Use of “Unobtainiums” in Science Fiction Storytelling
Any work of Science Fiction worthy of the name will employ something that requires the consumer to take a leap of faith. Whether an alien technology or an as yet undiscovered super-material, bending the rules of the known universe is essential to transporting the audience to another world. Novelist Z.E. Duval walks us through the concept, some history, as well as a practical exercise on how such ideas can inform the entire basis for a work of Sci/Fi.
Fusion Power Now Only 5 Years Away (perpetually)
For the last 50 years, physicists have said fusion power is forty years out given adequate funding. But physicists aren’t the only people playing this game. In this talk, I will describe 7 different hot fusion projects underway right now, where they are in development, when they aim to finish and what kind on reactor would result from each. Two of the projects are main stream (ie funded well by the US gov or many gov’s) the other five are smaller but more interesting and or likely to work.
The Ins and Outs of Intellectual Property (or How to Please a Woman the Nerd Way)
<Teaser coming soon>
…PLUS!!!!! A COSTUME CONTEST!
“A Night of Ice and Fire: A History of Westeros in the Real World” – Ben Jagim
Explore the rich history of Westeros from George R.R. Martin’s epic series A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) along with the real life historic events that inspired the story. From conquests to mass migrations to the betrayals and how they impact both the present day story and real life events. Special notice: No Spoilers, presentation will be on the history leading up to the start of the series and show.
“Who Is Your Favorite Character? Adults and our Childhood Media Role Models: A Study on Gender” – Kayley Erlandson
Who was your favorite television or media character when you were a child? Spock? Princess Jasmine? John McClane? Have you ever wondered how (or if) this character shaped you into the person you are today? Our presenter conducted interviews with 19 college freshmen and sophomores to better understand how their gender was both shaped and mirrored by their favorite media characters and how this formed their gender identity as a young adult.
“Giardia-WHAT?” – Andrew Tschosik
A brief look into the world of the protozoa with the infectious smile.
Free. Open to the public. 21+. Nerds + Beer.
Thank you all for attending our summer events. And a huge thanks to our speakers this summer. We hit a record attendance of 85 on our Friday night special: Them’s Fightin’ Words. Keep on nerding Fargo!
We’re ready for our monthly dose of edutainment! See you at Fargo Billiards & Gastropub on Wed Jun 17 at 7:30pm!
“Finally, Designer Genes That Won’t Make You Look Fat and May Save Your Life” by Glenn Dorsam
Imagine washing down a prescription pill with some orange juice at breakfast. By lunchtime, a fleet of designer genes is released into the blood stream, targets diseased cells and infiltrates them. By the afternoon, the genes have completed their interrogation of the billions of DNA sequences in diseased cells to bind and fix, with 100 percent accuracy, the mutated gene causing a disease. By the time you drift off to Jay Leno, your genetic disease is cured! The vision may be closer to reality than some think.
Bio: Dr. Glenn Dorsam is an associate professor of neuroimmunology at NDSU. In addition to being a dynamic teacher (many of us fondly recall learning about protein synthesis via a wonderfully psychedelic Alice-in-Wonderland-esque music video from the 70s), he has a wide variety of research interests which include understanding neurosignaling pathways and the immune system.
“COMICS DESTROYER (a Case Study)” by Shanna Rix Bach
Have you ever walked into a comic book store and wondered, “Where did all these girl-creatures come from?” Or, do you look at comics and say, “Boy, I’d like to take my nerd to the next level and get in on that!” This girl-creature will enlighten you on both topics. SIMULTANEOUSLY! Maybe. Hopefully. Most definitely with a lot of fan-girl gushing about Ms. Marvel, Deadpool, the Rat Queens, and many more!
Bio: Shanna is a stay at home mom with degrees in Biology and Chemistry. Which means, she only uses pyrex glassware to make her two mini-geeks’ mac-n-cheese. She lives in the country and spends an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out what flavor of poop her beagle has recently rolled in and has begun an exciting arch-nemisis relationship with bull thistles. Her most recent nerdy accomplishment is beating a thirteen year old Brazilian boy at Ellie Goulding’s ‘Burn’ on Just Dance 2015. She also really likes to read all the things.
“An Ode to Spock and Leonard Nimoy” by Penelope Gibbs
How Leonard Nimoy and Mr. Spock saved the life of a nerd living in the American southeast in the 60’s.
Bio: Dr. Penelope Gibbs hails from sunny Georgia, where she was initiated as a Trekkie in her youth and received her PhD in Medical Microbiology & Parasitology she now spends her days in the hinterlands of Fargo, ND as an associate professor at NDSU trying to understand virulence and resistance in bacterial pathogens.
We had an excellent time at our second Nerd Nite on May 18! We crammed 75 people into a room for 45. But not to worry, we have doubled our space for next month! A big thanks to our presenters for the wonderful edutainment they provided!
