Nerd Nite – Lawrence will be March 13 at Pachamama’s Star Bar (8th and New Hampshire).

Doors at 7:30, Speakers at 8:00

Room capacity is 60 people!

featuring:

Notes from the Native American Space Agency (NASA):  Building the Fastest Wooden Rocket in the World

by Lucas Miller

Students at Haskell Indian Nations University are currently building the world’s fastest wooden rocket for entry into the First Nations Tribal College High Power Rocketry contest in Milwaukee, WI.  We are utilizing traditional techniques to create state-of-the-art technology.  The rocket will be made from vertical grain Sitka spruce and animal glue, making it one of the most eco-friendly rockets ever made, and possibly the fastest all-wooden aircraft ever constructed.  Simulations indicate that the “Arrow of Knowledge” will go from zero to near Mach 1 in a matter of seconds and travel over a mile into the sky.  This project is funded by the National Science Foundation as part of a Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics (STEM) workforce development initiative.

Lucas Miller serves as the Co-PI/Co-PD on the NSF-TCUP grant at Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU), where he developed the High Power Rocketry progam.  He has been a grant sponsored faculty member at HINU for nine years.  He received a B.S. in Physics and an M.A. in Mathematics from the University of Kansas.  Lucas has been launching rockets since the 6th grade, has worked with data from nearly every interplanetary satellite in and out of the solar system, and has an interest in all things space

Sushi in America: Mostly Misconceptions, Some Out-right Lies

by Elwood Schaad

An examination of the American Sushi industry: it’s history, the cuisine itself, and the tricks it plays to get Americans to eat raw fish.

Elwood is a nerd about many things, but professionally he is a nerd about food. Starting at Wa Restaurant, he has spent over ten years in fine dining, with five of those spent working in sushi restaurants. When not serving tables at Pachamama’s, he enjoys playing any kind of game and daydreaming about food.

I Feel The Need, The Need for Seeds: An Exploration of “The Bracket”

by Laura Watkins and Kevin Baker

True statement: March Madness is the absolute best sporting event known to man. However, in recent years the actual games have been overshadowed by the rising popularity of “The Bracket.” We will discuss a brief history of the immense hype of Bracketology, an overview of the Selection Committee’s seeding process, and lots of “insider tips” on how you can win your NCAA tournament office pool*.
*IF YOU DON’T WIN, IT IS NOT OUR FAULT.
Laura works at an ad agency in Kansas City. Kevin is getting his Masters at UMKC in German History. Laura and Kevin live in Mission with two dogs (Lennie Briscoe and Hazel) and a cat (Wink). They share a love for Game of Thrones, beer and Toni Braxton. And, like many fellow KU graduates, they are both obsessed with Kansas basketball.