Category: Events

Nerd Nite DC March 16th: Vocoders and the queer community, Kiwi TV, and Beaver Adventures

Date: Saturday, March 16th
Time: Doors at 6, show at 6:30
Where: DC9 Nightclub

“The Voice of A Genderation. Vocoders, Autotune, and Queer Identity” by Navi
Talk Description: From chipmunks to autotune, music nerd navi takes you on an abridged history of vocal effects in popular music, with an emphasis on the queer artists that used the technology to explore, expand, and exhibit their gender identities.
Bio: Navi (he/they) is a non-binary Sri Lankan manymedia artist, music producer, and meme maker. A self taught creative, they’ve released multiple nerdcore hip hop albums, toured as the lead vocalist of a psychedelic punk rap group, and engaged in local Art Making™ as a lighting designer, composer, sound engineer, performer, puppeteer, production manager, graphic designer, marketing content creator, and playwright. Currently, they’re running the R&D wing of Flying V as an Artistic Lead, exploring the vast reaches of performance, technology, and nerd culture!

“Late 90’s Kiwi TV” by Morgan Elwell
Talk Description: What would a world without adults look like? Or what if William Shatner had his own version of the Twilight Zone? Would a high school run by aliens work? Cloud 9 Studios in New Zealand answered these questions (and many more!) Learn about some of the biggest TV shows you probably missed from one of the smallest countries.
Bio: Morgan Elwell (she/her) is a former TV producer turned publicist with a love of all things media. She has over a decade of experience getting audiences excited for new things and she can’t wait to share her latest find with you!

“BeaverQuest: A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure” by Mike Bock
Talk Description: An interactive presentation where the audience decides the outcome! Spend a week in the life of North America’s favorite aquatic rodent.
Bio: Mike Bock (he/him) is a science communicator who works at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. For his comedy work, check out local sketch groups Brick Penguin and Cured By Pain.

Nerd Nite DC February 17th: Nerds in love (w/data), avatar skins impacts on players of color, and oral sex in the animal kingdom

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Date: Saturday, Feb 17th
Time: Doors at 6, show at 6:30
Where: DC9 Nightclub

“Dating as a Data Nerd” by Tristan Attwood
Description: Dating as a Data Nerd is what happens when one man turns some dating trouble into an excuse to engage in some serious data collection and science, and ends up meeting the love of his life.
Bio: Tristan Attwood is a lifelong data lover who spends his days explaining numbers to airplanes. After some misadventures in dating, he is very lucky to have met his lovely wife Jessica and have a wonderful son Roland.

“Skins For Sale: Call Now to Purchase Your Avatar’s Racial Identity” by Alia Reza and Adanna Nedd
Description: In the modern world of gaming, players can buy cosmetics called “skins,” which change the way their avatar looks — sometimes down to their race — without affecting gameplay. Within this uncomfortable phenomenon, we’re examining the potential costs that come with buying skins beyond their price tag (and the cringe of calling them “skins”), especially its effects on players of color.
Bios:
Alia Reza is a PhD Candidate at the University of Maryland School of Information Studies. She normally does research on immigrant information access and museology, but enjoys games research on the side, as well as playing the piano, cosplaying, and having too many cats.
Adanna Nedd is a Games Writer, Narrative Designer, and Games Researcher. She’s previously worked on Spirit Swap and Kiss U, and when she isn’t writing or speaking about games she loves baking in her spare time.

“Naughty by Nature” by James Day
Description: Are bats generous lovers? Do birds have polycules? Just how horny ARE brown bears? Learn about the ins and outs (and ins and outs) of the animal kingdom, with a focus on the oral sex habits of nature’s freakiest fauna.
Bio: James is a statistician at the Census Bureau, who also loves yoga, painting, board games, nerdery, cooking, cocktails, and the Criterion Channel.

Nerd Nite DC December 16th: Mangroves, Weird Garfield Art, and Roasting Tom Clancy

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Date: Saturday, Dec. 16th
Time: Doors at 6, show at 6:30
Where: DC9 Nightclub

‘Tis the season for a show that’s quirkier than a Christmas sweater with built-in jingle bells! Picture this: a wild ride through mangroves, the unsung heroes of the plant world, winning the ultimate badge of botanical honor. We’ll dive into the bizarre and mind-boggling realm of weird Garfield art, where even the lasagna gets a nerdy makeover. And what’s a holiday celebration without a good roast? Move over chestnuts; we’re roasting Tom Clancy’s novels for being more set in their ways than a grandparent at a family reunion.

“Ode to Joy: How Garfield (From Memory) Saved Me”by Kate Parnell
Talk Description: Kate will speak about how her decision to make one small drawing of Garfield from memory every day changed her life and gave her a completely new artistic direction. By taking an incremental approach, sidestepping judgments and celebrating things that are deeply loved, she has found a path through depression and loss, and built a practice of creativity and community. 
Bio: Kate Parnell is a 43 year old artist who attended the Cooper Union and got a masters of fine arts, and who now lives with her parents and paints Garfield every day. You can find her work on her Instagram, @garfieldfrommemory.

“Mangroves and why they should be your best friend too”by Perri Moeller
Talk Description: Perri will provide an illuminating and educational talk about what a mangrove is, spoiler alert its not a mango, the benefits of the ecosystem and why mangroves should become your best friend too.   
Bio: Perri Moeller is a returned peace corps volunteer who spent over 2 years living in the Philippines working on mangrove habitat management. Currently, Perri specializes in sustainability in the chemical space, but would love to corner you and talk your ear off about marine science facts.

Executive Dysfunction: A Queer Eye on Tom Clancy”by Sarah Clancy
Talk Description: We all know the stories of Jack Ryan but what if he was the real Clear and Present Danger to America?…
Bio: Evolved beyond her prior form, Sarah stands tall as an amateur comedian and a thorn in the side of conservatives everywhere though her allegiance can be bought with pizza…