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.

Come join us for our monthly science lecture series featuring local experts and storytellers in a relaxed bar setting.

🎤 Speaker: Dr. Murtaza Haider

Dr. Haider serves as a Professor and the Radhe Krishna Gupta Executive Chair in Cities and Communities at the Alberta School of Business. Beyond his academic role, he is the Executive Director of the Cities Institute at the University of Alberta and holds a position as a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. His work bridges the gap between urban data and public policy, providing critical insights into how cities function and thrive.

📚 Lecture: Crime, Perception, and Reality: Where Does Edmonton Really Stand?

Drawing on comparative data across Canada, we benchmark Edmonton’s violent crime rates against peer cities to answer a simple but consequential question: how does Edmonton really stack up? The findings challenge common assumptions and expose where perception diverges sharply from reality.

Despite sustained efforts by the Edmonton Police Service and city leadership, the visible experience of disorder in parts of the city continues to undermine confidence. Understanding whether this reflects deeper structural issues or misaligned perceptions is critical for shaping effective policy.

Here are some key takeaways:

A clear breakdown of violent crime statistics in Edmonton and where it occurs.
An analysis of whether Edmonton is a national outlier or in line with comparable Canadian cities.
Why public safety perceptions can diverge from statistical reality.
What must change to restore confidence, attract investments, and revitalize downtown Edmonton.

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, May 5th, 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

Curious Brews

Mission

Meet the Curious Crew

Upcoming Lecture

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