Nerd Nite Victoria BC

We are back for our first live Nerd Nite of 2022! Join us at the Victoria Event Centre for an evening of science, beer, learning, and good times! Tickets are available through the VEC website here. Doors open at 7PM, and our show starts at 8PM. We are committed to providing a safe experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our health and safety measures for the event can be viewed here.

Our talks for the March 21st event are:

“The Lighter Side of Vampirism” -Peter Golz
Dracula in Coppola’s film insists that one has to talk about vampires and their history seriously. But cinematic vampires also often make us laugh. Comedy and horror speak to us in a direct way and often-times go hand in hand. Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, even called them “two-sides of the same coin.”
Bio: Dr. Peter Gölz, UVic’s resident vampire prof, presents a historic overview of vampire humour, from the unintentional in early vampire films to the sophisticated, baroque stage of the genre nowadays. Peter’s talk will show you that vampire comedies don’t have to suck.

“Olfaction in Determining Brain Health” -Jamie Knight
Jamie Knight is a PhD student in the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on neuropsychological and olfactory functioning across the lifespan in the context of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. She has been awarded the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Graduate Scholarship, the AGE-WELL Graduate Student Award in Technology and Aging, and the Ferguson Award in Digital Health and Innovation for her research examining olfactory functioning as one of the earliest markers for dementia. As part of her knowledge mobilization plan, she has developed a website, OlfactoryHealth.org, to promote awareness of smell’s relationship to wellbeing and brain health.

And a third talk on the chemistry of beer by Jeremy Wulf!

We are back for our first live Nerd Nite of Fall 2021! Join us at the Victoria Event Centre for an evening of science, beer, learning, and good times! Tickets are available through the VEC website here. Doors open at 7PM, and our show starts at 8PM. We are committed to providing a safe experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our health and safety measures for the event can be viewed here.

Our talks for the October 18th event are:

“3D Bioprinting Human Tissues On Demand” – Stephanie Willerth

Dr. Stephanie Willerth, a Full Professor in Biomedical Engineering, holds a Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Victoria where she has dual appointments in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Division of Medical Sciences. She also holds an appointment with the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. She recently founded the start-up company – Axolotl Biosciences that sells high quality bioinks for bioprinting human tissue models. She is an active member of the steering committee of the B.C. Regenerative Medicine Initiative and the Stem Cell Network. She also serves as a staff scientist at Creative Destruction Lab. She served as the Acting Director of the Centre for Biomedical Research and the Biomedical Engineering undergraduate program at the University of Victoria from 2018-2021 and as the President of Canadian Biomaterials Society from 2018-2019. 

“What’s In Your Pond? Developing Microbial Diagnostics” – David Goodlett

David Goodlett’s 30 year career using mass spectrometry (MS) to solve biomedical problems via novel technology and software developments led him to the University of Victoria in 2020 where he holds the Don and Eleanor Rix BC Leadership Chair in Biomedical & Environmental Proteomics as Professor. He is also Director of the internationally acclaimed Genome BC Proteomics Centre. His research interests lie in developing the lipid A structure-activity relationship in order to elucidate the basis by which lipid A acts as agonist or antagonist on binding MD2/TLR4. He has two startups: Deurion.com and Pataigin.com focused on MS uses in the life sciences. He is a co-organizer of MSBM.ORG, a mass spectrometry summer school, and is an Editor at Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry.

“Deep Sea Halloween: The Creepy Creatures of the Pacific” – Monika Pelz

Monika will present some of the most monstrous, spine-tingling, creepy creatures of the Pacific Ocean’s abyss. She will share some macabre scientific decay experiments and the nightmarish creatures recorded by Ocean Networks Canada’s underwater cabled observatories located in all three of Canada’s oceans. Be prepared to see some of the weird, wonderful and fiendishly freaky organisms of Canada’s west coast. Enjoy exploring the science behind finding mysteries and curiosities of the deep sea environment

Monika Pelz is a K-12 Education Coordinator with Ocean Networks Canada. She holds a BEd from the University of Victoria and also works as a Teacher On Call. Monika enjoys nature, despite what it did to her, and enjoys the small pleasures in life, like phoning in sick to places she doesn’t work and giving a fake name when ordering a coffee or receiving a speeding ticket.

It is time for another virtual Nerd Nite! Join us from the comfort of your own home through YouTube (link posted on the 15th). Bring your own beer.

On Monday March 15th we will have our next event, as always three interesting speakers, a beer and a laugh!

