The last Winona Nerd Nite for the Spring is coming up on Wednesday May 28 at No Name Bar, starting at 7:30pm! Our speakers are:
TALK #1: “Bias! We All Have It. Yes, even you” by Vanessa Perry
Even if we don’t want it to be true, we all have biases that affect our behavior and decision making. We will learn why we have bias, visit some “favorite” biases, and understand what we can do about bias.
Vanessa Perry works at the intersection of science and people. She cares deeply about helping people make smart decisions, even if she doesn’t always make smart decisions herself.
TALK #2: “10 Things I Learned While Coordinating a Homeless Shelter” by Amarissa Swenson-Ruiz
Street smarts, book smarts, and things in between. Are people actually homeless in Winona? Come learn about a local shelter’s record breaking season, the ongoing housing crisis, and how to bounce back.
Amarissa Swenson-Ruiz, former Winona Community Warming Center coordinator, continued advocate, and wave-maker. She has been a lifelong sociology nerd with a focus on social and humanitarian crises.
TALK #3: “Unlocking Truth Through Data Visualization” by Kristina Melnichenko
Data visualization allows us to transform raw numbers into compelling visuals, uncovering patterns and trends to better understand our world. In this talk, we will explore a use case that highlights how free and open source tools empower everyone to better understand our world.
Kristina is a Ukrainian-American data scientist with over ten years of experience helping organizations leverage the power of data and technology. Inspired by the pivotal role of technology in Ukraine’s defense against Russia and the historic role of knowledge in the pursuit of freedom, this talk illustrates the accessibility and power of data visualization, encouraging people to explore and dig into the data that matters most to them.