Thursday, November 7th, 7:00pm
Free!
Green Jeans
Event info here!
Join us for Nerd Nite ABQ #8!
Nerd Nite is a monthly lecture-in-a-bar series that takes place in 100+ cities around the world. And now we’ve got our very own Albuquerque chapter!
Join us the first Thursday of every month to learn, laugh, and drink. Our next event is on Thursday, November 7th, at 7:00pm at the Green Jeans Food Hall.
Title: Mastering the Atom: Nuclear Physics á la Bill Nye
Blurb: Consider the following: one gram of Uranium-235, which would fit in a cube smaller than your pinky nail, creates enough fission energy to power your home for 2 years! So why is only 20% of the US power nuclear? How does fission work in the first place? What is radiation? Does uranium glow green? What’s the deal with nuclear waste? Can nuclear really help the climate? Discover all this and more as we journey through the quantum realm in homage to your favorite geeky scientist you watched in high school!
Bio: Dr Robert J Olesen earned his PhD in nuclear engineering in Dayton, Ohio, where he patented a novel radiation camera and developed a neural network-based radiation image processor. He has a passion for community, a love of hosting karaoke, and a drive to explore, learn, and share everyone’s unique expertise!
Title: Futures: From Speculation to Reality (or Not)
Blurb: From “Minority Report” demonstrating a cool but unsustainable computer interface to a US president changing foreign policy after watching “Wargames”, possible futures and their designs have been persuasive when experienced in action. Here we’ll huddle over scenarios played out and dive into design fictions.
Bio: Susan Wilhite has collected a couple formal degrees in Socio-Cultural Anthropology, one from UNM. Her professional expertise is in describing evidence-based speculative futures among emerging technology ecosystems for Big Tech firms. She owns Shimoshi NM, a futures think tank, and is a 2024 Sustainable Urban Growth Fellow in Santa Fe. Fun Fact: Susan is noted for her performance of a 5.4 Moment Magnitude scale earthquake.
Title: AI for Humans: Because Robots Wouldn’t Get the Jokes
Blurb: “Holy Sh!t, AI is amazing! Wait… what is it doing? Spoiler: please don’t trust AI with anything too important (said every expert ever).” In this talk, I’ll take you on a rollercoaster ride of my personal discoveries with AI—what it is, what it isn’t, and all the unexpected, often hilarious, missteps along the way. No tech background required! We’ll dive into real-world examples of AI in action (and occasionally inaction), break down the basics of how it works, and explore how the industry went from hype to… well, wherever we are now. Expect sarcasm, simplicity, and maybe even a few surprises about our so-called robot overlords.
Bio: William Tarkington has over 30 years of experience in security, with a specialized focus on the ever-evolving field of AI security—or, as he likes to call it, “the lack thereof.” A seasoned expert in navigating the intricacies of both traditional and emerging technologies, William combines deep technical knowledge with a healthy dose of skepticism. Whether he’s addressing cybersecurity threats or exploring the quirks of AI, William brings a unique perspective shaped by decades of firsthand experience and a passion for making complex topics accessible (and entertaining) to all.
Come join us for a drink, learn something new, and meet fellow nerds. Tell your friends, and help us spread the word about Nerd Nite Albuquerque at Green Jeans!
And if you’re interested in giving a talk of your own, hit us up at https://tiny.cc/nnabq-speaker !