Nerd Nite Orlando recently celebrated its 5-year anniversary and announced production of a documentary film.
This documentary will explore the decentralized structure of Nerd Nite, its infectious spreading to new cities all around the world and how it has helped people gain confidence, discover their identity, and build meaningful relationships.
The modest budget will help to cover production costs; including equipment rentals, staff hires, travel, and festival submissions.
Production of the project will begin June 2018 with an expected completion by September 2018.
When I ponder on the last five years, so many incredible memories come to mind. From hearing Amy Selikoff nerd out about flags to Jonathan Pamplin in full costume discussing the very peculiar history of “Emperor Norton” to an 8-month pregnant Tairi Perez tell an audience full of people how gross pregnancy can be and how humans should evolve to lay eggs. All of this and more are what make Nerd Nite so special. A community of remarkable people getting on stage and sharing their passions in a place where they can be themselves, be accepted and be celebrated.
Thank you all for the last five years. This milestone is as much our achievement as it is yours and with your continued participation we’ll keep it going for five more years and beyond!
Join us on Thursday, April 12th for an evening of thinking and drinking with 3 brand new guest speakers. We’ll be celebrating Yuri’s Night (aka the World Space Party) in honor of Yuri Gagarin, the 1st human in space on April 12, 1961. We’ll also be having a “space cosplay” contest.
WHERE: The Geek Easy, 114 South Semoran Boulevard #6, Winter Park, FL 32792
WHEN: April 12, 2018. Doors open at 7pm. Program begins at 7:30.
Guest speakers include:
James Cooney
Caley Burke
Joshua Colwell
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PRESENTATION #1
“Black Hole Diaries” by Dr. James Cooney
Dr. James Cooney is an astrophysicist at the University of Central Florida. He spends much of his time teaching astronomy and physics to hungry young minds. He also enjoys competitive Scrabble, stamp collecting, and a number of other nerdy pastimes.
PRESENTATION #2
“The Secret of Great Liftoff Timing” by Caley Burke
Caley Burke is a rocket scientist with NASA’s Launch Services Program, with degrees in aeronautical & astronautical engineering from Purdue University and MIT. She works as a trajectory analyst for spacecraft orbiting Earth, landing on Mars, and other destinations around the solar system. Caley’s day job consists of making sure that the rocket drops the spacecraft at the right place & right time. In her innovation time she works on the NASA’s annual global hackathon, the International Space Apps Challenge.
PRESENTATION #3
“Who Cares That In Space No One Can Hear You Scream?” by Dr. Josh Colwell
Dr. Josh Colwell is a Planetary Scientist and Professor of Physics at the University of Central Florida. His research interests are in the origin and evolution of the solar system with a particular emphasis on planet formation, asteroids, planetary rings, comets, and interplanetary dust. He is a Co-Investigator on the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph on the Cassini mission, a spacecraft orbiting and exploring Saturn from 2004-2017. Josh studies the structure and dynamics of Saturn’s rings with data from Cassini. His experiments have flown on the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station, suborbital rockets, parabolic airplane flights, and he is developing a CubeSat for launch in 2018.
“Nerd Nite doesn’t belong to just me. It belongs to any and all those who wish to take ownership. Often times on stage, I’ll tell the audience that they are a vital part of keeping this thing going, but I don’t want to just say that, I want everyone to see it– to feel it. This is why I send out surveys, pass out comment cards at events, and encourage folks to email me with their questions and concerns. The feedback is a necessary ingredient to how I organize and this event literally wouldn’t work if the community didn’t participate.
Two weeks ago, I posted a poll in our Facebook group asking where we should have the 5-year anniversary event. In a very short period of time there was an obvious winner: the Orlando Science Center.
So there you have it, folks. Nerd Nite Orlando will be celebrating five years of thinking and drinking on Thursday, March 8th at the Orlando Science Center. We’ll have 3 new talks, games, prizes, and plenty of other surprises. Be there and be square.”
WHERE: Orlando Science Center, 777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803
WHEN: Thursday, March 8th.
Doors open at 6:30pm (to the Kinetic Zone)
Program begins at 8pm (in the Digital Adventure Theater)
* Complimentary Garage Parking with covered access into the building.
* Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Guest Speakers:
Aquanza Cadogan
Dr. Julian Chambliss
Joshua “TechDev” Walker
Questions? Contact:
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PRESENTATION #1
“Armor” by Aquanza Cadogan
A mask, an object normally worn on the face for protection, disguise or entertainment can also be used to become someone else for a little while.
