Nerd Nite St Cloud

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.

23/04/2024

May 2nd! Stop the Bleed with Kevin Peine. Bleeding is the number one killer of trauma patients. A person can die in 3-5 minutes, and it takes First Responders an average of 7 minutes to arrive in urban settings and even longer in rural and remote areas. Stop the Bleed is a training program that teaches civilians with little to no medical training to be immediate responders when tragedy strikes and someone needs bleeding control interventions. The skills taught in Stop the Bleed are the same skills that are utilized by combat troops to keep their buddies alive until help arrives.

23/04/2024

May 2nd! Navigating the Caregiving Journey: Understanding the Stages of Dementia Caregiving & Anticipatory Grief
No single caregiver’s journey is the same when taking care of a loved one with dementia. Join Tami and Cristina from D-CAN to get a better understanding of the stages of dementia caregiving and a discussion about anticipatory grief which can occur before the loss of the person who you are providing care.

02/04/2024

April 4th, Reenvisioning Aumakua & Huna: Spirituality & Spirit Animals of Hawaii, Rooted in indigenous wisdom, Hawaiian spirituality emphasizes harmony with nature, interconnectedness, and the cultivation of inner wisdom. In her presentation, Rebecca Woods will discuss the belief system she was raised with from the age of two that is founded on these ideals. This New Age philosophy was born from Hawaiian spiritual beliefs and merged with scientific inquiry on the brain and body at that time. Through this exploration, we can gain insights into the holistic nature of human experience, where spirituality, neuroscience, and contemplative practices intersect to nurture well-being and understanding.

24/03/2024

April 4th! Fly Fishing: A Nerd’s Passport to Sophistication
Steven Wilson
Flyfishing is often associated with wealth, a bit of magic, and trips to western trout streams. However, fly fishing works for more than just trout. In fact, most fish species found in Minnesota can be caught using fly fishing equipment. In his presentation, Steven will outline the basics for wading into the sport.

19/03/2024

Nerd Nite boss Rebecca Woods is a Research Scientist and now manager of a team of outcome measure developers studying rare disease in clinical trials. Some of these include gene therapies designed to cure those afflicted with these rare, debilitating disorders. Take a look at this video on CRISPR to learn some gene therapy basics and latest successes.

CRISPR is a powerful gene editing tool, but its uses have been purely scientific until now. In 2023, US and UK drug regulators including the FDA approved Cas...

21/02/2024

No Nerd Nite
in March
🥸

21/02/2024

It’s here!

Now, for the first time, seventy of the top nerds come together to write the ultimate book on a variety of subjects ranging from how to become a Cyborg to the dolphins that work for the U. S. Navy.

20/02/2024

It's pub day! And has already been spotted out in the wild. It's happening! https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/how-to-win-friends/

22/01/2024

February 1st, Hacking AI: How to Defend Yourself Against the AI Apocalypse - Given the inevitable AI apocalypse, how does one stay ahead against a malevolent, omnipotent machine? Evan Pedersen will discuss some conceptual tools that can be used to fight against a rogue AI, or cause one. The topics covered shall be a light introduction to AI and cybersecurity, hardware and software injection attacks against AI, and some other attack-type vectors that can be used against AI.
If there is a time, a demo shall be provided.

22/01/2024

February 1st, Delve into the fascinating world of clay with Melissa Gohman as she shares her enriching experience building and firing a wood-fired soda kiln. Melissa, an art teacher with over 20 years experience, has specialized in ceramic sculpture and pottery since earning her BFA and Master’s degrees in ceramics from SCSU. She’ll discuss the intricate processes that artists employ to craft stunning pottery and sculptures from raw clay to finished masterpieces. Gain insights into the unique challenges and joys of working with this traditional firing technique and explore the artistry and craftsmanship behind the magic of ceramic sculpture and pottery.

18/01/2024

February 1st: Porn’s Relationship to Exploitation* Our society paints po*******hy as being an empowering tool for people to explore and embrace their s*xuality. There’s so many categories, options, and things to make you feel good. Right? Not exactly. In this presentation Bri Cornell will unpack the problematic ideas that p**n is empowering for performers and that they make so much money they don’t know what to do with it. We will also talk about the realities performers face in the s*x industry and how those are linked with human trafficking, which is one of the world’s largest human rights issues.
*Content warning, as some of the topics presented can be triggering and are not suitable for kiddos.

28/12/2023

Booklist Online Book Review: How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite. By Chris Balakrishnan and Matt Wasowski.Feb. 2024. 320p. St. Martin's, $30 (9781250288349); e-book (9781250288356). 500. REVIEW. First published...