Nerd Nite is an event usually held at a bar or other public venue where usually two or three presenters share about a topic of personal interest or expertise in a fun-yet-intellectual format while the audience shares a drink.[1][2] It was started in 2003 by then-graduate student (now East Carolina University professor) Chris Balakrishan at the Midway Cafe in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. In 2006 Nerd Nite spread to New York City, where Matt Wasowski was tasked with expanding the idea globally. Nerd Nite has been held at more than 100 cities worldwide, including Harare, San Francisco, Wellington, Monrovia, Orlando, Toronto and Madison, Wisconsin.[3] It launched a short-lived Nerd Nite: The Magazine in January 2012 and has also featured an occasional podcast. It has also held "global festivals" and a 2014 event was co-hosted with Smithsonian magazine.[4]
Formation | 2003 |
---|---|
Founder | Chris Balakrishnan |
Purpose | Educational, Entertainment |
Region served | Worldwide |
Website | https://nerdnite.com/ |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Schuessler, Jennifer (January 5, 2012). "Secret Science Club, Nerd Nite and Other Barroom Education". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ^ Gilsdorf, Ethan (January 8, 2014). "Science Is Everywhere in Entertainment—But Are We Smarter for It? — NOVA Next". PBS. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ^ Naomi Gingold (Director) (May 22, 2014). "Have a story to share? Try Nerd Nite. Be there and be square". The World. Public Radio International. 3:58 minutes in. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ^ Fawcett, Kirstin (May 2014). "The Future is (Still) Here: Day Two of Smithsonian's Second Annual Conference". Smithsonian. Retrieved May 30, 2014.