Big Bang Gala

The Academy’s annual fundraising gala celebrated the intersection of science and technology with a shared purpose of addressing environmental challenges and steering humanity towards a positive coexistence with nature. Keynote speaker Aza Raskin, Co-founder and President, Earth Species Project, and Academy scientists discussed how groundbreaking technology and innovation will provide the tools needed to regenerate the natural world.  And of course, the fun and inspiration continued with Party After Dark.

Presenting Sponsor: Autodesk

Big Bang Keynote Speaker
Aza Raskin
Co-founder and President, Earth Species Project

Aza Raskin is a National Geographic Explorer and co-founder and president of Earth Species Project, an international nonprofit dedicated to using AI to decode animal communication and transforming how human beings relate to the rest of nature. He is featured in AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special discussing the effects artificial intelligence has on human behavior, and how it may evolve as the technology progresses.

Big Bang Event Chair
Andrew Anagnost
President and CEO, Autodesk

Andrew Anagnost is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Autodesk. Dr. Anagnost’s career spans more than 25 years of product, business, and marketing experience focused on driving strategy, transformation, and product development. He completed a doctorate degree at Stanford University and worked at NASA Ames Research Center as an NRC postdoctoral fellow.

Please consult with your tax advisor about directing a donation to the Academy from a donor-advised fund when you may receive something of more than incidental value in return, such as event benefits or museum membership. Additionally, in the unlikely event that the event does not occur, your generous support will be considered an unrestricted contribution to the California Academy of Sciences. Thank you for your support.