NerdCon: Nerdfighteria: Full Schedule

Below, you will find the full agenda for NerdCon: Nerdfighteria!

Feel free to browse around, build your customized schedule, and study up on our featured guests.

Some small changes to this schedule may happen.

Learn more about NerdCon: Nerdfighteria and get tickets at nerdconnerdfighteria.com.

11:30am EST

Wizard Rock Club

Musicians/singers of any experience/skill level are welcome to share, workshop, jam, collaborate, and find inspiration and fun in an informal, supportive environment. Open to any song material, not “Wizard Rock” only. Don’t play music? All are welcome to come by and listen.

Speakers

Brian Ross (Draco and the Malfoys)

Draco & the Malfoys

Saturday February 25, 2017 11:30am - 12:30pm EST
Room 201

Activity, Community Programming

11:30am EST

The STEAM Room - Art and Science Workshop

Join us in The STEAM Room to create art and explore science. There will be stations with supplies and instructions for participating in Art Assignment prompts, building rockets, driving a Lego Robot, and other science activities. All experience levels of artists and scientists are welcome. Come build and design with us!

Speakers

Betty

ARTiculations

Betty makes videos about art.

Jacklyn Duff

SciJoy

Hello! My name is Jacklyn, and I am an aerospace engineer. I run a YouTube channel called SciJoy. We teach science and engineering through hands on experiments and projects. No experience is necessary, but some assembly is required.

Sara Langworthy (Developmental Enthusiast)

Sara Langworthy, PhD is an author, consultant, speaker, YouTuber, and giant nerd. She’s a member of the team behind the Road to Nerdfighteria storytelling project. Her book, Bridging the Relationship Gap, and her YouTube channel address the science of stress, resilience, and brain... Read More →

Maia Ledesma

The Road to Nerdfighteria

Maia Ledesma is an education researcher, vlogger (WeAreStElmosFire), videographer and motion graphics artist. She manages the daily operations for The Road to Nerdfighteria, a worldwide multimedia project featuring Nerdfighter origin stories from members of the Nerdfighter community... Read More →

Liz McElwee

Dreamer, The Road To Nerdfighteria

Liz McElwee is a writer/storyteller, small YouTuber and is currently studying to become a Life Coach. She’s a member of the team behind the Road to Nerdfighteria storytelling project. Liz is a real life mother of 2 and an internet "mother" to many. She is currently lives in Pe... Read More →

Matt Palka

The Road to Nerdfighteria

In a nutshell, I'm an avid leadership image enthusiast, journaler, greyhound lover, freshwater bass fisherman, Nerdfighter, youth leader, criminal investigator, and photographer. I help run The Road to Nerdfighteria Youtube channel and I have been in the New York State Delegation... Read More →

Saturday February 25, 2017 11:30am - 2:00pm EST
Expo Hall Meetup Area

Activity, Community Programming

1:00pm EST

Nerdy Sing-along

Come and sing your hearts out to all manner of nerdy songs (Disney, Broadway, and otherwise), curated and hosted by Jon Cozart and Matthew Gaydos!

Speakers

Jon Cozart

A graduate of UT’s film school, Jon Cozart applied his teachings to help him skyrocket to viral stardom with his comedic YouTube videos. In only five years, Cozart has gained worldwide fame, amassing over 3.6 million subscribers and over 300 million lifetime video views with just... Read More →

Matthew Gaydos

Director/Editor, Complexly

Director/editor of Sexplanations, The Financial Diet, & Animal Wonders. Former host of The Warehouse on the DFTBA Records YouTube channel.

Saturday February 25, 2017 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Room 203

Activity

4:00pm EST

Every Nerdfighter Has an Origin Story: The Road to Nerdfighteria

Nerdfighteria’s growth, size, and complexity rely upon the contributions and active involvement of Nerdfighters who found this community yesterday or from the beginning. Nerdfighters’ welcoming, connected community and meaningful projects are the hallmarks of the tenant of decreasing world suck. Each Nerdfighter has a road to Nerdfighteria and reason why this community means so much. Come meet fellow Nerdfighters, share your story and listen to Nerdfighters’ stories from across the world.

