyday laboratory in our backyards.

By david

Events, Science on Tap

State of the River Speaker Series, Rob Grasso— When Rivers Remember: Could Salmon & Steelhead Return to Yosemite?

23 Feb

The Local Grape presents, Science on Tap. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources. Co-sponsored by the Upper Merced River Watershed Council Featuring, Rob Grasso Park Aquatic Ecologist Yosemite National Park State of the River Speaker Series When Rivers Remember: Could Salmon & Steelhead Return to Yosemite? For thousands of years, Yosemite's rivers and streams supported a dynamic native fish community shaped by elevation, geology, and natural barriers. While high-country lakes were historically fishless, the lower Merced and Tuolumne Rivers once connected to the Central Valley and the Pacific, allowing salmon and steelhead to migrate upstream long before dams and diversions severed those pathways. Over the past century, stocking programs, habitat alteration, and the fish have reshaped aquatic ecosystems throughout the park. This talk explores the ecological history of fish in Yosemite National Park-from pre-contact Indigenous stewardship to the era of widespread fish stocking, and the modern shift toward native species conservation. It also examines the emerging science and feasibility of restoring salmon and steelhead to their historical watersheds, including the cultural, ecological, and logistical considerations that shape this conversation today. By looking backward and forward, we can better understand what it would mean to reconnect Yosemite's revive one of the Sierra Nevada's lost migrations. February 23rd, 2026 5:30 pm Free Admission The Local Grape 5021 CA-140 Mariposa, CA 95338 Concessions: Cheese boards and paninis will be available for purchase during the event from The Local Grape! Mission: Science on Tap brings regional scientists together with Mariposa community members to share the joy and urgency of recent discoveries— from the outermost reaches of space and time to the everyday laboratory in our backyards.

By david

Events, Science on Tap

Colin Holbrook, PhD. Stay Human: How AI Can Lead to Isolation, Stupidity, and Death

26 Jan

The Local Grape presents, Science on Tap. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources Featuring, Colin Holbrook, PhD. Stay Human: How AI Can Lead to Isolation, Stupidity, and Death If you are worried about the impact of Al on human welfare ... you may not be worried enough. Leaving aside the risks to the economy and the impacts of Al infrastructure on our environment, human-Al interaction can erode human relationships and decision-making -- including high-stakes decisions with life-or-death consequences. In this talk, I will share recent research indicating that we humans are at risk of catastrophic over-reliance on Al and Al-powered robots, particularly when they are designed to appear human. We will close by discussing what constructive, positive personal and societal responses to Al might look like. January 26th, 2026 5:30 pm Free Admission The Local Grape 5021 CA-140 Mariposa, CA 95338 Concessions: Cheese boards and paninis will be available for purchase during the event from The Local Grape! Mission: Science on Tap brings regional scientists together with Mariposa community members to share the joy and urgency of recent discoveries— from the outermost reaches of space and time to the everyday laboratory in our backyards.

By david

Events, Science on Tap

Deborah Wiebe, PhD, MPH. In Sickness and in Health: How Social Relationships Help Us Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier Lives

17 Nov

The Local Grape presents, Science on Tap. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources Featuring, Deborah Wiebe, PhD, MPH. In Sickness and in Health: How Social Relationships Help Us Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier Lives Join us to explore the science behind the power of social relationships in maintaining health and managing chronic disease. This talk examines the latest scientific findings that being socially connected has dramatic benefits for health, while feeling disconnected and lonely is health-damaging. We'll also dive into the complexities of harnessing the power of social relationships to help families manage chronic diseases such as diabetes. Date 5:30 pm Free Admission The Local Grape 5021 CA-140 Mariposa, CA 95338 Concessions: Cheese boards and paninis will be available for purchase during the event from The Local Grape! Mission: Science on Tap brings regional scientists together with Mariposa community members to share the joy and urgency of recent discoveries— from the outermost reaches of space and time to the everyday laboratory in our backyards.

By david

Events, Science on Tap

Dr. Rebecca Ryals, From Scraps to Soil: How Compost Builds a Better Future.

20 Oct

The Local Grape presents, Science on Tap. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources Featuring, Dr. Rebecca Ryals From Scraps to Soil: How Compost Builds a Better Future. Join us to explore the science behind composting and its role in building healthier soils and communities! This talk dives into the science of composting and how it transforms waste into a powerful climate solution. We'll explore how compost use builds soil carbon and improves soil health across a range of agricultural ecosystems. We'll also share how locally led composting efforts create more just and resilient food and soil systems-benefiting the communities where the compost is made. October 20th, 2025 5:30 pm Free Admission The Local Grape 5021 CA-140 Mariposa, CA 95338 Concessions: Cheese boards and paninis will be available for purchase during the event from The Local Grape! Mission: Science on Tap brings regional scientists together with Mariposa community members to share the joy and urgency of recent discoveries— from the outermost reaches of space and time to the everyday laboratory in our backyards.

