Nerd Nite St Cloud

11/12/2024

At Nerd Nite last Thursday, Dr. Coleman Henry gave the Nerd Nite audience a “tour” of the St Cloud Nutrient, Energy, Water (NEW) Recovery Facility. It’s a cutting-edge facility that St. Cloud should be proud of!

"St. Cloud is ... defining what a clean energy future can look like."

11/12/2024

Dr. Coleman Henry discussed St. Cloud’s environmentally friendly waste water processing facility at Nerd Nite last week. He also told us about the new cooking oil recycling project. If you’d like to help keep our waste water infrastructure flowing smoothly, take a look at this article and keep an eye out for more information on the project coming soon.

Information about residential fats, oil and grease recycling. Cooking oil, grease and other residential byproducts can be put in containers and recycled by the City.

11/12/2024

Dr. Marcy Illies showed Nerd Niters a coroplath map last Thursday illustrating how Minnesota ranks as the #1 friendliest state and discussed what makes Minnesota the ‘Nicest’ place to be.

Across the United States, regional culture greatly influences the friendliness of its people. The sense of welcome, courtesy, and civic engagement may differ from state to state, shaping the experiences of visitors, new residents, and locals alike. Our "Friendliest States" ranking, derived from the....

11/12/2024

We hope you all had a great time at Nerd Nite on Thursday! Marcy Illies gave a great interactive presentation about the Minnesota Nice (and North Dakota Nice) culture including some discussion about personality traits associated with friendliness that are common in different areas. If you’re interested in learning more about your own personality traits, try this!

Clicking this button will take you to the first 60 questions only if you have acknowledged that you have read the above information, understand the purpose and limitations of the inventory, agree to accept any risks involved in responding to this inventory, and agree to communicate courteously wi....

27/11/2024

Thursday, Dec. 5th, 6:30 p.m. at the Ultimate. Nerd Nite is a quirky interdisciplinary presentation series where almost any topic might be discussed. You get to eat out and have drinks with your friends while our speakers get to “nerd out” on their favorite topic. It’s lots of fun and you’re guaranteed to learn something new!
Mark your calendars for Thursday, December 5th, because we’ve got an exciting lineup! Marcy Illies will dive into how culture shapes our personality traits—are we born this way, or is it all about the vibes? Then, Coleman Henry will take us on a journey through the fascinating world of wastewater treatment in St. Cloud, showing us how the stuff we really don’t want to think about can turn into some of our most valuable resources.
The event is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday at Ultimate Sports Bar & Grill. All are welcome! (Ask for us at the bar)
FREE EVENT! There are no tickets. We just ask that you order a drink or meal to support our hosting venue.
Check out our website! https://stcloud.nerdnite.com/about/ and our page Nerd Nite St. Cloud.
*Save the date for Nerd Nite on February 6th

Dec 5th: Minnesota Nice: A Cultural Personality Trait
Marcy Young Illies, Ever wonder why Minnesotans are so gosh-darn nice (or at least seem to be)? This talk dives into the mysterious world of "Minnesota Nice"—that sweet-yet-passive-aggressive charm that’s practically an art form. We’ll unpack what it really means to be “Minnesota Nice,” how it stacks up against similar vibes in other regions (like Canada’s “sorrys” or the South’s “bless your hearts”), and whether this politeness is a case of evoked culture—innate responses triggered by the environment —or transmitted culture, where the niceness is learned and passed down like Grandma’s hotdish recipe at a potluck. Come for the insight, stay for the unspoken Midwest goodbyes!

27/11/2024

Dec 5th: Minnesota Nice: A Cultural Personality Trait
Marcy Young Illies, Ever wonder why Minnesotans are so gosh-darn nice (or at least seem to be)? This talk dives into the mysterious world of "Minnesota Nice"—that sweet-yet-passive-aggressive charm that’s practically an art form. We’ll unpack what it really means to be “Minnesota Nice,” how it stacks up against similar vibes in other regions (like Canada’s “sorrys” or the South’s “bless your hearts”), and whether this politeness is a case of evoked culture—innate responses triggered by the environment —or transmitted culture, where the niceness is learned and passed down like Grandma’s hotdish recipe at a potluck. Come for the insight, stay for the unspoken Midwest goodbyes!

