Wanna recap one of the best events we’ve run recently? Our ELI5 event was a hit—we SOLD OUT! And it’s not hard to see why. For those who aren’t in the know, Explain Like I’m 5 is our classic lightning talk series from pre-pandemic times. Speakers have just seven minutes to break down a complex topic for a lay audience, with no slides allowed! This might sound tough, but trust me, our incredible lineup of speakers took up the challenge with gusto.
What Is ELI5?
Our ELI5 events are designed to take high-level, often technical or niche concepts and make them understandable for anyone. This round, we skipped a theme, making it a bit of an intellectual free-for-all. The result was a room full of fun learning and a cheering audience by the end of the night!
Meet the Speakers
Callum Janes – The Art of SEO
We kicked things off with Callum Janes (hey, that’s me!), a content guru (oh stop) who’s rubbed digital elbows with the likes of BBC and WatchMojo, and he dove into the nitty-gritty of SEO. Callum broke down website optimization for us mere mortals, covering all those sneaky algorithms and search trends and making them sound almost, dare I say it, easy! (it’s not)
Kenny Pollin, Strength Coach – The Truth About “Toning”
Next was Kenny Pollin, a Northern Ireland powerlifting record-holder and Belfast strength coach / personal trainer! He demolished myths about “toning” and told the truth about building muscle and shedding pounds. Who knew gym talk could be so captivating?
Deirdre Morrisson – Knitted Neurons and Brain Science
Things took a delightfully nerdy twist with Deirdre Morrisson, who brought some tactile brain science. Picture this: a neuroscience demo with knitted props that made neurons seem like friendly little yarn critters. Everyone in the room was leaning in, hanging on every “stitch” of her explanation.
Grant Colgan – The Crowdstrike Crash
Grant Colgan walked us through the Crowdstrike crash, which was incredibly topical and engaging!! Who knew cybersecurity could keep you on the edge of your seat?
Martin Gilchrist – Changing the World, One Event at a Time
And if that wasn’t enough, Martin Gilchrist of Gilchrist Accounting shared how he wanted to change the world! Creating events that foster change for the individual is seriously inspiring stuff!
Shout-Out to Our Sponsor!
The event was sponsored by Martin Naughton of Galvia Digital (a Belfast custom software development company). He’s been a steadfast supporter of ELI5 since its revival. Huge shout-out to Martin for helping us keep this community-powered event series alive and thriving!
Overall, the vibe at Farset Labs was one of curiosity mixed with a hefty dose of camaraderie. Artists, tech enthusiasts and everyone in between gathered, and ELI5 made learning feel like a party.
If you missed out, the only thing to do is ensure you get the next one! Be sure to follow our Meetup page to stay in the loop. After all, there’s a whole community of brilliant folks here, and we’re just getting started.
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