9th Annual Three-Minute Thesis Final Competition
6:00 PM – South Ballroom, Memorial Union - The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) celebrates research being conducted by current ISU graduate students. Developed by the University of Queensland, the competition is an opportunity for students to describe their research, in three minutes, in a relatable and relevant way to a non-specialist audience. The cosponsors of this event have provided access to a live stream via the Graduate College's Facebook page.

UFOs and UAPs: The Latest Tech to Detect What’s in Our Skies
7:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - UFOs and UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) have captured the world’s imagination for decades. Renewed attention came in 2021 when the U.S. Intelligence community released its first public UFO report. Despite stating that there is no credible evidence for alien-originating craft, the U.S. government admitted there are objects unknown to us in the atmosphere—foreign government spy balloons, unregistered drones, and other earth-based tech that traditional radar has trouble finding and identifying. NASA and the Department of Defense have created units dedicated to new technologies for detecting what’s in our skies.Travis S. Taylor has doctorates in Optical Science and Engineering and in Aerospace Systems Engineering; and master’s degrees in Physics and Aerospace Engineering—all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He also has a master’s degree in Astronomy from the University of Western Sydney (Australia) and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University (Alabama). Dr. Taylor worked in various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for more than 20 years. His projects included advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed energy systems, and next-generation space launch concepts. Dr. Taylor was the chief scientist on the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force 2020-2021 (now the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office in the Defense Department) and now works for Radiance Technologies. Dr. Taylor has written 19 science fiction novels, two textbooks, and more than a dozen technical papers. Dr. Taylor has appeared and starred in several television programs including the History Channel’s The Universe and Life After People, National Geographic Channel’s hit shows Rocket City Rednecks and When Aliens Attack, The Weather Channel’s 3 Scientists Walk Into a Bar, and History Channel's Ancient Aliens, UneXplained, and hit series The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.  This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

UFOs and UAPs: The Latest Tech to Detect What’s in Our Skies
7:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - UFOs and UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) have captured the world’s imagination for decades. Renewed attention came in 2021 when the U.S. Intelligence community released its first public UFO report. Despite stating that there is no credible evidence for alien-originating craft, the U.S. government admitted there are objects unknown to us in the atmosphere—foreign government spy balloons, unregistered drones, and other earth-based tech that traditional radar has trouble finding and identifying. NASA and the Department of Defense have created units dedicated to new technologies for detecting what’s in our skies.Travis S. Taylor has doctorates in Optical Science and Engineering and in Aerospace Systems Engineering; and master’s degrees in Physics and Aerospace Engineering—all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He also has a master’s degree in Astronomy from the University of Western Sydney (Australia) and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University (Alabama). Dr. Taylor worked in various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for more than 20 years. His projects included advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed energy systems, and next-generation space launch concepts.Dr. Taylor was the chief scientist on the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force 2020-2021 (now the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office in the Defense Department) and now works for Radiance Technologies.Dr. Taylor has written 19 science fiction novels, two textbooks, and more than a dozen technical papers. Dr. Taylor has appeared and starred in several television programs including the History Channel’s The Universe and Life After People, National Geographic Channel’s hit shows Rocket City Rednecks and When Aliens Attack, The Weather Channel’s 3 Scientists Walk Into a Bar, and History Channel's Ancient Aliens, UneXplained, and hit series The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

