ORLANDO, FL — Activist and organizer Ida Eskamani is announced as the new Co-Boss of Nerd Nite Orlando.
Nerd Nite, a monthly event that features educational and entertaining presentations in a casual atmosphere, operates in over a hundred cities around the world, including Tokyo, Seattle, New York City, London, Fort Lauderdale, Des Moines and Austin.
Nerd Nite launched in Orlando on Thursday, March 14, 2013 by founding organizers Valerie Cepero, Josh Manning, and Ricardo Williams. For the past two years, Williams has solely organized and hosted Nerd Nite Orlando. Eskamani, who nerds out about astronomy, music and nature, will work side by side with Williams to organize monthly events as well as special programming and share hosting duties on certain evenings.
The announcement was made on Thursday, September 14th at “Nerd Nite Orlando LV: Neural Networks, Autonomous Vehicles, & The Procrastination Paradox” where Eskamani took the stage at the end of the evening to emphasize big plans for 2018 including a Nerd Nite Prom and how they’re going to “triple everything in size and Nerd Nite this whole damn town!”
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Contact:
Ricardo Williams
Host, Nerd Nite Orlando
813–464–1712
Ida Eskamani is a first generation Iranian-American and a native of Orlando, Florida. She earned dual degrees in Political Science and Sociology and has served on top political campaigns, advocacy organizations, and institutions including the Obama White House, Sen. Bill Nelson’s re-election campaign, and Equality Florida. Following the tragedy at Pulse, Ms. Eskamani launched the Pulse Victims Fund, raising $10 million dollars for Pulse families and survivors and played a key role in victim service and advocacy efforts following the tragedy, with a focus on intersectionality and empowerment. She has organized large-scale demonstrations in support of the black lives matter movement, LGBTQ+ equality, common sense gun safety measures, and in resistance to Trump’s travel ban. Ms. Eskamani earned her Masters in Public Administration from UCF in 2016, and currently serves as Chief of Staff to Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, as well as on the Board of Directors of Organize Florida, a community-based, nonprofit member organization of low and moderate income people dedicated to the principles of social, racial, and economic justice. She also serves on Equality Florida’s Greater Orlando Steering Committee.
From Orange County Library System:
In celebration of National Library Card Sign Up Month, we talked to our local friends about what the library means to them and why libraries matter to our communities. Ricardo Williams, host and organizer of Nerd Nite Orlando, tells us about his favorite library resources as well as his take on why the library is an important part of our community.
“We were very happy to get such a positive response following the premiere showing of our new film, “Age & Popularity” at the Enzian Theater. We’ll be hosting our second showing at Macbeth Studio on Friday, September 1st at 5:30pm as part of a double feature with our previous film, “Alexander Rises”
Join Morgan and I, as we eat, drink, watch, and discuss these two short films. This event is FREE.”
The film, “Alexander Rises” is a personal journey in how all people are really lonely and an exploration in what they do to find solace.
[Running Time- 16:36]
The film, “Age & Popularity” is a short story in how people are really distracted and an exploration in idolization.
[Running Time- 14:41]
For the 4th year in a row, NatGeo teams up with Nerd Nite for a FREE special SDCC edition. This Nite takes the audience on an intergalactic journey through Earth and to Mars to celebrate the second season of NatGeo’s Mars and its upcoming new series, One Strange Rock. Mars vs. Earth – a classic battle! Find us on Saturday July 22, 2017 from 7-11pm at the rooftop terrace and pool at Hotel Solamar at 435 Sixth Avenue in the Gaslamp District. The Nite will feature three funny-yet-smart presentations by JPL’s Bobak Ferdowsi (‘The Mohawk Guy’) and Mallory Lefland, former NASA astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, and Aaron Sagers (Editor-at-Large of Blastr.com). And as always, there will be FREE FOOD and DRINKS!
Please join Local Love Orlando and Macbeth Studio on Thursday, July 20th at The Abbey in downtown Orlando for the second Local Love Night of 2017. This fun social and socially-aware event is to raise funds and awareness for the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness. There’s a recommended donation of $20-$30 at the door, all proceeds of which go directly to CFCH. Food and drink are included with your donation. Also, you get your own photo in front of this amazing backdrop, which will be live-posted that night.
WUCF-TV TO PREMIERE NEW SHOW, “NERD NITE SPOTLIGHT” IN COLLABORATION WITH NERD NITE ORLANDO
ORLANDO, FL – WUCF-TV is set to premiere the new television program, “Nerd Nite Spotlight.”
Produced by Tricia Connelly and hosted by Ricardo Williams, the production is a collaboration between WUCF-TV and Nerd Nite Orlando. Guests on the show are former speakers of Nerd Nite Orlando’s monthly event series which features some of Central Florida’s best and brightest. Premiering on Thursday, June 29th at 8:20pm, the show’s first season will air weekly through Central Florida’s public broadcasting. “Spotlight” will also be available for streaming online.
