Distinguished Lecturer, Dr. Chelsea Schelly Confronting Complexity while Keeping our Heads and our Hearts (And Keeping Communities
Centered in Collaborative Science) As a sociologist who studies the relationship among social systems, infrastructural
systems, and ecological systems, Dr. Schelly sees complexity everywhere. In this talk,
Dr. Schelly will highlight some current projects and the complex intersections among
social, ecological, and infrastructural systems being studied, highlighting how these
intersections ultimately impact real conditions of wellbeing for individuals and communities.
The increasing threats to human wellbeing associated with surpassing planetary limits,
the locked-in nature of infrastructures and the socio-economic systems that maintain
them, and the pace and uncertainty associated with social change are all daunting
complexities. To address these complexities as a researcher without being overwhelmed
by the challenges, Dr. Schelly advocates for collaborative, community-engaged research
processes that provide opportunities to celebrate diverse experiences and forms of
expertise while staying focused on the potential impact of research in terms of enhanced
community empowerment and wellbeing. This talk highlights collaboration and community
engagement as opportunities for researchers to address daunting complexities without
losing our heads or our hearts in the process. | March 28, 2023 | Theme: Community Empowerment and Well-being |
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Research Statement
Learn more about Chelsea Schelly
|February 15, 2023|Theme: Viewing our Universe through the Gamma-Ray Window|
Lecturer
Distinguished Professor Dr. Petra Huentemeyer
Topic
Viewing our Universe through the Gamma-Ray Window
Research Statement
Significant advancements in electronics, computing, and communication technology have led to remarkable improvements in the sensitivity and image resolution of sky surveys using ground-based gamma-ray detector arrays. This has led to groundbreaking, sometimes paradigm shifting discoveries in astrophysics, and unprecedented tests of fundamental laws of physics governing our Universe at the extremes. Among the goals of the research involving the observation of gamma-rays from space are tackling fundamental questions such as the location and nature of dark matter and testing the limits of invariance that is required by special relativity. To this end we are planning to build a next-generation gamma-ray observatory in the Southern Hemisphere, with an unprecedented view of the Galactic Center. I will describe the research & design, and other preparations going into constructing such a facility, and how sufficient funding support can only be secured through an international collaboration of science communities across the globe.
Learn more about Petra Huentemeyer
Distinguished Professor Dr. John Vucetich What is an endangered species? We know that red squirrels and raccoons are not endangered, and that pandas and tigers
are endangered. But, if an endangered species is one that deserves special protections,
like those afforded by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), then it is fair to say
we have a disturbingly inadequate sense for what an endangered species is. The ESA
provides a legal definition of an endangered species. That is, one that is “in danger
of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” That definition
has been interpreted through five different policies advanced over the past 20 years.
Through a series of about 15 federal court cases, each policy has been rejected by
the courts. The Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to develop a new policy in the
near future. In this talk, I’ll review far-reaching concerns of this problem, including
its ecological, philosophical, and political dimensions.|December 1, 2022|Theme: What is an endangered species?|
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Research Statement
Learn more about Dr. John Vucetich
|October 12, 2022|Theme: Transportation Energy Utilization|
Lecturer
University Professor Dr. Jeff Naber
Topic
The Changing Landscape in Transportation Energy Utilization
Research Statement
Energy utilization for mobility, industrial, and transportation is undergoing significant changes with the advancement of technologies in electrical energy storage and power conversion. We will discuss how this is changing industry and engineering and examine regulation and how this impacts consumers and other stakeholders. I will discuss ongoing research projects in light-duty vehicles to industrial applications.