Penguicon 2017 has ended

Create Your Own Event

Penguicon 2017

The schedule is now finalized! Clicking "attend" does not guarantee a spot in events with limited attendance. Sign-up sheets are only available at Operations during the event, not online. Note that you can view the schedule in different formats by clicking on the word "schedule" directly underneath this message. We can’t wait to see you at Penguicon 2017!

17:00 EDT

CANCELLED How to Survive in the Middle Ages

Your elbow hit the chronograph in your time machine. You are now in 1350 instead of 2350. How will you survive famine, plague, war, and that other horsemen? Come find out!

Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 17:50 EDT
EMC I

Tags Schedule Change

18:00 EDT

Muscle Testing: Human Lie Detection and More

Come learn how to use the energy and impulses of your own body to tell if something is good for you or not. This technique can also be used fairly accurately to tell if someone is lying about something. This can be a great tool for anyone with kids or teenagers. Audience participation welcome.

Speakers

Daniel

Muscle Testing: Human Lie Detection and MoreCome learn how to use the energy and impulses of your own body to tell if something is good for you or not. This technique can also be used fairly accurately to tell if someone is lying about something. This can be a great tool for anyone... Read More →

Amie Lynn

Mom

Amie has over 11 years experience teaching art, dance and preschool. This will be Amie’s 18th year attending ConVocation, having taught Kids Programming for at least 10 of those years (She has lost count). She has explored many aspects of various traditions on the Pagan path, and... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50 EDT
EMC IV

DIY Life Science

18:00 EDT

Strange New Worlds

Exoplanets are a relatively new addition to the field of astronomy, but have been part of sci-fi for far longer. We'll take a look at what they are, how we find them, a few popular media examples, and things to keep in mind if you want to make some of your own for your own works.

Speakers

Brian Hudson

Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50 EDT
EMC III

18:00 EDT

What's New in the Universe?

New news about old stuff! A panel discussing about recent news and discoveries somewhere in a galaxy far away (or nearby) with Volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors.

Speakers

Constance L. Martin-Trembley

Bob Trembley

Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50 EDT
Windover

20:00 EDT

Astronomy 101

Join us as we explore size and distance in the Universe, star life-cycles, and supernovas.

Speakers

Bob Trembley

Bob Trembley

Astronomy & Space Blogger / Web & IT-Guy / Media Creation, Vatican Observatory Foundation

Volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System AmbassadorFormer outreach officer for the Warren Astronomical Society

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50 EDT
Nicolet

20:00 EDT

Help! Someone Dissembled My 3D Printer!

I think a gang of penguins teamed up to disassemble my 3D printer. Now I have to put it back together. This is a great opportunity to talk about how they work, what can be done with them, and calibrating new machines!

Speakers

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon

I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50 EDT
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room]

21:00 EDT

Telescope Observing- Cresent Moon

How does the man in the moon cut his hair? Eclipse it.

Speakers

Bob Trembley

Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50 EDT
Outside

22:00 EDT

Telescope Observing - Jupiter and Mizar

When do astronauts have lunch? At launch time.

Speakers

Bob Trembley

Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50 EDT
Outside

22:00 EDT

The C.U.P.S. Project - Past, Present, and Future?

No, I'm not talking about printing! This "C.U.P.S." was the "Consortium for Upper-Level Physics Software," a multi-million dollar project to develop instructional materials and software simulations for college physics in the mid-1990s. I have been working to resurrect this code base, with ultimate hopes of making it open-source. I'll talk about the history, my work-in-progress, and do some demos via emulation.

Speakers

Frank Palazzolo

Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50 EDT
Nicolet

09:00 EDT

Cemetery Iconography and Why the Victorians Loved Death

For ages and ages, societies have used symbolism and iconography to decorate the final resting places of ancestors. Pervading gloom and grand-scale mourning epitomized death practices in the Victorian era. Find out how Queen Victoria made #grieving trend in the 1800's.

Speakers

Anne Stevenson

Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50 EDT
Portage Auditorium

09:00 EDT

How to Kill a Character, Part 1: I Don't Do Drugs, But My Protagonist Does!

Join us for a medically based primer for authors on booze, drugs and all the potentially deadly results of bad decision making.

Speakers

M

MD

Kat Zechar

Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50 EDT
Algonquin D

10:00 EDT

Astronomy 102

Join us as we explore electromagnetic radiation, Doppler shift, and cosmic microwave background radiation.

Speakers

Bob Trembley

Bob Trembley

Astronomy & Space Blogger / Web & IT-Guy / Media Creation, Vatican Observatory Foundation

Volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System AmbassadorFormer outreach officer for the Warren Astronomical Society

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50 EDT
Portage Auditorium

12:00 EDT

Telescope Observing - The Sun

A neutrino walks into a bar; and keeps right on going!

