Oh lordy, we’re at #40! Come and join your fellow nerds for a great Nerd Nite Winona talk on Wednesday October 23 @ 7:30pm at No Name Bar. You’ll hear…

TALK #1: “Why Do They Look Like That? Ancient Egyptian Art” by Kiri Sannerud

Everyone knows what Ancient Egyptian art looks like. Noses in profile, eyes facing forward, wacky legs. It’s immediately recognizable. But why would you draw someone like that when the pose is physically impossible? Why isn’t Ancient Egyptian art more like art from Ancient Greece? Learn all about it and ways to find meaning in non-realism art in this talk!

Kiri Sannerud is a Winona State University graduate and art history enthusiast who wants to go into museum work. One of their proudest accomplishments was a semester in college where they managed to talk about Art Nouveau in every presentation they gave, even in classes that weren’t art history! They wandered in off the street and were given a mic and a powerpoint and by jove they’re gonna yap about how much they love art and how to see the meaning in it to anyone who’ll listen.

TALK #2: “Altruism: Giving with your Head before your Heart” by Nathan Crowder

We have seemingly limitless causes we can donate to.  This talk explains why we might want to take a more analytical approach in making that choice, rather than solely relying on what feels good.

Nathan Crowder’s education and background, not surprisingly, is in math, statistics, and teaching.  He became interested in effective altruism years ago when he himself had trouble deciding which charities would put his donations to best use.

TALK #3: “Keratin: The Science Behind Nature’s Toughest Protein” by Jon Mauser

Discover the fascinating world of keratin, the resilient protein that forms the building blocks of hair, nails, feathers, and even animal horns. From feathered dinosaurs to our little furry friends, come and join us for an engaging dive into the science behind nature’s toughest protein!

Jonathon Mauser is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Winona State University, specializing in protein biochemistry.