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Join us for the next installment of our Signature Event Series featuring distinguished alumni authors Sarina Dahlan ’98 and S.B. Divya MEng ’00. Drawing from their latest works, “Freeset” and “Loka,” the authors will explore how speculative fiction can address timely societal issues, including identity, memory and technology. The conversation will be moderated and will take place on Wednesday, May 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Seuss Room at Geisel Library. Admission is free and open to the public with required registration. Books will be available for purchase from the UC San Diego Bookstore during the reception, including the following titles: Sarina Dahlan ’98 “Freeset” “Preset” “Reset” S.B. Divya MEng ’00 “Machinehood” “Runtime” “Meru” (limited quantity) “Loka” (limited quantity) This event is part of the Library’s Signature Event Series, established in 2020 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Geisel Library and made possible through the generous support of sponsors and Library Associates. About the Authors Sarina Dahlan ’98 is the author of the bestselling Four Cities trilogy — “Reset,” “Preset” and “Freeset” — as well as “Shadow Play: Ten Tales from the In-between.” Born into an Indonesian family in Thailand and immigrating to the United States at age 12, Dahlan brings a global perspective to her work, influenced by folklore, mythology and Japanese manga. A UC San Diego alumna with degrees in psychology and visual arts, her writing explores memory, identity and the cost of utopia. S.B. Divya, MEng ’00 is a Hugo- and Nebula-nominated author whose work bridges hard science and imaginative storytelling. Her novels include “Machinehood,” “Meru” and “Loka,” which examine themes such as automation, cultural identity and artificial intelligence. A former electrical engineer with degrees in computational neuroscience and signal processing from UC San Diego, Divya’s fiction often reflects her technical background and challenges conventional genre boundaries. Partners: UC San Diego School of Arts & Humanities & Jacobs School of Engineering

Experience the vibrant pulse of San Diego’s dance community with SEED, the latest production from Malashock Dance. This installment features bold new works by four San Diego-based choreographers, alongside a powerful piece by Artistic Director Christopher K. Morgan. Brought to life by Malashock’s acclaimed professional company, "SEED" is a celebration of powerful movement, fresh perspectives, and the unstoppable energy of San Diego’s dance scene. Don’t miss this performance experience — where the future of dance takes root. Choreographers: Giovanna Francisco, Iverson Harding, Nick McGhee, Christopher K. Morgan, Lexii Regina Bonus Experiences: October 26: Post show Q&A with choreographers and performers October 31: Industry Night (artist and dance community encouraged to come!) and post-show Q&A with choreographers and performers. Visit: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/malashockdance/Seed2025 Malashock Dance on Instagram and Facebook

Despite its fishy name, the bacterium salmonella has no connection to the underwater creature.

Director Isaac Ezban, known for films featured at the San Diego Latino Film Festival, returns with a new horror movie that doubles as a powerful family drama.

San Diego Folk Heritage welcomes back performers and audience members for our annual Train Song Festival! There will be engines running around the park courtesy of Poway-Midland Railroad (for a nominal fee that supports the railroad), model trains inside Templars Hall, and some of San Diego’s best musical talent on the Gazebo Stage from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be sure to check out the Poway Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Artisan Market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Old Poway Park. Free music, no ticket needed, on the pavilion, with shaded seating. 10 am: "Hop on Board" is a new musical written by Michael de Luca and developed by an ensemble cast about the Dust Bowl and the westward migration to California. The cast will be performing selected songs in this sneak preview performance! 11 am: Bill Dempsey continues the classic folksinger tradition, and sings more traditional songs, especially train ones, than you can shake a stick at. We are thrilled to have him back down from Orange County! Noon: Gayle Skidmore is a seven-time San Diego Music Award nominee who has written over 2500 songs. Classically trained on the piano from the age of four, she plays over twenty other instruments, including the mountain dulcimer, banjo, folk harp, and balalaika. 1 pm: UL Standard is a local San Diego trio. They perform at various venues throughout the city. The band offers a unique blend of Americana and funky folk. 2 pm: SDFH’s own JT Moring is a dynamic entertainer known for incisive songs, stories, and audience engagement. He performs original and traditional songs on guitar and banjo, accompanied by Terry Wardell on bass, Richie Strell on harmonicas, and maybe a special guest or two for this special performance. 3 pm: Sara Petite is an outlaw country headliner whose music reaches far beyond the genre’s borders. She has built an award-winning career with songs that owe as much to the rock ‘n’ roll roadhouse as they do the honky-tonk. San Diego Folk Heritage on Facebook / Instagram

Jason Magabo Perez, appointed San Diego Poet Laureate in 2023, is closing his term — and his San Diego Poetry Futures 2024 initiative — with a poetry festival at UC San Diego this weekend.