Our talks this month:

– Michael Wong: “The science of Star Trek”
– Daryl Collerman: “Legionella and its nasty accomplice Legionellosis”
– Jeshua Nanthakumar: “Designing Everything”

No entrance fee is required, but we ask for a voluntary donation of $5 per person. All proceeds will go to the Victoria Event Centre. If you’re able to donate and support these artists and the venue so they can keep it happening, donate here:
▪︎ Credit Card:
http://www.victoriaeventcentre.ca/donate/
▪︎ E-transfer (please put Nerd Nite in the message line and the password as “livestream”):

Our broadcast will open at 7 PM PST and the show starts at 7.30 PM PST.
Everyone is welcome! 

Nerd Nite is back virtually! Join us from the comfort of your own home through YouTube (link posted on the 15th). Bring your own beer!

Nerd Nite is back with a virtual event! On Monday February 15th we will have our next event, as always three interesting speakers, a beer and a laugh!
Our talks this month:
– Jaimie Korner – Lab on a chip
– Karun Thanjavur – Deciphering the rhythms of the brain with machine learning
– Mackay Murray – DNA Aptamers: using DNA to do work!

No entrance fee is required, but we ask for a voluntary donation of $5 per person. All proceeds will go to the Victoria Event Centre. If you’re able to donate and support these artists and the venue so they can keep it happening, donate here:
▪︎ Credit Card:
http://www.victoriaeventcentre.ca/donate/
▪︎ Etransfer (please put Nerd Nite in the message line and the password as “livestream”):

Our broadcast will open at 7 PM PST and the show starts at 7.30 PM PST.

Everyone is welcome!
This livestream will be available without admission fee.

Nerd Nite is back with a hybrid event! Hosted by the Victoria Event Centre but also broadcasted live on the internet for those who feel more comfortable staying at home.

On Wednesday November 18th we will have our second hybrid event, as always with three interesting speakers, a beer and a laugh!

Nerd Nite is back with a hybrid event! Hosted by the Victoria Event Centre but also broadcasted live on the internet for those who feel more comfortable staying at home. On Wednesday November 18th we will have our second hybrid event, as always with three interesting speakers, a beer and a laugh!
Our talks this month:
– Rachel Cleves – Role-playing the past
– Brett Henderson – Quantum computing
– Katia Tavri – Expedition in the arctic

The entrance fee will be $10 and there will be a limited capacity of 50 people inside the venue. Tickets have to be reserved in advance through https://www.universe.com/events/nerd-night-victoria-november-tickets-024XN5

≫ We’re Livestreaming !≪
The show will also be available as a livestream at twitch.tv/victoriaeventcentre
This livestream will be available without admission fee. If you’re able to donate and support these artists and the venue so they can keep it happening, donate here:
▪︎ Credit Card:
http://www.victoriaeventcentre.ca/donate/
▪︎ Etransfer (please put Nerd Nite in the message line and the password as “livestream”):

≫ COVID Safety Info ≪
▪︎ Due to COVID-19, there will be a limit of 50 tickets available for purchase. Tickets must be purchased in advance in groups of up to 6. You will be seated at your table once the whole group has arrived. Physical distancing must be observed between groups.
▪︎The bar will provide table service. Instead of going up to the bar, a server will visit you to take orders and to clear empty glassware.
▪︎ Bathrooms are limited to 1 person at a time. We’ve installed groovy high-tech foot switch-activated lights. Please tap the foot switch on when you are going in, and tap it off when you exit.
Read the VEC’s full safety plan here:
https://victoriaeventcentre.ca/covid19/

Both the VEC and the live broadcast will open at 6.45 PM PST and the show starts at 7.30 PM PST.

Everyone is welcome!

Nerd Nite is back with a hybrid event! Hosted by the Victoria Event Centre but also broadcasted live on the internet for those who feel more comfortable staying at home.

On Wednesday October 21st we will have our first hybrid event, as always with three interesting speakers, a beer and a laugh!

Our talks this month:

– Eric Janusson – Chemistry and AI

– Pramodh Yapa – Physics of superfluids

– Nienke van der Marel – Telescopes, where and why

The entrance fee will be $10 and there will be a limited capacity of 50 people inside the venue. Tickets have to be reserved in advance through https://actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/nerd-nite-victoria/. The link for the online broadcast will be https://www.twitch.tv/victoriaeventcentre.

