Nerd Nite v59: Killer Whales, Leaving Religion, Animals & Climate Change

Join us for Nerd Nite Vancouver v59! Dive into captivating talks on Killer Whales’ mysteries, inspiring stories of leaving religion behind, the incredible world of animals, and the pressing issues of climate change. An evening of engaging presentations, lively discussion, and community fun. Don’t miss out—bring your curiosity and join the nerdy fun!

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Taryn Scarff - Killer Whales

In recent years, killer whales have been seen around Vancouver more and more, but these visits may not be as random as they seem. Transient killer whales are marine mammal eaters and travel along the west coast of North America from Alaska to California. They frequently visit BC waters, but their visits aren’t random, they’re closely tied to what’s available to eat. This talk will dive into how the seasonal abundance of their prey like seals and sea lions, and even non-prey items like salmon, influences when and where the killer whales show up. Using years of sightings data, Taryn will share what these patterns tell us about the marine ecosystems of the Salish Sea and what this means for the future success of the transient killer whale population.
Bio:
Taryn Scarff has a Master of Science in Zoology from UBC where her research focused on the seasonal presence of killer whales and their prey in BC. She also has a BSc in Applied Biology from UBC and now works in the world of fisheries for a non-profit organization. Every summer she volunteers with the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, rehabilitating harbour seal pups, sea otters and other adorable marine mammals. In her free time, Taryn loves reading, eating good food with friends, and watching any Real Housewives series.

Armin Mortazavi - Leaving Religion

Nerd Nite cartoonist takes the stage once again to nerd out about his religious deconstruction, going from a strong faith, to his struggles believing in God and his internal conflicts with organized religion.

Bio: Armin is a cartoonist and an indie game developer. He currently works in education, making learning materials for adults. Armin likes dogs, Memphis blues barbecue, and playing Skyrim on Friday nights.

Kwasi Wrensford - Animals & Climate Change

Us humans have been drastically modifying our environment, whether it be through building and modifying the land around us, moving species across oceans, or changing the world's very climate. All those human-caused changes force animals to either adapt and survive their new normal, or pack up and seek out more optimal habitats. Who stays and who goes, however, remains an open question for scientists. Join Dr. Kwasi Wrensford as he takes you on a tour of his travels and studies across North America and what he has learned about how animals are coping with a warming, developed, and rapidly changing world. Kwasi's work will range from the individual decisions animals make to survive rapidly changing environments, to the implications and patterns for populations at continental scales.

Bio: Dr. Kwasi Wrensford (he/him/his) is a postdoctoral Fellow in the Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on how various animal species' habitats and ranges are shifting under human-caused environmental change . To do so, he integrates individual animal behavior, wildlife ecology, and global change biology to better understand and coexist with animals in BC and beyond. In his free time, Kwasi enjoys being outdoors, cooking, and making music.

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