WUCF-TV is Central Florida’s PBS station, licensed to the University of Central Florida, serving nearly 4 million viewers across nine counties with award-winning and acclaimed national programming for all ages and local productions that explore our community. More at http://wucftv.org/
About Nerd Nite Orlando
Nerd Nite Orlando 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. Nerd Nite has been established in over a hundred cities around the world and has organized special programing for Comic-Con International, The Future is Here Festival, and Maker Faire Orlando, among others. http://orlando.nerdnite.com/
Contact:
Ricardo Williams
Host, Nerd Nite
813-464-1712
From the Nerd Nite Fort Lauderdale team:
“Join us at the Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park on Tuesday, July 25 for an evening of fun talks by passionate presenters while the rest of us drink along!
We kick off with an icebreaker at 7, and the first of our three presentations starts at 7:30. The Buddha’s famous $10 “burger and a beer” special runs from 5-10, and happy hour is 4-8.
This month’s speakers and topics include:
1) When the Moon Photobombs the Sun: Your Guide to the 2017 Total Eclipse presented by Derek Demeter
Throughout the United States on August 21, 2017 for around two minutes the Moon will completely cover the Sun in a astronomical spectacle known as a total solar eclipse. Join the director of the Emil Buehler Planetarium Derek Demeter as we explore what all this eclipse hype is about and what to do in order to view it.
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.
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2) The Science and Psychology of Beauty: An Evolutionary Perspective presented by Melissa Blundell Osorio
Why are we attracted to what we’re attracted to? What leads us to find certain features physically beautiful, and others less so? Are these beauty standards created solely by the media? Take a look into the science of beauty, seen in the context of a Darwinian struggle for survival.
Melissa has been a Nerd Nite Miami Boss since co-founding it in 2014. During the day, she creates educational programming at the World Erotic Art Museum. Her nerdy interests are in human behavior, psychology, and anthropology, particularly when it comes to sex and beauty.
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3) Why Whale Poop Matters: Keeping the Oceans Dirty & Healthy presented by Laura Eldredge
Learn about ecosystem services provided by whales around the world and how, through pooping and other natural processes, they stimulate world-wide ocean productivity.
Laura currently works in natural resource management of Biscayne Bay and is a volunteer Stranding Coordinator for the Marine Animal Rescue Society which earned her the “Blue Ambassador of the Year Award”. Having immersed herself in the marine animal world, she has worked with whales, dolphins, otters, manatees, penguins, fish, sea turtles, corals, and the occasional wanna-be mermaids.
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.
Guest speakers: Sarah Elbadri, Anna Eskamani, & Anne Meier
Hosted by Ricardo Williams
For any questions, contact Ricardo at
WHERE: The Geek Easy, 114 S Semoran Blvd #6, Winter Park, FL 32792
WHEN: Thursday, July 13, 2017 Doors open at 6pm. Program starts at 7pm.
PRESENTATION #1 by Sarah Elbadri
Sarah Abuobaida Elbadri is an urban planner, community leader, and a passionate resident of Orlando. Sarah came to Orlando to pursue a Masters degree in urban planning from Rollins College. As a graduate student used to riding her bike for transportation, she began working with a fellow student to bring bike share to Orlando. Together, they launched the Juice Bike Share program in the City of Orlando. Sarah has also served as the first Campus Director for The Iron Yard, a “coding bootcamp” moving students into web development careers and was also the Executive Director for the SoDo Main Street program. For the past six years, Sarah has helped plan ReThinking the City, a monthly program that builds dialogue within our community about the forces that shape cities.
PRESENTATION #2 by Annie Meier
Meier has participated in transforming trash into vital gases like methane, oxygen and water. Trash-to-gas technology can be used to recycle mission waste such as food packaging, dinner scraps, clothing (and even poo!) into gases that can be used elsewhere and reduce trash pile up on long duration missions. Meier was chief engineer on the HI-SEAS 2 mission, a simulated Martian base-camp on the slopes of a volcano in Hawaii. She spends her days doing research at Kennedy Space Center, trying to make sustainable fuel sources for deep space missions to Mars.
PRESENTATION #3 by Anna Eskamani
A Central Florida native and first generation Iranian-American, Anna currently serves as the Senior Director of Public Affairs and Communications for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. She is also a PhD student and adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida (UCF). A feminist and millennial, Anna is committed to building collective power to dismantle oppressive systems and lift community efficacy. She has been recognized by the Orlando Sentinel has one of the most 100 influential people in the region has recently been awarded as one of UCF’s “30 under 30” awardees.
For the past two years, Williams has solely organized and hosted Nerd Nite Orlando. Eskamani, who nerds out about astronomy, music and nature, will work side by side with Williams to organize monthly events as well as special programming and share hosting duties on certain evenings.