Speakers

Bob Trembley

Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50 EDT
Outside

12:00 EDT

Using Your Android Phone as a Sensor!

Recording tilt, audio, light, temperature, and barometer readings with Google Science Journal.

Speakers

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon

I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.

Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50 EDT
Computer Lab [TC's]

14:00 EDT

Science as Leisure - Citizen Science, Science Pubs and Science in Other Leisure Venues

People who are working in citizen science, science pubs, or programming at leisure science venues like aquariums, museums, parks or zoo talk about how they got started and how you can help.

Speakers

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon

I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.

Mary Fitzpatrick

Graduate Student, Miami University

Grad student in Project Dragonfly thought Miami University and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. My focus is improving science literacy and engagement for adults through programming at leisure learning venues. I've been a volunteer at CZBG since I was a teen, and now work... Read More →

Julie Lesnik

David Erik Nelson

Award-winning science-fiction author and essayist. His stories and novellas regularly appear in ASIMOV’S, THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, anthos like BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR, and elsewhere. Author of DIY books like SNIP, BURN, SOLDER, SHRED: SERIOUSLY GEEKY STUFF TO MAKE... Read More →

Heidi Trudell

Regional Coordinator, Washtenaw Safe Passage

Dead-bird picking-upping (for Science!) since 2003: research has included window collisions, wind farms, cars, cats, and over 130 species of birds across three states. Founder of Dead Birds (...for Science!) and The Auk-ward (Facebook groups).

Leisure Learning and Adults docx

Classifying Citizen Science How Different Classifications for Citizen Science Projects Impact Biodiversity Awareness docx

List of Science Cafes docx

Some citizen science links docx

Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50 EDT
Windover

15:00 EDT

E-Nable 3D Printed Hand Update

Local volunteers will update attendees on progress on 3D printed hands and arms. Soft 3D printed plastics, myoelectric integration and brain-to-machine solutions will be covered.

Speakers

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon

I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.

KentimusReximus

Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50 EDT
Montcalm

16:00 EDT

Ancient Egypt: Q&A

Join U of M Egyptology professor Dr. Terry Wilfong and Egyptology geek and author Paul Kemner as they answer questions and chat about one of their favorite subjects. Dr. Wilfong has published and lectured extensively on topics relating to gender, sexuality, and religion in ancient Egypt. (Hint: Stargate is not a documentary!)

Speakers

Paul Kemner

Paul's a bit older than Godzilla, watched the original broadcast ofthe Astro Boy series, and has been a fan of anime ever since. Whenhe's not writing and tuning SQL, he works on his 108 secret skills, studiesancient & modern polytheist religions, plays exotic instruments, andwrites... Read More →

Dr. Terry Wilfong

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50 EDT
Algonquin D

17:00 EDT

Dead Birds for Science!

To save birds, we need to save their habitats. But birds have wings, can't read maps, and don't stay where they're safe. So how can we create a more bird friendly world beyond parks and refuges? We need to know how they die. What kills birds tells us where we can make changes to prevent bird deaths in the future. Explore the preventable causes of avian mortality that put so much pressure on the birds we know and love, and learn about how valuable dead birds are to science.

Speakers

Heidi Trudell

Regional Coordinator, Washtenaw Safe Passage

Dead-bird picking-upping (for Science!) since 2003: research has included window collisions, wind farms, cars, cats, and over 130 species of birds across three states. Founder of Dead Birds (...for Science!) and The Auk-ward (Facebook groups).

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50 EDT
EMC II

17:00 EDT

The Great Eclipse of 2017

Aug. 21, 2017, American skywatchers will be treated to a rare and spectacular celestial show: the first total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States in nearly four decades. We'll explore historical solar eclipses and when, where, and how to watch eclipses safely.

Speakers

Karen Burnham

Bob Trembley

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50 EDT
EMC III

18:00 EDT

How to Get a Job with NASA and What is it Like Working There

NASA, the world's leader in space and aeronautics, is always seeking outstanding scientists, engineers, and other talented professionals to carry forward the great discovery process that its mission demands. Once you get there, what can you expect?

Speakers

Karen Burnham

Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50 EDT
EMC IV

18:00 EDT

Penguicon Battery Lab

Convert pennies into make-shift batteries that can drive small current devices like LEDs and calculators. Yep! You read that right. The penny battery is a voltaic pile which uses various coinage as the metal disks of a traditional voltaic pile. Let's power LEDs, calculators, and other small devices with pennies!

Speakers

Greg Less

Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50 EDT
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room]

19:00 EDT

Science of SCUBA

This will be a high level overview of the basic science behind SCUBA diving, including buoyancy and gas compression, gas toxicity, affected physiology, and safety equipment.

