Buy your $10 tickets now for Nerd Nite San Diego #52, all about sex! Topics and speaker info coming soon.
Get ready for Valentine’s Day with us on February 6!
Speakers and Topics for our December 11 Holiday Party!
Grab tickets for our holiday themed event on December 11, only $10!
Cypress Hansen
Title: Species that Sleigh: Exploring San Diego’s Natural Holiday Spirit
Who says SoCal has no holiday spirit? Join expert naturalist, Cypress Hansen, on a journey through San Diego’s nature in search of our most festive flora and fauna. From mistletoe and holly berries to Christmas cactus and the animals that depend on them, this talk will showcase the rich biodiversity of our region and highlight the connections between nature and “The Holidays”. Go beyond the clichés and see the wild side of the season.
Cypress is a professional science communicator, naturalist, and illustrator. She started her career as a marine biologist, but quickly pivoted to science communication when she watched her fellow scientists run and hide from lab visitors (true story). Cypress has worked for a variety of major public-facing science institutions (Monterey Bay Aquarium, The Smithsonian, The Nat in Balboa Park) but now runs her own outdoor guiding business, North Star Naturalist, where she develops and leads unique outdoor excursions around San Diego County. When she’s not outside looking for snakes, mushrooms, or native bees, Cypress writes about physics, paints in watercolor, cares for her native plant garden, and cooks up serious storms in the kitchen.
Lisa Will
Title: The Reason for the Seasons
December marks the Winter Solstice in San Diego and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. Did you ever wonder what causes the seasons? Is the Earth the only planet with seasons? Join us to find out!
Lisa Will earned her BS in Astrophysics from UCLA and her Ph.D. in Physics from Arizona State University. She is a Professor of Astronomy and Physics at San Diego City College. She is also the Resident Astronomer at the Fleet Science Center and co-host of the Facts & The Furious podcast. She has researched the nature of dust grains in space and innovations in astronomy education. She is obsessed with Star Wars, the MCU, and Doctor Who and has been a proud geek girl since watching Star Trek and Star Wars as a child. She lives in San Diego with her husband, science fiction and fantasy author Greg van Eekhout, and their two dogs.
Effie Fine
Title: Heat from the Deep: Santa’s Sleigh is on Thin Ice
This holiday season, let’s go on a journey far up north, into the Arctic Ocean. Here, warm waters from the south threaten the delicate balance that sustains the Arctic ice cap. You’ll learn about ocean mixing and ocean heat can affect sea ice, the factors that protect the ice from this heat, and about the specialized instruments we use to study these processes hundreds of meters below the ocean surface.
Effie Fine is a physical oceanographer at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She got her BS in Physics from Stanford University and an MS degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she realized she could combine her love of physics with studying the ocean through exciting fieldwork around the world. She moved to San Diego and got her PhD at Scripps, focusing on ocean mixing in the Arctic Ocean. When she’s not working Effie enjoys yoga, dog training, and introducing her one-year-old daughter to all the natural wonder San Diego has to offer.
Celebrate the Holidays with us Wednesday, December 11!
Buy your tickets now for a special holiday-themed Nerd Nite. Join us on Wednesday, December 11 to hear about the reason for the season, what really happens at the North Pole, and more!
Meet Our Sept 26 Speakers!
Tickets are on sale for only $10 for our 50th event on Thursday, September 26!
Dean Sauer
Title: “The Disco Inferno in the Sea: The importance of phytoplankton and bioluminescence in our oceans.”
Dive into the vibrant world of oceanic bioluminescence. We’ll explore the vital role of phytoplankton, with a special focus on the bioluminescent species Pyrocystis fusiformis. Discover how these tiny marine plankton light up the seas and help support the entire ocean ecosystem and why they are far more than just glowing waves.
Dean Sauer is an ocean lover, science enthusiast, entrepreneur, and proud dad of two. He’s fascinated by all things that glow and finds joy in watching bioluminescent plankton light up the night. After years of working in biotech, Dean decided to dive into the world of marine biology and founded PyroFarms, a company dedicated to cultivating and sharing bioluminescent phytoplankton. When he’s not tinkering with his latest projects, you might find him lost in the mountains. Well, he hopes someone does.
Dr. Jeremy Long
Title: “I do dance now, I mek science moves“
Linking science and pop culture can serve as a platform to attract underrepresented students to STEM fields. Such efforts can empower underrepresented students to consider scientific careers and to foster environmental stewardship. This should be especially true in a country like Jamaica where the shared love for music and dance is world-renowned. However, these linkages continue to be rare. Thus, our team has been using dance and movement to connect Jamaican youth to science and the environment via Dancehall. I will share highlights of our “Mek Moves” project that blended science and dance for hundreds of children through a partnership between dance creatives and scientists. Also, I will ask you to dance with me.
