By Serena Broome
Nature abounds in Northern California. Bordering the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean, coastal wilderness teeming with deer and sealife, and a nearby monarch butterfly reserve, the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove provides an idyllic setting for Phi Beta Kappa Northern California Association’s (ΦBKNCA) 38th annual conference from February 14-17, 2025.
“The three-day conference features guest speakers in topics ranging from academic freedom to astrophysics, from computational linguistics to canine longevity, from the early British novel to ecocentric perspectives on the Anthropocene, and more,” said Deirdre Frontczak, chair of the Asilomar conference. “Each year, members and guests gather to renew old friendships and make new ones, immersed in the ΦBK motto that love of learning is the guide to life.”
Asilomar—whose name comes from the Spanish words asilo and mar, or “refuge by the sea”—is an ideal location for a Phi Beta Kappa retreat. Frontczak explained:
“Throughout the conference, attendees retreat to a historic and celebrated compound (now a state park) whose Craftsman architecture dates to the early 20th century. Between lectures, participants relax in the rustic lodgings, enjoy local wines, explore spectacular coastal trails, and chat by fireplaces both indoors and out, taking pleasure in the company of people whose love of learning matches their own. While attendees immerse themselves in the natural beauty, a key draw is the opportunity to engage informally throughout the weekend with noted speakers in arts, humanities and natural and social sciences, whose reputations often precede them.”
Asilomar speakers have included MacArthur Fellows and Nobel Prize nominees.
Seeking out nature for quiet contemplation and inquiry is rooted in Phi Beta Kappa’s history. In 1837, Ralph Waldo Emerson, a leader of the Transcendentalist movement, delivered a speech to a Phi Beta Kappa commencement ceremony at Harvard University (Henry David Thoreau, well-known author of Walden, was also in attendance). Similarly, the Asilomar Conference is reminiscent of the intellectual pioneering of the Transcendentalist movement’s forefathers, in which attendees can engage in an intellectual tradition of seeking out nature as a stimulus for quiet contemplation and thought-provoking discussion. Expressed most simply in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Nature” (1836), “In the woods we return to reason and faith.”
The Asilomar conference is strongly committed to fulfilling Phi Beta Kappa’s mission of encouraging excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, providing ample educational opportunity to the community. Conference registration fees support ΦBKNCA’s scholarship program for graduate students in Northern California. ΦBKNCA warmly welcomes everyone to engage in a vibrant discourse across academic disciplines, benefiting from the insights of all, as the association’s website explains, “many of our most active members were initiated into Phi Beta Kappa at a college outside of California, so we would be delighted to get to know you!”
Emphasizing the value of a liberal arts and sciences education, the association’s website quoted Nelson Mandela’s pronouncement:
“Education is the most powerful weapon we have to change the world.” Against the backdrop of tensions domestically and globally, we must continue to seek dialogue even if it’s uncomfortable. A liberal arts and sciences education facilitates this necessary exchange of ideas; The variety of thought-provoking subjects in the Asilomar Conference puts on full display how seemingly diverse subjects are interconnected.
So let the gentle sea breeze and prospect of new intellectual discoveries beckon you to the Monterey Coast. Gain a newfound understanding of the world from the comforts of a peaceful Northern California retreat. For more detailed information about the upcoming Asilomar Conference, please see the association’s conference page at pbknca.com/event-5621925.
Serena Broome graduated early from UC Davis majoring in political science. She inducted into Phi Beta Kappa during her junior year. UC Davis is home to the Kappa of California chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.