It's been a hectic past couple of weeks, so I completely forgot to mention that February 13th was my two year anniversary of working at the California Academy of Sciences! Originally hired as a program assistant in the brand new Digital Learning arm of the museum in 2012, I'm so honored to be the Senior…
Classic Cal Academy Logo from the 2000s and Today
Last week, I managed to score this rare polo shirt during an internal staff "yard sale" — featuring the previous logo for the California Academy of Sciences. Actively in use at least from the late 1990s to the early aughts, the image has a certain playfullness to it, combining our interests in paleontology, marine biology and…
“The Girls in the Band”: Wonderful Documentary on Women in Jazz
This week, I got to see the wonderful documentary The Girls in the Band at a local theater with some friends, and I recommend it for anyone who is interested in this history of jazz and women's rights. The film tells the stories of some of the ground-breaking female musicians from the 1930s to the 1970s who…
Learn about Biodiversity from the Khan Academy and Cal Academy!
I am super excited about this new digital learning partnership that the California Academy of Sciences has begun with the amazing Khan Academy. For those that don't know, the Khan Academy is an online school where millions of students learn everything from basic math to python programming to art history. All for free! The Cal Academy…
Fly through the History of Everything in “Dark Universe” at the Cal Academy
Tonight I got to see a sneak preview of the new "Dark Universe" planetarium show that is opening at the California Academy of Sciences on January 31st. Produced by the American Museum of Natural History, in collaboration with the Cal Academy, "Dark Universe" explains in stunning visuals and animations the past, present and future of…
Awesome Routine at Authentic Jazz Weekend in Korea
I don't know anything about this lindy hopper, but I've gotta give him mad props for some solid dancing, musicality and awesome attitude throughout the piece. Apparently he's competing in a "short" dance comp at Authentic Jazz Weekend in Seoul, Korea, January 17-19, 2014. It looks like he got third place! I love seeing…
Sharon Jones is No “Stranger to Happiness” Despite Cancer
The music video "Stranger to My Happiness" kicks ass so much, not just for the music, but the story behind it. Last summer, soul diva supreme Sharon Jones was performing in Idaho when she got an enormously painful backache. She soldiered on and finished her concert, despite the pain. Only later did she find out that…
“What Does George Fox Say?”: Awesome Parody / Primer on Quakers (video)
This video has all of the awesome: Spot on parody of the already excellent "The Fox" music video Interesting content about the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and our founder, George Fox Great production values, from music to cinematography, for a volunteer production Hilarious Quaker references: giving vocal ministry, the bonnets and hats, sitting…
“Sutro” (a poem)
First poem of 2014. Sutro Morning warming sun Chill breeze on my cheeksThe surf mist tickles Bones vibrate with each thu-thump of the wavesGulls callAnd everywhereThe lightThe lightThe light Rik Panganiban, 2014
Rik’s 2013 Year in Review: Dance Shows, Geeky Teens, Fake Ukrainian Bombs
Looking back on the past 12 months, it's been pretty incredible on a lot of fronts. Some highlights: helped hundreds of teens to be science storytellers using technology co-starred in a hip-hop dance show that I inspired co-hosted and co-produced a live broadcast from the Olympics of swing led a tech workshop in the Ukraine…