[FREE!] The Outbreak Era: Why Infectious Diseases Keep Making Headlines

PLEASE NOTE: A ticket is required for entry, but does not guarantee admission. Space is limited, and entry is first come, first served until we reach capacity. Doors open at 7 PM, so we strongly recommend arriving early!

🦠 Why does it feel like every week brings a new infectious disease headline?

Measles, an explosive cyclospora outbreak, a hantavirus scare aboard a cruise ship, an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, rising sexually transmitted infections, and an HIV pandemic playing out amid U.S. funding cuts to global health. Meanwhile, COVID-19 is never fully out of the picture.

In this talk, Dr. Monica Gandhi, Professor of Medicine and Director of the UCSF Center for AIDS Research, makes sense of this crowded and often alarming landscape, with a particular focus on HIV. She discusses the state of public health, the erosion of trust in government and scientific institutions, and the consequences of a fractured healthcare system, especially at a moment when the agency overseeing it is led by someone without formal medical or scientific training.

Gandhi closes by turning the conversation toward solutions, inviting the audience to think together about how collective action can help repair the state of infectious disease response in this country. 💉

🕰 Event Details

What should I expect?

7:00-8:00 --> arrival & chats

8:00-8:40 --> lecture

8:40-9:00 --> q&a and more chatting

Who's invited?

Anyone with an interest in learning new things, meeting new people, and doing fun things on weeknights! Lots of people came solo to our last event, so don't be afraid to do the same—you'll meet some awesome people!

What about parking?

There's no parking on-site, so we recommend street parking or using public transportation.

Do I have to be 21+?

No :) This venue is open to all ages. If you'd like to purchase alcohol, you must be 21+ and present a valid ID.

Will this event be photographed or recorded?

Photos and short video clips may be taken for promotional purposes. By attending, you consent to being photographed or recorded. We do not do full recordings of lectures at this time.

🔔 Stay in the Loop

I can't make it to this event. How do I stay updated for future events?

📧 Join our mailing list

📸 Follow our Instagram

How do I become a speaker?

Fill out this form and we'll reach out to you if we think your lecture is a good fit! 👉 Speaker form

🧾 Policies

The lecture is sold out! Can I join a waitlist?

Unfortunately, Luma does NOT support waitlists for paid events yet. We recommend checking back on the event site the day before / the day of the event! Attendees are likely to drop out.

What about refunds?

You can refund your ticket up to 24 hours before the event starts. Since this is a limited-space event, we encourage you to update your RSVP if you can’t make it—this helps us keep spots open for others. NOTE - you do NOT need to email us for a refund, we will issue one within 48 hours upon changing your RSVP to "Not Going" :)

What about the ticket structure?

We’re proud to pay all of our incredible venues and hardworking speakers, and the rest supports the Big Brain team so we can keep bringing community lectures to the Bay Area.

We also reserve a handful of financial assistance tickets for every lecture. If you need support, please email [email protected].

What about accessibility?

We want our lectures to be as accessible as possible. Accessibility can vary depending on the space, so please research our specific venue to learn more about things like wheelchair access and service animal policies. If you have any accessibility needs not covered here, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to support you.

What about email updates?

By registering for this event, you’ll be added to both the Big Brain and SPARK Social mailing lists to receive occasional updates about upcoming lectures and events. You can unsubscribe from either list at any time.

🧠 Community Guidelines

Big Brain events are designed to be welcoming, curious, and respectful spaces for learning and connection.

By attending, you agree to treat speakers, staff, venue employees, and fellow attendees with respect and to follow all venue rules and staff instructions.

Harassment, disruptive behavior, or excessive intoxication will not be tolerated. For the safety and comfort of everyone, Big Brain and the venue reserve the right to refuse entry or remove any attendee at any time, without refund, if behavior is deemed unsafe, disruptive, or disrespectful.

🍸 Alcohol & Safety

Depending on the venue, alcohol may be sold and served exclusively by the venue in accordance with California law. Big Brain is not responsible or liable for alcohol service, overconsumption, or any actions resulting from intoxication. By attending, you voluntarily assume all risks associated with a public indoor event and agree that you are solely responsible for your own conduct, safety, and transportation before, during, and after the event.

Thanks for supporting our growing community! 🧠✨

For any other questions or special accommodations, please email [email protected].