Browse All Upcoming Lectures

Ancient Origins of Religious Conflict
6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - In this public lecture, Dr. Robert Cargill, the Roger A. Hornsby Assoc. Professor in the Classics at the University of Iowa, will discuss the ancient origins of several religious conflicts around the world, asking whether religion is indeed responsible for these conflicts, or whether other factors such as nationalism, ethnicity, politics, or socio-economic issues like trade and wealth distribution play a role in these conflicts. Particular attention will be given to the present war between Israel and Hamas, and the ongoing and historical tensions between Israel, Palestine and other regional players.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Jane Elliott: A Conversation about Brown Eyes/Blue Eyes, Prejudice, and a Lifetime in Education
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative LectureThe Advancing One Community Awards will be awarded before the keynote address.Jane Elliott is an American educator, diversity trainer, and activist renowned for her pioneering work in anti-racism education. Born on May 27, 1933, in Riceville, Iowa, Elliott gained prominence for her "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes" exercise, which she first conducted in 1968 with her third-grade students. The exercise, designed to teach students about the impact of discrimination and racism, involved dividing the class based on eye color and subjecting one group to discriminatory treatment while treating the other group with privilege. Elliott's innovative approach has been widely recognized and replicated, influencing discussions on race, bias, and systemic inequality. Over the decades of her work, she has continued to advocate for racial justice and inclusion, leading workshops and seminars around the world.This lecture will be recorded and available to view for two weeks to those with an iastate.edu email address on the Available Recordings page, approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Finding Their Voices: How Vocal Coach Mary Jo DuPrey Trains Award-Winning Singers
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Mary Jo DuPrey is the Private Touring Vocal Coach for Jon Bon Jovi. She also trained Daveed Diggs for his star making and Tony Award winning performance as Lafayette/Jefferson in Broadway’s “Hamilton.” Mary Jo served on the faculty at the Ray Bolger Program in Musical Theater at UCLA from 2006- 2017 where her renowned Rock Musical Theater Class has helped usher countless students onto the Broadway and National Tour Stages.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

The Secret Life of Bears
5:30 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - More info to come.  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.

Wild Life: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - More info to come.  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.

Koji Alchemy: Rediscovering the Magic of Mold-Based Fermentation
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Jeremy Umansky is a chef/owner of Larder: A Curated Delicatessen & Bakery in Cleveland, Ohio, nominated by the James Beard Foundation as the Best New Restaurant in America in 2019. He has been featured in numerous publications like Bon Appetit and Saveur and was named “The Deli Prophet” by Food & Wine in the March 2019 Makers Issue. He is the author of the book, Koji Alchemy: Rediscovering the Magic of Mold-Based Fermentation (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2020). The University Book Store will be onsite selling copies of Koji Alchemy: Rediscovering the Magic of Mold-Based Fermentation 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.

Technology as Storytelling: How Engineering, Science, and Faith Play
6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - Note: This event was rescheduled from October 29, 2024. When we do our science and technology, our stories interpret what we see and direct what we make. In turn, we tell our stories not only by word and voice, but also by what we theorize and create. What does it mean when Christian scholars suggest all academic disciplines --including engineering-- are in the storytelling business? Or that God's Spirit is behind all knowing, even our technical and scientific know-how?  How does a story-based revelation add depth and meaning in our learning and doing of science and technology? Dr. Ethan Brue's study takes a nuanced, holistic, and historical look at how technology taps into human dreams for a better world, even while grappling with the challenges arising from new technologies.  Ethan Brue received his PhD in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University. He currently is the Dean for Technology and Applied Sciences at Dordt University, where he's taught engineering since 2000. Dr Brue is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), having previously worked as an engineeringconsultant and project manager in the energy generation sector as well as a research and development engineer in the agriculture industry. Dr Brue is a co-author of "A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers" (Intervarsity Press), which looks at the ethics and norms involved in technology design, biblical themes and passages that relate to technology, and how engineering and technology tap into human dreams for a better world. His research interests include thermochemical reactor design, the history of science and technology, solar energy engineering, biomass gasification and combustion, and fluidization. This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

The Wall and the Bridge: Fear and Opportunity in Disruption’s Wake
5:30 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Free-market economists often have noted that there are winners and losers in a competitive capitalist world. The question of how to deal with the difficult real-life consequences faced by the losers, however, has largely been ignored. Populist politicians have tried repeatedly to address the issue by creating walls—of both the physical and economic kinds—to insulate communities and keep competition at bay. While recognizing the broad emotional appeal of walls, economist Glenn Hubbard argues that because they delay needed adaptations to the ever-changing world, walls are essentially backward-looking and ultimately destined to fail. Taking Adam Smith’s logic to Youngstown, Ohio, as a case study in economic disruption, Hubbard promotes the benefits of an open economy and creating bridges to support people in turbulent times so that they remain engaged and prepared to participate in, and reap the rewards of, a new economic landscape.Glenn Hubbard is Director, Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business, dean emeritus, and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School. Hubbard received his BA and BS degrees summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida and also holds AM and PhD degrees in economics from Harvard University. In addition to writing more than 100 scholarly articles in economics and finance, Glenn is the author of three popular textbooks, as well as co-author of The Aid Trap: Hard Truths About Ending Poverty, Balance: The Economics of Great Powers From Ancient Rome to Modern America, and Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: Five Steps to a Better Health Care System. His commentaries appear in Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Financial Times, The Washington Post, Nikkei, and the Daily Yomiuri, as well as on television and radio.From 2001 until 2003, he was chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers. In the corporate sector, he is on the boards of TotalEnergies, BlackRock Fixed Income Funds, and MetLife (where he is chair). Hubbard is co-chair of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation; he is a past chair of the Economic Club of New York and a past co-chair of the Study Group on Corporate Boards.

Civic Engagement in Diverse Latinx Communities: Learning from Social Justice Partnerships in Action
7:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Dr. Mari Castañeda will discuss social justice approaches to university-community partnerships within Latinx communities. Such partnerships highlight the importance of developing collaborative higher education pedagogies that recognize Latina/o/x communities as specific sites of creative and dynamic civic engagement. The lecture will provide a context to explore social justice community-university projects that bring together faculty, students and local community partners in efforts to learn from and bear witness to the lived experiences and cultural wealth of Latine communities in the United States.Dr. Castañeda is Dean of Commonwealth Honors College and Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is the recipient of the UMass System President’s Public Service Award, the Antonia Pantoja Award for community-engaged scholarship, and the UMass Amherst Distinguished Academic Outreach Award. Dr. Castañeda's fields of study include civic and community engagement, cultures of care in academia, global communications, and Latina media/cultural production.