Speakers

Rick Houser

Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50 EDT
Algonquin C

19:00 EDT

Space Travel Woes, with and Without Potatoes.

Obviously, life in outer space would be no vacation -- you're out there braving the final frontier, battling meteors and malfunctioning airlocks, and you'll die horribly in the abyss of space if some tiny thing goes amiss. That is what's so awesome about it -- it's an adventure, baby!

Speakers

Karen Burnham

Bob Trembley

Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50 EDT
EMC I

20:00 EDT

Telescope Observing - Cresent moon

Why does a moon rock taste better than an Earth rock? It's a little meteor.

Speakers

Bob Trembley

Saturday April 29, 2017 20:00 - 20:50 EDT
Outside

20:00 EDT

What Do Veterinarians Do?

Obviously, we treat animals. We are also involved in food safety and biosecurity. Be warned, some of the material may be gross!

Speakers

Dr Cher Asa

Lucy Kennedy

Saturday April 29, 2017 20:00 - 20:50 EDT
Algonquin C

21:00 EDT

Telescope Observing - Jupiter and Mizar

Black holes are most commonly found in black socks.

Speakers

Bob Trembley

Saturday April 29, 2017 21:00 - 21:50 EDT
Outside

21:00 EDT

The Future of Batteries

Finding a better battery is crucial to the green energy revolution. What does the future of battery technology look like, and what's in the pipeline?

Speakers

Greg Less

Saturday April 29, 2017 21:00 - 21:50 EDT
EMC II

09:00 EDT

Homemade Ghostbusters PKE Meter on Raspberry Pi 2

In time for the GHOSTBUSTERS blitz last summer, my team at work was asked to make a demo for a homemade PKE Meter. Using the Raspberry Pi 2, 3D Printing, and a program that we open sourced we created a homemade device that emulates the PKE including a big screen that gives readouts and the ability to stream data to Azure Cloud. Along the way we also learned about real paranormal places in our home area of Philadelphia, hit some tech road bumps, and we visited some haunted locations to test our device out. I'll explain how to use the code to make your own device and how we can improve on this hack in the future.

Speakers

Amanda Lange

Technical Evangelist, Microsoft

Technical Evangelist at Microsoft in the Philadelphia, PA area. Love game dev and IoT, and open source on Azure!

Sunday April 30, 2017 09:00 - 09:50 EDT
EMC I

Action Adventure DIY Science

09:00 EDT

Asteroids and Planetary Defense

NASA is developing a first-ever robotic mission to visit a large near-Earth asteroid, collect a multi-ton boulder from its surface, and redirect it into a stable orbit around the moon. Let's talk about craters, rare earth chemistry, and Chelyabinsk.

Speakers

Bob Trembley

Sunday April 30, 2017 09:00 - 09:50 EDT
Nicolet

10:00 EDT

Astronomy 103

Join us as we explore dark matter, dark energy, neutrinos, relativity, and other weird cosmological stuff.

Speakers

Bob Trembley

Bob Trembley

Astronomy & Space Blogger / Web & IT-Guy / Media Creation, Vatican Observatory Foundation

Volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System AmbassadorFormer outreach officer for the Warren Astronomical Society

Sunday April 30, 2017 10:00 - 10:50 EDT
Algonquin D

12:00 EDT

How to Kill a Character Part 2: Let's Get Weird

This talk will be a resource for authors that would like to reference bizarre, rare, and often disgusting ways to kill a character.

Speakers

M

MD

Kat Zechar

Sunday April 30, 2017 12:00 - 12:50 EDT
Algonquin D

13:00 EDT

Beekeeping 101: What the Buzz is About

Introduction to beekeeping covering basic knowledge, disease management, and queen rearing.

Speakers

Andrew Kirch

Sunday April 30, 2017 13:00 - 13:50 EDT
EMC V

13:00 EDT

Six Ways a Mars Rover Will Both Save Humanity and Kill You

The Mars Exploration Rovers act as robot geologists while they are on the surface of Mars. The future of humanity depends on creating exoplanetary settlements. The current version of rovers also have an amazing tool belt for scientific destruction. Let's talk about it!

Speakers

Karen Burnham

Bob Trembley

Sunday April 30, 2017 13:00 - 13:50 EDT
Algonquin D

14:00 EDT

Beekeeping 201: What the Buzz is About

Introduction to beekeeping covering basic knowledge, disease management, and queen rearing.

Speakers

Andrew Kirch

Sunday April 30, 2017 14:00 - 14:50 EDT
EMC V

15:00 EDT

Beekeeping 301: What the Buzz is About

Introduction to beekeeping covering basic knowledge, disease management, and queen rearing.

Speakers

Andrew Kirch

Sunday April 30, 2017 15:00 - 15:50 EDT
EMC V