This livestream will be available without admission fee. If you’re able to donate and support these artists and the venue so they can keep it happening, donate here:
▪︎ Credit Card:
http://www.victoriaeventcentre.ca/donate/
▪︎ Etransfer (please put Nerd Nite in the message line and the password as “livestream”):

Both the VEC and the live broadcast will open at 6.45 PM PST and the show starts at 7.30 PM PST.

Everyone is welcome!

Nerd Nite Victoria is back in virtual form! During these challenging times where everyone has to stay at home, we would like to brighten up your evening with an online event full of interesting talks, science news and trivia quizzes, as always accompanied by a beer and a laugh! At Nerd Nite enthusiasts talk about their passion in an informal atmosphere. Our audience is anyone interested in science, geeky subjects and other passions.

On May 20th is our second virtual Nerd Nite. Join us from the comfort of your own home through this video link. Bring your own beer!

Our talks this month:

– Jim Tanaka – ”The neuroscience of the selfie: Own-face recognition, identity and consciousness”

– Lesley Fox – “Stories of superbeaver: an eco-hero”

– Scott McIndoe – “Four months in the finest workshop in the world”

No entrance fee is required, but we ask for a voluntary donation of $5 per person (through Eventbrite). All proceeds will go to the Rapid Relief Fund from Victoria BC.

Our broadcast will open at 7 PM PST and the show starts at 7.30 PM PST.

Everyone is welcome!

Here is our Live stream

Nerd Nite Victoria is back in virtual form! During these challenging times where everyone has to stay at home, we would like to brighten up your evening with an online event full of interesting talks, science news and trivia quizzes, as always accompanied by a beer and a laugh! At Nerd Nite enthusiasts talk about their passion in an informal atmosphere. Our audience is anyone interested in science, geeky subjects and other passions.

On April 15th is our first virtual Nerd Nite. Join us from the comfort of your own home through a video link (to be posted on the 15th). Bring your own beer!

Our talks this month:
– Mallory Thorp – “Clash of the galaxies”
– Elaine Laberge – “Social class is real. You don’t say?!”
– Kaylee Byers – “Undercover wild: tracking urban rats to understand human health risks”

No entrance fee is required, but we ask for a voluntary donation of $5 per person (through Eventbrite). All proceeds will go to the Rapid Relief Fund from Victoria BC.

Our broadcast will open at 7 PM and the show starts at 7.30.
Everyone is welcome!

UPDATE: NERD NITE VICTORIA CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

Due to the developments around the COVID19 virus, we have decided to cancel the event on March 18th. The safety of the Victoria community is our highest priority. Please practice social distancing, and we hope to see you soon.

Our talks this month:

– Mallory Thorp – “Clash of the galaxies”
– Monica Wilkins – “Conversations about death: normalizing the human experience”
– Desiree Bulger – “Wishful sinking: do shipwrecks make a good habitat for BC groundfish?”

Entrance fee $5 (students, door only), $10 (regular), donations encouraged (*). Tickets through Eventbrite

Doors open at 7.00 PM, opening at 7.30 PM.

Everyone (19+) is welcome!

* This is a non-profit event. All income from the entrance fee goes to the rent of the venue and organizational costs.

Accessibility:

– The Victoria Event Centre currently does not have an operational elevator, and there is one long flight of stairs at the venue entrance. If you would like to attend the event but require assistance with accessing the space, please contact us at and VEC staff do their best to accommodate.

– More detailed venue accessibility info is available at https://victoriaeventcentre.ca/attendees/accessibility/

– Washrooms are for all genders.

Buy your ticket online at Eventbrite and check out the Facebook event

Join us for the February edition of Nerd Nite Victoria of 2020, where enthusiasts talk about their passion in an informal atmosphere. Our audience is anyone interested in science, geeky subjects and other passions.

Our talks this month:

– Ali Calladine – “Economics is the death of cinema”

– Fernando RJ – “Fifty shades of dentistry”

– James McFarlane – “Hey Siri, make me a new drug”

Entrance fee $5 (students, door only), $10 (regular), donations encouraged (*)

Doors open at 7.00 PM, opening at 7.30 PM.

Everyone (19+) is welcome!

* This is a non-profit event. All income from the entrance fee goes to the rent of the venue and organizational costs.

Accessibility:

– The Victoria Event Centre currently does not have an operational elevator, and there is one long flight of stairs at the venue entrance. If you would like to attend the event but require assistance with accessing the space, please contact us at and VEC staff do their best to accommodate.

– More detailed venue accessibility info is available at https://victoriaeventcentre.ca/attendees/accessibility/

– Washrooms are for all genders.

Buy your ticket online at Eventbrite and check out the Facebook event