Nerd Night – 15-Minute Passions (NN-15MP)

Nerd Night – 15-Minute Passions (NN-15MP) is a small, curated evening built around short plenary talks and discussion among Friends Who Know Stuff (FWKS). Participants are encouraged to contribute a talk; all attendees are warmly invited to contribute questions and curiosity.

Date: March 14, 2026
Location: 3821 Opal Street, Oakland

Call for Contribution

Encouraged topics include (but not limited to):

• “A thing I work on that’s secretly fascinating”
• “A hobby that went way too deep”
• “A question that won’t leave me alone”
  
• “A tool or idea that changed how I think”
• “Something I wish more people knew about”

After careful review by the conference committee, 4–5 contributions will be selected for presentation. Selection criteria will not be disclosed; informal expressions of appreciation will be acknowledged in accordance with longstanding conference traditions.

Topics explicitly out of scope.

• Deep dives into household appliances without broader implications
• Any presentation whose primary evidence is a single YouTube video
• Content best described as “a rant”

Format

Authors of selected contributions will present a short plenary talk (~10 minutes), followed by discussion. Slides are encouraged but not mandatory. Alternative formats are welcome.

Schedule

5:00 – 7:00 pm: Arrival, snacks, opening remarks
7:00 – 10:30 pm: Plenary talks with a mid-evening break
10:30 pm: Closing remarks

Registration

Registration via the below form is required for all participants, whether submitting a contribution or attending only. Early registration is encouraged, as capacity is finite.

Registration deadlines:

• January 25: Presenter registration (submit a working title)
• February 15: Attendee registration (or when capacity is reached)

👉 Register here!