Nerd Nite Liberia: June 10, 2014
Join us on Tuesday, June 10th at 8pm at FuZion (14th and Tubman, Sinkor) for the 19th edition of Nerd Nite Liberia!
Presentations include:
Carbon, oxygen, cotton puffs and rhubarb: how using new ingredients to build batteries will save the planet—By David Giesbrecht
And
The History, The Spectacle: A look into everyone’s favorite Jewish coming of age ceremony–the Bar and Bat Mitzvah—By Dara Lipton
And
Bourbon: it’s not just for breakfast anymore —By Michael Nicholson
Here’s more info about the presentations and presenters:
Carbon, oxygen, cotton puffs and rhubarb: how using new ingredients to build batteries will save the planet—By David Giesbrecht
We need to stop using fossil fuels, but renewable energy sources are unreliable. If storing energy was cheaper, solar, wind and hydro would be more competitive and carbon emissions would decrease. I will talk about recent advances in battery technology that replace expensive metals like nickel and cadmium with things that grow in nature.
David Giesbrecht grew up in Manitoba, Canada. He works for The MENTOR Initiative which is an NGO that does malaria control and research. This allows him to spend time in swamps and rice fields collecting mosquitoes. He loves picking blueberries and canoeing and misses his mom’s rhubarb pie.
The History, The Spectacle: A look into everyone’s favorite Jewish coming of age ceremony–the Bar and Bat Mitzvah—By Dara Lipton
The bar and bat mitzvah is a sacred initiation right for the Jewish people, one that has existed for thousands of years and marks the moment when a young girl or boy is formally welcomed into adulthood. What is the history of this ceremony, and how has it evolved from sacred rite, to back-up dancers and smoke machines? Why are some Jewish woman allowed to participate, and others not? And how does this ceremony fit within the broader spectrum of coming of age ceremonies? Come learn all you ever wanted to know and more about this uniquely evolving ritual, and if you’re lucky, you’ll all get matching t-shirts.
Dara Lipton is the host of Nerd Nite and therefore is clearly abusing her privileges tonight by choosing herself as a presenter. Notably, today, June 10th, 2014, is the 18th anniversary of Dara’s bat-mitzvah, which inspired this presentation, and she is happy to celebrate this all-important anniversary with all of you. When she’s not hosting Nerd Nite or honoring her jewish history, Dara works at an international NGO here in Monrovia supporting the capacity development of the media and civil society sectors. She also requests that you sign up to present at Nerd Nite so she can stop recruiting herself, her band mates (David), and other unsuspecting friends.
Bourbon: it’s not just for breakfast anymore —By Michael Nicholson
Everyone gets a little bit more patriotic on the eve of the World Cup, even Americans, so let’s celebrate that all-American drink, bourbon whiskey. Although bourbon comes from Kentucky, USA, its production is not exclusive to Kentucky, and its enjoyment is certainly not exclusive to anyone (except those who don’t drink responsibly.) Bring high spirits for a discussion of fine spirits! (And, alas, you may have to bring your own bottle, unless Ali has some Four Roses on the menu: for the record, for all time, Jack Daniels ain’t no bourbon.)
Kentuckian Michael Nicholson, economist, has been a certified Maker’s Mark Ambassador since May 2009 and an Honorable Kentucky Colonel since November 2011. Ambassador Col. Nicholson is thrilled to discuss his state’s greatest (legal) export, bourbon whiskey, although, alas, he has none left to share from what had likely been one of the finest private collections ever found in West Africa. Look him up next year in Islamabad, though, and he’ll again be ready to trade a long glass for some good conversation.
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