No Fashion Without Disability: Embracing Disability as Knowledge and Access as an Aesthetic
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - There has been a rise in clothing and accessories designed for disabled people under the moniker of adaptive fashion. Accompanied by increased representations of disabled models in fashion media and the introduction of disabled mannequins in fashion exhibitions, adaptive fashion is often celebrated as evidence of the industry's commitment to diversity. However, my lecture challenges this assumed inclusivity strategy. I propose a new framework to embed disability into fashion practice and education. Drawing on my disability-led fashion projects, research with disabled fashion students and the Parsons Disabled Fashion Student Program, I will demonstrate how disability experience can be harnessed as design knowledge and how access can be manifested as an aesthetic. This approach reveals the creative possibilities that emerge when disabled people are fulsomely embedded in fashion and education, while also exposing the persistent ableist attitudes and systems that hinder true systemic inclusion. I highlight practical recommendations for educators, students, and researchers to recognize the brilliance that disability brings to fashion, design, and education, urging us to make it a fundamental part of our work.This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.Pictured is a headshot of Ben Barry — a white, Disabled, cis gender man with low vision. He has short brown hair and he is wearing a shirt made up of different pieces of patterned fabric that have been sewn together. His head is tilted to the left and resting on his hand, and his brown eyes look into the camera.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Under the Influence ... of Stress
6:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - As Bill Daniels Professor of Business Ethics and Legal Studies at the University of Denver, Corey Ciocchetti is one of the University’s most popular and highest-rated professors. Corey joined DU after graduating with a law degree from Duke University School of Law, a master's degree in Religious Studies, and two bachelor's degrees in Finance and Economics—summa cum laude—from the University of Denver. Corey is a talented speaker and teacher and has won multiple teaching and speaking awards including the Outstanding Professor of the Year Award and the Joel Goldman Award for most respected speaker on the CAMPUSPEAK roster. In 2023, he was named as one of the Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors in the country. Corey currently teaches business law and ethics classes in a department ranked by the Wall Street Journal and Business Week in the top ten nationwide for producing students with high ethical standards. Corey also speaks to tens of thousands of individuals each year about “authentic success” and living an ethical life and is the author of the book Inspire Integrity: Chase An Authentic Life. Over the past eighteen years, he has spoken to diverse audiences in over 350 cities and 46 states. A Colorado native, Corey resides in Denver with his wife, Jillian, and daughters Sophia and Sydney. The University Book Store will be onsite selling copies of Inspire Integrity: Chase An Authentic Life at the event.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Gold Star Hall Ceremony
4:15 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - Gold Star Hall is the "memorial" in the Memorial Union. In World War I, when a family had a son or daughter in the service, they displayed a card with a simple blue star in their window. When life was lost, the card with the blue star was changed to one with a gold star - hence the name Gold Star Hall. The blue/gold star tradition continues, with military families still displaying these symbols.When the Memorial Union opened in 1928, the names of the Iowa Staters who died in World War I were carved into the walls. In 1969, the names of WWII casualties were mounted on two bronze doors in the zodiac foyer. In 1984, the bronze doors were removed, and the names from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam were engraved into the limestone inside Gold Star Hall. In subsequent years, additional names were engraved for WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam, the USS Liberty, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Gold Star Hall embodies the Memorium that the entire building represents.2024 HonoreesSidney Peterson – WWII – US Army Air ForceFrom Ringsted, IA. Worked in steel mills in Chicago. Active in Forestry Club and Military Department’s Trumpet and Drum Corps while at ISU. During training he flew from Brazil to Morocco, flying over the equator. Was very kindhearted, took on his last flight when he could have gone home because someone else was sick. Died aboard a B-26 Marauder after they took on anti-aircraft fire. He was declared MIA (four crewmembers died, two were POW and eventually released). He was awarded a distinguished flying cross, air medal, 10 oak leaf cluster and purple heart.  Max Harvey Collins – Korean War – US Air ForceFrom Nevada, IA. Max always wanted to fly, even as a little boy. He loved model airplanes. He studied aeronautical engineering for his major at ISU with a strong secondary interest in photography. Second Lieutenant Collins was the pilot of a F-86E Sabrejet fighter bomber with the 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group. On May 4, 1953, while starting combat mission, his aircraft crashed on take-off.  James Herrick – Vietnam – US Air ForceFrom Panora, IA. Had 9 children in his family, 8 boys, 1 girl. Recovered fully from Polio as a child. Completed Animal Husbandry bachelors degree and finished his ROTC program with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Flew Douglas Skyraider. Died in Thailand during a recon mission. Family remembers him as a handsome, quiet and kind young man with a heart full of love for animals.  There will be a reception to follow the ceremony. This is a free event open to the public. The ceremony will not be recorded. A livestream is available here. 

Trans Athletes and the Future of Sports
6:00 PM – Lee Liu Auditorium, Howe Hall - For the past several years—and during the summer Olympics—the issue of trans athletes’ participation in sports has never been far from the headlines. State legislatures, sports’ governing bodies, celebrities, and political leaders have all gotten involved—particularly when the topic is about who can compete in girls’ and women’s sports.  This panel will discuss the current issues about trans athletes participating in sports and what the future of sports could be when everyone gets to compete.This panel will be live-streamed and viewers will be able to text questions for the panel. Visit this link to access the livestream. Instructions for texting questions will be provided here a few days before the event.Only ISU students with a valid ISU ID will be admitted to this event. Seating is limited to 200 and will be first-come, first seated.Extra Credit AttendanceStudents who attend in person need to have their student ID scanned when they leave.Students who watch the live stream: At the end of the event, a message will be displayed with the following instructions and info.Within 15 minutes of the panel ending, email the following info to lectures@iastate.eduSubject line: Trans athlete panel extra creditYour nameYour 9-digit student ID number (the middle set of numbers on your ID)The code word on the screen; it will say "Codeword: [word here]" 

Glad Tidings to the Strangers
7:30 PM – 2155 Marston - Islam began as something strange and it will leave as something strange. This is not an excuse to be unusual without a reason, as Muslims have practices out of the ordinary such as praying when other sleep and fasting while others eat. This is why "glad tidings" are given to the strangers. When it is unusual to be righteous, Muslims stand out as the pious.Please note: This event is available for extra credit but will not be recorded.Students may card scan after one hour; the event may go longer but attendance is not required.

Native American Cuisine, Foods, and the Way of Life
6:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - Chef Freddie Bitsoie (bit-sue-ee) will discuss the cultural progression of foods in the western hemisphere, and how native foods of the western hemisphere have been claimed, misused, appropriated and overlooked for centuries. Chef Bitsoie will discuss how these foods survived through migration, colonization, and cuisine culture. Initially pursuing cultural anthropology at the University of New Mexico, a conversation with an archaeology professor led Bitsoie to the culinary arts. He pursued mastery at Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, Arizona, and soon became a distinguished figure on the Food Network and at the Mitsitam Native Foods café, where he served as the Executive Chef within the National Museum of the American Indian. In 2021, he published the cookbook New Native Kitchen: Celebrating Modern Recipes of the American Indian, which showcases the variety of flavor and culinary history, providing modern interpretations of 100 recipes that have long fed this country.This lecture will be recorded and added to the Available Recordings site only for those with an ISU Net ID for two weeks following the conclusion of the event.