On Friday, April 3rd, IndieNomicon (Orlando’s premier showcase of Indie Games) recently celebrated its 2-year anniversary.

Click here to view all the photographs from the Indiversary party: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.649613165144105.1073741852.350851321686959&type=1

OrlandoiX is Orlando’s International Digital Festival. Held October 2-6, 2015, the festival is a five-day series of conferences and exhibitions showcasing advancements in interactive media, digital arts, and entertainment technology. OrlandoiX serves as a catalyst for digital innovation and creativity in Orlando and beyond and builds connections between worldwide digital industry leaders. Over 80,000 creative technologists from across the world are expected to attend more than 200 events hosted in Downtown Orlando and the I-Drive convention district.

On April 2nd, a kickoff party was held at the Church Street Exchange building to begin the six month countdown to the first ever OrlandoiX.

Photographs by Ricardo Williams

Click here to view more photos from the kickoff party: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.648170348621720.1073741851.350851321686959&type=1

Tod Caviness, of the Orlando Sentinel, hangs out with Ricardo Williams and talks about the 2-year anniversary Pi Day Celebration.

Watch the interview here: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/bars-and-clubs/os-wingman-nerd-nites-2-year-anniversary-pi-celebration-20150312-premiumvideo.html

Watch on Hulu here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/766210

On the 2-year anniversary of the first Nerd Nite in Orlando, I hosted a special event at the Church Street Exchange building to celebrate this momentous occasion.

-Ricardo Williams
Nerd Nite Orlando

Click here to view more photos from the event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.641148725990549.1073741850.350851321686959&type=1

Nerd Nite Orlando’s 2-Year Anniversary Pi Day Celebration
Presented by Canvs & Nerd Nite Orlando

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. Speakers present for up to 20 minutes, each on a fascinating subject of their choice, often in an uncanny and unconventional way. Following each presentation is a 5-10 minute Q&A with the audience.

To coincide with Pi Day and the 2-year anniversary of the very first Nerd Nite in Orlando, we will be co-hosting a special event with Canvs on Saturday, March 14th at the Church Street Exchange. The afternoon/evening will compile a diverse group of classic nerd nite talks along with new presentations and additional programming that includes trivia, a drunk science nerd-off, and a dry t-shirt contest; along with music, games, pies, a magic show and of course drinks!

EVENT INFO:
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2015
Time: 3pm – 9pm
Location: Church Street Exchange, 101 South Garland Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801
Tickets: $10 (Presale) $15 (Door)

Purchase your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nerd-nite-orlandos-2-year-anniversary-pi-day-celebration-tickets-15696069366

If you would like to participate in the Pie Baking Contest, bring in your homemade pies to the event, we’ll collect them and at the end of the night, we will have our judges pick the best and the winner will be given a prize.

All those interested in participating in the Pie Contest, should fill out this short questionnaire: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8VRH9RC

All Pi Day attendees get $10 off the door entry for the Downtown Brewfest, hosted by the Church Street District and Real Radio 104.1 (Brewfest is a craft beer sampling event that will be happening next door on Church Street from 4-8pm.)

SPEAKERS:
Chris Castro 3:15-3:45
Amy & Nathan Selikoff 3:55-4:25
Bobby Wesley 4:35-5:05
Max Jackson 5:45-6:15
Beth Philips 6:25-6:55
Nick Paul 7:05-7:35

PROGRAMMING:
● Nerd Nite talks
● Trivia
● Console games
● Dry T-Shirt Contest
● Drunk Science/Nerd Off
● Nerdcore Music
● Pie Baking Contest (sponsored by Bungalower)

SPONSORS:
Bungalower
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

PRESENTATION INFO:
“The Clean Energy Revolution: How Citizens are Re-energizing our Future” by Chris Castro

Talk Description: The clean energy economy is one of the most exciting industries for new economic development and job creation opportunities, not to mention its potential to help save the planet from the greatest challenge facing humanity. Leaders in Central Florida are working on ways to drive efficiency, and re-energize our future by working on ways to unlock the clean energy economy through community engagement and creative new policies that could change the game for energy in the Sunshine State and beyond.

