Nerd Nite London is a monthly event where three speakers give 18-21 minute fun-yet-informative talks across all disciplines, while the audience drinks along. This month, we're learning about clinical trials, maths and Ernst Degner.

Address: The Backyard Comedy Club, 231 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 0EL 

Details: Wednesday, 15 May 2024.

Bar and food from 6:00pm, doors open at 7:15pm for an event start at 7.30pm. 

Regrettably, for the time being, we are unable to live stream Nerd Nite London.

Be there and be square. 

EVERY FIVE YEAR OLD IS ALREADY BETTER AT MATHS THAN YOU

Steve’s son says he’s only allowed to talk about Numberblocks, the CBeebies smash hit that teaches numeracy, pop cultural literacy, the fragile nature of the self, cosmology and friendship.

Bio: Steve Cross is a failed scientist, failed educator, failed museum curator and failed university administrator. He’s the Director of the UK Science Comedy Festival and can be heard on the World’s Only Science Podcast every week. Instagram @stevecrossphotos 

CLINICAL TRIALS: SOLVING THE CASE 🔍

Ever want to solve a real whodunnit mystery? Clinical trials do just that, piecing together clues which can identify the real culprit i.e. disease who is putting us all in danger, and who might be saving us from peril i.e. drug. Merry will dive into the intricacies behind clinical trial statistics, and how careful planning and analysis can pave the way towards better health for all. 

Bio: Merry is a clinical trials statistician at King's College London. Her PhD focussed on the statistical impact of cancer clinical trial designs, however now at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, she analyses clinical trials that aim to improve mental health and conditions that affect the brain. In her spare time she tells nerdy jokes with flash cards, a ukulele and a rubik's cube. Twitter @meredith_martyn, Instagram/tiktok @merrymcomedy 

ERNST DEGNER: A STORY OF TECHNOLOGY, TREACHERY AND THEFT, FOLLOWED BY SHORT-LIVED FAME AND RICHES

The Japanese motorcycle industry currently controls 45% of the global market, and has gone a long way towards building Japan into the global powerhouse it is today. But a little-known fact is that without two East Germans, one a colleague of Werner von Braun, and one a racer who spectacularly defected to the West during the Cold War, Japan could have been quite a different place. This is the story of both those men, but specifically, it’s Ernst Degner’s story.

A story of technology don’t worry, there won’t be much and treachery and theft, followed by short-lived fame and riches. The  story behind of one of the most famous curves on the Japanese F1 circuit at Suzuka. But also the story of a man who died a morphine addict, possibly poisoned by the East German state police – alone in a miserable flat in Tenerife.

Bio: After a lifetime as a creative in Advertising at some of London’s top Agencies, Bruce Fielding moved to the other side of the recording studio window and retrained under lockdown as a voice artist.  Today, he also produces a trivia podcast called Factoraly which is perfect for Nerds. Bruce is a keen motorcyclist and an organiser of the London leg of the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride – a  charity classic and custom motorcycle ride through 924 cities across 105 countries. In the last 12 years the DGR has raised $47.6m for men’s mental health and prostate cancer research charities worldwide. There’ll be 51,000 dapper riders taking part across the globe this year. Factoraly.com: https://gfolk.me/camdencavalier

Any profits from Nerd Nite London go to charity. This year we're partnering with the Dalston branch of the Library of Things, to help foster a new generation of nerds.

More information about Nerd Nite London can be found by following us on X/Twitter @nerdnitelondon, liking us on Facebook at nerdnitelondon or visiting london.nerdnite.com. See some of our past speakers on our YouTube channel. To learn about the Library of Things visit www.libraryofthings.co.uk.