Nerd Nite v37: Quantum Computing, Sci-Comm, and Planet Formation
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Description
Well here we are, the planet is tilting back towards the sun, and lo and behold here in our north-west corner of the continent it's actually warming the weather. Granted there is that thing that's warming the entire planet, but as good science communicators we know there's a big difference between weather and climate right? In this month of June, named for the Roman God Juno, we have our final Nerd Nite before we take our summer hiatus. This month we have one of UBC's top instructors, zoologist Greg Bole co-hosting with Michael on the topics of Quantum Computing, Science Communication, and Planet Formation. We're hitting science hard this month, but this is no university lecture, this is science with beer and friends, get in here!
This month we feature:
1. Nik Hartman- "Quantum Computing"
Bio: Dr. Hartman received his PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 2015. His work there focused on spin transport in carbon nanotube devices. Nik joined the Quantum devices group in late 2015. Currently, his work focused on quantum transport and thermodynamics in devices built on GaAs heterostructures.
2. David Ng - I'm such a nerd: Adventures in community building and science communication.
3. Nienke Van Der Marel - Planets Under Construction: How To Study a Million-Year Process
Exoplanets are everywhere! In the last 20 years, thousands of exoplanets have been found throughout the Milky Way. But if they are so common, why is it that we still don't know how they are formed? With the ALMA telescope we can now finally zoom into the birth cradles of planets: dusty disks around young stars. The spectacular images have given us new insights, but also raised many more questions regarding the process of planet formation.
Bio: Nienke was born and raised in the Netherlands, where she got her PhD in astronomy at Leiden University in 2015. She moved to the other side of the world for a fellowship at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, where she spent two years. Last November she moved to Victoria for another fellowship at NRC Herzberg. She was recently appointed as NerdNite boss of Victoria, where Nerd Nites are going to start later this summer. Other than astronomy, she is very passionate about cycling, traveling and latin/african dancing.