Nerd Nite No. 78: Beer History, Neutrinos, and Voting Theory
Here’s what’s happening at our September Nerd Nite event:
The History of Beer
Beer has been an important part of society since 3500 B.C. Along the way there are important dates, people, inventions and advancements in technology that have shaped the beer scene. Explore the wild world of beer from the simple beginnings to the marvels of today.
BIO: With more than over seven years of dedicated involvement in the craft beer industry within Pennsylvania, Meredith Megan Williams along with her husband Garrett Lee Williams, created Home Brewed Events. Home Brewed Events is a beer education and event planning company that works with local businesses and non-profits as well as private and public events to advance the beer culture of Philadelphia. Her passion for craft beer and learning has led to brewing professionally at Saint Benjamin’s in Philadelphia, managing a study group for and becoming a Certified Cicerone, and joining the Pink Boots Society, as part of the committee working toward developing a Philadelphia chapter.
What the heck is a neutrino?
Neutrinos have been snatching up Nobel prizes since the eighties, despite physicists knowing practically nothing about them. In short, neutrinos are particles with almost no mass, no electric charge, and they can travel through a light year of lead and have a 50/50 shot of making it out unscathed. With our beers in hand, we will go back to the very beginning to learn about these mysterious beasts- discovery, disbelief, disappearances, and that one guy who got to say “I told you so, @$$holes”.
BIO: Kelley Commeford is a grad student at Drexel physics. She used to work with a neutrino experiment before she learned that experimental physics was 95% coding instead of building cool stuff. Now, Kelley does Physics Education Research, which comes with a hefty love for talking about physics with non-physics people, because PHYSICS IS COOL! In her spare time, she likes to geek out in the woods and hit her friends with foam swords (aka LARPing).
Voting Theory: Those Who Make the Rules Win the Game
Feeling disaffected by our political system, unable to make progress in city, state, or federal government? There’s a reason for that! You’ve been intentionally excluded from challenging the status quo through the rules governing the ballot box. This talk will highlight the anti-democratic defects of our current system (gerrymandering, first past the post, &c.) and the solutions that can be applied at all levels of government.
BIO: Simon “the Cannibal” Joseph (@Cannibal_Simon) is, among other things, the host of the much neglected podcast, The Vexillogicast and co-boss of Philly Nerd Nite. He usually talks about flags, but is returning to his nerdy roots at this time of political turmoil. To go full hipster, he promises he was into voting systems / voting theory before CGP Grey’s popular “Politics in the Animal Kingdom” YouTube series came out.
Plus, another dry t-shirt contest!
The details:
Wednesday, September 6th. 7:30 pm.
Frankford Hall
1210 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125
$5 (CASH ONLY, there’s an ATM on site and a Wells Fargo up the street)
Doors open at 4, we recommend getting there early to get a good seat!
BE THERE AND BE SQUARE
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