(From our friends at Dartmouth Silicon Valley)
Dartmouth Silicon Valley, in concert with Arts & Ideas at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, invites alumni and their guests to a special VIP evening with Scott Simon of NPR’s Weekend Edition.
NPR’s Scott Simon is one of America’s most admired writers and broadcasters. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Iraq. His Weekend Edition Saturday is the most listened-to news program on NPR, and he has won every major broadcasting award, including the Peabody and the Emmy. Scott’s work often centers around the deeply personal. In 2013, his tender, lyrical Tweets during his mother’s final days went viral, sparking a national conversation on good deaths and good lives. Join us for an intimate conversation celebrating the universal bond between mother and child, and the meaning of good deaths and good lives.
In addition to Scott Simon’s discussion, alumni and guests will meet in the “Green Room” for a private, Dartmouth VIP reception with Mr Simon before the show.
Registration Information here:
http://www.daasv.org/events/#1158
We offer a variety of events throughout the year, from lectures to happy hours and everything in-between.
Upcoming Events
Past Events
Volunteer Opportunity: Help Almost Eden Garden Project Thrive! 🌿
Description:
Join our fellow Brown alumni for a morning of community growth at Almost Eden Garden Project, a historic volunteer-run garden in Palo Alto. We will be assisting with essential seasonal projects including garden bed preparation, harvesting, and planting. This is a great opportunity to reconnect with the local Brunonian community while supporting a green space that has been a neighborhood staple for over 25 years.
Founded in 1998, Almost Eden began as a partnership with Urban Ministries to provide work for unhoused and low-income individuals. When funding ended, the community stepped in to keep the mission alive entirely through volunteer power. Now located at St. Andrew’s UMC, the garden recently expanded by 1,100 square feet. Almost Eden exists today as a testament to local dedication, providing a space for sustainable growth that relies solely on the "Saturday Crew" and weekly volunteers to thrive.
What to expect:
We will be assisting with "large-scale" garden chores. Tasks typically include preparing new beds, seasonal harvesting, weeding, or digging.
Attire: Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get dirty.
Tools: All tools are provided, but feel free to bring your own work gloves.
Capacity: This event is limited to 8 alumni (no guest spaces available) to ensure a coordinated effort. Please RSVP and be able to commit to the full 2 hour volunteering window.
Detailed directions: https://almostedengarden.weebly.com/directionscontact-us.html
Hosts: Yudi Fu '13 & Yaruska Ordinola ‘23
Join your fellow Brown alumni for a 4.9 mi, 1,266 ft elevation hike at Ewing Hill Loop in Hidden Villa. We will meet at the Parking Lot at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 12. Please note parking is $10, and you can pay it online before you head out, or in person. Alumni guests are welcome. Please bring plenty of water and hiking boots for this trail with elevation change!
Please note this event is contingent on weather conditions, including air quality, wildfire risk and heavy rain. Any necessary cancellation will be communicated ahead of time to those who RSVP for the event. Assume the hike is proceeding as scheduled unless you hear from the host otherwise.
Host: Veronica Abreu ‘98
Join your fellow Brown alumni in giving back to our community over your lunch break at Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) to help assemble Nature Journals. This is a rare opportunity to support outdoor education from the comfort of Midpen’s Administration Office. You are welcome to bring along friends, family, or guests to help out! We understand lunch breaks can be tight—while the event runs for two hours, please feel free to drop in for 45 minutes or an hour as your schedule allows. Light refreshments will be provided at the event, but feel free to bring your lunch too.
Background:
Every year, Midpen volunteer docents lead hundreds of 3rd-5th grade students on field trips in the spring and fall. This outdoor moving classroom is a great opportunity for students to deepen their knowledge of, and appreciation for, the natural world.
Nature journaling is a fun and powerful practice that helps students slow down, pay attention, notice more, and get curious about the wonder and beauty of the world around them. This year, each student who attends a field trip will, WITH YOUR GENEROUS HELP, receive a practical quick-start guide to nature journaling that includes directions on why, where, and how to keep a nature journal. They’ll practice journaling while on their field trip with Midpen and be encouraged to continue the practice when they return home. These guides are an incredibly important step in updating our field trip curriculum to be aligned with Next Generation Sciences Standards.
What to expect:
You’ll be assembling Nature Journals, which involves folding and cutting paper and cardstock, and stapling sheets together. Each journal takes about 2 to 6 minutes to complete, depending on your pace. We’ll provide hands-on instructions at the event, but you can also check out this instructional video beforehand.
Jeff Butterworth, Midpen’s Environmental Education Specialist, will join us at some point during the volunteer opportunity, to share a brief history of the organization and highlight additional opportunities to get involved in Midpen’s mission.
Host: Yudi Fu '13
Please join your fellow alumni at Filoli Gardens to help the horticulture department on a spring cleaning project. We will meet at the Visitors Center, get gardening gloves and chat with our guide about the beautiful landscape and property. Afterwards, please feel free to enjoy the grounds. Limited to 15.
