For Nerd Nite #5, we will measure gross national happiness, explore the synchronicity of music and culture, and take the inevitable leap to love and sex with robots!

Nerd Nite Orlando is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking talks across many disciplines – all while the audience drinks along in a casual bar atmosphere. 3 speakers will present for 20-25 minutes each on a fascinating subject of their choice, often in an uncanny and unconventional way.

It’s like the Discovery Channel – with beer! Come meet up, drink, and learn something new!

EVENT:

Thursday, July 11th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Stardust Video and Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Rd. Winter Park, FL 32803.
Facebook Event <–be sure to RSVP!
FREE!

PRESENTATIONS:

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“Smile Currency: Measuring Gross National Happiness” by Christopher Stampar

How should we measure human wellbeing and development? Is a Gross Domestic Product that assesses social welfare in terms of monetary standards really the best way? A small Himalayan Kingdom, known as Bhutan, has been attempting to revolutionize the way the world sees these issues. Let’s explore how we measure happiness and why it’s going to change the world!

Christopher Stampar studies International Relations, Economics, and Geo-Spatial Technology at the University of Miami. Currently, he is the International Director for IDEAS (Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions) where he develops new chapters and initiatives around the world. He is also an Energy Specialist with Citizen Energy, conducting training, energy audits, efficiency analysis, and customer engagement. In 2012, Chris delivered speeches to both the United Nations High Level Meeting on Happiness and Wellbeing in New York and the Rio +20 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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“Resonating Rhythms: The Synchronicity of Music and Culture” by Stephen Clark

From Little Richard to Lady Gaga, from Beach Blanket Bingo to Justin Beiber, what does pop music say about the society who loves it? Do the tunes we treasure reflect the times we live in? A self-professed “Musicologist” explains the correlation between current events and the music that evolves from them.

Stephen Clark a.k.a. “Stephen the Poet” is an overall music geek whose credits include: singer, songwriter, bandleader, producer, artist manager, music video cameraman and director. At age 14 he co-wrote the title track to his first Billboard charting song, “What about Me”. He has also worked with various other artists such as Santana, U2, Ray Charles, Faith Hill, Hootie & the Blowfish, Steve Winwood, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and many more.

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“Robot Intimacy: The Inevitable Leap to Love and Sex with Robots” by Beth Phillips

Robots are undergoing a transformation in society, from fulfilling roles as dissociative tools to roles as our partners and collaborators. Drawing on what we know about the current direction of robotic design as well as human attachment, it’s easy to predict that one day we will have loving, intimate relationships with our mechanical friends. Join us for a discussion on the future of human-robot relations and why envisioning a world in which people fall in love with artificial beings is not as far-fetched as it may seem.

Beth Phillips is a doctoral candidate in Applied Experimental & Human Factors Psychology at UCF. She studies human interaction with robots to better understand how to foster teamwork between humans and robots of the future. She’s also passionate about saxophone, space, sustainability, people and creating. Check out “about.me/elizabeth.phillips” for more information about Beth and her work.