Nerd Nite Wayzata

What is Nerd Nite, you ask?

We all know learning is more fun when you’re (drinking) with friends. Thus, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in 100+ cities (like Tokyo, Miami, London, Fargo, and New York) during which folks give 20-minute fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines! There are often bands, trivia, and other shenanigans as well. Imagine learning about math feuds, the emu war of Australia, the genealogy of Godzilla, or zombie insects.

Started by a couple of guys (Chris and Matt) in Boston, it has now spread to 100+ cities and spreading. Check out the Global Nerd Nite site to get an idea!

The Wayzata (Twin Cities West Metro) chapter is hosted at The Thinking Spot. 

September 2023 Lineup :

Keep Calm and Measure On! 

From the moment we arrive physically on this beautiful planet, our dependency on “Measurement” is very evident.  It is so much so that we all (humans) suffer from a well-known yet to be medically recognized “TTGF” syndrome.  The science of measurement is often known as “metrology”.  Attendees will be made aware of the SEVEN base units that the world of legal, physical, and industrial metrology operates with keeping in mind the concept of measurement uncertainty that we all must deal with! Which type of measurement is the most critical to you?

• Speaker: Anish Shah has held several roles at manufacturing organizations with an emphasis in metrology before being appointed as President of QC Training Services in Jan. 2020. He then went on to acquire the company in early 2022. The day-to-day activities of running the operations of a technical training organization, that engages customers, both individuals as well as organizations, in their quest to excel through exceptional learning methods, has been his most rewarding position so far. He assists clients in formulating their training roadmaps in the areas of machining, metrology, quality, and GD&T. Past customers include contract manufacturers for the medical device industry, medical device OEMs, national labs, and government agencies, to name a few.

How to Raise Kids Who Embrace Reading as a Lifelong Passion and Skill

Parents, caregivers, grandparents, and teachers looking to inspire or challenge children to love reading for life will come away with a better understanding of the benefits of building a culture of literature at home - and several simple tips for how to do so.

• Speaker KATIE MOHAR graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Katie is an active member of The Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Katie is writing middle-grade fantasy and adventure, inspired by her travels and love of nature. When she’s not busy gardening, writing, or delivering motivational talks, she’s sharing inspirational tips and resources on her website: KatieMohar.com to help families and schools build a culture of literature and outdoor play. You can find Katie on social media @KatieMohar. Subscribe to Katie’s email newsletter to receive her blog posts with practical inspiration for parents, families, and teachers.

AI in Education

Education will change more in the next five years than in the past 2000 years.  This talk will describe how AI is being used today to generate customized lesson plans, animations, and simulations that are quickly contextualized to the student.  We will also discuss how these changes will have a dramatic impact on higher education.

• Speaker Dan McCreary is a Distinguished Engineer who loves knowledge graphs, AI, and Systems Thinking. Fan of STEM, microcontrollers, robotics, PKGs, and the AI Racing League.

5:30-6:00pm - Arrive and mingle

Presentations/Talks start at 6:00pm, with 15-20 mins for each topic. 

Meet interesting people, hear interesting ideas!