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!
Nerd Nite Origin Story:
Chris, an evolutionary biologist, was studying the indigo bird, a parasitic bird – which lives in Cameroon- , while he was finishing his doctorate in Boston. For several years Chris would go to Cameroon from Sept-Dec to study the bird. This made the bartenders at The Midway down the street from him sad because when he was home he’d be there drinking 4-6 nights/week. So every year he’d return from Cameroon, go drink at The Midway, and over the next few weeks see all his friends and tell them about his trip. After overhearing the same story so many times, the bartenders basically said, “Chris, we’re sick of overhearing you tell the same story every night. Any way to get it over in one fell swoop?” And Nerd Nite began. Then Matt made it all fancy and stuff and moved it away from primarily being about science and had it cover many more topics to attract way more nerds.
Intrigued? On to Nerd Nite Wayzata for more.