Overview
This is going to be a really good one. Hope you like wonder, curiosity, and insects!
If this is your first Nature Nerds program, please read this:
Nature Nerds is an informal educational event for grown-ups.
We swear sometimes. Jokes are made that are not intended for kids. Pretty much every biologist who gets on stage talks about sex. This program is not for the haughty or for youths. It is... a good time!
Nature Nerds: Season Four Opening Night!
What makes you a Nature Nerd? For us, it is the joy and satisfaction that come from engaging our curiosity about the natural world around us. It means taking the time to make careful observations, ask questions, and continuing to learn about the wonders of nature.
So, we are delighted to kick off season four of Nature Nerds with some of the most talented, curious, and observant humans we’ve encountered.
Make sure to get here early. Beers Books will be here with copies of The ABCs of California’s Native Bees by Krystle Hickman’s. Doors will open at 6:30pm and the show will start promptly at 7:30pm!
The ABCs of Native Bees in the Golden State
From the Agile Longhorn Bee to the Zone-tailed Banded-Mining Bee, The ABCs of California’s Native Bees is Krystle Hickman’s primer on the Earth’s premier pollinators. It is a love letter to these busy bodies and a clarion call for their conservation. Through her diligent observations and inquiry, Krystle has been able to include six never-before-photographed bee species and unearths new scientific discoveries in her book.
Interviewing Krystle will be our friend, wildly skilled science communicator, and host of the podcast Golden State Naturalist, Michelle Fullner! With Michelle’s highly adept talent at asking compelling questions, we are certain that we are all going to get some insights into California’s diverse pollinators and what it means to be a Nature Nerd.
Krystle Hickman is a National Geographic Explorer and community scientist based in Los Angeles. With a passion for nature and an eye for artful photography, Hickman strives to elevate awareness of the decline of native bee species and shed light on their intricate and biodiverse ecosystems. Hickman’s commitment to conservation takes her across the globe, documenting rare native bees without resorting to any form of lethal collecting. Hickman’s influence extends beyond the lens: She has graced multiple television and online broadcasts including PBS Nature and Vox Science, been interviewed on podcasts such as Ologies, presented at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Colombia, and lectured at colleges such as Harvard, UC Irvine, UCLA, and more. Learn more about her work at beesip.com.
Michelle Fullner is an educator, California Naturalist, parent of two woodland sprite daughters, and host of the Golden State Naturalist podcast, which is now ranked in the top 1% of podcasts globally. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Comparative Literature from San Jose State University and a Master’s in English: Composition and Rhetoric, from California State University, Sacramento. As an educator, she taught middle and high school English in California public schools for ten years before transitioning to her life as a full-time admirer of acorns, California newts, redwood sorrel, and tide pools.
Ask Your Friendly Local Entomologist
If you’ve been coming to Nature Nerds for a while, you probably already know how much we admire entomologist Ralph Washington, Jr. Ralph was the very first presenter we had on stage at Nature Nerds and will be joining us again to open season 4!
This presentation will be driven by audience curiosity and Ralph's encyclopedic understanding of entomology. Come prepared with your best insect questions and get ready to hear some unexpected facts about the world all around us.
Ralph Washington, Jr. has been a devoted student of insects since his early childhood. Insects have taught him that the smallest creatures can often help answer the biggest questions. One of his favorite lessons is the reminder that although life can often be hard, at least he isn’t a termite getting paralyzed by a toxic fart. You can learn more about his work at ralphwashingtonjr.com.
ABOUT TICKET PRICES:
A note about ticket price for this special event:
We normally have a sliding scale for our programs. In order to cover the expenses associated with this special event, we are sorry to say that we are unable to offer flexible pricing. Regular pricing and sliding scale will resume for our next Nature Nerds in June, promise! Please feel free to be in touch if you have any questions. Buy tickets by clicking this link. Tickets on sale to paid patreon members now and on sale to the general public starting Monday, April 20th at 6:00am.