Nerd Nite Miami is back Thurs, April 10th at Gramps.

Get tickets: bit.ly/nnmapril10

Nerd Nite is an evening of entertaining and educational presentations. Speakers present for 15 minutes, followed by a brief Q&A with the audience. Doors at 6. Presentations begin promptly at 7pm. We’ll do a few rounds of trivia in-between the presentations. In celebration of #YurisNight, the trivia will be space-themed.

PRESENTATION #1:
“Maggot Therapy: How I learned To Love The Bugs” by Avir Mitra

What’s the most disgusting thing that Avir Mitra, an ER doctor, sees too often in the ER? Maggots! In this lecture, we explore the fascinating science and history of maggot infections and the surprising ways in which they may be just what the doctor ordered. We’ll discuss maggot debridement therapy, how live maggots are introduced into non-healing skin and soft-tissue wounds of humans for the purpose of cleaning out the necrotic (dead) tissue within a wound (debridement).

Avir Mitra is an ER doctor and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at NYU. He moonlights as a contributing editor at Radiolab and has also written and produced stories for Vice, The Pulse and Here and Now. You can keep up with him on Insta @avirmitra and on Twitter @avirrr.

PRESENTATION #2:
“Defending AI Art” by Taylor Bloom

AI Art is art created by humans. AI is just the tool. When photography was first introduced, it was also not considered an art because it was “too easy.” AI also levels the playing field in terms of cost for specific visions- not all photographers can afford to hire models, dress a set, etc. Many artists using AI today have their masters and understand the profound impact on art history.

Taylor Bloom is the gallery director for Lumas Art Gallery in South Beach, Miami. She’s from Rumson, New Jersey and graduated from Duke University in 2013. She is eager to help Miami locals tap into their inner artists and connect the all-too-exclusive gallery world with anyone who’s interested!

Nerd Nite Miami is back Thurs, Feb 6th at the legendary Gramps. Doors at 6. Trivia starts at 6:30. Talks start at 7.

Nerd Nite is an evening of entertaining and educational presentations. Speakers present for 15 minutes, followed by a brief Q&A with the audience.

Hosted by Ricardo Williams

Get your tickets: bit.ly/nnmfeb6

Trivia rounds include:

• Marvel Comics
• The Science of Romance
• Potent Potables

Guest speakers:
Ethan Tieu
Victor Rodriguez
Kyra “Dreddnought” Pulliam & Alexandra “Je Ne Sais Quads” Muñoz of Miami Roller Derby

PRESENTATION #1: “Breaking Bio” by Ethan Tieu

Biological research is essential to the development of therapies for pressing diseases, but progress can be painstakingly slow. Common tasks like determining protein structures, evaluating how well our neurons communicate, and analyzing animal behaviors often require significant time and effort when performed by human researchers alone. In recent years, however, computational techniques have been developed that not only provide solutions to biological problems with unprecedented efficiency, but also provide insights beyond human intuition. We will explore how computational techniques like machine learning are accelerating biological research and helping us determine how diseases tick.

Ethan is currently a junior at the University of Miami pursuing a Dual Degree in Neuroscience and Computer Science with minors in Chemistry and Mathematics. Having spent the last 4 years researching conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease and developing software to process biological data, he is very interested in integrating biological approaches with creative computational techniques to advance our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of his work, he is an avid enthusiast of Lego, Minecraft, and all things related to fruit.

PRESENTATION #2: 
“Roller Derby: Empowering Women Through Sport” 
By Kyra “Dreddnought” Pulliam & Alexandra “Je Ne Sais Quads” Muñoz of Miami Roller Derby

Founded in 2011, Miami Roller Derby, Inc., is our city’s exclusive women’s flat-track roller derby league run for the skaters, by the skaters. As a 501c3 non-profit organization, we are committed to fostering competition and developing athletes in a safe environment, raising awareness about the sport, fostering a sense of community, and promoting the physical and mental strength and independent spirit of amateur female athletes.

Kyra Pulliam aka “Dreddnought” (or “Dredd”) is the current president of Miami Roller Derby, Inc. Originally from Chicago, she moved around as an adult until landing in Miami where she sought a way to make new friends. She eventually found MRD, which she has been a member of since fall 2019 when she joined with literally 0 roller skating experience. Today she is known as the Team Tank, and is leveling up on the track as a blocker and occasional pivot with future jammer aspirations. When Dredd isn’t hustling for the league, she works as a mild-mannered licensing and regulatory specialist for a sports betting media group. She loves cooking, movies, video games, anything horror, and her cat Grimmjow.

