The 2025 Bioneers Conference: How It Works

Now in its 36th year, the Bioneers Conference will be held in Berkeley, California, on March 27-29, 2025. Featuring hundreds of inspiring and visionary leaders, Bioneers 2025 will host thousands of engaged and civically active attendees at Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley Campus and in venues across downtown Berkeley for three days of riveting talks, movement building, and connections.

Bioneers 2025 is best thought of in two parts: (1) the morning plenary session and (2) afternoon/evening panels, conversations, networking opportunities, films, performances, book signings and more.

Each Bioneers day begins at the beautiful Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley Campus. Registration opens at 7:30 and theater doors open at 8:30. The event begins promptly at 9:00. We will begin each day of Bioneers as a community, sitting together in a plenary session each morning until around 12:30 to experience the main-stage keynote addresses and performances.

Following the keynotes, participants will stroll to downtown Berkeley for lunch at any of the dozens of restaurants and food vendors in the immediate vicinity. The walk from Zellerbach Hall to downtown Berkeley is 5-10 minutes.

After lunch, the second part of the Bioneers day begins at 3:00 with two rounds of panels, interactive sessions, community conversations and presentations taking place at numerous different venues throughout a four block radius in downtown Berkeley. Maps, signage and guest support will be available throughout the area.

As the event date approaches, we will continue to update this page with specifics and details regarding the 2025 Bioneers Conference logistics. Please stay tuned and we look forward to hosting you!

▼ For anyone considering bringing youth under 13 to the Bioneers Conference

It is important to understand that we do not design the main-stage program for children. While the event is very positive and solutions-oriented, imagery showcasing social and environmental problems could be displayed. There will be talks dealing with heavy subjects and panel discussions designed for a more mature audience (speakers have occasionally used mature language from the stage, etc.), and potentially images and videos that could be disturbing to a young child. The conference content is not lewd or deeply offensive, but we expect that parents have different measures for what their children can handle and be exposed to, and Bioneers is mild compared to most PG movies. But attendees should know that Bioneers is not pre-clearing this event for younger children. The event also requires extended periods of sitting and listening, which is not necessarily appropriate for younger children (it is even challenging for some adults). Parents who bring younger children to the event are expected to take these realities into account and make decisions accordingly. Please reach out to info@bioneers.org to request a child rate for the event.

Venue Map

See the Bioneers 2025 Venues in a Google Map.

Lodging Information

Residence Inn by Marriott Berkeley
2121 Center St, Berkeley. Residence Inn Berkeley is located downtown across the street from the University of California Berkeley and steps away from access to San Francisco via BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). Walking distance to theaters, shopping and dining. Designed to provide everything you need to thrive on long stays, the all-suite Residence Inn features upscale, spacious suites with full kitchens and room to eat, work and dream. Plus you can enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast, Wi-Fi, evening socials and grocery delivery service. Several of the Bioneers afternoon sessions will take place at the Residence Inn. Bioneers rate is $270.00 per night. Book with our group rate

Hotel Shattuck Plaza
2086 Allston Way, Berkeley. Only 2 blocks from the University of California – Berkeley campus, this hotel offers comfortable guest rooms with modern amenities and on-site dining options. Hotel Shattuck Plaza is an environmentally friendly hotel with state-of-the-art guestrooms. Guests will enjoy flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations and on-demand films. Spacious work areas ensure a comfortable stay. Several of the Bioneers afternoon sessions will take place at the Hotel Shattuck Plaza. Book a room at the Bioneers block rate!

Graduate Hotel Berkeley
2600 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704. Just one block away from campus at the corner of the city stir and history. We’re an eco-friendly hotel with complimentary eco-canned water and other sustainable luxuries to enrich your stay. With unique and worldly designs, we are a postcard of Bohemian chic. hilton.com

DoubleTree by Hilton Berkeley Marina
200 Marina Blvd. Berkeley, CA 94710. Find us overlooking Berkeley Marina, with views of the San Francisco Bay. We’re a 10-minute drive from University of California, Berkeley, and we are just two miles from the closest BART station for quick trips into San Francisco. Enjoy our indoor pool, fitness center, and waterfront dining at the Berkeley Boathouse. Book at the Bioneers group rate
Note: There will be shuttle service to/from the DoubleTree and Zellerbach Theater during the conference.

Aiden by Best Western @ Berkeley
1499 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702 – The new, modern Aiden® by Best Western at Berkeley is located in the vibrant east bay city of Berkeley, within a mile of the University of California Berkeley campus. Enjoy the Rooftop terrace with Bay & Berkeley Hills views. Bioneers group rate of $159 for a queen or $179 for a king is available until February 17, 2025: Book with the Bioneers group rate
Note: There will be shuttle service to/from the Aiden and Zellerbach Theater during the conference.

Additional Lodging Options
There are numerous other hotels, B&Bs and short term rentals available in Berkeley and the surrounding areas. If you’re the camping type, the East Bay Regional Park system has a number of campgrounds that are relatively convenient to the conference location.

Transportation Information

How to get to Downtown Berkeley by BART

Bioneers strongly encourages attendees to take transit to the event. The Downtown Berkeley BART Station is located on Shattuck Avenue between Allston Way and Addison Street. It is conveniently located close to the University of California campus (Zellerbach Theater) and to all of the Bioneers venues, restaurants, theaters and other attractions, and has valet bike parking. For more info, visit https://www.bart.gov/stations/dbrk. Signage and guides will be available to direct attendees to the conference venues throughout the day.

Parking in Downtown Berkeley

If you have to drive to the conference, see the map below for parking information.

There is handicapped parking in Lower Sproul Garage adjacent to Zellerbach off Bancroft St.

Please note that parts of Bancroft Way, adjacent to Zellerbach Hall, are under construction. Access to Lower Sproul Garage and RSF Garage remains available via detours, so please allow plenty of extra time if driving (or take transit!).

Afternoon venues take place around downtown Berkeley. There are numerous garages downtown, all of which have handicapped parking. We have closed Allston Way between Oxford and Shattuck and there is an official handicapped drop-off zone on the west end of Allston Way at Shattuck.

Local Transportation Options

Bay Wheels Bike Share
Bird Scooters
Lime Bikes & Scooters

What to do in Berkeley

If you are arriving prior to the event or staying on after, there are many wonderful exploring possibilities throughout Berkeley and the East Bay. Our partners at Visit Berkeley have put together an excellent list of activities and destinations.

Click Here

Need Additional Help?

If you need more help prior to the conference, please reach out to info@bioneers.org or call 505-986-0366.

During the event, please visit the Bioneers registration & information booth, which will be in front of Zellerbach Hall from 7:30 am – 1:00 pm and will move to Allston Way at the corner of Oxford from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm. You can also reach out to info@Bioneers.org and we will do our best to get back to you as quickly as possible. Or ask any Bioneers Conference Staff member.