Author: marinscienceseminar

with Owen Bartolf (TLHS/MSEL 2019)

Wed., October 7, 2026; 7:30-8:30 pm

Innovation Hub, Terra Linda High School, 320 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael [Map]

Description: Coming soon

Bio: Owen Bartolf graduated from Terra Linda High School’s MSEL program in 2019. While at TL he served as Lead Student Mentor of Terra Linda’s Innovation Lab, an afterschool computer science enrichment program. He graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science from UC San Diego in 2023, and during college he interned at Amazon and Collins Aerospace. After college Owen has interned at NASA’s JPL and has worked at a variety of aerospace companies.

Links:

with Romain Pirracchio MD PhD MPH of UCSF

Wed., November 18, 2026; 7:30-8:30 pm

Innovation Hub, Terra Linda High School, 320 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael [Map]

Description: Coming soon

Bio: Dr. Pirracchio’s main research areas are clinical research in Anesthesiology and Critical care Medicine and applied research in Biostatistics. In Biostatistics, he is interested in problems of predictive analytics, machine learning, and causal inference. Since 2018, he is leading a UCSF-UC Berkeley research lab that focuses on the development of AI algorithms for clinical decision support in acute care and critical care.

Dr. Pirracchio holds an M.D. with a specialization in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine as well as a Master’s in Public Health (MPH). He completed his doctoral studies in Biostatistics in Paris, France in 2012. In Paris, he was the clinical director of the surgical and trauma ICU at European Hospital Georges Pompidou and a researcher in Biostatistics with the INSERM U-1153 unit. He has worked in the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative care at the San Francisco General Hospital & Trauma Center (UCSF). Since 2018, he is Professor of Anesthesia and Critical Care, and Professor of Biostatistics at UCSF. He is chief of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care at ZSF General Hospital and Vice Chair in the department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Mdicine at UCSF. ​Since 2023, he is AI Associate Editor for JAMA.

Links:

• Dr. Pirracchio at UCSF
• JAMA AI Appointment
• Google Scholar

with Jay Trimble (Space Science)

Wed. November 4th, 2026; 7:30 – 8:30 pm

Innovation Hub, Terra Linda High School, 320 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael [Map]

Description: Coming soon

Bio: Jay Trimble is a former NASA Mission team leader with experience spanning space shuttle operations to deep space robotics. At NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley his teams were leaders in the development of cost-efficient methods in space systems design and development, using the foundations of NASA experience integrated with the agility of Silicon Valley. As an internal entrepreneur, Jay initiated and led the development of new technologies for space missions. Jay holds a BA in Geology from UC Berkeley and an MS in Computer Science from the University of Southern California.

Links:

• Viper Mission at NASA
• Jay’s previous MSS presentations
• ResearchGate

with Nathan Young PhD of UCSF Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery

Wed. September 30, 2026; 7:30 – 8:30 pm

Innovation Hub, Terra Linda High School, 320 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael [Map]

Description: What do a pigeon’s beak and your cheekbones have in common? A lot it turns out! In “From Beaks to Cheeks” we’ll explore the fascinating science of how faces grow and evolve. Join us to find out:

• How studying everyday birds helps to unlock the rules governing human facial variation.
• Why comparing pigeon breeds can help scientists to understand our own evolution.
• What happens early in development to set the stage for your unique face.

Bio: Nathan M. Young is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and Director of the Oral & Craniofacial Sciences Master of Science Program at the UCSF School of Dentistry. His research focuses on phenomic variation in evolution, health, and disease, with an emphasis on craniofacial and postcranial skeletal development, 3D medical imaging, geometric morphometrics, and human and ape evolution. His work integrates evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) with clinical applications, advancing predictive modeling of craniofacial anomalies and skeletal variation. Young is a dedicated educator, mentoring numerous researchers, and speaking to the public about his field and research.

Links:

• Nathan Young at UCSF
• Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF
• At Leakey Foundation Science Speakeasy

with Julie Hui of College of Marin

Wed. September 23, 2026; 7:30 – 8:30 pm

Innovation Hub, Terra Linda High School, 320 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael [Map]

Description: Humans are a type of primate, but what is a primate? Primates are a diverse group of animals, with over 500 species identified to date, and new species are still being found. Come explore what it means to be a primate, and learn about some of the primates currently making headlines! 🐒

Biological Anthropology is the study of humans from an evolutionary perspective. It brings together aspects of Biology, Psychology, Sociology, and blends them with a basis in evolutionary thinking to understand where humans fit in the natural world. 

Bio: Julie Hui has been teaching at the college level since 2005, first as a Graduate Student Instructor and Reader at UC Berkeley, then as Adjunct Professor at various community colleges in the Bay Area including College of Marin. Her research interests include all aspects of evolutionary biology, with a particular emphasis on the general evolution of sociality. Julie holds degrees from UC Berkeley in Anthropology and is a former Wonderfest Science Envoy. She has presented at Wonderfest on a variety of topics relating to biological anthropology and animal communication. Julie loves to teach and to introduce students to the idea that they are doing science all the time in their everyday lives.

Links:

• ResearchGate
• Anthropology at College of Marin
• “Animal Intelligence in Context” at Wonderfest
• Wonderfest Science Envoy program

with Debbie Raphael (Environmental Science & Policy)

Wed. September 16, 2026; 7:30-8:30 pm

Terra Linda HS Innovation Hub, 320 Nova Albion San Rafael [Map]

Description: Coming soon

Bio: Debbie Raphael has spent 30 years in public service leading environmental agencies at the city, county, and state levels. She is a scientist by training and believes in combining the rigor of analytic data with the wisdom of community knowledge to craft policies and programs in service of people and the planet. Debbie was appointed by California’s Governor Jerry Brown, Director of the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control where she put in place the world-renowned Safer Consumer Products Program. She then spent 8 years under Mayors Edwin Lee and London Breed as Director of the City/County of San Francisco’s Department of the Environment where she led the City’s award-winning programs in zero waste, toxics reduction, clean energy and transportation, and green building. She is a strategic advisor to academic institutions, businesses large and small, non-profits, philanthropic organizations, and governments around the world.

