Nerd Nite v60: Coyotes, Wine, and Therapeutic Chatbots

Three talks. One night. Zero homework. 🧠🍷🤖

Nerd Nite v60 brings together urban coyotes, the science and stories behind wine, and the surprisingly tender world of therapeutic chatbots. Expect smart speakers, curious ideas, and the kind of knowledge you didn’t know you wanted until it’s in your glass and your brain at the same time. Come learn something new, laugh a little, and nerd out responsibly.

Each Nerd Nite you can top up your ticket purchase with an extra donation, this month we'l be donating to the Stanley Park Ecology Society.

Coyotes - Nathan Lewis

Coyotes coexist with humans in every major North American city, and while conflicts are rare, certain extreme events often control the narrative on urban coyotes with a combination of fact and fiction. One such event occurred in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, where there were an unprecedented 45 coyote attacks on humans in under nine months between December 2020 and August 2021. Following these attacks, speculation regarding possible causes was commonly in the news, but it wasn’t until recently that a scientific study was done to identify the who, what, when, where, and why of it all. Join Nathan Lewis, as he breaks down the “investigation” to uncover the mystery of the Stanley Park coyote attacks.

Bio: Nathan Lewis is a PhD candidate in the Department of Zoology at UBC studying human-wildlife coexistence, with a focus on urban coyotes. He is broadly interested in how coyotes adapt their behaviours to thrive in areas with high human-use and how that may contribute to conflicts with humans. Among other projects, he recently led a study focused on understanding what spatial, temporal, and human factors explained which human-coyote encounters in Stanley Park were aggressive rather than non-conflictual sightings. In his free time, Nathan enjoys wildlife photography (check out @fieldnotesbynathan on Instagram), camping, and playing wingspan.

Wine - Janet Helou

Wine is a surprisingly complex liquid for as many millennia as it’s been around, but why is it still such a mystery to so many people? (Aside from that one friend who is dying to explain malolactic fermentation to you - spoiler: your speaker is that friend).

Join food scientist & sommelier Janet Helou as she strips away the vineyard romance to reveal the even sexier volatile chemistry in your glass - this talk will cover how wine can be made in infinitely different styles and the flavour chemistry behind it all, the natural and non-alc wine movements, and the science of hangovers. We’ll round things out with an industry insider's “cheat sheet” on how to navigate confusing labeling laws and marketing fluff to find high-quality bottles without overpaying for great wines.

Come for the chemistry, stay for the hangover cures, and leave with the scientific confidence to order the best bottle on the list.

Bio: Janet Helou is a Certified Food Scientist and WSET level 3 Sommelier, with an Honours BSc from the University of Toronto. She is on a mission to empower drinkers with the data they need to navigate a confusing industry—helping them understand everything from the chemistry of a perfect pairing to the biological reality of the morning after. In her free time she enjoys racing her sailboat, Mischief, year-round in Vancouver which should tell you pretty much all you need to know about her character and otherwise questionable decision-making.

Therapeutic Chatbots - Zoha Khawaja

The rapid digitalization of care has increased acceptance of AI technologies designed to reduce healthcare barriers and enhance access. One emerging tool is the use of AI chatbots that analyze vocal biomarkers (voice AI) to diagnose and monitor mental health conditions. With the current lack of mental health resources available and accessible, these technologies have shown promising success for performing clinical tasks such as disease detection and management. However, their future development and use are far from straightforward. The absence of standardized protocols for voice data collection, coupled with a lack of regulations that recognize voice as a valid biomarker, raises significant ethical, legal, and social concerns. This dramatized talk will transport audience members into a not-so-distant future where voice AI technologies have become fully integrated into clinical practice. Through this speculative scenario, the presentation will not only highlight the current challenges faced when utilizing AI chatbots for therapeutic care but also underscore the conditions that must be met in order for voice AI tools to be considered safe and trustworthy medical devices.

Bio: Zoha Khawaja recently graduated from SFU’s Master of Science in Health Sciences program and holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Calgary. As a member of the Bridge2AI Voice Consortium, her thesis engaged both her expertise in bioethics and psychology by exploring the ethical, legal, and social implications of using voice AI chatbots for therapeutic care. She continues to work in the Voice Consortium’s lab and is excited to begin her Mitacs internship with a tech startup this winter, focusing on applying insights from her research into real-world clinical practice. In her free time, Zoha indulges in her (many) hobbies, including (and not limited to) skiing, running, dancing, hiking, and painting.

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