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.

🎤 Speaker: Dr. Vivian Mushahwar

📚 Lecture: {More information to come}

Dr. Vivian Mushahwar is the Director of iSMART (Institute for Smart, Augmentative and Restorative Technologies and Health Innovations). She is also a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Functional Restoration and a Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta.

Her research focuses on developing intelligent wearable and implantable neural prostheses that help restore mobility and prevent secondary complications, while also creating creative, cost-effective rehabilitation interventions. A true pioneer in her field, Dr. Mushahwar led the development of micro-implants for stimulating the spinal cord to recover standing and walking capabilities after paralysis. She further spearheaded the development of wearable garments, such as Smart-e-Pants and the SOCC, designed to prevent pressure injuries and deep vein thrombosis.

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026

🕡 Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

📍 Location: MKT Fresh Food | Beer Market (8101 Gateway Blvd NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 3X8

Agenda

6:00 PM - 6:55 PM — Doors open, sign-in, network, and order food & drinks

6:55 PM - 7:00 PM — Welcome and Speaker Introduction

7:00 PM - 7:45 PM — Lecture/Speaker Presentation

7:45 PM - 8:00 PM — Audience Q&A

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM — Post-lecture mingling, 1:1 with the speaker, second drinks, making connections

9:00 PM — Event Ends/Wrap up