Aquanza Cadogan is a mentor, public speaker, visual journalist and humanitarian with a desire to promote the welfare of others. His passion for music, culture and giving back to today’s youth makes him an amazing visionary for the 21st Century.
PRESENTATION #2
“The Problem of the Cinematic Superhero: Everything Changes, But We Must Stay The Same” by Dr Julian Chambliss
Is the superhero the solution or the problem? The rise of the cinematic superhero tells us much about US culture, but it might not be what you think.
Julian Chambliss is an interdisciplinary scholar and writer deeply concerned about real and imagined urban spaces. Within that framework comic pages, urban places, and digital spaces offer an opportunity to explore the intersection of identity, community, and power that shape contemporary society.
PRESENTATION #3
“The Not So Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” by Joshua “TechDev” Walker
“The Not So Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” is a personalized adaptation of the best selling book “The SubtleArt of Not Giving a Fuck”. Walker will attempt to prescribe brash self help for your life and career through personal examples, unorthodox philosophy and cursing…
Joshua “TechDev” Walker is a military vet turned tech. He enjoys family, Star Wars, concerts and bourbon. He is a founder of Black Orlando Tech and works in the mythical Cloud as a devops manager.
Nerd Nite is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking presentations– all while the audience drinks along in a casual atmosphere. Speakers present for 15-20 minutes each on a fascinating subject, often in an uncanny and unconventional way. Following each presentation is a brief Q&A with the audience.
PRESENTATION #1: “Why is that so funny?” by Darren Wendroff
Laughter is an in-born human behavior, like coughing or yawning, and the result of thousands if not millions of years of evolution. Deep laughter has the power to temporarily override other emotions (we can’t sob and laugh at the same time) while hijacking the face and body’s muscles and flooding the brain with happy neurotransmitters. Only 15 percent of laughter is related to jokes, laughing can signal recognition, surprise and often safety. I hope to share the beauty and origin of laughter and how something we take for granted is perhaps the most complex human expression of all.
Darren Wendroff is an Army Veteran, a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, a former editor at Men’s Health and Kiteboarding magazines and an entrepreneur. He’s the producer of Orlando Cringe, the public diary reading show, and a long time improv performer and occasional standup comedian. His mother and father were a professional clown and magician, and he’s been laughing since he was 3 months old.
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PRESENTATION #2: “Ouch! Navigating Stigma and Day to Day Language” by Nicole Elinoff
Language is powerful and if used in a certain way can empower others or continue to promote stigmatization in the community. This presentation will walk others through the language that we may use everyday and the impact it has around us.
Nicole Elinoff is a fierce Public Health professional working to protect the Public’s Health, all while having fun! Nicole strives to build collaboration, fight stigma, and be an agent of change in her community. You can catch her riding her bike, drinking coffee, our being a foodie around town.
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PRESENTATION #3: “How a Zamboni Works and Why Deadpool Uses It to Kill” by Justin Cirillo & Bryan Pittard
Justin Cirillo is the owner & vice president of operations at the Daytona Ice Arena. Involved in ice hockey for 30+ years, Justin was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He began playing hockey at age 11 in the Salt Lake Amateur Hockey Association. Justin relocated to Orlando, Florida after a successful 15 year career in the Distribution/Logistics industry in Los Angeles, California. Once in Florida, he changed his focus to pursue his passion for hockey. Justin Cirillo gained much success as the Operations Manager for the RDV Sportsplex in Orlando for 8 years. Justin is a Level 4 USA Hockey Coach and a Level 2 USA hockey official. Justin holds the Certified Rink Administrator title through STAR.
Bryan is the technical lead TSS-JV University of Central Florida and President and Co-Founder of the Orlando Curling Club.
Nerd Nite is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking presentations– all while the audience drinks along in a casual atmosphere. Speakers present for 15-20 minutes each on a fascinating subject, often in an uncanny and unconventional way. Following each presentation is a brief Q&A with the audience.
Suggested Donation $5.00
Doors open at 6pm. Program starts at 7pm
Questions? Contact:
PRESENTATION #1: “Getting High on Astronomy: A Scientific Pilgrimage to the Chilean Desert” by Derek Demeter
The Atacama desert in Chile is not only the driest place on Earth but is the mecca of astronomical research with no equal anywhere on planet Earth. The darkest and clearest skies can be found there and some of the most advanced observatories make their home in this inhospitable landscape. Join Derek Demeter as he recalls his recent pilgrimage to the many wonderful observatories found in Chile. Prepared to get high on astronomy!