Dr. Long is a Full Professor of Ecology at SDSU. As part of a Fulbright Scholarship during his 2024 sabbatical, he traveled to Jamaica to study coral reefs and lead outreach efforts. This project merges Dr. Long’s professional interests with his personal interest in Dancehall. His interest as a guest in this vibrant culture began in Island Fusion dance classes at CultureShock San Diego. He became more interested during his last sabbatical in Sweden when he found a dance studio in Gothenburg with a dancehall emphasis. But perhaps the most influential period was during the pandemic when Dr. Long found joy and exercise through interactions with Jamaican dancers offering Zoom classes from their homes. Because Dancehall has meant so much to him, he hopes to give his time and expertise to work with Jamaicans to help excite students about science and the environment.
Dr. Jackson Vane
Title: “Portrayal of (Bad) Medicine in TV and Movies”
Have you ever watched a TV show or movie and wonder, “Hey is this how it really happens in the hospital?” or “Is there enough blood on this injury?”. The talk will go over what Hollywood gets right and wrong in medicine.
Jackson is not only a pediatric emergency medicine doctor but played one on TV. He got in trouble by the director for correcting the actors on how to say certain words.
September 26 is our 50th event!
Come celebrate Nerd Nite San Diego’s 50th event on Thursday, September 26! $10 tickets are on sale now.
Speakers and Topics for July 25 Event
Tickets are still available, only $10!
In addition to our awesome panel of science ambassadors, we’ll have two other Nerd Nite talks.
Spacetime in “Star Trek”
Does going to warp around a sun send you back in time? And how does one get back? What exactly are chronitons, gravitons, or tachyons? How does the “Harry Kim Wormhole” work? We’ll explore all the times Star Trek has played around with space and time for better or worse.
Erin Macdonald received her PhD at 25 in gravitational astrophysics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland as a member of the LIGO Collaboration searching for gravitational waves. She left academia less than a year-and-a-half before their Nobel Prize-winning detection, but she promises she’s not bitter (giving talks in a bar helps!). After working as a researcher and educator, she became a technical advisor for the Department of Defense. In 2020 Erin ditched the engineering career to focus on her work as the official Star Trek science advisor. In addition, she now works full time as a writer, a voice actor, and produces independent LGBTQIA+ sci-fi short films with her company Spacetime Productions. She is a regular Nerd Nite speaker and contributed an essay “Artificial Gravity in Science Fiction” to the recent Nerd Nite book “How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi”.
Joint talk from Elizabeth Rega and Stuart Sumida: “Revenge of the Nerds: How Science (and Sex) Illuminate Character Design and Movement“
Elizabeth and Stuart will describe their backgrounds (anthropology, anatomy, and paleontology) and how important actual science is to the making of animated films believable (not necessarily accurate, but believable) visual effects, and effective video gaming.
A Professor of Anatomy and Vice Provost at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA, Dr. Elizabeth Rega has published numerous peer-reviewed and popular papers on pathology of ancient humans, dinosaurs and other extinct taxa and has conducted fieldwork on three different continents. Her specialization in teaching anatomy to medical students has led her to be a frequent consultant to the film, animation and game industry, she provides an anatomical and anthropological perspective to inform the development and animation of characters, as well as to highlight the problematic history of racial depictions in film, animation, and entertainment.
Stuart Sumida is a professor of biology at California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB, or as it is more affectionately known – CSU on the way to Vegas’). He is a paleontologist by research specialization, and the president of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (close to the ultimate in nerd cred). He specializes in the study of the earliest animals that made it out onto land without having to back to the water to have sex. He is also a frequent anatomical and paleontological consultant to the entertainment industry, having worked on over seventy animated films, video games and theme park rides.
Science x Pop Culture Mixer at SDCC
San Diego Nerd Nite is co-hosting a free event at San Diego Comic-Con. Real-life scientists will be on hand to answer any of your burning questions, pop culture related or not. Come out, have a drink (cash bar), and mingle with other science-minded folks!
Marriott Marquis Marina’s South Pool Patio
Saturday, July 27 from 4-7pm
Hosted by Cosplay for Science, the San Diego Science Writers Association, San Diego Nerd Nite, and Star Warsologies. Scientists from the Fleet Science Center and the American Association for the Advancement of Science are also participating. More details coming soon!
Panel of IF/THEN Ambassadors at July 25 event
Part of our July 25 Comic-Con event includes a group of women in STEM who will share their research and passion for science via a panel discussion. They are all part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s ambassador program.
Chanté Summers is an organic chemist and has worked in pharmaceuticals since 2016. She has worked in oncology and infectious disease, including a short time in analytical testing of compounded pharmaceuticals. Most recently she put out a lab fire that, sure – she started by accident but avoided the embarrassment of a building evacuation and has a fun story to tell. Chanté is known for having her hands in too many things – from ceramics and photography, to rock climbing, and kayaking. She loves falling into a good fiction book and napping with her rescue dog, Bindi.