To Honor Mental Health Week 2025, Oceanside International Film Festival invites the artistic communities of Oceanside & Beyond to attend "THE ROAD BACK': A Mental Health Film Series for the Mind, Body & Soul. This Special Film Showcase In-Partnership with the Oceanside Theatre Company Celebrates the Vital Role of the Arts in the Healing Process, Mental Well-Being and the Resilience of the Soul. As well as the importance of having a Community Base in doing so. This 80 Minute Showcase is to be followed by a Q&A Panel Discussion and features the following short films: "ALONE TOGETHER" - After breaking off their budding relationship, Julian and Devon struggle to return to their lonely lives apart. With a unique storytelling device, the audience is able to view two characters' stories at once. Directed by Erin Martinez | San Diego, CA | Narrative Short | 7 Minutes "SEEN AGAIN" - A troubled man, trying to make sense of his life while driving through the Arizona desert, encounters difficult memories from his past that appear as a storm of personal objects falling from the sky. This experimental, hand-drawn and collage, 2-D animation explores the power of memory as manifested through objects from our past. Directed by Peter Murphy | Rochester, NY | Animation | 10 Minutes "WILD SEA" - "Wild Sea" delves into the life of Jeff Allen, a trailblazing figure in the world of Sea Kayaking. The film traces Jeff's journey from his formative years to his role as one of the foremost Sea Kayak guides and coaches of our time. As we accompany Jeff on his odyssey, we are immersed in the depths of his past, including his experiences in the military and are granted access to his own personal traumas. The film illuminates the transformative power of the sea as Jeff finds purpose and healing through his connection with the ocean. In particular, his 2004 Japan circumnavigation serves as a poignant testament to the cathartic influence of the ocean environment on his life. Directed by Tom Vetterl | Germany | Documentary | 14 Minutes "OCEAN STATE OF MIND" - As adulthood brings increasing complexity, Rhode island surfer Curtis Perdue finds space for his mental health in the icy waters of New England. With a deep love for the ocean instilled by his late father, Curtis aims to inspire lifelong passions in his own children and pass down a legacy of stoke. Directed by Danny Hardesty | Auburn, MA | Documentary | 4 Minutes "RESURRECTION ARTIST" - If you died and came back, what would your art look like? Matthew, a doctor and artist drowns during a bodysurfing accident, 10 minutes later he is resuscitated by strangers but is paralyzed from the neck down. After surgery and rehabilitation, he walks out of the hospital. Once home, he must navigate a return to life with a changed body. Matthew explores the significance of his harrowing death experience through creating art, mounts a comeback to his work as an ER doctor, and sets an audacious goal to surf within a year of his death experience. Directed by Scott Fitzloff | San Francisco, CA | Documentary | 22 Minutes "LAST CALL" - "Last Call" tells the story of Kate (Lindsay Duncan), a desperate mother who is trying to reconnect with her son(Tom Holland). Navigating an obvious void, Kate will finally have the chance to ask the questions that have haunted her past and will decide her future. A meditative perspective on the complexity of depression and grief and search for understanding and absolution. Directed by Harry Holland | United Kingdom | Narrative Short | 19 Minutes

Our top picks for classical and jazz music in San Diego this season: Samara Joy; a binational jazz fest; legendary French band Cortex; folk-inspired compositions with the La Jolla Symphony; and contemporary, experimental composer Sarah Hennies.

Come see what we've been making! Join us on Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for our annual Graduate Open Studios and Open House. Graduate studios, classrooms, labs, and galleries will be filled with art and open for viewing. Students and faculty will be on hand to show their work, demonstrate art processes, answer questions, and provide tours. No RSVP is required, and this event is free to attend and open to all! Open Studios aligns with Explore SDSU, where prospective students will engage with the larger SDSU community and visit the campus with their families. This event is a great way to become acquainted or reacquainted with the School of Art and Design and all the exciting things we create! Please email artinfo@sdsu.edu with any questions. SDSU School of Art and Design on Facebook / Instagram

Discover the beauty of San Elijo Lagoon: where fresh water and saltwater meet and mix, migratory and resident birds share a sanctuary, and many animals find a home. This guided tour will inspire all to watch and listen for various birds that rest in – and fly across – the salt marsh and mudflats. No matter the season, you can enjoy, photograph, and identify a host of native plants. Our Nature Center Loop Trail is accessible, providing fun for all. Nature Collective is a local conservation and science education nonprofit organization. They work to restore habitats, provide healthier waters, and increase wildlife diversity. They are dedicated to conserving the land and providing experiences for people to fall in love with nature. Ages 9+; Accessible Trail; Registration Required RSVP: https://naturecollective.org/event/discovery-tour-june-7-2025/ Nature Collective on Facebook / Instagram