Derek is the director of the Emil Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College in Sanford, Florida. Derek also enjoys promoting science beyond the planetarium with his work as an astrophotographer, which earned him pictures seen in NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day website, Universe Today, Astronomy Magazine, and Sky and Telescope.
PRESENTATION #2: “Sky rockets in flight, asteroids delight: Asteroid Mining for Science, Profit, and Fun!” by Dr. Zoe Landsman
Why are both scientists and entrepreneurs interested in asteroid mining? What are some misconceptions about it? And how is it an important step on the road to human settlement and exploration of space?
Dr. Zoe Landsman is a postdoctoral researcher with the Florida Space Institute at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Landsman’s research is focused on studying the surfaces of asteroids to learn about the early solar system and to determine the suitability of specific asteroids for resource utilization.
PRESENTATION #3: “Are We There Yet?” by Brendan Byrne
When it comes to putting humans on Mars, are we there yet? After two years hosting the podcast “Are We There Yet?” Brendan may have the answer: Nope. But strides are being made to get humans there sooner than we think.
Brendan Byrne is WMFE’s space reporter and host/producer of “Are We There Yet?”, the station’s space exploration podcast. He’s a contributor to NPR’s national programming, bringing space news from Florida to a national audience. He’s a graduate of space camp class of 1996 and a self-diagnosed space geek.
Organizing events is scary and last week one of my worst fears became a reality. Through some miscommunication and user-error, we lost our venue for this month’s Nerd Nite. As we scrambled to find a replacement for the event, the options were looking very slim. Then just 8 hours before showtime, I called Henao Contemporary Center and they were not only available but were happy to accommodate us.
The hours leading up to Nerd Nite were very scary. Scarier than usual. With a last minute venue change nearly hours before our program was set to start, I was terrified that everything that could go wrong would absolutely go wrong. And then something crazy happened… all the tech worked, all the speakers showed up, the drinks were cold, and PEOPLE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP!
For those that couldn’t make it due to the venue change, I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. And to those who were able to make the trip thank you for the commitment; we appreciate you and all those who have showed up, turned out, and supported us over the years.
The lineup for the night included one of our all-star speakers Max Jackson, who returned to the stage and gave a talk called “Information on the Brain”, David Moran followed by nerding out about the history of Dolly Parton’s amazing catalog of music, and my new co-boss Ida Eskamani closed us out breaking down “the art of moshing”.
With so much learned and so much fun had, I was reminded why so many of us have worked hard to keep Nerd Nite going over the years and I am incredibly excited for our plans for 2018, including the continuation of our monthly events, the second season of our show, our new documentary film, the 5-year anniversary, the cosplay prom, and so much more!
ORLANDO, FL — Nerd Nite Orlando is set to join the 4th annual Orlando Tech Week on Thursday, October 12th. The evening’s program will be combined with the “Tees and Ties Party”.
Held at The Exchange Building in the historic Church Street District, the monthly Nerd Nite event will feature giveaways, a special tech segment, and the traditional three guest speakers who will discuss everything from food, screenwriting, and the “The Great American Eclipse”.
Attendees are encouraged to wear a nerdy t-shirt or tie. Awards will be given out at the end of the evening for the best in the following categories: Retro, Humor, Space, Local Love, and Crowd Pleasing t-shirt or tie.
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Orlando Tech Week is a week-long showcase of the technology, creativity, and entrepreneurial hustle powering the future of Orlando. The Tees & Ties Party is one of Orlando Tech Week’s signature annual events. Click here for more info.
“Nerd Nite Orlando: Tees + Ties Party for Orlando Tech Week”
Hosted by Ida Eskamani & Ricardo Williams
Guest speakers: Tiffany Gentry, Gabriela Murza, & Emilee Speck
WHERE: Church Street Exchange, 101 S Garland Ave, Orlando, FL 32801
WHEN: Thursday, October 12, 2017, Doors open at 6pm. Program begins at 7pm.
