Nerd Nite #57 - Stand Back, We’re All Going To Do Science!

Wed, 01/30/2019 - 12:59pm

Learn about the many ways you can join people across the world in addressing some of the biggest social and scientific challenges in the world today through community and citizen science apps, websites, hikes, photos, and more!

About Justin: 

Justin Schell directs the Shapiro Design Lab at the University of Michigan Library, where he facilitates, among other things, a variety of citizen and community science projects. In addition to this work, he has a background as a documentary filmmaker, community archivist, and reformed trombonist.

Nerd Nite #55: The Future Is Non-human: Examples of the Comic Book Mutant, Cyborg, and Alien

Mon, 01/28/2019 - 11:14am

Hanah Stiverson — The Future Is Non-human: Examples of the Comic Book Mutant, Cyborg, and Alien
American comics have historically been used as a way of imagining other modes of being. Since the creation of Superman humanity has been allowed an imagined space of greater power, ability, and capability. In recent years comics have transformed to include a wider range of experiences and bodies, and to allow for fuller beyond-human experience. In this talk I will be looking at examples of recent comic books that imagine fantastical ways of being, which allow readers to explore their humanity from new perspectives.

About Hanah:
Hanah Stiverson is currently a PhD student at the University of Michigan in the department of American Culture. Her current research focuses broadly on comics as a mode through which race, gender, sexuality and power can be articulated. Hanah works primarily with Image Comics texts to consider the ways in which access to a profitable creator-owned market has allowed traditionally marginalized voices new space to create dynamic works. Hanah is the co-coordinator of the Transnational Comics Workshop, which brings together scholars from many fields to encourage an interdisciplinary approach to reading and engaging with comics as a medium.

Nerd Nite #58 - Startup Ecosystems: What Michigan Needs

Mon, 01/07/2019 - 1:03pm

When you hear the word startup, what do you think about? Do you think tech? Retail? Duo Security? Regardless of what you envision, we know one thing for sure: startups are what drive economic growth and development. This talk goes over what Michigan needs to continue growth as a startup ecosystem.

About Leann – Director of Content, Argonomo; Founder, ASHE Media; Host of the Impact Michigan and Generation [I] podcasts. Passionate about entrepreneurship, digital media, and building the Michigan startup ecosystem. Follow him @leann_abad.

Nerd Nite #57 - How to Survive Making a Graphic Novel With Your Spouse

Thu, 10/18/2018 - 12:59pm

Navigating a relationship with your spouse or partner can be challenging enough–so why would you willingly work together on a project that can take a year or more to complete? Anne and Jerzy Drozd, authors of Science Comics: Rockets, explore how they handled the creative challenges of making a nonfiction comic about science and answer the most important question facing humanity today: WHO. DID. WHAT.

About Anne:

Anne Drozd is a public librarian by day and a cartoonist by night. She’s an avid space exploration enthusiast and a card holding member of the Planetary Society. Her favorite NASA mission is Apollo 12. Anne helps to introduce people to comics through her work at the Ann Arbor District Library and as co-organizer of the Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival. Follow her @ethelfred.

Nerd Nite #56 - The Film Cat-alogue: A Hiss-tory of Felines in Meow-vies

Thu, 10/18/2018 - 12:19pm

This illustrated lecture provides an overview of the history of cats in movies, including their character types, their narrative functions, the notion of the “feline gaze,” and, of course, cuteness ratings on a scale from 1 to ZOMG KITTEH!!!

About Jen Proctor:

Jen is a filmmaker and Associate Professor of Journalism and Screen Studies at UM-Dearborn. In her spare time, Jen studies abnormal feline behavior.

Nerd Nite #56 - Lustron: America’s Heavy Metal Housing

Thu, 10/18/2018 - 12:17pm

Lustron homes were factory-made all-metal homes developed after WWII for the booming housing market. Most of their surfaces, inside and out and on their roofs were made of enameled steel. John lives in one, and in this talk he shares the ins and outs of occupying an all-metal home.

About John Heider:

John was a 28 year veteran newspaper photojournalist who was recently retired against his will and is also a ninja school dropout.

Nerd Nite #56 - American Race Riots: Our National Sport?

Thu, 10/18/2018 - 12:15pm

The United States has been the site of hundreds of race-based disorderly confrontations that can be described as race riots. By now, most everyone has seen images from riots on TV whether it’s a riot from the 1960s, or from the more recent unrest in Ferguson, Missouri or Baltimore, Maryland.

But what is a riot? Why do they happen?  What are the trends? Common themes?  While one can learn quite a bit from the study of any of these individual events, taking on the topic broadly has different lessons for us.

This talk discusses the overall trajectory of race riots in the United States, exploring the greater context for mass race-based conflict. 

Nerd Nite #55: Architectural Supervillains

Wed, 09/19/2018 - 7:08pm

When it comes to architecture, we may not know what we like, but we know what we don't like: big buildings, greedy developers, the politicians that make both possible...

Hear more about the things we love to hate about buildings and cities; and, just maybe, discover some new things to love.

About Jessica A.S. Letaw:

Nerd Nite #55 - Brain Injuries & Recovery

Tue, 08/14/2018 - 7:05pm

You're familiar with the brain, correct? Excellent. Chrissy tells you more about what it does and how it works, AND THEN she share stories of how an injury can affect your personality and life with real-life examples. 

About Chrissy Zimmerman:

She's a physical therapist and specializes in neurology. She bikes, she runs, she sports!
 

Nerd Nite #54: The Primate That Wears its Heart on its Sleeve

Tue, 05/22/2018 - 3:21pm

Have you ever been curious about animal behavior? Have you wondered how animals communicate with one another? Do you love primates? Learn about gelada monkeys – Ethiopia’s unique and wonderful highland monkey.

Gelada monkeys are nicknamed “bleeding-heart monkeys” because of a patch of exposed red skin on their chests. Adult male gelada chest patches get brighter red when they’re excited, but this doesn’t happen for adult females, young males, or non-breeding males.

Could the chest patch be an ornament to attract females, like a peacock’s plumage? Or does it signal to other males to back off? How does the environment influence signaling? Patsy discusses all of this and more about her field research in the Simien Mountains.