Not only is she a knitting and outdoors enthusiast, Gracie Ermi is a computer scientist at Impact Observatory, where she builds machine learning technology to better understand how the planet is changing in the face of climate change. Her work is all about quickly synthesizing large amounts of satellite images to empower decision-makers with timely, science-based insights about the ecosystems they are working to protect. Her career has centered around using technology to better protect the planet, and previously she worked on technology to support wildlife research – with projects related to killer whales, elephants, dolphins, and more! Gracie also loves to share her story with the next generation of innovators, and she has spoken to over 150 audiences around the world about how they can use computer science to create change in their communities and in the world.
Dr. Beata Mierzwa studies how human cells divide and shares the beauty of science through art, fashion, and interactive media. Her postdoctoral research aims to advance the world’s understanding of cell division and improve cancer therapy. Beyond her academic career, Beata creates science-themed drawings and clothes. Her hand-drawn illustrations use metaphor to portray scientific concepts in intuitive ways, while her microscopy fashion celebrates the beauty of the molecular world. She also created a science video game, Microscopya, that invites players to explore the beauty inside our cells. Through her AAAS IF/THEN Ambassadorship for science outreach and her work with Young Women in Bio – Southern California, she aims to inspire creative students to pursue careers in STEM. For more information, please visit www.beatascienceart.com or follow @beatascienceart on social media.
Dr. Kimberley R. Miner is a Climate Scientist and Program Manager at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab. Her research on climate risks has taken her to the planet’s extreme environments- from the North Pole to Antarctica and Mt. Everest. Dedicated to science communication, Kimberley’s research teams have reached international audiences with features in the BBC, NYT, GQ, and a 2020 Guinness World Record. Before coming to NASA, Kimberley worked on climate security for the Department of Defense in DC, and holds a research professorship at University of Maine and Virginia Tech. She is also writing a book on how younger generations can plan for climate change–to be released in early 2025. Kimberley is a Black belt, wilderness Firefighter, and lives in a fishing harbor on the Pacific Ocean.
July 25 Comic-Con Nerd Nite!
Our next event takes place the Thursday of San Diego Comic-Con! We’re taking full advantage of the influx of nerds to our city. Details about the lineup are coming soon. There will be a panel of AAAS If/Then ambassadors representing kick-ass women in STEM plus a couple of scientists in town for the convention.
Speaker Lineup for May 23, 2024
Ashley Juavinett, UCSD Professor, Author of “So You Want to Be a Neuroscientist?”
Title: “Anyone can be a neuroscientist — here’s how.”
Since the dawn of neuroscience, most of our data has been hidden behind closed laboratory doors. But these days, neuroscience data is freely out in the wild. Why aren’t you (or other people) hacking it yet?
Ashley Juavinett is a teaching professor in neurobiology at UC San Diego and the author of “So You Want To Be a Neuroscientist?” She received her PhD from UC San Diego, where she investigated the cell types and circuits underlying visual perception. Her current research focuses on developing best practices for training the next generation of neuroscientists. When she isn’t thinking or teaching, she is staring lovingly into her dog’s eyes.
Learn more about Ashley on her website and LinkedIn or follow her on X, BlueSky, and Mastadon.
Uduak George, SDSU Professor, NSF CAREER awardee, uses math and computational models to understand diseases
Title: “Understanding ductal network formation: why this is important”
Ductal network structures are common place in multiple organs in the body. These networks are vital for the proper functioning of the body. One example is the pancreas ducts which transport digestive enzymes secreted in the pancreas to the small intestine. Another example is the mammary ducts which facilitate the delivery of secreted milk to breastfeeding infants. In this talk, I will discuss our current knowledge of the very complex interactions that occur during ductal network formation and will highlight why it is important to gain more insight into these interactions.
Uduak Z. George, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at San Diego State University (SDSU). She completed her PhD in Mathematics at the University of Sussex, England, United Kingdom. Dr. George combines computational modeling with artificial intelligence and machine learning to gain deeper insights into the processes that drive biological development and impact health conditions. Dr. George is a recipient of the 2023 NSF CAREER Award. She was named an SDSU Presidential Research Fellow in 2023.
Trevor Valle, Paleontologist and Creative Consultant
Title: “Reentry to Runway: Landing a Space Shuttle”
Imagine you’re in a flying brick with stubby little wings 400,000ft over South America wrapped in a ball of 3000°F plasma hurtling toward the ground, aiming for a 300ft wide, 3 mile long strip of concrete 5000 miles away. You’re also traveling at around Mach 25 so you have 17 and a half minutes to go from really, really fast to zero, safely. And you only have one chance to do it.
Trevor Valle has been a Nerd Nite regular across the country since 2014, and is primarily known as a paleontologist, biologist, and role-playing game historian. What you might not know is that he is a 4-time graduate of Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, has been invited to California Science Center events to speak about the Endeavour orbiter on display, and has successfully completed over two dozen simulated landings at Space Camp and NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Learn more about Trevor on his website and Wikipedia page. And follow him on X and LinkedIn.