Happy Saturday, Nerds. I hope you all survived Valentine’s Day with sufficient quantities of chocolate and booze. FNN is very happy to supplement your February with some hot topics to combat this cold weather:
CRISPR: The tool, the myth, the legend. CRISPR – the Taylor Swift of science – just knowing it exists makes you “cool.” It’s the gene editing technology that is meant to serve you, but you are often not included in the conversation. Let’s talk about how CRISPR works, what CRISPR can (and can’t) do for you, among some other ethical discussions. Was that Chinese scientist that used CRISPR on human embryos for the very first time out of line? Is CRISPR going to lead to “superhumans?” What are the long-term societal implications of using CRISPR?
Kimberly Booth is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Biological Sciences at NDSU. She teaches biology for non-science majors, in which she focuses on two major goals: 1) providing a scientific lens by which to evaluate societal issues and 2) fostering curious and scientifically literate citizens. Her research interests include how teaching techniques used in the classroom affect student learning.
Comically Un-Sexy. In the first installment of Sex and Comics, we covered (with a great suspended disbelief) how many characters that have been labeled as unattractive have several things going for them that would make them great in the bedroom. This time we take a different route to look at Aliens, Mutants, and Psychopaths to romanticize these characters. We will blaze a trail through the pages of comic books to learn everything from why you might not want that upside down kiss from Spider-Man to why you’d be better off admiring PowerGirl’s…outfit from afar.
Jade harveland is a three-time veteran Nerd Nite speaker and resident sexpert at Enchantasy’s. When he’s not preoccupied helping improve sex lives or playing D&D, he breaks down which characters from comic books are or aren’t sexy.
I Didn’t Vaccinate My Kids, and the One Who Lived Turned Out Just Fine. Vaccines have been around for more than two centuries. During this time, they have been used to eradicate smallpox and even protect us from the common cold. Billions of lives have been saved through this advancement in medicine, but today we find ourselves in a time when more and more people are not getting vaccinated. This talk is to give background on how vaccines work and discuss the myths that surround them.
Manpreet Bains recently graduated with a Ph.D. in Molecular Pathogenesis where his research focused on the interactions of the neuropeptide, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, and the body. His research involved understanding how VIP impacted eosinophils and T-cells in the immune system, altered metabolism, and modified the microbiome. Likes include big words, flaking out on lunch dates, and sticking needles into children.
Since the last topic is somewhat polarizing, I must remind you that it is okay to disagree with people at Nerd Nite, but it is not okay to be a dick. Synopsis : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0la5DBtOVNI.
See all your beautiful faces this Wednesday, February 20th, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at Fargo Billiards and Gastropub. Until then, I’ll leave you with something to combat all this VD Pressure.
🙂 T
