Curious Brews
Sip. Learn. Connect.
Mission
At Curious Brews, we aim to make learning welcoming, social, and accessible.
We bring experts, storytellers, and curious minds together in community spaces to spark dialogue, share ideas, and build genuine connections.
By nurturing curiosity and creating space for meaningful conversations, we empower individuals to explore new perspectives and feel part of a more connected, informed community.
Everyone has something to learn. Everyone has something to share.
Meet the Curious Crew
Introducing the team committed to making meaningful conversations and community learning possible.
Co-Founder
Nicole Rodriguez, MSc
Nicole is a program leader who cares deeply about strengthening communities through learning and connection. With a Master’s in Medical Sciences focused on women’s mental health and child development, she brings both expertise and empathy to her work. Nicole has supported non-profit organizations, government initiatives, and students in higher education, always with an eye toward making knowledge more accessible. She is passionate about creating welcoming spaces where people feel encouraged to share and grow meaningfully. Her leadership is rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and a genuine commitment to the community she serves. In her downtime, she enjoys writing, reading, and spending time with her fur babies.
Co-Founder
Kleinberg Fernandez, PhD
Kleinberg is a scientific researcher and community advocate. He completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry and researched on heart disease treatment, food chemistry, and agricultural health. He has held leadership roles in several student-led initiatives advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM. Kleinberg has presented his research at conferences and thesis pitch competitions to diverse audiences, and he believes that science should be accesible to everyone. He thrives on developing programs and fostering conversations that spark curiosity, nurture meaningful connections, and amplify diverse voices. He enjoys to cook, garden, play sports, and has a goal to hike the Mackenzie Mountains in the Northwest Territories.
Upcoming Lecture
New events will be updated regularly. Tickets available on Eventbrite.
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Join us for our monthly science lecture series featuring local experts and storytellers in a relaxed bar setting.
Speaker: Dr. Rashid Mirzavand, PhD, PEng
Dr. Rashid Mirzavand is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta, where he holds the Engineering Research Chair in Intelligent Wireless Communication and Sensing. He leads the Intelligent Wireless Technologies (IWT) Group, which builds wireless sensors, antennas, and radio devices.
His recent work focuses on sensors that need no battery: they run on energy from a nearby reader and send their data by reflecting its radio signal. His team has applied this to aircraft icing, room monitoring, and wearable devices. Dr. Mirzavand is a registered professional engineer in Alberta and has co-founded several technology start-ups on wireless sensing and related measurement systems.
Lecture: No Battery Required: Tiny Wireless Sensors and Where They Could Help
From fitness bands to smoke alarms, almost every gadget we use depends on a battery that eventually dies. But what if a sensor didn’t need a battery at all?
Dr. Rashid Mirzavand and his team at the U of A are building tiny wireless sensors that run entirely on radio waves from a nearby reader–sending data back the same way a mirror flashes sunlight. Because they never run out of juice, these sensors can be sealed right inside everyday items like clothing, furniture cushions, or building walls.
Come grab a drink and see how these self-powered sensors work, check out what’s being built right here in Edmonton, and share your own ideas on where this tech could actually make daily life easier!
Lecture Information:
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026
🕡 Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
📍 Location: MKT Fresh Food | Beer Market (8101 Gateway Blvd NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 3X8)
Event Agenda:
6:00 PM - 6:45 PM: Social hour pre-lecture, sign in, food/drink
6:45 PM - 7:00 PM: Welcome and Speaker Introduction
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Lecture + Q&A
8:00 PM - 8:15 PM: Door prizes, sponsor acknowledgements
8:15 PM - 9:00 PM: Optional post-lecture networking
