Nat Geo Nerd Nite

Welcome to NerdNite DC! Nerd Nite DC is DC’s original science + nerd + drinking event. See us nerd out! Join us for the first-ever Nat Geo Nerd Nite! Nerd out this summer with a stellar lineup of Nat Geo storytellers, but first begin the evening in the Indiana Jones™ and Monster Fish exhibits and enjoy happy hour offerings from Dogfish Head brews and several of DC’s favorite food trucks. Then at 7:30pm get your geek on as Nat Geo’s intrepid explorers share funny and fascinating tales from the field! Don’t miss the ultimate Friday night brain tease: Date: Friday, July 17th, 2015 Time: Doors, Exhibits and Bar open at 6:00pm, Show at 7:30pm Where: National Geographic, 1145 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036 Tickets: http://events.nationalgeographic.com/washingtondc/2015/07/17/nat-geo-nerd-nite/ And with that, the talks are… Unlocking Curiosity with a Camera Jon Brack and Susan Poulton What happens when two space nerds get their dream to hang out inside of all three space shuttles for 30+ hours? How about living in the antarctic as a chef and then leaving three-years later as a photographer? Moreover, how about getting your sea legs while filming the work on a research vessel? Jon Brack and Susan Poulton don’t see themselves as traditional photojournalists but rather as curious individuals passionate about space, science, and humanitarian work. Cameras have been their key to explore so many different worlds and hear the stories of amazing people and places. They are here to share how stoked and privileged they are to be citizen explorers behind the camera, including their work with National Geographic Photo Camp. Bio(s): Jon Brack is a freelance photojournalist living in Washington, DC doing a variety of panoramic photography and photojournalism for non profits. Originally from Colorado, he has spent more than a decade working in both the populated world and geographically isolated locations like Antarctica. He has run around the south pole twice, naked. Susan Poulton is formerly Vice President of digital media for National Geographic and currently runs her own digital strategy consulting firm, named after a super secret part of the space shuttle. She spent her own time and money photographing 19 space shuttle launches and is a graduate of Space Camp, where as a 12-year-old shuttle pilot she infamously swore on the intercom four times and ejected half of her crew into space. Her next challenge is being the Chief Digital Officer of the Franklin Institute. Where the Rare Things Are: Tales of Survival in the Tropics Gabby Salazar Most of us think of the tropics as a beautiful paradise filled with wonder, but those that have ventured there also know its blaring cacophony of sounds, dense jungles, and often perilous inhabitants. Nat Geo Young Explorer Gabby Salazar will share tales from her expeditions in the tropics and give insight into how she copes with life in the field. Learn what makes the tropics an awe-inspiring global treasure and how to prepare for your own adventures in the jungle. BIO: Gabby is a Nat Geo Young Explorer grantee, award winning nature photographer, and a member of The Explorer's Club. Through trial and error and a few scars she has learned to always be prepared in the field. Back from recent expeditions in Borneo, Dominican Republic, and Mauritius, she loves them all, but Borneo is her favorite! From Mindsuckers to Honeymakers: Adventures in Immersive Photography Anand Varma What do you do after you land a Nat Geo cover featuring a zombie parasite?! Well, if you’re Anand Varma, you turn the lens to a much more documented insect with the purpose of showing its hidden life. For the May 2015 issue, he built his own backyard beehive so that he could capture the first 21 days of a honeybee's life. The result is an entirely new and sometimes gross, but always stunning, perspective on one of the most photographed insects. BIO: Anand is a biologist turned photographer and videographer who specializes in telling the story behind the science. As a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine, Zombies landed him the November 2014 cover … well, actually zombie parasites called "Mindsuckers."