Speakers

Sara Langworthy (Developmental Enthusiast)

Maia Ledesma

The Road to Nerdfighteria

Liz McElwee

Dreamer, The Road To Nerdfighteria

Matt Palka

The Road to Nerdfighteria

Colleen Theisen

Lecturer & Special Collections Certificate Administrator, University of Iowa

Special Collections Librarian turned full-time lecturer. Administrator for the Graduate Certificate in Special Collections Librarianship.

Saturday February 25, 2017 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Room 203

Activity, Community Programming

4:00pm EST

Nerdy Swap Meet

Do you have old nerdy gear from a fandom you're just not that into anymore? T-shirts that don't fit? Books and games that you love so much and just want to share with other nerds? Bring them to our Nerdy Swap Meet! Bring any gently used items that are in good condition and leave with some new treasures to love.

Speakers

Runa Zaman

Saturday February 25, 2017 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Expo Hall Meetup Area

Activity, Community Programming

5:30pm EST

Story Circle

Come sit in a circle with your fellow NerdCon: Nerdfighteria attendees and swap TRUE stories based on the same theme in a judgement free zone, or just listen! Reading aids and small props are welcome, and the time limit for each story is 6 minutes. The Story Circle is the perfect place to make new friends, dive into storytelling, and try something a little bit different. The story circle is led by Leslie Datsis from Story Circle DC and PBS Digital Studios.
Theme: My Favorite Place
Whether it's the dining room table, a booth at a local bar, a gaming universe, or Tumblr—we all have our favorite places. Share with us a true story where the setting of the story is one of YOUR favorite places.

Speakers

Leslie Datsis

Leslie is one of those 2007 nerdfighters that made videos for a long time on her video blog (lesliefoundhergrail) and her storytelling project (One Time Stories). She's now behind the scenes at PBS Digital Studios and has been running Story Circles at conferences all over the US... Read More →

Saturday February 25, 2017 5:30pm - 6:30pm EST
Room 207

Activity, Community Programming

9:30am EST

Fitness for Nerds

Join John Green, Chris Waters, and 100 Days head trainer Laura Minor for a full body workout using the best exercise machine you can find: your own body. This class is open to ALL levels and can be modified to appease anyone from the fitness guru to the fresh newbie!

NOTE: Due to limited space and a high demand, we expect this session to fill up FAST, so please plan accordingly!

Speakers

John Green

John Green is the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, Will Grayson, Will Grayson (with David Levithan), and The Fault in Our Stars. His many accolades include the Printz Medal, a Printz Honor, and the Edgar Award. He... Read More →

Laura Minor

Chris Waters

Sunday February 26, 2017 9:30am - 10:30am EST
Room 210

Activity

10:00am EST

Nerdy Coloring

Need a break from con chaos? Come color with us!

Speakers

Runa Zaman

Sunday February 26, 2017 10:00am - 11:00am EST
Zine Station

Activity, Community Programming

11:30am EST

Collaboration Station

We have a ton of creativity in Nerdfighteria, and this is an opportunity to get that creativity together! Perhaps one person has a melody and another has some lyrics! Or someone has a book and someone else is an illustrator? Maybe you draw awesome characters, but need a story for them to tell. Come connect and create together!

Speakers

Jennifer Sydeski Hurd

Scientist, Project Manager, Professor, Director of Operations, Cernostics, Inc, Point Park University, On The Leading Strand

I'm a mama, scientist, Quaker, professor, entrepreneur, and wanna-be everything else. I love travel and adventure and hiking, but mostly I work and hang out with my family. Talk to me about your passions, experiences, and joys. Also, Kids, Science, Kids' Science Books, Reading... Read More →

Sunday February 26, 2017 11:30am - 12:30pm EST
Expo Hall Meetup Area

Activity, Community Programming

11:30am EST

Make A Rug – The Art Assignment

Join us in making one grand rad rug! In 2014, artist Fritz Haeg asked The Art Assignment community to make a rug out of old textiles. We’ll provide the materials and instructions for this classic assignment — just get ready to meet some fellow rug makers.