Alexandra Muñoz is known as Je Ne Sais Quads and is currently the Vice President for Miami Roller Derby and has been skating with MRD for 3 years. She usually plays as a blocker and is learning how to jam. She’s a South Floridian, born and raised in Miami, currently residing in Broward. She joined Miami Roller Derby because she loves to skate and wanted to be more involved in the community with other fellow skaters. She is a pet parent of two cats (Caesar and Loki) and in her spare time she loves to read, watch the latest horror movies/anime and shop for new records for her collection! Fun fact: a few years ago, she won trivia night at Gramps for Halloween – if you’re not into skating, chat with her on anything horror related!

PRESENTATION #3: “Historical European Martial Arts” by Victor Rodriguez

Historical European Martial Arts is a niche sport where aspiring fencers of all shapes and sizes test their mettle against each other in Steel combat! using a variety of modern protective Fencing equipment and more importantly Swords! This is done through the study of Various Fencing Masters Manuals such as “Ridolfo Capo Ferro” and “Camillo Agrippa”

For the last 7 years, Victor has dedicated himself to studying and recreating the art of combat as described through the lens of Joachim Meyer; a prolific Fencing Master of the 16th century. His study is done through Meyer’s final published work in 1570 entitled Gründtliche Beschreibung der …Kunst des Fechtens (“A Thorough Description of the… Art of Fencing”).

Nerd Nite Miami is back Thurs, Jan 9th at the legendary Gramps. Trivia starts at 6pm. Talks start at 7pm.

Nerd Nite is an evening of entertaining and educational presentations. Speakers present for 15 minutes, followed by a brief Q&A with the audience.

Hosted by Ricardo Williams

Get tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-miami-jan-9-2025

NERDIER THINGS trivia categories include:

*Weird Science and Other Things You Wouldn’t Believe 

*The Science of Science Fiction

*Potent Potables

PRESENTATION #1: “Cancer Virus” by Christian McDonald

We are never alone. Almost every human on the planet is infected for life with at least one virus. However, only 7 of these viruses can cause cancer in our bodies. What’s more interesting is that these same viruses can cause different kinds of cancer depending on where you live in the world. We will take a brief look at the history and current knowledge about these 7 cancer viruses. 

Christian is a Miami native who is currently a PhD student in Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Miami. He is fascinated by infectious diseases, especially parasites & viruses, but his work is now focused at the intersection of cancer biology & infection. While Christian considers himself a food enthusiast, he’s truly passionate about Krispy Kreme donuts. 

PRESENTATION #2: “Buhurt: Don’t Get Hurt” by Florida Armored Combat

Buhurt, or historical medieval battles, is a modern full contact fighting sport with steel blunt weapons characteristic for the Middle Ages. 

Florida Armored Combat works to educate the public in the history of medieval tournament fighting, as well as increase the awareness and participation in the sport of buhurt (armored combat). 

FAC will perform a live buhurt demonstration.

Nerd Nite Miami is back Thurs, Dec 12th at the legendary Gramps. Trivia starts at 6pm. Talks start at 7pm.

Nerd Nite is an evening of entertaining and educational presentations. Speakers present for 15 minutes, followed by a brief Q&A with the audience.

Hosted by Ricardo Williams

Sign up today: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-miami-dec-12-2024

NERDIER THINGS trivia categories include:

• Guinness Book of Florida Man Records
• Who Said It? A Scientist or Taylor Swift?
• 1980s Movies
• Potent Potables

PRESENTATION #1:
“The Zone of Death and other Loopholes in the U.S. Constitution” by Kristofer B. Hernandez

Kristofer B. Hernandez is a graduate of the University of Chicago with a focus on Electoral Politics and self-proclaimed civics nerd. Kristofer is an attorney, a Board member of the Miami Chapter of the American Constitution Society and a former member of the Board of the ACLU Miami and Voter Services Committee of the League of Women Voters. He is also the co-founder of the Miami Film Club.

PRESENTATION #2:
“A Complete History of Cinema in Under 15 Minutes” by Ricardo Williams

Ricardo is the host.

PRESENTATION #3:
“How to Survive in Florida with a Uterus: everything DeSantis & Co. don’t want you to know about abortion” by Dr. Monica Skoko Rodríguez

Dr. Monica Skoko Rodríguez was born and raised in Miami and works as the Director of Medical Standards for Planned Parenthood national and has provided abortion care as a nurse for hundreds of patients. She holds a doctorate in nursing from Duke University and a Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins. She serves on the executive board of the Women’s Emergency Network FL abortion fund and volunteers for the Miscarriage and Abortion hotline. She enjoys gardening, reading, and screaming into the void.