Bio: Chris is an emerging social eco-preneur, community organizer, public speaker, Global Shaper, and practitioner in the sustainability movement with a passion for accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy. Chris currently is the Sustainability Program Manager and Senior Energy Adviser for the City of Orlando. He holds a B.S. degree in ‘Environmental Studies’ and ‘Energy & Sustainability’ from the University of Central Florida (UCF). Through his years as an undergrad, he co-founded IDEAS For Us, an international 501c3 nonprofit and UN-accredited NGO, building a movement of people around the World working to advance environmental solutions and sustainability. In 2012, Chris also partnered with professionals to create a clean energy consulting firm – Citizen Energy – that is implementing energy efficiency + renewable energy solutions in commercial buildings in Washington DC.

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“Digital Mapmaking: You Are Here” by Nathan & Amy Selikoff

Talk Description: Why does Google Maps use the Mercator projection? Does it matter? Maps have power, and are a fascinating intersection of data visualization, mathematics, design, geopolitics, and history. The data and tools we now have at our fingertips (for free!) allow us all to get our feet wet in cartography. We can create maps that tell stories, explore our place in the world, or help us see our city differently. Join Nathan and Amy as they explore digital mapmaking in the 21st century.

Bio: Nathan Selikoff is an artist and programmer inspired by systems, science, nature and music. Selikoff fuses these interests into interactive artistic installations and unique objects that provoke community engagement and inspire new ways of thinking about the world we live in.

Amy Selikoff has taught 7th grade social studies for the past 10 years in Orange County. She loves her job. A lifelong geography nerd, Amy majored in history and journalism at the University of Florida. Amy has been married to her wonderful husband Nathan for 8 years. They love traveling the world, playing music, and pursuing justice together.

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“Bowties are cool: Geek Chic, Identity and a Thin Strip of Cloth” by Bobby Wesley

Talk Description: Bowties are popular. Well, kinda. And right now so are “geek chic” and nerd culture. But what we wear has a history; it says something about who we are or want to be. Through the knot of bow ties, we’ll tie together the history and roles of fashion, identity formation, popular culture, hipsters, nerds and Dr. Who. Also puns and jokes. Can you tie a bow tie? Are clip-ons ever acceptable? Will the Eleventh Doctor be in attendance?! All this will be answered and more!

Bio: Bobby Wesley is a marketing guy, writer, recovering politico and often tells jokes at bars. He’s also pretty dapper. He has taught every one of his adult male friends (and quite a few ladies) how to tie bow ties. He likes nice suits and hipster shit. Despite his best efforts, you may know him as “the bow tie guy.” Which is fine.

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“Programming on the Mind” by Max Jackson

Talk Description: For those of us in the West, digital technology has become an effortless part of our day-to-day existence. Actions such as sending an email or watching Netflix occur to us naturally, without challenge and without really catching our attention (unless something goes wrong). In addition to being effortless, digital technology is also uniquely and excitingly *rewarding* of our efforts – putting attention and time into learning how it works produces extraordinary benefits for the individual who does so. This talk will explore the ways in which programming makes a difference in the lives of everyday people and the ways it will continue to do so in the future, and in doing so will show that the brain-machine interfacing revolution is already well underway.

Bio: Max Jackson is a graduate student in Bioinformatics at the University of Central Florida. He helps to develop ‘Brains-on-a-chip’, focusing on analyzing their neurotransmission on both the network and the nano level. Through the Orlando Hackerspace FamiLAB he works with OpenBCI, an open-source Brain-Computer Interface group out of New York City.

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“A Professional Liar: Fake Magic is Real Art” by Nick Paul

Talk Description: Magician Nick Paul has been lying to people for over 13 years. He has a fascination with honest deception and why magic works. His brand of “fake magic” is intended to entertain and confuse. Nick will explain why magicians who claim to have magical powers are creepy, and why magic is an art form no different from stand up comedy or music.

Bio: Nick Paul has been performing professionally for over a decade. He has been seen internationally and performs for colleges, theaters and fortune 500 companies all over the US. He is a graduate of the theater department at Columbia College Chicago, as well as the Second City Conservatory. In 2006 he was given the award for “Best Magician….in His Family”.

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

Talk 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. 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.

Bio: 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.

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For questions or more information, contact Ricardo Williams [at]