Ask a Scientist

Laugh and learn from local STEM experts during Ask a Scientist. This year, we’re teaming up with Nerd Nite and Secret Science Club to offer this special series of informative and entertaining events.

Hudson River Park joins forces with Nerd Nite this August!

Enjoy a special waterways-themed Nerd Nite during which three experts give fun-yet-informative presentations while the audience drinks along. This Nite features presentations about fatbergs (ewww!), alligators in sewers (look out!), and weird tricks that various animals use to survive in the ocean (evolution can be gross sometimes). Keep reading for the full lineup!

Due to limited capacity for this event, $10 tickets are required for entry.

Fatberg Ahead! What are They and What’s the Big Deal?

by Kim Worsham

You may have seen the recent NYC DEP ads on the subways talking all about fatbergs, but what are they? Are they the newest climate change concern destined to destroy modern civilization? Kim will walk you through a little bit about how our city’s sewer system works and what we’ve done to make fatbergs possible…and what we should do to make them go away.

Alligators in the Sewers: NYC’s Greatest True-ish Urban Legend

by Michael Miscione

For generations, native New Yorkers, transplants, and tourists have heard the rumor that the New York City sewer system is filled with live alligators. Is this true, or merely an urban legend? Michael Miscione has done a deep dive into the historical record and will reveal his findings in this entertaining illustrated presentation.

You Won’t Believe This One Weird Trick to Survive in The Ocean

by Marie Gilot

From sea cucumbers to sharks, if you live in the ocean and want to eat and avoid being eaten, it pays to be a little gross. A quick introduction to the wild ways of underwater weirdos.

 

About the Speakers:

• Kimberly Worsham, MPA, MIWM, is a water & sanitation (WASH) specialist and the founder of consulting firm FLUSH. She consults on projects in NYC and globally, including India, Australia, Cambodia, Kenya, Ghana, and Singapore. She received her MPA and B.Sc in business at NYU and a Masters in Integrated Water Management from the University of Queensland (Australia) as an International WaterCentre Scholar.
• Michael Miscione, a native New Yorker, served as the Manhattan Borough Historian from 2006 to 2019. In 2010 Mr. Miscione declared February 9th Alligator in the Sewer Day. He has commemorated the holiday with various festivities every year since.
• Marie Gilot (she/her) was a newspaper reporter in Texas, where she was very popular due to her French accent. Then she came to her senses and moved to New York City, where she trains journalists at a graduate school. She has multiple degrees of various significance, none relevant to this talk.

About Ask a Scientist:

This event invites participants to explore a fascinating science topic and engage in a live Q&A session with the experts. This year, Hudson River Park is teaming up with Secret Science Club and Nerd Nite to offer this special series of informative and entertaining events.

Events are held at the Park’s Wetlab, a research aquarium that is stocked with fish and other organisms that are native to our local waterways. Invite your friends to an evening of science fun and ask the scientists your burning questions. Stay tuned for more information about additional Ask a Scientist events this summer!