It’s the last Nerd Nite of the 2015/16 season, and we’re wrapping things up in typical Nerd Nite fashion: with amazing speakers, and fine adult beverages. We have three incredible speakers on topics ranging from opening a crowd-funded restaurant, to urogynecological health, and even building a satellite right here in Edmonton.

So put on your beer goggles and get ready to engage your brain before we take a break for the summer!

Be there AND be square!

When: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 (doors @ 7:30pm, show @ 8pm)
Where: The Club at the Citadel Theatre (9828 101A Avenue)
$20 in advance (includes fees and GST) — on sale Monday, March 28 at 9:30am
$25 at the door (depending on advance sales)
$15 peanut gallery seating (released on Monday, April 11, and only available in person or by phone)
[Children 17 & Under Will Not Be Admitted]

Our line-up of speakers includes:

Thinking outside the box: Advances in developing and measuring strength/relaxation in the levator ani
Julia-lin Ding

This presentation will focus on pelvic anatomy and assessing your pelvic floor health. New data (and opinion!) on emerging pelvic floor strengthening technologies will be discussed with the hope that Nerd Nite participants will be empowered to “squeeze and relax” themselves into better pelvic health. All participants are encouraged to come prepared to get their blood flowing.

Julia-lin Ding is a Nurse Practitioner in women’s health.  She rostered as a Nurse Practitioner in 2009, finished her Master’s in Nursing with a specialization in Aging in 2011, and did the Nurse Continence Advisor certification through McMaster University in 2013. Her four children and husband have repeatedly asked her to refrain from discussing clinic findings around the dinner table, so she is always excited to share what she’s learned with new audiences.

Racing for Space: AlbertaSat, the Ex-Alta 1 Satellite and the Birth of Alberta’s Space Industry
Chris Robson

The space industry affects us daily through satellite services, economic growth or technological/scientific development and yet it’s something we don’t think about often. Why would you? After all, space is far away, it’s the realm of Star Trek, NASA and a handful of billion dollar corporations who can afford to put up satellites. However, the space industry is rapidly growing, changing and expanding to all corners of the world, including the last place you would expect, Alberta. Join me tonight, as I show you the dawn of Alberta’s space industry. During this presentation, I will introduce you to AlbertaSat (a student group at the University of Alberta), we will discuss the need for space in Alberta, I will introduce you to Alberta’s first satellite launching this July, the Experimental Albertan #1 (Ex-Alta 1) Satellite (and it’s juicy, totally nerdy technical details). Finally, I will give you a glimpse of the future of space in Alberta and the world.

Chris Robson is a 5th year Mechanical Engineering Co-Op student at the University of Alberta, was the Project Manager of the Ex-Alta 1 Satellite project (designed and created by the AlbertaSat Student Group) for two years and is currently the Mechanical Lead for the Ex-Alta 1 Satellite. Chris enjoys boating in BC, fishing for salmon, throwing around the word swanky, anything related to space and rum (or cider, or beer, or… etc). Chris’s future plans include Graduate studies in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on spacecraft technology and creating a space industry start-up company for Earth observation from a CubeSat platform.

Your Kickstarter was Funded, Now What? The Chartier Story
Darren Cheverie

A Kickstarter campaign was launched in March 2015 with the goal of raising $95,000 to use as a down payment for Beaumont’s first rustic French-Canadian restaurant in the heart of downtown Beaumont, called Chartier. At the end of the 60 day campaign, just over $107,000 was contributed by 600 community members, friends, and family – the most successful restaurant Kickstarter in Canada and the first in Alberta. But that was just the beginning. A lot has happened in just 1 year to ensure that Chartier’s doors opened in March 2016.

After finding each other, falling madly in love, and supporting each other through the early years of their careers, Darren & Sylvia Cheverie moved back to Beaumont for the birth of their daughter. With a growing family, they began to think about how they could contribute to life in Beaumont. With entrepreneurial passion and experience as both a restaurant manager and marketing consultant, Darren & Sylvia embarked on the crazy adventure of opening a restaurant.