Links:

• Beyond Petrochemicals Campaign – https://www.beyondpetrochemicals.org/
• Pacific Coast Collaborative – https://pacificcoastcollaborative.org/
• Turning Green – https://turninggreen.org/

The Biology of Heart Development and Congenital Heart Defects

with Irfan Kathiriya M.D. Ph.D of UCSF

• Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
• Time: 7:30 – 8:30 pm
• Place: Terra Linda High School Innovation Hub [map], 320 Nova Albion, San Rafael

Description: Dr. Kathiriya will introduce how the human heart develops from a simple tube into a complex four-chambered organ during early pregnancy. He’ll discuss congenital heart disease, which affects about 1% of newborns and represents one of the most common and life-limiting birth defects. Then, he will present recent discoveries on how specific genes control the organization of heart cells during development, and how disruptions in these genetic programs contribute to congenital heart defects. This research provides new insights into why some babies are born with heart problems and may lead to improved treatments and diagnostic approaches in the future.

Bio: Dr. Kathiriya is a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist who cares for patients at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco and Oakland, and Professor of Anesthesia at the University of California, San Francisco. He is part of a team that cares for patients born with heart defects needing surgery. In the laboratory, Dr. Kathiriya’s research uses experimental genetics and data science—including disease modeling with human pluripotent stem cells, cell lineage tracing with mouse genetics, and genomics—to understand how the developing heart forms properly and what goes wrong in congenital heart disease. His goal is to uncover insights from the laboratory to improve the natural course of congenital heart disease for patients and their families.

Links:

• Dr. Kathiriya at UCSF Profiles
• Irfan Kathiriya at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals
• Mentoring at The Gladstone Institute

How Local Government Works to Solve Environmental Problems

with Daniel Meer of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District

• Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
• Time: 7:30 – 8:30 pm
• Place: Terra Linda High School Innovation Hub [map], 320 Nova Albion, San Rafael

Description: Everybody knows what air pollution is. Remember when particles of soot from wild fires blocked out the sun a few years ago? In tonight’s presentation and discussion we will explore how the Bay Area Air District works to keep the air healthy for everybody. It takes a combination of good governance, sound science, detailed and rigorous policy and planning and unrelenting implementation. Please join us for a civics and science lesson.

Bio: Daniel Meer trained as a geologist and, prior to his federal service, spent ten years in the private sector doing petroleum geology. Over his 31-year EPA career Daniel implemented environmental statutes and regulations, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund), the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Oil Pollution Act and the National Contingency Plan at staff and management levels up to Assistant Director (GS15). He managed EPA Region 9’s Emergency Response and Preparedness program and responded to numerous oil spills, chemical releases and man-made and natural disasters, including the 9/11 terrorist attack, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster, Cosco Busan oil spill and California wildfires. Dan retired from the EPA in 2020 and began working at the Bay Area Air District where he works on a variety of projects related to government outreach and organizational development.

Links:

• Bay Area Air Quality Management District

with Paloma Siegel (TLHS MSEL ’18), PhD candidate at University of Colorado Boulder

• Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
• Time: 7:30 – 8:30 pm
• Place: Terra Linda High School Innovation Hub [map], 320 Nova Albion, San Rafael

Description: What does it take to study glaciers in the mountains of Alaska? What do we learn about the climate from glacial ice? Paloma will share her path towards becoming an ice core scientist and explore the lessons we can learn from water molecules. Her talk will connect water isotopes to past temperature and atmospheric circulation in Southeast Alaska and broadly focus on melt-impacted mountain glaciers.

Bio: I am a PhD student at the University of Colorado Boulder currently studying water isotope dynamics in a temperate alpine ice core drilled on the Juneau Icefield, in Alaska. I grew up in San Rafael and graduated from Terra Linda High School (and MSEL) in 2018. In 2023, I received my BA in Geography from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Through my current work with Dr. Markle and the Stable Isotope Lab (SIL), I combine modeling with snow and ice data to examine temperature and climate variability trends across surface samples and deep ice core data. I am interested in melt impacted glaciers in mountainous regions. In my spare time I like to ice climb, ski, rock climb, and do yoga!

Links:

• Paloma Siegel at U. of Colorado Boulder’s Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research
• Paloma Siegel at Alaska Guide

with Taren Bouwman (TLHS MSEL ’16), Ph.D. candidate at University of Hawai’i Manoa

• Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
• Time: 7:30 – 8:30 pm
• Place: Terra Linda High School Innovation Hub [map], 320 Nova Albion, San Rafael

Description: Fungi are some of the most fascinating and overlooked organisms on Earth. In this talk, we’ll explore these hidden heroes and how the opportunities they have for carbon sequestration and the development of a sustainable and circular economy.

Bio: Taren is a PhD candidate studying the unique relationships between fungi and algae, with the goal of advancing mycology and developing innovative methods for carbon sequestration. He has been a member of the Du Lab since 2024. Before graduate school, Taren worked in the research division at BioMarin, contributing to Roctavian: one of the first approved gene therapies. He is also a graduate of the Marin School of Environmental Leadership (MSEL) at Terra Linda High School.

Links:

• Taren Bouwman at Google Scholar
• Du Lab at University of Hawai’i