A week of geeking out in DC

Things I did this week that sat well with my geek soul:

Went to the Science Club for some drinks with friends, one about to receive her PhD, another who got hers last year and is now a prof, to trade notes on life after the PhD.

Was back at the Science Club a few days after for a happy hour with the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows.

Earlier that day, a few Fellows and I did a tour of NPR Headquarters. It was nerd heaven. We got a tour of the famous studios, the library, visited the NPR Music offices (where Renee Montagne happened to be passing through after a Tiny Desk recording with the Cranberries) and were shown some very cool technology being developed at NPR Labs for increasing accessibility of NPR programming to hearing- and seeing-impaired folks. Most exciting for me was being in a studio when in walks in the hosts of Alt Latino, Felix Contreras and Jasmine Garsd! I introduced myself and shook hands and yeah was totally star struck. I love Alt Latino. This week they have on Gael García Bernal as guest DJ.

Alt Latino hosts, Jasmine Garsd and Felix Contreras. Photo by Yanina Manolova/NPR

The week ended with Nerd Nite at DC9. Nerd Nite, as described on their website, is


an informal gathering at which nerds get together for nerdery of all sorts (well, mostly presentations and drinking). Nerds and non-nerds alike gather to meet, drink and learn something new.


This week's presenters spoke about sexual attraction to objects, Xenopus the wonder frog, and my favorite, the science of love, by fellow Fellow, Tania Tam. It was so much fun! And incredibly thought-provoking and informative.

Dr. Tania Tam's talk on The Science of Love.

Danger points in a romantic relationship, time on X axis, intensity on Y axis.  One line represents "companionate" relationships, the other "passionate" relationships.