Nerdstock II coming soon in 2026! Stay tuned for details!
Highlights of the 2025 Nerdstock Festival:
Our first 3-day in-person festival for all ages in 2025 featured presentations by guest speakers followed by group discussions to brainstorm solutions, entertainment including a comedian, an art show, and activities for children such as face-painting and creative crafts!
Nerdstock Festival Schedule, June 27-29, 2025:
●Friday, June 27th, 6-9pm
Dinner and Comedian Anthony Zonfrelli
Anthony “Z” Zonfrelli is a neurodivergent, Harvard-educated comedy writer and performer from Somerville, MA. “Charismatic, smart, and darkly weird.”
https://www.anthonyzonfrelli.com
Cost: $25
Location: Quannapowitt Yacht Club, 26 Linda Rd. Wakefield, MA
●Saturday June 28th, 10am-3pm
Location: Lakeside Inn, 595 North Ave. Wakefield, MA
Presenters:
•10:00am- Tanishia Lavette Williams, Ph.D, KAY FELLOW IN RACIAL JUSTICE, EDUCATION, AND THE CARCERAL STATE
•11:00am- Gilda Montenegro-Fix: Cultural Agility
•2:00pm- Dr. Dana Semmel: Rebuilding Trust, Countering Misinformation: A Strategic Response to the Post-COVID Information Crisis
•3:00pm- Carol Zoubek: Regenerative Agriculture
• Ongoing Children’s Activities: Face painting, Puppet show
https://www.driscollproductions.com
Art Show: featuring art by Andrew Goldish, Meghan Murillo-Dolce, Daniel Young, and others
●8:00 pm-10:00 pm: Sundae social and game night
Location: Quannapowitt Yacht Club, 26 Linda Rd. Wakefield, MA
● Sunday June 29th, 10:00am-12:00pm: Brunch
Cost: $15.00
Location: Quannapowitt Yacht Club, 26 Linda Rd. Wakefield, MA
Keynote speaker- Bikul Das
https://www.thoreaulab.org/team
Topic: From Thoreau to the Cell: Unpacking the Unexpected Links Between Philosophy and Stem Cell Altruism
Information about the speakers who will be presenting:
• Dana R. Semmel, MD
Dr. Semmel is a pathologist at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Assistant Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. After receiving her medical degree, Dr. Semmel completed pathology residencies at Boston University Medical Center. She is board-certified in Pathology—Anatomic and Pathology—Clinical.
• Tanishia Williams, Ph.D. KAY FELLOW IN RACIAL JUSTICE, EDUCATION, AND THE CARCERAL STATE
Specializing in urban politics at the intersection of race, gender, and class, Tanishia Lavette Williams obtained a Ph.D. from the Public and Urban Policy program at the Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy at The New School. Broadly, Tanishia’s research examines curriculum adoption (namely Culturally Responsive Pedagogy), policy, and educational disparities with a focus on the achievement and life outcomes of Black students. Based on her experience as a superintendent, executive director, principal, and teacher in school systems undergoing extensive reform, Tanishia’s focus on education aims to connect praxis and theory. Her contributions to school-based pedagogues and contemporary literature leverage the historicity of race relations within the law to modern policy and infrastructures that impact public education. In essence, Tanishia’s scholarship examines how racism permeates systems through existing legal structures that buttress the subordination of minorities through racialized hierarchies. Her multi-sited research exposes the varied tensions, contradictions, inclusions, and exclusions that co-exist in public education, focusing on a specific anti-racist intervention meant to increase student achievement among the marginalized. Tanishia’s broader research goals aim to advance the literature at the intersections of education, racial stratification, and policy. Her current public scholarship includes a variety of presentations, talks, and speeches that analyze the role of race in disparate outcomes for people of color.
• Dr. Bikul Das, MBBS (MD), PhD Director & Senior Investigator
Dr. Bikul Das is a distinguished oncologist and stem cell researcher renowned for his pioneering work in stem cell altruism. After completing his medical training and practicing in India, Bhutan and Canada, he went on to earn a PhD in Oncology from the prestigious Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto in 2007.Dr. Das’s groundbreaking research focuses on the concept of altruism at the cellular level. In 2012, while working at Stanford University, he made a significant discovery: the identification of altruistic behavior in human embryonic stem cells. This research challenged existing dogma in evolutionary theory and opened new avenues for understanding diseases like cancer.Driven by this discovery, he has since published impactful research, including the role of stem cell altruism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis dormancy, which has been validated by laboratories worldwide. His research has been widely cited, solidifying his position as a leading figure in stem cell altruism research.
• Gilda Montenegro-Fix
Gilda Montenegro-Fix is a Costa Rican woman, mother, wife, adventurous world traveler and global citizen. She represented her country in two Olympic Games (Barcelona ‘92 and Atlanta ‘96), in the sport of whitewater slalom kayak, being the only woman from all Latin America to compete in this discipline. This Olympic experience was the culmination of 10 years of outdoor leadership work.Gilda studied Psychology at the University of Costa Rica, she worked as a bilingual/bicultural family advocate with multicultural low-income families for 10 years in Hawaii and Oregon and is also a certified medical interpreter and translator. Ms. Montenegro-Fix is the founder and CEO of Celebrate Diversity! a Cultural Agility consulting and training company and she is sought after to provide inspiring and motivational keynotes at conferences and other events. Her training and consulting in Cultural Agility including Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, are enhanced by her background and certifications in Trauma Informed Care, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Vicarious Trauma, Neuro Linguistic Programming, Non-Violent Communication, Conflict Resolution, Restorative Justice, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, Personal Empowerment, Circle Facilitation, Teambuilding and more.Gilda is passionate about facilitating understanding, cultivating harmony, and building bridges that connect us all.