For our 24 (or 42 if you prefer) edition of Nerd Nite we’re changing things up a little. Actually, we’re changing things up a lot; different venue, different night and only two announced speakers. Join us and take a leap of faith as we adventure together into new territory. Our very special third speaker will be revealed on the night of, so be there and be square.

When: Wednesday October 22, 2014 (doors @ 7:30pm, show @ 8pm)
Where: Zeidler Hall (Citadel Theatre, 9828-101A Avenue Edmonton)
$15 in advance (Tickets Available Here) SOLD OUT
$18 at the door
[Children 17 & Under Will Not Be Admitted]

Better than NASA: Canada’s Sample of an Asteroid
Chris Herd

What does the fall of a meteorite in a remote part of northern B.C. in the year 2000 have to do with the origin of life on Earth? Possibly a lot. Studies of the unique Tagish Lake meteorite have turned up all sorts of molecules that are necessary for life (at least, as we know it, on this planet). Possibly even more interesting is the fact that Tagish Lake fell in January, and remains – to this day – the only meteorite outside of Antarctica that has never been warmed up above -10 degrees C. Its study requires very specific conditions in a custom-designed facility at the U of Alberta, where the speaker and his students can be glimpsed sporting parkas under their lab coats. Not only does the meteorite give insights into the organic matter that was around at the start of the Solar System, its study in the cold lab provides practice for the future, when spacecraft will bring back samples of asteroids, Mars, and comets.

Bio: Chris is a professor and meteorite expert at the University of Alberta. He learned about meteorites from his father, from a Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico, postdoctoral research at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and most recently, a sabbatical at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Chris curates the University of Alberta Meteorite Collection, the largest University-based collection in Canada, of which the Tagish Lake meteorite is the crown jewel. He teaches course on Meteorites and the Geology of Solar System. When not professoring, Chris enjoys a good martini, hiking with his wife and kids, playing basketball, and reading science fiction.

My Legal Education at Springfield U
Mark Greene

Question: Can a person learn the practice of law from a popular TV Show?
The answer “may shock and discredit you.”

In his presentation, Mark will explore whether all aspects of a legal practice could be learned from watching various episodes of the Simpsons. If you, as an audience member, determine that the answer is yes, please note the following disclaimer:

Mark Greene and the producers of Edmonton Nerd Nite (collectively referred to as the “Untouchables”) do not, in any way, endorse the use of the Simpsons as a substitute for a legal education. Such a course of action, as humorous as it would be, may lead to disbarment, no-barment, civil lawsuits, criminal prosecutions, and general disrepute. The Untouchables will not be liable to you for any damages, direct or indirect, arising out of your use of the information presented. Neener-Neener.

Bio: Mark Greene is a lawyer practicing in the area of occupational health and safety. He holds a JD from the UofA and a BBA from UNB. But all that education and experience means nothing but for years of staring at a 19-inch box. Television has not only been entertainment for Mark, it has been his parent, teacher, friend, and lover (you may not want to touch his remote). Mark is an avid fan of the Simpsons and refuses to concede that the quality of the show has degraded in recent years. He has been quoted as saying, “The Simpsons was there for me during the tough times in my life; I’m going to be there for it.”

Surprise Third Speaker