COST: $20 (ticket includes 2 drinks)
FOOD & CASH BAR WILL BE ON-SITE
DRESS CODE: Nerdy t-shirt OR tie **
PRESENTATION #1: “Skinny Genes Aren’t for Everyone: Why Most Diets Set You Up to Fail” by Gabriela Murza
Gabriela Murza is an Extension Agent with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. It may sound fancy, but it just means that she is an “extension” of UF, providing educational programs and services to community residents of Osceola County. While there is an Extension office in every county in Florida, there is only one Gabi. She received her graduate degree in Health Education, and has turned that passion into a career with UF. Her area of expertise is nutrition, wellness, and food safety, and she teaches any and all topics related to these areas to anyone who will listen.
PRESENTATION #2: “Storytelling 101; The Hero’s Journey and The Disney Princess.” By Tiffany Gentry
Orlando native Tiffany Gentry is an editor, producer, and production assistant for WUCF TV, our Central Florida PBS Station…and yes she did work behind the scenes on Nerd Night Spotlight! As a graduate of The University of Central Florida in Radio and TV Broadcasting, Tiffany has always been a passionate media consumer. When she is not working, she often spends her time consuming and studying all kinds of media trends and history including film, TV, and even theme park entertainment. Her presentation will explore an interesting and important trend in one of Disney’s biggest brands outside of Mickey Mouse.
PRESENTATION #3 “Our High Solar Drive: The untold (as seen on TV) story of two women’s 50 hour experience for two minutes of totality” by Emilee Speck
Emilee Speck is a digital journalist for the Orlando CBS station, WKMG and ClickOrlando.com, who covers space, planetary science and Central Florida breaking news. Before joining WKMG Emilee was a web editor and space blogger for the Orlando Sentinel. She has been known to explain SpaceX booster landings with staplers and other office items around the newsroom.
**Prizes for best t-shirt and tie will be given out at the end of the evening.
This morning, Ricardo was on the air at 91.5 FM WPRK for Bess Auer’s new show, “Smarketing News” to talk about cool new apps, Central Florida parks, infrastructure, Juice Bike Share, the origins of Nerd Nite, why the event is so important, and so much more.
Join us on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at the Geek Easy for another evening of thinking and drinking.
Nerd Nite is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking presentations– all while the audience drinks along in a casual atmosphere. Speakers present for 15-20 minutes each on a fascinating subject, often in an uncanny and unconventional way. Following each presentation is a brief Q&A with the audience.
Hosted by Ida Eskamani & Ricardo Williams
For any questions, contact Ricardo at
WHERE: The Geek Easy, 114 S Semoran Blvd #6, Winter Park, FL 32792
WHEN: Thursday, October 12, 2017 Doors open at 6pm. Program starts at 7pm
Nerd Nite Orlando LVI: Skinny Genes, Storytelling 101, and the High Solar Drive
PRESENTATION #1: “Skinny Genes Aren’t for Everyone: Why Most Diets Set You Up to Fail” by Gabriela Murza
Gabriela Murza is an Extension Agent with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. It may sound fancy, but it just means that she is an “extension” of UF, providing educational programs and services to community residents of Osceola County. While there is an Extension office in every county in Florida, there is only one Gabi. She received her graduate degree in Health Education, and has turned that passion into a career with UF. Her area of expertise is nutrition, wellness, and food safety, and she teaches any and all topics related to these areas to anyone who will listen.
PRESENTATION #2: “Storytelling 101; The Hero’s Journey and The Disney Princess.” By Tiffany Gentry
Orlando native Tiffany Gentry is an editor, producer, and production assistant for WUCF TV, our Central Florida PBS Station…and yes she did work behind the scenes on Nerd Night Spotlight! As a graduate of The University of Central Florida in Radio and TV Broadcasting, Tiffany has always been a passionate media consumer. When she is not working, she often spends her time consuming and studying all kinds of media trends and history including film, TV, and even theme park entertainment. Her presentation will explore an interesting and important trend in one of Disney’s biggest brands outside of Mickey Mouse.
PRESENTATION #3: “Our High Solar Drive: The untold (as seen on TV) story of two women’s 50 hour experience for two minutes of totality” by Emilee Speck
Emilee Speck is a digital journalist for the Orlando CBS station, WKMG and ClickOrlando.com, who covers space, planetary science and Central Florida breaking news. Before joining WKMG Emilee was a web editor and space blogger for the Orlando Sentinel. She has been known to explain SpaceX booster landings with staplers and other office items around the newsroom.
