Nerd Nite No. 89: Higgs Boson, Biomedical/Animal Research, The Fonz
Hello again nerds!
It’s been awhile since our last Nerd Nite Philadelphia event, and we are so pleased to announce our triumphant return!
Our hiatus is over, and here’s the info on our next event:
Jonathan Heckman with “My Universe Is Bigger Than Yours. And So Is My Higgs Boson.”
Why is the Universe so big? And why are atoms so small? And what does it have to do with the Higgs boson? One of the big puzzles confronting physicists is how to make sense of the very big and the very small in a single framework. Explanations range from everything being a giant cosmic accident to the presence of deep new physical principles which control matter, space and time at the shortest scales imaginable. Come learn how theorists continue to propose new ideas and how experimentalists are beginning to test some of these proposals at particle accelerators and telescopes around the world.
Bio: Jonathan is an Assistant professor in the physics department at the University of Pennsylvania, and mainly works on string theory and what it can tell us about subatomic particles, the size of the Universe, and everything in between.
Dr. David Garbe, “Communicating the Importance of Biomedical and Animal Research Through Education”
Since 2012, in an effort to educate the public about the importance of biomedical and animal research, PSBR has engaged more than 26,000 students, 2,200 teachers, and countless numbers of the general public. It is our belief that quality education is essential for changing the conversation surrounding the lab animal and scientific communities while opening people’s eyes to the value of biomedical and animal research. During this talk, attendees will learn about PSBR and the programs we offer. We will also provide tips and strategies for communicating, debating, and exploring the health and medical benefits that humans, as well as animals, obtain from biomedical and animal research.
Bio: Dr. David Garbe went to high school in a small New York town called Narrowsburg. Following high school, he spent four years at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. After graduating in 1998, Dr. Garbe embarked on his scientific journey in the laboratory of Dr. Meera Sundaram and performed cancer research using C. elegans as a model system. He then attended graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania and used Drosophila melanogaster to study nervous system development. Upon obtaining his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at UPenn in 2007, Dr. Garbe performed research focused on discovering novel therapeutics for mood disorders at Pfizer and then investigated the underlying mechanisms of circadian biology and sleep at the University of Pennsylvania. During this time, Dr. Garbe was also an adjunct professor at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia as well as Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges.
Since joining the Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research (PSBR) as their Outreach Educator in 2016, Dr. Garbe has developed numerous in-class programs and activities, presented to countless classrooms, and engaged over 4,000 students. Dr. Garbe also participates in Teacher Professional Development Programs, Science Fairs, Career Workshops, and Public Community Outreach initiatives. He was recently promoted to Director of Outreach and Education and looks forward to extending the scope, reach, and mission of the organization to educate the public about the importance of biomedical research and its significance to human and animal health.
Chris Cummins,”The Perfectamundo World of the Fonz”
Ayyy! In the late-1970s and early ’80s, The Fonz was the coolest being on Earth. But how did Henry Winkler’s portrayal of Milwaukee’s greatest greaser become such a pop culture touchstone? In this talk, Chris Cummins will explore the how, when, and why of how a Happy Days supporting character eventually dominated the show, discuss the merchandising bonanza he spawned (including two cartoon spin-offs) and generally talk about a brief but magical time in history when the Fonz was everything.
Bio: Nerd Nite Philly co-boss Chris Cummins is a regular contributor to Den of Geek, is the producer and host of the events Sci-Fi Explosion and Music Video Book Club, and is an Archie Comics historian.
Wednesday, February 6th. 7:30pm (arrive early to ensure you get a good seat).
Frankford Hall
1210 Frankford Avenue
$5 (cash only, ATM on site and there’s a Wells Fargo up the street).
BE THERE AND BE SQUARE!
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