Happy Hump Day my nerds! Are you ready for more Nerding? Do you have questions about solar tech, linguistic oddities, and the difference between a weed patch and an urban prairie? Would you like to gorge yourself on beer and discount Valentine’s candy? Lucky for you, the next Nerd Nite is coming up fast, and we’ve got you covered! This month’s talk details:
Photon Fantasia in the FM: Solar Energy for Nerds
Solar energy is increasingly becoming more available and affordable in our region. This presentation covers the scientific innovations in solar energy, as well as its viability for practical use by residents in the greater Fargo-Moorhead area.
Jess Grondahl is the Chief Operating Officer at Holsen Solar and a Fargo native who enjoys fitness, sewing projects, and playing piano. She lives in South Fargo with her partner Ross, son Sterling, and German Shorthair puppies Snoopy and Chase.
Fun with Linguistic Variation
I’m not sure if you know what linguistics is, but everyone ought to. This talk is an overview of linguistics – the scientific study of language – and the strange and fun aspects of different kinds of speech and writing in English. This talk will explore the major sub-disciplines of linguistics – phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics, and syntax – and it will hopefully make you think differently about language and the world around you. Plus it’s fun.
Kellam Barta has an MA in Sociolinguistics from NC State University and teaches writing and linguistics at NDSU. He also enjoys talking to groups of folks in 20-minute chunks with 3-5 minutes for questions. Seriously.
Urban Green Spaces and Restored Prairies: A Fargo Case Study
Midwestern prairies are among the most imperiled ecosystems in the world. There is an urgent need to conserve and restore them. Simultaneously, there is an ongoing reconsideration of what is the most appropriate use of urban greenspaces to create livable, sustainable, and resilient communities throughout the world. In this presentation, I will present a recent example from Fargo that demonstrates the complex ecological, social, cultural, and economic considerations that enter into reassessing urban greenspaces.
Darrell grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He has a BS in Forest Science from The Pennsylvania State University, an MS in Forest Ecology from Oregon State University, and a PhD in Entomology from the University of Georgia. He was a professor at Oregon State University for 30 years before coming to NDSU in February of 2020. At NDSU, he conducts research and teaches Insects, Humans, and the Environment; Ecological Restoration; Urban Ecology; and Insect-Plant Interactions.
Plus door prizes, laughs, and the fabulous ambience of our fresh new venue. Be at the Cellar at Front Street Taproom at 7PM (doors at 6:30), Thursday February 15th. Get your tickets in advance at Eventbrite, or bring a Hamilton to the door. Same price either way- we eat the fees bc we’re tired of day old chocolate.
See your gorgeous faces there.
🙂 T
PS- for anyone who’s embarked on an obsession with the rare form of precipitation known as GRAUPEL, Dr. Ritchison gave us permission to dupe his super sweet shirt (see below). Check out our store at Bonfire.com to get your very own.