Nerd Nite will return Sept. 8th at the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee.
PRESENTATION #1: “How Pokémon Helps Us Learn to Be Our Very Best Selves” by Daniel Kaufmann, Ph.D. (@DrGameology)
DESCRIPTION: Video games provide an amazing opportunity for us to learn about ourselves and what motivates us to pursue various kinds of goals in life. The Pokémon series of games is no exception to this. With each new region, players around the world explore far and wide to assemble a Pokémon party that feels special to them. This talk will review a few basic insights these games offer from a psychological perspective, and will share some models a person can explore to better understand what makes the play of video games become a fulfilling activity for them from a psychological perspective.
BIO: Dr. Kaufmann, PHD is an Assistant Professor, researcher, licensed counselor, Twitch streamer, and podcaster who focuses on using insights from video games and other fandom properties to aid our mental health journey and discover our strengths. His research on the psychology of player types has been presented internationally and continues to evolve with each new world players can inhabit across PC’s and consoles. He also continues to share a never-ending analysis on who we become when we play games at fan conventions, in published books, and through collaborations with other professional who share a passion for video games and the messages they offer each of us who play!
PRESENTATION #2: “A brief taxonomy of ‘Speculative Fiction’ SUBGENRES… major historical variations, evolutions＆innovations” by Ben Forbes Griffith
DESCRIPTION: “Science-Fiction”＆“Fantasy” are merely the most obvious, oversimplified for “genre” fiction bookstore cataloguing, and recently increasingly mainstream tip of a very deep＆broad “iceberg” of imaginative worldbuilding by a plethora of significantly diverse authors!Learn how to tell if your Sci-Fi is “hard” or “soft” or if your Fantasy is “high” or “low” or grimdark, and so much more! If your awareness of “punk” style speculative fiction subgenres is limited to Cyberpunk 2020 or some Steampunk cosplay you saw at a festival with some dapper mustaches＆top hats, elaborately customized goggles, and elegant Victorian clothes, then this is precisely the talk you need to seriously punk up your fiction intake!
BIO: Ben Forbes Griffith is just another middle-aged nerdy intellectual with too many hobbies and never enough time for them all… His day job paying the bills in recent years is as a web-developer, but he is a former history teacher and lifelong learner who spends much of his free time happily dwelling in the past (or in fantastical worlds of his own imagining); toward that end, he is an insatiably curious bibliophile, experienced tabletop-roleplaying gamer, and aspiring creative writer. Twitter = @BFGriffith
Kick off season 10 of Nerd Nite with us this Thursday, August 11th at the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee.
PRESENTATION #1:
“The Nuclear Niche: Fungi that Survive and Thrive in the Heart of Chernobyl” by Matt Luby
The resilience of many species of fungi to various adverse conditions has been known to biologists for many years. It is only in the past three decades that we have begun to evaluate the ability of some fungi to not only survive extremely high doses of harmful radiation, but also to tap into it as an energy source. We’ll discuss not only how it happens, but what we might be able to do with our knowledge of this unique adaptation.
PRESENTATION #2:
“Blood & Treasure: Modern Politics and the Golden Age of Piracy” by J.D. Casto
We tend to think of pirates as bloodthirsty thieves, brutal rapists, and vicious murderers, concerned only with indulging their every whim and amassing as much wealth as possible, forever living at the expense of others. And this is absolutely true. However, in some ways, pirates were strangely ahead of the societal curve. In fact, some of their viewpoints would be heartily endorsed by liberal politicians today – health insurance for all, democratic elections (typically without collusion), and even gay marriage. This presentation will focus on the incredible true stories of pirates and their modern policies.
Join us tonight for a special pop-up Nerd Nite at Bynx Cafe. Enjoy presentations from some of your favorite Nerd Nite speakers Max Jackson and Jimmy Waldron.
Speakers include: Eliza Harris Juliano Jimmy Waldron Max Jackson
Hosted by Ricardo Williams
Thursday, August 12, 2021 @ 7pm Stardust Video & Coffee 1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32803
PRESENTATION #1: “How Would Yoda Vote?” by Eliza Harris Juliano
Eliza is the Director of Urbanism at Canin Associates, where she helps communities and developers build and rebuild neighborhoods where walking or biking to run an errand or go to school is a safe and pleasant experience.