25/11/2024

Dec 5th! Flushing the Future in St. Cloud: Transforming Sewage into Clean Water, Renewable Energy, and Bio-Based Fertilizers
Coleman Henry. The St. Cloud Nutrient, Energy, Water (NEW) Recovery Facility is where your flush meets the future! Treating 10 million gallons of sewage daily, it ensures water from St. Cloud and surrounding communities that’s discharged into the Mississippi River is cleaner than what came in. Microorganisms work hard behind the scenes, munching on organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, while biogas from the process powers the facility with green energy—talk about a win-win! But moreover, captured solids are transformed into Class-A biosolid soil conditioners and phosphorus-packed fertilizers, giving farms a nutrient boost. The facility does so much, yet the only waste that leaves is a weekly dumpster of things that really shouldn't have been flushed (looking at you, random toothbrushes). In short, the NEW facility turns waste into clean water, renewable energy, and fertilizers—proving that even sewage can have a second act!

03/10/2024

October is our birthday! St Cloud Nerd Nite is three years old. 🎉🎂

27/09/2024

Oct 3, The Science of the Aurora: Getting You to “Pants On!” In her presentation, aurora aficionado Jess Kowalke will explain the science behind the stunning displays mother nature periodically paints for us in the night sky. She’ll also explain how to prepare for a perfect viewing and how you’ll know it’s time to jump out of bed, put your pants on, and get out to your favorite sky-gazing spot!

14/09/2024

Oct 3rd: Drunk Science: Studying the Most Extreme Galaxies of the Universe While “Drunk”. Modern cutting-edge astronomy takes more than setting up a small telescope in the back yard. Some observations require traveling to the most extreme locations on earth that have significant effects on the human body. In this talk Carl will summarize his research into these extreme galaxies, performed while being “drunk”!

21/07/2024

August 1st, Check Your Privilege
is a talk on privileges and social power that we hold and how to use them for good. Privilege is something that we all can relate to. Angela Djoumbaye’s discussion will identify the different kinds of privileges from skin tone to religious practices and multiple others that you may not have considered. If you are open to hearing about the ways that you could have privilege, this talk is for you!

21/07/2024

August 1st, Pride and Prejudice: Understanding and Supporting Your Q***r Peers
As anti-LGBTQ sentiment continues to sweep the nation, it is more important than ever to be a good ally. In this short talk, Aria Harveland, a q***r psychology student, will tell you how you can make a difference. Learn all about the science and history of the Alphabet Mafia, debunk harmful myths, and decipher ever-changing terminology.

06/06/2024

If you are planning to join us for all the fun, food options have changed at the last minute. Our food truck had a meltdown (literally). Milk & Honey Ciders will have their usual charcuterie boards and small pizzas. You can also bring a picnic dinner or snacks. We are trying to find a replacement food truck, but at this late date, it would take a miracle. We also hear Milk & Honey has apple juice available for the younger crowd. We hope to see you up at the Pavilion at the top of the hill!

03/06/2024

This Thursday, June 6! Pour Genius: Unveiling the Art & Science of Cider Making. Co-founder of Milk & Honey Ciders, Peter Gillitzer, will discuss how cider making experts turn delicious apples into sparkling hard cider. Join us at Milk & Honey Ciders!

27/05/2024

June 6th, From Fur to Feather & All That’s in Between, the Animal Kingdom is a Wild, Wonderful, and Sometimes Wacky World! Get ready for a wild ride through the animal kingdom, where fur, feathers, and everything in-between come together in a fantastic fusion of fluff and finesse! From the sleek fur of prowling predators to the soft feathers of soaring birds, Joan Hemker & Jacqueline Poepping from Hemker Zoo will explore the diverse coverings that make each creature unique. More on Hemker Zoo: What started as a modest dream in 1977 has expanded to offer families intimate encounters with over 75 different species from across the world. Hemker Park & Zoo’s mission is to showcase and promote animal species while fostering environmental conservation through collaborative partnerships and effective wildlife management strategies. The zoo is dedicated to conveying the marvel and significance of conservation, as well as the vital role animals play in our ecosystem. Visitors can anticipate gaining insights about our planet and enjoying the company of over 200 animals that reside at Hemker Park & Zoo.