Nerd Nite Hong Kong: a meeting of beer and brains where scientists in a Central bar explain stuff in layman’s terms

Hong Kong’s Central district is known for its late-night revelry, but once a month it plays host to a group of international academics and self-confessed nerds, who (over a beer, or two) present “bite-sized” lectures to the public about advancements in their field. Think TEDx Talks meets open mic.

They each have 15 minutes using only layman’s terms – no scientific mumbo jumbo allowed – to spread the word.

It’s Nerd Nite and the crowd, in a tucked-away bar, is a mix of young Hongkongers and expats; some from the academic world, many from a range of professions. After each presentation the floor is opened up for questions.

Last month, the audience heard from lead researchers in the fields of philosophy, stem cell research and aromatherapy. On June 26, audiences can learn about opera, biodiversity and even the science of beer brewing.

The events are run by University of Hong Kong PHD student and neuroscientist Shawn Tan, who decided to bring the concept to Lan Kwai Fong after studying in Australia. “One of the things I did in Melbourne that got me to Nerd Nite here was I studied and worked as a science communicator,” he says.

Tan hopes to bridge the gap between science and academics, and the wider population in Hong Kong. “My idea was to bring these academic topics to people who are doing jobs outside of academia to give them a chance to learn about it,” he says. “I think especially in Hong Kong, with a huge population working in the financial industry, they don’t usually get the chance to learn about the amazing research going on here. That’s something I am very interested in.”