Saskatoon NerdNite #3 was an outstanding success, highlighting thought-provoking talks from distinguished experts. Palash Sanyal enthralled attendees with his exploration of global water security, emphasizing the need for mindset transformations to drive progress. Jonathan Norton offered a compelling view on spinal implants, bringing hope for mobility restoration in the injured. Scott Thompson fascinated the audience with insights on our proximity to Edward Snowden, illuminating modern security measures. The event underscored the impact of knowledge exchange and innovation.
Saskatoon NerdNite will continue in January after everyone recovers from December, but in the meantime, follow us on Facebook and X to hear some of the best nuggets from the event!
Announcing our 3rd speaker for the November 4th Saskatoon NerdNite,,,,
Surveillance, Privacy, and Society: Big Brother to Edward Snowden – Scott Thompson
From national security to the new emerging form of capitalism and now AI, surveillance has become a central part of our daily lives. But what do we actually know about what is possible, what is actually going on, and what we can do about it?
Take off your tinfoil hat, fill your glass, and join us for an evidence based discussion about surveillance, Snowden, and more.
Dr. Scott Thompson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Saskatchewan, Research Fellow of the Surveillance Studies Centre, and has served as Associate Editor of the journal Surveillance & Society. Having been called ‘one of Canada’s most accomplished scholars in the field of criminology and surveillance’ and ‘the genuine historian of Surveillance Studies,’ Scott primarily uses historical case studies in order to explain and address current and pressing issues in the areas of Criminology, Sociology and Surveillance Studies.
The Water Within: A journey of Growth and Security – Palash Sanyal
What is it about: The Water Within: A Journey of Growth and Security is all about how working in the water sector has shaped Palash’s life, both personally and professionally. He’ll share stories from his experiences that have deepened his understanding of adaptability, sustainability, and connection. From confronting climate change denial to tackling water scarcity, you’ll hear how water has both divided and united us. Palash will share how the qualities of water—its ability to flow, adapt, and sustain life—have influenced his approach to leadership, relationships, and lifelong learning, helping him to focus on becoming the best version of himself. He’ll also explore why water is so crucial, the challenges we face, and how we can create meaningful change in our approach to water security
Palash’s multidisciplinary approach is evident in his founding of Governing Water Inc., where he combines his extensive expertise in governance, sustainability, and water security. His credentials, including PMP, GCB.D, MEng, MSc, Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach among others, reflect his commitment to continuous learning and his belief in the importance of understanding the many facets of any challenge. Beyond his professional endeavours, Palash serves on several boards (Trans Canada Trail, Royal College International, Sandbox Mutual Insurance), where he brings a unique blend of strategic insight, relationship-building, and a deep commitment to sustainability.
Shocking and Brainless ways to Move. -Dr Jonathan Norton
When we are too busy to know what to do we describe ourselves as ‘running around like a headless chicken’. How realistic is that metaphor? Do headless chickens really run around? Shockingly the answer is yes they do..(with some caveats). A long dead Physiology professor is renowned for keeping headless rats in a desk drawer (long before animal rights were considered). These rats ran around the drawer and were kept for many months. How does this happen?
The key to both the rat and the chicken story is twofold, with the brainstem being responsible for most of the neural functions required to keep us alive (breathing, circulation etc.) and the brainstem and spinal cord together containing much of the neural circuitry controlling movement. Yet, when an individual suffers a spinal cord injury the factor that strikes most people is that they cannot move on their own.
In this talk we will examine some of the advances being made in understanding how the spinal cord controls movement at a basic level, and how we can use electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to restore some movements for those with a spinal cord injury.
Jonathan Norton received degrees in Physiology, Engineering and Neuroscience from University College London in the UK before undertaking fellowships in Edmonton, AB. He has been in Saskatoon since 2013 as a faculty member at the University of Saskatchewan and Clinical Scientist at the Saskatchewan Health Authority. He has research interests in reducing neurological injuries and the use of electrical stimulation to restore neurological functions and alleviate suffering. He has a particular interest in how the nervous system interacts with external stimuli.
Third Speaker TBD, but will be amazing too! Updates to follow…..
Rocket Science and Satellites by USask Students — Arliss Sidloski, Rosy Hettiarachchi, Dustin Preece, and Layne Ransom
Remember student life—racing across campus, pulling all-nighters, and submitting assignments with 0.1 seconds to spare? Now, throw in some actual rocket science, and you’ve got either an absolute blast… or a very impressive explosion. The USask Space Design Team (USST) is no stranger to both! They’ve got a long history of turning caffeine and panic into aerospace marvels, like rockets, satellites, and other “please don’t blow up” projects.
Most recently, the USST Rocketry team returned from the Launch Canada Challenge in Timmins, ON, with their 10-foot-tall baby, Zenith—still in one piece, thankfully. Oh, and they’re also partnered with SkCubeSat on some satellite shenanigans. You might’ve heard of RADSAT-SK1, Saskatchewan’s very first homegrown satellite which launched in 2023 (yup, it made it to space!), and now the team is brewing up its sequel, RADSAT-SK2, which promises to be just as out of this world!
Arliss, Layne, and Rosy are all in the final stretch of their mechanical engineering degrees at USask, while Dustin is looking for the next big thing, preferably in aerospace. In addition to academic life, Arliss serves as the President of the USask Space Design Team and was the Technical Project Manager for both RADSAT-SK1 and RADSAT-SK2.
Rosy led the Zenith rocketry project this past year as the sole Project Manager and is excited about some major upgrades as the rocketry team gears up for the 2025 competition.Dustin, an esteemed team alumnus, was the Technical Project Manager for RADSAT-SK1. Layne, a former member of the USST executive, was highly involved in the cubesat projects and once held the positions of HR and Communications Project Manager for RADSAT-SK1 and RADSAT-SK2.
Arliss Sidloski, Rosy Hettiarachchi, Dustin Preece, and Layne Ransom are here to show you what happens when students juggle university classes with a passion for aerospace—it’s like balancing a rocket on a tightrope while trying to pass midterms. They’re here to prove that with the right mix of coffee, equations, and rocket fuel, even students can reach for the stars—literally!
About time and space – is everything relative? – Alexander Moewes
Have you ever asked yourself which physics properties are absolute, and which are relative? How about time, length, mass or speed of light?
In 1999, Time magazine selected physicist Albert Einstein as the person of the millennium. His powerful theory of special relativity touches on these questions and are based on a very simple yet surprising basic assumption – the speed of light is a constant.
In my talk I will touch on these parameters and explain some of the surprising implications from this theory.
Alexander Moewes was educated in Hamburg, Germany. After furthering his experimental skills at various synchrotrons in the US, he joined the physics department of U of S in 2000 where he is a physics professor and Canada Research Chair. For his research, he uses the Canadian Light Source to study new materials. Alex has a knack for fundamental physics questions – especially when at first glance they seem to contradict common sense.