PRESENTATION #2: “The Most Awesome Dinosaurs You’ve Never Heard Of” by Jimmy Waldron
Meet six incredible and bizarre dinosaurs that changed everything for paleontology—and not even your kids know their names!
Jimmy Waldron is the host and creator of Dinosaurs Will Always Be Awesome, on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. In DWABA, Jimmy and his cohost Kat meet scientists, artists, and researchers around the world to tell the stories behind the bones of your favorite dinosaurs. Soon, you can see Jimmy on Conan O’Brien’s podcast – “Conan Needs a Friend”. This is Jimmy’s third talk with Nerd Nite Orlando, and it’s going to be awesome!
PRESENTATION#3: “What I Learned From 5 Years Without Drinking” by Max Jackson
For some people alcohol is a fun vacation from an otherwise-okay baseline state of mind. For others, like me, alcohol can become a coping mechanism or a crutch, or something even worse. It took a lot of trial and error for me to figure that out, until on August 13th 2016 I quit drinking for good. Everything about my life has changed since then as a result, and I’ve learned a lot that I think is really worth talking about. Do I think everyone should quit drinking? (Nope). Do you need to get religion to quit drinking? (It’s fine if you do, but also nope). Have I learned some things that I think can help make anyone more resilient and compassionate in their lives? (Absolutely).
On Thursday, May 6th at 6pm join us at the Orlando Museum of Art for a special event and see the work of artists all across Orlando who have shown what it means to be a nerd in the age of popularity.
The band Soulbase will be performing live and renowned storyteller Aquanza Cadogan will also be in attendance.how to get a quick 1000 dollar loan.
Food will be provided by Romay Ethiopian Kitchen and The Greenery Creamery will be there as well to sell delicious ice cream.
Join us on April 11th for a special outdoor event at Stardust Video & Coffeeto celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first human to journey into outer space. #YurisNight
We have one last NERD NITE before we close out 2020. Join us tonight as we talk Florida Man, Florida manatees, and why the Mandalorian has succeeded where the Star Wars films have not!
We also have a very special guest. Laura Chaibongsai, marine scientist and boss of Nerd Nite Miami, will be joining for tonight’s online event.
Nerd Nite was first launched in Orlando at Stardust Video & Coffee on March 14, 2013. Nerd Nite Orlando is a monthly event featuring entertaining and educational presentations, hosted by Ricardo Williams. Speakers present for 15–20 minutes followed by a brief Q&A with the audience.
Join us on Friday, November 20th at 7pm for a SPECIAL VIRTUAL EVENT with special guest speakers: Emily Dovydaitis and Marie Mercado
PRESENTATION #1: “John Snow vs. Miasma: A Story of Cholera and the Broad St Pump” by Emily Dovydaitis
Emily Dovydaitis makes her virtual Nerd Nite debut from across the pond in Finland. (Forgive her if she yawns, there’s a time difference of 7 hours with Orlando.) A graduate of UCF, Emily is now pursuing her Master of Science in Geography at the University of Helsinki. A researcher in the Digital Geography Lab, she is using mobile phone data to better understand the integration of Estonians living in Finland. Speaking of mobile phones, here’s a fun fact she’d like to share with you: Finland is where Nokia was founded, and coincidentally, is home to the sport of “kännykänheitto” (aka “mobile phone throwing”).
PRESENTATION #2: “More Than Just Delicious: Understanding Ice Cream” by Marie Mercado
Marie Mercado is a professional ice cream lady– a creator & taste tester. Her career began modestly and unknowingly as a six year old child making ice cream for fun, and turned into full-time entrepreneurship in 2018 with the opening of The Greenery Creamery. As a graduate of NYU in Vocal Performance/Opera, Marie can occasionally be heard karaoking (read: yodeling) shamelessly at the ice cream shop by herself, loud and proud.
