#1 Nerd Nite Hamilton – 11th September, 2023
Nerd Nite Hamilton is proud to announce our inaugural show, featuring 3 absolutely amazing talks by researchers who not only lead their field of study, but who are bloody interesting human beings. Get ready to learn about the nature of your experience, how future technologies might help (rather than destroy us), and how to live a more meaningful life. Be there and be square!
Talk #1: You’re Hallucinating All The Time, Now What?
Have you ever wondered how our perception of reality can sometimes play tricks on us? In this talk, Mark Miller will explore what the latest theories in computational neuroscience tell us about how our brains construct the world around us – and what the hell we are supposed to do about the fact that we are always hallucinating our reality!
Speaker Info: Mark Miller, Ph.D. is a philosopher and cognitive scientist. His research explores what recent advances in neuroscience can tell us about happiness and well-being, and what it means to live well in our increasingly technologically-mediated world. Mark is currently the senior research fellow at Monash University’s Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, and a research fellow in the Psychology Department at the University of Toronto.
Talk #2: Tech’s New Frontier: Your Space Transformed
Imagine your home as not just walls and furniture, but a dynamic world of smart possibilities. Ambient Smart Environments (ASEs) are places where smart tech isn’t just a gadget – it’s woven into the very fabric of your surroundings, creating seamless, invisible interactions that anticipate your needs. In this talk Ben White will explore some of the expected dangers and unexpected benefits of ASEs. Brace yourself for a mind-bending journey where tech transforms not just your space, but how you navigate life itself.
Speaker Info: Ben White is a a Leverhulme-funded doctoral candidate at the University of Sussex (UK), where his research will focus on neuroscience and digital technology.
Talk #3: Navigating The Meaning Crisis
Join us for a thought-provoking journey as world renowned cognitive scientist John Vervaeke delves into ‘The Meaning Crisis.’ In this captivating talk, Vervaeke unpacks his groundbreaking ideas that explore the challenges our modern world faces in finding and cultivating deep meaning in life. Drawing from psychology, philosophy, and cognitive science, he’ll illuminate the reasons behind the crisis and guide us toward a deeper understanding of how to navigate the complexities of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain new insights into the fundamental questions that shape our existence.
Speaker Info: John Vervaeke, Ph.D. is an award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto in Psychology, Cognitive Science and Buddhist Psychology. His academic interests include wisdom, mindfulness, meditation, relevance realization, general intelligence, and rationality. He is the author of Awakening from the Meaning Crisis Youtube series and co-author of Zombies in Western Culture: A 21st Century Crisis.
Event takes place 7-9pm at Shawn & Eds Brewery Co. As always it will be pay-what-you-can at the door, with all money going to our local Routes Youth Centre. Be there and be square!