By david

Events, Science on Tap

Kristina Rylands and Dr. Molly Stephens. Pushing the Imagination: First Steps at Salmonid Reintroduction in Two Iconic Watersheds

22 Sep

The Local Grape presents, Science on Tap. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources Featuring, Kristina Rylands and Dr. Molly Stephens. Pushing the Imagination: First Steps at Salmonid Reintroduction in Two Iconic Watersheds Imagine a Merced and Tuolumne River so teeming with steelhead and salmon you could nearly "walk across the river on the backs of so many fish." This is not folklore but the experience of locals within our lifetime. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has determined that in order to recover listed populations of salmon and steelhead in the Central Valley, reintroduction to high elevation habitats with abundant cold water is necessary. Currently the NMFS is working with a new consortium of NGOs, tribes, and government agencies-including Mariposa's Upper Merced River Watershed Council (UMRWC)-to evaluate the feasibility of reintroducing steelhead and/or spring-run Chinook salmon to the upper Tuolumne and Merced Rivers. Join UMRWC's Kristina Rylands and Molly Stephens to talk about how to go beyond our wildest imaginings and overcome challenges for this type of reintroduction while building partnerships with a diverse coalition of interest groups. September 22nd, 2025 5:30 pm Free Admission The Local Grape 5021 CA-140 Mariposa, CA 95338 Concessions: Cheese boards and paninis will be available for purchase during the event from The Local Grape! Mission: Science on Tap brings regional scientists together with Mariposa community members to share the joy and urgency of recent discoveries— from the outermost reaches of space and time to the everyday laboratory in our backyards.

By david

Events, Science on Tap

Kristina Rylands, Pushing the Imagination: First Steps at Salmonid Reintroduction in Two Iconic Watersheds

28 Jul

The Local Grape presents, Science on Tap. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources Featuring, Kristina Rylands Executive Director, Upper Merced River Watershed Council PUSHING THE IMAGINATION FIRST STEPS AT SALMONID REINTRODUCTION IN TWO ICONIC WATERSHEDS Imagine a Merced and Tuolumne River so teeming with steelhead and salmon you could nearly "walk across the river on the backs of so many fish." This is not folklore but the experience of locals within our lifetime. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has determined that in order to recover listed populations of salmon and steelhead in the Central Valley, reintroduction to high elevation habitats with abundant cold water is necessary. Currently NMFS is working with a new consortium of NGOs, tribes, and government agencies -- including Mariposa's Upper Merced River Watershed Council -- to evaluate the feasibility of reintroducing steelhead and/or spring-run Chinook salmon to the upper Tuolumne and Merced Rivers. Join Watershed Council's Kristina Rylands to talk about how to go beyond our wildest imaginings and overcome challenges for this type of reintroduction while building partnerships with a diverse coalition of interest groups. July 28th, 2025 5:30 pm Free Admission The Local Grape 5021 CA-140 Mariposa, CA 95338 Concessions: Cheese boards and paninis will be available for purchase during the event from The Local Grape! Mission: Science on Tap brings regional scientists together with Mariposa community members to share the joy and urgency of recent discoveries— from the outermost reaches of space and time to the everyday laboratory in our backyards.

By david

Events, Science on Tap

Alison Deak, Preparing for Fire Season

23 Jun

The Local Grape presents, Science on Tap. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources Featuring, Alison Deak UC Cooperative Extension Fire Advisor PREPARING FOR FIRE SEASON PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK The Sierra Nevada Foothills is an ecosystem historically adapted to thrive with fire. Today, however, we are seeing a rise in the risk of catastrophic fire. This talk will discuss how we got here and the practical steps we can take to protect our communities from this rising risk of wildfire. We will cover new research highlighting the importance of home hardening, the importance of community in reducing our collective wildfire risk, and simple, low-cost actions that we can take to protect our homes and properties as wildfire season approaches. June 23rd, 2025 5:30 pm Free Admission The Local Grape 5021 CA-140 Mariposa, CA 95338 Concessions: Cheese boards and paninis will be available for purchase during the event from The Local Grape! Mission: Science on Tap brings regional scientists together with Mariposa community members to share the joy and urgency of recent discoveries— from the outermost reaches of space and time to the everyday laboratory in our backyards.

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