Nerd Nite was first launched in Orlando at Stardust Video & Coffee on March 14, 2013. Nerd Nite Orlando is a monthly event featuring entertaining and educational presentations, hosted by Ricardo Williams. Speakers present for 15–20 minutes followed by a brief Q&A with the audience.
Join us on Friday, October 23rd at 7pm for a SPECIAL VIRTUAL EVENT and check in with former Nerd Nite speakers: Eliza Harris Juliano, Thienthanh Trinh, and Representative Anna V. Eskamani.
PRESENTATION #1: “Math for a Better City” by Eliza Harris Juliano
Learn how math and science can help make decisions that are better for cities; and better understand how good (or bad) city planning affects your everyday life in sometimes counter-intuitive ways.
Eliza is the Director of Urbanism at Canin Associates, where she helps communities and developers build and rebuild neighborhoods where walking or biking to run an errand or go to school is a safe and pleasant experience.
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PRESENTATION #2: “Wild Love: Strange Mating Strategies in the Animal Kingdom” by Thienthanh Trinh
Attracting mates can be incredibly difficult! Learn how animals across the animal kingdom lock it down. Sometimes it’s romantic. Sometimes it’s complicated. Sometimes it’s weird.
Thienthanh Trinh recently graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Masters in Biology. Her research was on the “zombie-ant fungus”, Ophiocordyceps, a fungal parasite that manipulates the behavior of its ant host. Lover of fun facts. Nature inspires both her science and her art. She hopes to use her creativity, love for science, and humor to communicate ideas in a fun, more engaging, and accessible way.
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For the final presentation, Rep. Anna V. Eskamani will demystify the legislative process in Tallahassee and answer pressing questions about the upcoming election.
Representative Anna V. Eskamani is a UCF graduate, Anna worked at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida for 7 years, and is now pursuing her PhD in Public Affairs. On November 6, 2018 Anna was elected to serve the great people of House District 47 in Orlando with a vote margin of 57% to 43%, flipping a legislative seat, and becoming the first Iranian-American elected to any public office in Florida.
Join us on Thursday, July 11th as we return to Stardust Video & Coffee in Audubon Park for an evening of thinking and drinking.
Nerd Nite is an evening of entertaining and educational presentations. Speakers present for 15 minutes, followed by a brief Q&A with the audience. Nerd Nite operates in over a hundred cities around the world and launched in Orlando on Thursday, March 14, 2013.
PRESENTATION #1: “Space Trivia” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.
PRESENTATION #2: “Historiography: Down the Rabbit Hole (of diverse and contentious perspectives, methods, and emphases by which humans have studied history…” by Benjamin Forbes Griffith
This presentation will take you “Down the Rabbit Hole” of historiography to explore diverse and contentious perspectives, methods, and emphases by which humans have studied history, why more people should know and care to think critically about them, and why more students should learn about them in school. Get ready for an entertaining history of some of the most intriguing as well as controversial schools of historiography from ancient until modern times — many of which few people have ever even heard of or thought about as “lenses” through which to think about and interpret history.
A lifelong intellectually curious bibliophile and lover of learning and philosophy, Ben Griffith was a high-school social-studies teacher for a decade before transitioning to a very different career as a web-developer. He has always enjoyed studying life’s deepest questions, including inspiring people to delve into some of the more nefarious, uglier, and lesser-known aspects of history — and was always eager to do his utmost to make history come alive for his students, critically engaging them in consuming, designing, and participating in multimedia technology, symposium debates, dramatic roleplaying exercises, primary source analyses, and other creative projects.
PRESENTATION #3: “How to Enjoy Medieval Fighting with out Problematic Loss of Limb” by LANCE Orlando
LANCE Orlando is a nonprofit organization which exists to provide the highest quality live action experiences and stage combat performances to educate and entertain while striving to promote an active, creative community in the Southeastern United States.
“hard” or 
“soft” or if your Fantasy is “high” or “low” or grimdark, and so much more! If your awareness of “punk” style speculative fiction subgenres is limited to Cyberpunk 2020 or some Steampunk cosplay you saw at a festival with some dapper mustaches＆top hats, elaborately customized goggles, and elegant Victorian clothes, then this is precisely the talk you need to seriously punk up your fiction intake!
