Saskatoon: An Unlicensed History – Jeff O’Brien

Although founded by teetotallers and Temperance activists, Saskatoon, booze, and the regulation thereof, have a long history together. City of Saskatoon Archivist Jeff O’Brien looks at the story of Prohibition and a century of liquor and liquor legislation here in the Paris of the Prairies, covering the years from 1882-1982.

Jeff O’Brien was born in Saskatoon and raised in Regina where, despite his best efforts to the contrary, he received an undergraduate degree in Canadian history. He went on to earn a master’s degree in archival studies from the University of British Columbia before returning home to Saskatchewan where he eventually settled down as the City of Saskatoon Archivist in 1997. As the City Archivist, Jeff believes in bringing history out of the archives and into the community. In 2006, he co-authored the book Saskatoon: A History in Photographs. He is a regular contributor to Saskatoon HOME and Prairies North magazines, and to our own historical journal, the Saskatoon History Review.  He is frequently called on to speak to community groups, city classrooms, and at local events—like this one. He can also often be seen and heard on radio and TV here talking about the history of his beloved city. In 2023, he was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee medal in recognition of his work in this area.

Technology Doping in Sport – Dr. Sean Maw

Pretty much everyone has heard of illegal blood doping and drug doping in sport, but have you heard of technology doping?  It’s the same basic idea i.e. get an unfair edge that the other competitors won’t have, but this time using tech!  We’ll go through some examples/case studies and talk about the impacts of technology doping in sport.  We’ll also talk about why this is the “cheating” that sports generally don’t talk about (except for maybe curling) and some people just don’t care about, though they should.  For the finale, we’ll talk about where technology is leading us in sport, because we’re sure not leading it.

Dr. Sean Maw is a professor in Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan,where he runs the First Year Engineering Program and teaches design.  His research is focused on engineering education, and on sports engineering (hence the Technology Doping talk!).  Sean is a bit unusual and hasn’t really grown up yet.  He is an active soccer player, swing/ballroom dancer, and ice cream maker.  He’s announced speed skating at two Winter Olympics, climbed Kilimanjaro, and rafted down the Nahanni.  He designed crash pads for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, as well as skin suits for the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics.  currently researches the physics of curling, trying to solve one of the few modern mysteries in Newtonian physics: why curling stones curl the way they do.  Science still doesn’t know.(stay tuned for an upcoming Nerdnite!)

Genomics, Cattle, and Solar Powered Vaccines – Dr. Grant Woronuk

By mixing cocktails of enzymatic probes to illuminate key sections of DNA, Grant Woronuk turns up the (nucleo)base on cattle. Using such tech to identify cattle capable of efficient growth, enabling feedyards to commit fewer grazing lands to growth, and endearing him to the industry such that they have enlisted him to solve their biggest unsolved problems…. widespread use of antibiotics in their animals. Our solution: edible vaccines packed into the animals’ feedcrop. In formulating this solution, we targeted an evolutionary nuance that results in crops that produce maximal vaccine in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. This talk will highlight some of the processes, problems, and the future of edible vaccination of animals with plants!

Dr. Grant Woronuk is the Lead Research Scientist of Quantum Genetix responsible for developing molecular genetics testing and now leading a transgenenics team for novel crop development. Somehow, Grant emerged from his academic training with a diverse conceptual and applied skillset: a PhD in transcriptomics of chilled legumes from Saskatchewan; an MSc from Guelph in molecular signaling direct pre-pollen to become grown canola without fertilization; a fellowship from UBC in the ‘omics’ of perfume biosynthesis; and a largely forgotten BSc that focused on neuroscience from Lethbridge.  If there’s any consistency with this guy, perhaps it’s the belief that big impacts can be made when we understand the small stuff.

Tickets at Eventbrite

The first book from Nerd Nite (Global) has just been released as well!! But you can see the real thing live on Apr 8!