“Why We Buy: The Art of Consumer Manipulation” by Katy Vesel
From grocery stores to casinos, how businesses use psychology to get you to spend your hard earned money on sh*t you don’t need.
Katy is a hospital pharmacist at Sanford Health Systems in Fargo. She received a B.S. in pharmacy sciences as well as a Doctor of Pharmacy from North Dakota State University before going on to complete a one year post-graduate residency in pharmaceutical sciences at Meritcare Hospital. Although long free from the halls of higher ed, she does still enjoy learning, especially about off-beat topics that will do nothing to further her professional career. More than one evening has been spent in a “six degrees of Wikipedia” black hole, where a search of Queen Elizabeth I somehow leads to reading about the migratory pattern of great white sharks.
“Socioeconomics of Star Wars” by Eric Goodin
The rise of humans, the revenge of the Hutts, and why the Death Star was inevitable.
Suffering from an identity crisis, Eric is a mechanical engineer working as an analytical chemist by day…and masquerading as a vigilante crime fighter by night. Upon graduation from NDSU he moved to the Seattle area to work for Boeing on either Top Secret or really embarrassing projects. Either way, you’ll never know about them. Later, Eric returned to Fargo to start a magical hobby farm in the center of an enchanted forest, but forgot that there weren’t actually any trees in North Dakota so the search continues. Eric is an unabashed Star Wars über-nerd and part-time astrophysicist. Other hobbies include playing guitar with only one string and chasing dragons with plastic swords.
“Plant WMD Chemical warfare: What Makes a Hot Pepper Hot, and How to Cook It” by Joseph Provost
Sadly, when a plant is assaulted by animals or infected by microbes, it can’t run away or go to the doctor for antibiotics. Instead, they have an amazing chemical warfare defense to fight off danger and invaders. Pepper plants make capsaicin to foil would-be enemies! This hot compound binds to our pain receptors and we seem to like it! We will talk about what makes a pepper plant hot, why the cute colorful little fruit hurts so much and how we can cook with it (and deal with the heat if you can’t take it!). Samples will be provided!!!
Like Prometheus rising from the dust of those vanquished before him, Dr. Provost has come from humble origins, where as a small child (perhaps, NOT so small, or for that matter never humble) Dr. Provost was raised by wolves, and armed with only a pippetor and on-line biochemical protocols, he learned to appreciate the biochemical nature of the world. Early in his college career at Bemidji State University where he was a Chemistry and Biology major, Provost conducted a daring, dangerous, unpublished and yes, even foolish experiment. A young Provost found that removal of all bodily fluids could indeed be accomplished if replaced by Diet Mountain Dew. While resulting in a total lack of need for sleep, the side effect was a constant need to replenish these new found humoral fluids on an hourly basis. In the storied tradition of the Gladiator, General Maximus Meridius, Provost has been heard uttering I’ve seen much of the rest of the world. It is brutal and cruel and dark, Biochemistry is the light. Armed with email and a penchance for well timed and intentional miss-spelling, Provost ventured into country music territory at Vanderbilt University in Nashville TN to answer the crucial biochemical question as to why women find Garth Brooks so darned attractive? Failing at all possible attempts, Provost transferred his proteins and projects to the great northern planes of Minnesota where he felt he could fool more people more of the time and battle the forces of evil in the name of biochemistry. There for the past eleven years, Dr. Provost has found himself time and time again surrounded by students trying to find him, asking questions on pH problems and searching for clarification of his writing. In the manner of those warriors who fought in the ancient Coliseum, Provost has learned to avoid all students with slight of hand, scheduling conflicts, and 7:00 am meetings. In an attempt to hide from all those he hath wronged, he moved to the distant site of southern california where, now armed with a tan and long surfer dude hair attempts to do all science at the beach. A life-long accumulation of experiences has given rise to Provost’s motto, “death smiles at us all. All a biochemist can do is smile back and repeat the experiment”.
Nerd Nite is a monthly lecture event that strives for an inebriated, salacious, yet deeply academic vibe. It’s often about science or technology, but by no means is it limited to such topics. And it’s definitely entertaining. Our unofficial tag line is “It’s like the Discovery Channel – with beer!” There are Nerd Nites around the world, Fargo is just one of them. Take a gander at http://nerdnite.com for more info.
There are lots of nerdy lecture events. They are fantastic, and we are big fans. But these other events tend to be family-friendly, sober, and very accessible to a general audience. Nothing wrong with that, that’s just not us. A good Nerd Nite presentation will violate at least one of those, preferably more!
Our current home is the Fargo Billiards and Gastropub, at 3234 43rd St S, Fargo. (see http://www.fargobilliards.com). Typically on the third Monday of the month. Show starts at 7:30pm but feel free to come early and grab dinner and drinks! The show is typically done by 9pm-ish followed by drinks and socialization.
