UPDATE: This event is canceled.
Guest speakers:
Monica Rasmussen
Allyson Demerlis, PhD
Barbara M. Hoffmann, PhD
Thurs, Sept 10, 2026, 7p
PRESENTATION #1
“The secret life of coral predators: Confessions from underwater video and implications for coral restoration” by Dr. Allyson Demerlis
Allyson is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Dr. Lirman’s Coral Restoration and Benthic Ecology Laboratory. She received her PhD in Marine Biology and Ecology at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School for Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science and with NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in 2024.
Her dissertation investigated the molecular mechanisms of enhancing coral resilience to heat stress through laboratory and field-based experiments and utilized coral species important for restoration efforts in Florida, including the critically endangered staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis. Prior to her PhD work, she worked as a research intern at Mote Marine Laboratory on Summerland Key, working in coral disease and reproduction.
PRESENTATION #2:
“The History and Culture of Drag” by Dr. Barbara M Hoffmann
Barbara Hoffmann is a lecturer at the University of Miami, where she has taught a class on the History and Culture of Drag for the past two years. She writes and publishes on Australian and Irish literature, particularly convict transportation in the 19th century; James Joyce; contemporary Australian and Irish women, trans, and lesbian writing; and Aboriginal writing. Over the course of her life, she has been a policy researcher in Australia, has taught high school English, was the lead guitarist in a band, coached high school tennis, volunteers at the zoo, and has a cat named French Fry.
PRESENTATION #3:
“CryoEM & the Ethics of Seeing Things We Weren’t Evolved to See” by Monica Rasmussen
Monica is a fifth-year MD/PhD student at the University of Miami School of Medicine, working in Dr. Mark Yeager’s lab, where she uses cryogenic electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, and molecular dynamics to study heart proteins that fail during sudden cardiac death and other arrythmias. Before Miami, she was a polymer chemist at BASF and a researcher at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the University of Michigan, where she received her undergraduate degrees in chemistry and Spanish. Her work sits at the intersection of chemistry and biophysics, using structure to understand human disease, and if you ask her what specialty she plans to pursue after graduating, she’ll say “heart failure is my favorite” before realizing this is not an acceptable thing to say in public (cardiology, if you’re asking).
When not manipulating electrons, she likes to run marathons, garden, snorkel, and founded a knitting group (shoutout @hot.girls.knit.miami).
Ahead of Nerd Nite at Supercon, join us for a special event with drinks and trivia at LUMAS Gallery on Thursday, July 9th at 7pm. Kozy Girl Kitchen will be in attendance as a food vendor. This event is cosplay friendly.
RSVP: bit.ly/supercon-party
Nerd Nite will be holding a special event with talks and trivia for Florida Supercon at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Saturday, July 11th @ 9pm
Guest speaker: Jeff Carroll
Get tickets: floridasupercon.com
“BLACK FUTURES, NEW UNIVERSES: Why Independent Black Comics Are Changing Science Fiction” by Jeff Carroll
Jeff Carroll is a writer, award-winning filmmaker, comic book creator, and cultural visionary whose work bridges Hip Hop, science fiction, and social empowerment. The writer and producer of the award-winning film Gold Digger Killer, he pioneered Hip Hop Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy—genres that fuse imagination, action, and cultural consciousness.
Through his publishing imprint Hip Hop Comix N Flix, Jeff leads a new wave of genre storytelling that blends Hip Hop energy with horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. His series Streetz explores identity, survival, and community, redefining Black speculative comics. He also hosts The Sci-Fi Express Lane, a YouTube show with over 200 episodes covering pop culture and speculative fiction.
A trailblazer in entertainment, Jeff founded Red, Black & Green Promotions, one of the first Black-owned college entertainment booking agencies, working with legends like Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, and Paul Mooney.
Known nationwide as “Yo Jeff,” The Hip Hop Dating Coach, he’s also a leading advocate for healthy relationships and author of The Hip Hop Dating Guide. Jeff lives and writes in South Florida.
NERD NITE returns Thurs, August 13th to the Villain Theater. Doors at 7. The show begins at 7:30pm. We’ll do a round of trivia in-between the talks. Beer and wine will be sold at concessions. Nerd Nite books will also be available.
Guest speakers:
Asha Elias
Aldrich Chan, Psy.D.
Malachi Fenn, M.A., RPA
Click here to get tickets.
Thursday, August 13, 2026, 7p
Villain Theater
5865 NE 2nd Ave,
Miami, FL 33137
PRESENTATION #1:
“7 Principles of Nature, How We Strayed and How We Return” by Dr. Aldrich Chan
For more than 2500 years, humans have strayed from nature, challenging humanity with immeasurable consequences. In this talk, I will unravel the roots of how have become misaligned with natures principles and introduce the way back via a discussion of neuropsychology, daoism, and hunter-gatherers.
Aldrich Chan, Psy.D., is a neuropsychologist, psychotherapist, and founder of the Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness. He is an adjunct professor for the doctoral and master’s program at Pepperdine University and author of the award-winning book Reassembling Models of Reality published with W.W. Nortons acclaimed Interpersonal Neurobiology Series. Dr. Chan has publications on mindfulness, trauma, creativity, and novel psychotherapeutic approaches. He hosts weekly meditation groups and has been practicing meditation with special interests in Daoism and Zen for over a decade.
PRESENTATION #2:
“Outlaw Archaeology: How Crime Shaped South Florida” by Malachi Fenn, M.A., RPA
For centuries, South Florida was America’s final frontier, and one of the last places folks could go to disappear. Its unique environment has attracted pirates, gangsters, rum-runners, and other interesting characters! Dodging the law is one of South Florida’s proudest traditions, and much of our state’s history involves organized crime and criminality. This landscape archaeology talk maps out what makes a pirate and what makes a privateer, a brief history of Floridians’ responses to Prohibition, notable organized crime landmarks, and more!
Before becoming Public Archaeology Coordinator for FPAN’s Southeast Region, Malachi Fenn worked on cultural resource management (CRM) and museum projects throughout South Florida. They earned their B.A. in Anthropology from New College of Florida. A lifelong visual artist, Malachi has provided archaeological illustrations for numerous publications. Their specializations include Pre-Hispanic Maya archaeology and epigraphy, Florida pre-colonial and historical archaeology, museum collections care, and scientific illustration.
PRESENTATION #3:
Asha Elias on her recent column: The “gold-digger Miami girl” stereotype harms all of us
Writer, mother, and reluctant socialite Asha Elias lives with her family in Miami Beach. She graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in print journalism and worked at Ocean Drive magazine. She has contributed to Cosmopolitan magazine, FT Globetrotter, and SheKnows, and is a regular columnist for Miami New Times. She is the author of Pink Glass Houses and The Namaste Club.