Filoli Gardens
86 Cañada Road, Woodside
Questions please email Streicher, Megan
Host: Megan Streicher ‘05
The Tectonic Machinery of California: Subduction, Faulting, and Earthquakes
Join us for a lecture with Brown '21 alumnus and USGS geophysicist Eric Burdette who will provide a non‑technical overview of the tectonic forces that shaped California and drive its earthquake hazards.
The talk explains how subduction and plate motions produced the San Andreas fault system, the different kinds of earthquakes we see in California today, and what current science says about hazards in populated regions like the Bay Area. Time will be reserved for audience questions and discussion.
We encourage you to submit questions in advance so Dr. Burdette can address any specific topics that matter most to you. Email Host
Host: Yaruska Ordinola ‘23
Calling all Brown University alumni, friends and family! From 3pm on Saturday, February 21st take a break from the slopes and join us for some schnapps and bites at an après-ski gathering at the iconic KT-22 Bar in Palisades Tahoe. Whether you’re carving turns or enjoying the mountain air, this is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with fellow alums, share stories, and raise a glass to our shared Brunonian spirit. Palisades is also hosting a DJ so there will be music and festivities galore.
Hosted by Julian Baring '97, this casual afternoon meet-up promises warm camaraderie and spectacular mountain views. Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 21st from 3pm —stop by anytime and make memories that will last long after the snow melts. We can’t wait to see you there!
Our intent is to grab a section of tables outside on the KT Deck, however depending on the weather, if it’s snowy or nasty - we’ll reconvene somewhere inside the Olympic Lodge. Look for the Brown Club banner and please RSVP so that we know how many will join and how many snacks to provide to help recharge after a day on the mountain.
Host: Julian Baring '97
Join fellow alumni for a mid-peninsula brunch on February 15th, 2026. Each alumn can bring a guest; brunch limited to 10 people total, first-RSVPs first-serve! We will have a wait list, so if you initially RSVP for this event then can’t make it, please let the host know so we can accommodate those on the wait list!
Look for the Brown Club of Silicon Valley banner!
Host: Veronica A. Bettencourt ‘98
Why Silicon Chips Matter: Technology, Power, and the Next Global Rivalry
This lecture explores the fascinating history of silicon chips—and why these tiny pieces of technology now sit at the center of global power, economic growth, and geopolitics, including what many are calling Cold War 2.0: the United States vs. China.
Based on in-depth research conducted in 2025, this live presentation offers a clear, big-picture view of how chips evolved, why they matter far beyond computers, and how they are shaping the future of innovation, national security, and global competition.
No technical background is required. Complex ideas will be explained in plain language, with real-world examples that make the topic intuitive and engaging for everyone—while still offering meaningful insights for engineers and technologists.
The session will be highly interactive, with ample time for questions and discussion.
If you’ve ever wondered:
What exactly is a silicon chip?
Why does it matter so much?
How did it become central to the U.S.–China rivalry?
This lecture will connect the dots and make it all finally make sense.
Host: Naeem Zafar ‘81
MUST REGISTER NO LATER THAN JANUARY 18th!!!
Kick off the new year with your fellow Brown alumni at Eataly Valley Fair for a special "Perfectly Paired" tasting led by their Scuola chef. Whether you're a foodie or just looking to reconnect with local alumni, this sit-down experience offers the perfect blend of education and socializing.
Included in this BCSV Subsidized Experience
Welcome Toast: Enjoy a glass of Prosecco as we begin the session.
"Perfectly Paired" Flash Class: During this 1-hour guided session, we will explore the regions of Italy through three unique olive oils, two balsamic vinaigrettes, house-made focaccia classica, and Parmigiano Reggiano DOP cheese.
Social Hour: After the class, stay to mingle with the group or explore the rest of the Eataly marketplace.
Important Notes
Registration Deadline: The deadline to register is the end of the day on January 18th, as we have to give the venue a final count of attendees in advance.
Waitlist: Space is limited. A waitlist will be available once we reach capacity or pass the Jan 18th deadline. Email the host Yudi Fu (yudi_fu@alumni.brown.edu) to be added to the waitlist.
Refund Policy: Refunds after January 18th will only be issued if we are able to fill your spot from the waitlist.
Parking: Westfield Valley Fair has multiple parking garages with the first 2 hours free.
Host: Yudi Fu '13
Join fellow alums and friends for a coffee break during the busy holiday season, after or before a visit to the Mountain View Farmers’ Market. Grab your favorite drinks, pastries, and produce at the Farmers’ Market or along the short stroll to our meeting place. Good spots to buy coffee to go include:
Red Rock
Paris Baguette
Look for the Brown Club of Silicon Valley banner!
Just stop by to mingle and perhaps play the outdoor games on the mall.
Host: Carol Rhoads ‘70