We all know that learning is more fun when you’re drinking with friends and colleagues. Thus, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in nearly 100 cities across the globe during which several folks give 18-21-minute fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines – while the audience drinks along. Imagine learning about everything from math feuds or the science of the Simpsons, to the genealogy of Godzilla or debunking beer myths, while having a few or a few too many.
The Nerd Nite Podcast on CBS’ new Play It network brings the live experience of our in-person events for your aural pleasure, so feel free to have a drink or two while listening – just as long as you aren’t driving and are of age!
Every episode features a new guest from a different Nerd Nite city around the world. This episode features Beth Phillips with the presentation, “Robot Intimacy: The Inevitable Leap Between Love and Sex with Robots”
Episode description:
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. Nerd Nite Orlando co-boss Ricardo Williams interviews Elizabeth “Beth” Phillips, a doctoral candidate in the Applied Experimental and Human Factors Psychology PhD program at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, to discuss 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. Phillips is currently working on her dissertation in human-robot interaction and her research focuses on enabling effective teamwork between humans and robots of the future. She has an interest in how robots and other technologies are changing the way.
Great news nerds! Not only will we be hosting our 30th consecutive Nerd Nite at the Orlando Science Center completely for free, but thanks to our friends at Juice Bike Share, you can bike there (also) for free!
Here’s what you do:
* Download Social Bicycles mobile app
* Select a plan
* Use the promo code: NERDNITE30
* Pick a bike at a nearby hub
* Unlock with account number and pin
* Enjoy!
The promo code gives all new users of the Juice Bike Share program, a $10 credit- which is more than enough to ride there and back.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact Juice Bike Share at 407-930-9414 or
Juice Bike Share will also be setting up a temporary bike share station at the Orlando Science Center so that new (and existing users) can park their bikes at the event for free.
Town Hall is a new meetup from Nerd Nite Orlando where nerds can hangout and have more of an intimate discussion; as well as present ideas, voice their opinions, and ask questions of the the Nerd Nite team.
Thank you to Catalyst for hosting our second ever Nerd Nite Town Hall.
Every year, Nerd Nite cities from around the world gather in the nation’s capital for the Nerd Nite Global Fest, where a series of the best presentations from various cities are selected to present in conjunction with Smithsonian Magazine’s Future is Here Festival.
This year, Beth Phillips represented Nerd Nite Orlando and journeyed to Washington DC to give a presentation entitled “Robot Intimacy: The Inevitable Leap to Love and Sex With Robots”
Elizabeth “Beth” Phillips is a doctoral candidate in the Applied Experimental and Human Factors Psychology PhD program at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. She is currently working on her dissertation in human-robot interaction, and her research focuses on enabling effective teamwork between humans and robots of the future. She has an interest in how robots and other technologies are changing the way we interact with the world and one another.
Watch the complete video of her presentation below.
Beth Phillips speaks at the Future is Here Festival, May 2015
For the past 2 and a half years, Nerd Nite has received overwhelming love and support from the Central Florida community. Every single mention in the media, whether big or small is incredibly humbling and I am truly honored for our most recent inclusion in the Orlando Weekly, not just because it is an article that made the cover but primarily because it is on a list with so many top-notch events and programs that are building the social architecture of Central Florida. I am happy to say that I’ve worked with and/or participated with all of them.
We all know that learning is more fun when you’re drinking with friends and colleagues. Thus, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in nearly 100 cities across the globe during which several folks give 18-21-minute fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines – while the audience drinks along. Imagine learning about everything from math feuds or the science of the Simpsons, to the genealogy of Godzilla or debunking beer myths, while having a few or a few too many.
The Nerd Nite Podcast on CBS’ new Play It network brings the live experience of our in-person events for your aural pleasure, so feel free to have a drink or two while listening – just as long as you aren’t driving and are of age!
Every episode features a new guest from a different Nerd Nite city around the world. The most recent episode, based on a presentation at Nerd Nite Orlando called “Roses are Red, Orange Lilies Mean I Hate You: Exploring the Symbology of Flowers” features Emily Dovydaitis. She is a tree-hugging enthusiast, as well as an undergraduate in Biology and Cultural Anthropology at UCF. She fancies ethnobotany. Her dream is to one day travel to the Amazon to study native, plant-derived medicines. When she’s not drowning in organic chemistry, Emily enjoys rattling off plant binomials and drinking tea. She also secretly envies the fact that plants make their own food, which means they don’t need to clean dishes.
Presentation description:
Although most flowers lack tu-lips, they often “say” more than most people realize. During the Victorian era, the clandestine language of flowers provided a way for society to communicate emotions in a more respectable manner. Lovers, charmers and boothangs alike should ask themselves one simple question before this Valentine’s Day: what sort of message are you actually sending with that bouquet?
NERDY SPEED DATING IS A SPECIAL EVENT THAT IS HOSTED BY NERD NITE ORLANDO EVERY THIRD SATURDAY
Nerd Nite cities from across the world have hosted Nerdy Speed Dating for a decade. The event has boasted many successful matchmaking and fostered a long list of committed relationships, engagements, and marriages (and even a few wee ones)… and worse case scenario, you make a friend to join you for a future Nerd Nite event.
Each date will be 3-minutes long with one person; and everyone will have the opportunity for multiple dates with different people. (Never the same person)
NERDY SPEED DATING IS FOR ALL NERDS. WE ARE LGBT-FRIENDLY
Join us for the second edition of Town Hall on Monday, August 3, 2015 at 7:30pm at Catalyst Spaces in Downtown Orlando (1 S Orange Ave, Orlando, Florida 32801)
Nerd Nite Orlando exists to show the surrounding community that learning is fun, particularly when you’re drinking among friends and like-minded people.
Town Hall is a new meetup from Nerd Nite Orlando where nerds can hangout and have more of an intimate discussion; as well as present ideas, voice their opinions, and ask questions of the the Nerd Nite team.
Discussion Agenda
* Upcoming programming from Nerd Nite
-Gaming & Space Nite
-Maker Faire
-Ladies Nite… PART II
-Movie Screenings
* Other applications via Nerd Nite
-Speed Dating app
-Connecting to other Nerd Nite cities
* What kind of topics should be presented at future Nerd Nites
* Pick a Nerd Nite talk to watch from another city.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- I am Nerd Nite’s biggest fan. If I wasn’t the host, I’d still be in-attendance at every single event. Check out some photos below of Nerd Nite at Comic Con 2015. This is the second year we’ve put on this event and I’m hoping for many more! Special thank you to the presenters Trevor, Joan & Rich, and Allis. And an extra special thank you to National Graphic Channel for making this all possible.
