Nerd Nite DC

DC9 Nightclub
DOORS: 6:00PM
$10
21+

It’s DC9’s 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY all weeeek loooooong! And we’re kicking it off with a celebration of DC nerdery like you wouldn’t believe. Check out this LINEUP:

“Spaced Out: The Consequences of Cosmic Radiation on the Brain,” by Alexandra Taraboletti

Summary: The intrigue of deep space travel comes with inherent risks, including exposure to the ionizing radiation fields in space. This talk will explore some of the known effects radiation has on the brain and delve into the countermeasures being taken to stop both the physical and potential psychologic problems facing future astronauts.

Presenter Bio: Alexandra is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Georgetown
University in the Tumor Biology T32 program. She currently researches radiation biomarkers using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Alexandra grew up near Cape Canaveral, FL and reveled in every bring your child to work day at NASA (AKA she is a space nerd).

“Lessons I Learned From Richard Butt,” by Blake Lindsey

Summary: Is the District of Columbia “North” or “South”? I will be answering that question by examining the misadventures of soldiers who manned the Civil War Defenses of Washington and the civilians who lived in DC. The question matters more than you might think….and yes we will talk about a guy named Richard Butt who lived on Georgia Avenue.

Presenter Bio: Blake lives in Adams Morgan, and considers DC “home.” He has many passions, among them bocce ball and Super Smash Brothers.

“Hamilton, but French,” by Dr. Taylor Winkleman

Summary: With a cast of characters including Marie Antoinette, Catherine the Great, Gregory Potemkin, and John Paul Jones, Andre du Plessis is the coolest guy you’ve never heard of. He’s also possibly the first epidemiologist in the western world. Come see the drunk history version of Andre’s life—and maybe help act it out!

Presenter Bio: Dr. Taylor Winkleman is a veterinarian and global health security expert who moonlights as a writer and is developing a science-based podcast with her scientist friends. When she’s not doing any of those, you can find her baking macarons or doing flying trapeze and circus aerials.

DC9 Nightclub
DOORS: 6:00PM
$10
21+

HAPPY NERD YEAR!

We’re ringing in 2019 with three amazing talks. Freakin’ lasers! Not being abilist jerks! The connection between sketchy wizards and back pain! Auld acquaintance may be forgot, but you won’t forget these amazing speakers. So much to learn! Come start the new year off right by partying it up with your favorite nerds.

Also, come out to hear some exciting new updates about Nerd Nite DC 2019!

“Sick Freaks: Disability, Freak Shows, and Reality TV”

Summary: The old carnival freak shows are basically gone now, but that hasn’t changed people’s desire to stare at those who are different. From Mystery Diagnosis to Born This Way, come find out what’s going on with reality television, and how all that’s old is new again.

Presenter Bio: Katya is a queer, disabled theater historian (for extra freakiness) who writes about identity, performance theory, and political theater. When not reading, writing, or talking about these topics, Katya is usually either murdering aliens in XCOM or crafting, and sometimes even does both at once.

“Cosmic Death Lasers”

Summary: We’ll explore objects so extreme that if you could stand on their surfaces gravity would squash you flat as a pancake. Then we’ll learn how to manipulate these objects to create a death ray capable of destroying all life on Earth as we know it.

Presenter Bio: Ginny is a fourth year astronomy graduate student working at the University of Maryland and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. She studies the brightest explosions in the universe and in her free time she likes to pet dogs and drink wine (preferably at the same time).

“Exposing the Fake News of Low Back Pain”

Summary: Does good posture prevent back pain? Do six pack abs help your back? Where does pain even come from? Can Professor Dumbledore teach us something about pain? (okay that one is obviously yes!) Forget everything you’ve ever been told about back pain and get ready to nerd out on the science of pain while busting some myths along the way.

Presenter Bio: JD is a nerd with the goal of making physical therapy and health care more scientific (if you haven’t heard health care is complicated). He a board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy, is currently serving on the American Physical Therapy Association of Maryland’s board of directors, and works at Washington Wellness Physical Therapy & Sports Care. In his free time he enjoys hiking and backpacking with his dog Scout.