All of our programming staff worked hard to bring you some amazing panels and events for this year. However, with over 500 hours worth of programming it would be easy to get lost in all there is to do and see. Here are a few panels and events that you may want to check out.
Check out the rest of the programming that will be happening this year. If you want to know when these events are happening you can see various versions of the schedule on the This Year At Penguicon page.
Flirting for Geeks
Come learn how to (and how not to) flirt from some of our local fandom’s biggest flirts. Not only is it laugh-out-loud funny, it’s an irreverent and honest reflection of love, sex, and fandom. Find ways to woo, methods for making friends, and how to avoid being that creepy guy that we all talk about between conventions.
Philosophy in Anime
Sword Art Online asks us “”Is the real world virtual?”” Ghost in the Shell asks us “”Who has a soul, and what makes us human (or cyborg)?”” Avatar asks us “”What is good?”” while Psyco-Pass asks us “”When is society a trap?”” Come explore these thought-provoking questions posed by Anime!
Silicone Casting for Cheap Bastards
Have you wanted to make stuff out of silicone, but don’t want to buy the expensive stuff? In this panel you will learn how to mold silicone things out of cheap and easily obtainable silicone caulk and cornstarch. We will cover the entire process from plaster casting to the silicone mixture and casting. Limited amounts of casting materials will be available. Bring small items to mold in plaster, then cast in silicone. Spots are limited – please sign up at Ops!
Penguicon Robot Build
Come help design and build a robot during the convention. Donations may be accepted depending on the robot design. No skill necessary to help but prior experience would be useful. Useful skills include familiarity with microcontrollers, structural design, costume design, programming, graphic design, and logic!
LN2 Fantasy and Science Fiction Ice Cream
Liquid nitrogen “”ice cream”” featuring flavors found in your favorite Fantasy and Science Fiction Universes: Butterbeer, Pangalactic Gargleblaster, and Sonic Screwdriver. These flavors all include alcohol – 21+ only.
PowerPoint Improv
Volunteer presenters pick a slide deck they’ve never seen before from a list of titles on a variety of topics, and improv a comedic or serious presentation for up to 5 minutes. They don’t have to stick to the slides, as they’re just a prop! Audience members then ask questions about each presentation, or about the price of tea in China — they can improv, too! As improvisations accumulate, we can build off each others’ topics and Q&A sessions. Come play with us!
Friendship at the Speed of Sound
Meeting people can be difficult and sometimes impossible to do as an adult. This is especially true if you find social settings overwhelming. Come to this panel to meet other attendees in an informal setting. Find people with similar interests to hang with while you are at the con. Conversation starters will be provided.
So You Want to be a Manager
Ah, the glamorous life of a manager! Or is it? Come hear a few voices “”from the trenches”” talk about what it’s really like to lead a team, what the job actually entails and some of the horrible – and horribly funny – stories of uncomfortable and embarrassing tasks we as managers have had to complete.
The World Around You Is Not What It Seems…
A WAR is being fought right HERE right NOW. The fate of all humanity is in your hands. You look up from your phone: is that guy on the corner just walking his dog, or is he an Ingress Agent from the other side about to attack your neighborhood? Meet at Lawrence University courtyard to learn new skills and gain experience playing ingress for your faction. If you want to carpool, meet at the fountain in the lobby at 4:45. If you drive over, meet at Ockham’s Wedge sculpture in the enter of the quad area near the Taubman Student Services Center at 5:00.
Performance Mikey Mason:
Mikey (She Don’t Like Firefly, Best Game Ever) is a full-time standup comedian whose work has been featured on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio, DrDemento.com, Nerdist.com, MTV Geek News, SyFy’s Blastr.com, Time Magazine’s Techland, and on theFuMP.com. He has made multiple appearances both on NBC and at the legendary House Of Blues, headlined on all four coasts and performed at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, Geek Media Expo, Browncoat Ball, and RPG conventions across the US.
So This is Your First Penguicon?
Our chair, Nuri, will talk about how he first joined Penguicon, and give you a tour of what’s awesome (everything!) here. If you’re new to Penguicon and you want to get to know the event, this is the panel for you!
Better Living Through Neuroprosthetics
Cynthia Chestek, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering for the University of Michigan, will talk about the wide range and scope of neural prostheses already on the market, and where we are today relative to where science fiction had imagined we might be.
The Future of Bionics
In the beginning, bionics were expensive things sold by large companies. Now, we’re 3D printing them for less than a fancy dinner, and soon, we’re going to be controlling them with our minds! What will the future hold for people who use these devices to make their lives richer? Will we be bionic people? Will we be better…stronger…faster?
Retro Gaming
Come Play!:Come relive your youth as you play away the hours on a collection of retro gaming systems, including Atari 2600, NES, SNES and many others.