Nerd Nite East Bay #47: Spooktacular Lectures and Drinks

Three lectures, beer, and a costume contest. Come dressed as your favorite scientist, or science experiment. Prizes will be awarded!

They Are Getting Closer…To Killing You, Eating You, and Turning You: Zombie Research Has Arrived by Joseph Chen

Stem cell research is advancing like never before, but so is the looming Zombie Apocalypse! In the past, injecting biologics (like home-grown stem cells) into the heads of brain-damaged people seemed like Sci Fi, but now that reality as arrived. But the brain-damaged individual that you’ve brought back…well, It’s looking at you funny…It’s drooling a little…It’s shuffling towards you menacingly…wait…stay back…Get Away From Me!!!…Aaarrrrrrgh!

Jack Pierce the Maker of Monsters by Strephon and Heather Taylor

Jack P. Pierce was a true artisan. While it would be hard to imagine anyone in the Western world being unfamiliar with his work, practically no one knows of him. A love of Halloween and horror led filmmaker Strephon Taylor to pursue a decade of research on the man behind the creation of famous movie makeups such as Frankenstein and the Wolfman. In support of “Jack Pierce, The Maker of Monsters,” his presentation will provide uncommon and new details into the life of this behind-the-scenes movie great!

What’s That Around the Corner? �" A Look at Survival Horror in Video Games by Egan Hirvela

Since the early 80’s, horror survival been a popular sub-genre of video games. From the earliest text games to the ultra modern console and PC titles available today, fans can’t seem to get enough of jump scares, low ammunition and Things That Shouldn’t Be to run away from. This talk will look at the history of horror survival games, why they are compelling to players and how they differ than regular action games.