Speakers

Ahsante Bean

Ahsante the Artist | PBS Digital Studios

Ahsante’s work focuses on uplifting marginalized voices and examining the richness of human experience. A vlogger, storyteller, and all-around creative, Ahsante produces short films, educated discussions, and spirited lifestyle videos on her YouTube channel “Ahsante the Artist... Read More →

Leslie Datsis

Sarah Urist Green

Sarah Urist Green is the creator, curator, and host of The Art Assignment, made in partnership with PBS Digital Studios. Prior to this, she was the curator of contemporary art at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. There she curated numerous shows and developed The Virginia B. Fairbanks... Read More →

Sunday February 26, 2017 11:30am - 2:00pm EST
Zine Station

Activity

1:00pm EST

Live Nerdfighter D&D

Watch the action live as some of your favorite nerdfighters take part in that most ancient of nerd rituals: Tabletop RPGs! Players Paul DeGeorge, Kristina Horner, T. Michael Martin, Charlie McDonnell, and Emma Mills set forth on an adventure made of pure awesome to save Nerdfighteria... but to do so they must overcome the twisted imaginings of Game Master and RPG industry veteran Joe Homes. Will our heroes succeed in beating back the darkness... or will they unleash the vile forces of World Suck upon the land? Come find out as we sit down to roll dice and tell stories! Colored banners supporting your favored champion optional.

Speakers

Paul DeGeorge

Paul is a fandom innovator. He plays in Harry and the Potters, co-founded the Harry Potter Alliance, and created the Golden Snitchwich. He plays bass in Hank Green's band, the Perfect Strangers, and he and his wife Meredith own and operate a gallery and shop – Wonder Fair – in... Read More →

Joe Homes

Kristina Horner

Kristina has been making videos on YouTube for almost a decade, and in that time has dabbled in music, collab channels, web series, and booktube. Nowadays she actually has a full time job at Microsoft, but continues to enjoy online content creation as a hobbyist -- which has reignited... Read More →

T. Michael Martin

T. Michael (“Mike”) Martin is the author of YA novels The End Games and Mr. Fahrenheit, as well as a vlogger (youtube.com/tmikemartin) and the co-creator of “How to Adult” (youtube.com/learnhowtoadult), a popular life skills YouTube edutainment channel produced by the Vlogbrothers... Read More →

Charlie McDonnell

Charlie McDonnell is a video blogger, filmmaker, old school nerdfighter, and author of "Fun Science: A Guide to Life, the Universe and Why Science Is So Awesome." He's been described by John Green as “…the most talented and charismatic young person in the United Kingdom,” and... Read More →

Emma Mills

Emma Mills is a YA author (FIRST & THEN, THIS ADVENTURE ENDS) and co-creator of the life skills channel How To Adult. She has been vlogging on her personal channel Elmify since 2010, studying for a PhD since 2013, and awkwardly employing the double thumbs up in social situations for... Read More →

Sunday February 26, 2017 1:00pm - 3:30pm EST
Room 203

Activity

2:30pm EST

Sax Education with Joe DeGeorge: Sax Machine

not tryna toot my own horn
...but sax education is this country is shamefully inadequate. i'm happy 2 report that i have a very healthy sax life, but what about my friends and family? are u making enough time for quality sax in yr daily life? do u feel like u have enough sax appeal? have u ever wondered about yr saxual orientation?
learn more at this special nerdcon session featuring Joe DeGeorge Sax Machine
honk if yr horny xoxo

Speakers

Joe DeGeorge

Joe knows Harry Potter. Joe knows Saxophone.Joe knows Hank Green and the Perfect Strangers. Joe knows Giant Squidstravaganza.Joe knows Downtown Boys.Joe knows Zines.Joe knows Snitchwiches.Joe knows Fungus.Joe knows Bach with gloves on.Joe knows Nerds.

Sunday February 26, 2017 2:30pm - 3:00pm EST
Room 207

Activity