Nerd Nite London - January 2019

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.

Address: the Backyard Comedy Club, 231 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 0EL
Details: Wednesday, January 16
Tickets: Early nerd tickets £6, general admission £7.50. 
Doors open: 6.30pm, Event starts: 7.30pm

Nerd Nite London aims to teach you details about subjects which you didn’t even know you were curious about, while you drink beer and learn things you didn’t know you didn’t know. This month, we'll learn about semiconductors, misleading statistics and apples. 

Superconductors are cool af

"Physics is difficult! Science is boring!" Wrong! In this talk we will look into some of the more amazing, bewildering and damn right counter-intuitive parts of modern physics. Using superconductors as an example, we will explore some fascinating materials and what happens to them on an atomic scale as we cool them down to temperatures similar to deep space, and why this is even important at all! With some liquid nitrogen, fancy materials and a few magnets we will have some live experiments and a lot of fun.

Shaun Geaney is a final year Ph.D. student working at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK's national metrology institute. His research involves the use of superconductors and their applications to quantum computing and quantum technology.

Wassail Night and the power of the humble apple

The apple is so ubiquitous, it’s almost invisible. Like air or water, we take it for granted. But why, of all fruits, is the apple so embedded in our history and culture? On the eve of Wassail Night - when thousands head out to dark orchards to perform mystic rituals to wake the trees from their winter slumber - Pete Brown, author of The Apple Orchard, looks at the magical, totemic power of our favourite fruit. 

Pete Brown is a British author, journalist, broadcaster and consultant specialising in food and drink, especially the fun parts like beer, pubs, cider, bacon rolls and fish and chips. He was named British Beer Writer of the Year in 2009, 2012 and 2016, has won three Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards, and has been shortlisted twice for the Andre Simon Awards. Pete is Chair of the British Guild of Beer Writers. His books have been translated into over two languages.

But the statistics says so...

In this talk Zoe Griffiths explores the multitude of ways outrageous conclusions can seemingly legitimately be reached using statistics, from misrepresentation of data to people lying in surveys. Expect a humorous journey through the subject area and the chance to take part in some live experiments. This talk is your chance to do some very bad statistics and also learn how to avoid these classic pitfalls. 

Bio: Zoe Griffiths is a mathematician who began her career talking about maths as a classroom maths teacher. She is now a maths communicator, presenting to audiences in schools and at science festivals with Think Maths. Zoe dabbles in comedy and recently performed at Robin Ince's Christmas variety show 'Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People'. Twitter: @ZoeLGriffiths  

All proceeds from Nerd Nite London go to charity. This year we are partnering with the Shine Trust to help foster a new generation of nerds. More information about Nerd Nite London can be found by following us on Twitter @nerdnitelondon, liking us on Facebook  or visiting www.london.nerdnite.com. For more information about the Shine Trust visit www.shinetrust.org.uk