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Wake Up the “Watchdog”: Ensuring Our Government Doesn’t Misuse Our Taxes
6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - Rob Sand is the State Auditor, a position he was first elected to in 2018; he is currently the only Democratic Party statewide officeholder in Iowa.  Rob is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Iowa College of Law. He interned in Washington, D.C. for Democratic Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, and then began working for Democratic campaigns in Iowa. After graduating law school, Rob was appointed Assistant Attorney General, and he became the lead prosecutor for two high profile cases: the Iowa Film Office tax credit scandal and the Hot Lotto fraud scandal.  Since becoming state auditor, Rob developed the Public Innovations and Efficiencies Program, which awards fiscal efficiency in government. He promoted individuals who made contributions to his opponents' campaigns into the most senior positions in the Auditor's Office. This is part of his commitment to a balanced approach to his Truth and Anti-Partisanship approach to public service. This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

A Dialogue About Congress and Bipartisanship
7:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - 2025 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and PoliticsA conversation with Former U.S. Representatives Vicky Hartzler and David Skaggs, and Dr. Karen Kedrowski, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics.Vicky Hartzler is a former U.S. Representative for Missouri's 4th congressional district (2011-2023). A Republican, she previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives (1995-2001). Hartzler, an educator and businesswoman, focused on issues like agriculture, religious liberties, and foreign policy during her tenure. She ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022 but lost in the Republican primary.David Skaggs is a former U.S. Representative for Colorado's 2nd congressional district, serving from 1987 to 1999. A Democrat, he also served in the Colorado House of Representatives (1981-1987), including two terms as Minority Leader. Skaggs has worked on the House Appropriations and Intelligence Committees and championed bipartisan cooperation through the House Bipartisan Retreats. After Congress, he founded the Center for Democracy & Citizenship and supported various democratic initiatives. He holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and served as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps, including active duty in Vietnam. Skaggs is married with three children and four grandchildren.

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. The University Book Store will be onsite selling copies of A Christian Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers at the event.This lecture was recorded and can be viewed on the Available Recordings page.

NICU and Hemodynamics
7:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - Hear from two physicians from the Stead Family Children's Hospital who will disuss the work they do, including the program that has lead the hospital to become a global leader in treatment for premature infants.Note: This lecture will not be recorded and is not available for card scanning. 

Playstrengths: Engaging with the Playspirit
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Kirk Lynn is a playwright, novelist, and screenwriter. As one of the five Artistic Directors of the Rude Mechs theatre collective, Lynn has written and adapted over 20 plays. The Rude Mechs is an internationally-renowned ensemble-based theatre company from Austin, Texas, focused on devising and producing new American theatre. Rude Mechs has received over 200 local and national awards and nominations for their work. Lynn earned his MFA as a fellow at the Michener Center for Writers and is an Associate Professor of playwriting at the University of Texas in Austin.Kirk Lynn's "Playstrengths" workshop offers an opportunity to rejuvenate your creative energies by engaging deeply with the playspirit. Through a blend of dynamic games and theoretical exploration, participants can enhance their artistic practice, bringing new perspectives and inspiration to their work. The workshop fosters a sense of community, encouraging collaboration and shared growth among peers. By embracing the chaos and spontaneity of play, students can unlock fresh approaches to problem-solving and daily challenges, leading to a more vibrant and innovative personal and academic life.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

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 was recorded and can be viewed on the Available Recordings page.

The Secret Life of Bears
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Rae Wynn-Grant is a wildlife ecologist who researches how human activity influences the behavior of wild animals. She spends long periods in the wilderness tracking and observing black and grizzly bears in the western United States, and African lions in rural Kenya and Tanzania. Her wildlife exploration and media work have taken her to six continents and more than 25 countries. A native Californian, Wynn-Grant attributes her interest in wildlife and conservation from the nature shows she watched on television as a child, and today she uses media to increase representation of Black scientists and explorers. Wynn-Grant received her BS in Environmental Studies from Emory University, her MS in Environmental Studies from Yale University, and her PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Columbia University. She is a faculty member at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Wynn-Grant envisions a near future where the outdoors is a safe, equitably accessible, and positively transformative space for all people. She is a scientist, conservationist, equity and justice advocate, and storyteller. Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is the host of the PBS podcast, Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, which takes listeners deep into the heart of the world’s most remote jungles, savannas, tundras, mountains, and deserts with her as she studies wild animals in their natural habitats. She is also the Host of the NBC series, Wild Kingdom - a new version of the iconic wildlife show premiering Fall 2023. 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.Due to speaker request, this recording will not be available until 3 days after the lecture and will be on the Available Recordings site only for those with an ISU Net ID.

The 1000 Farms Initiative: Lessons from America's Regenerative Farmers
7:30 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Dr. Lundgren is an agroecologist, Director ECDYSIS Foundation, and CEO for Blue Dasher Farm. He received his PhD in Entomology from the University of Illinois in 2004, and was a top scientist with USDA-ARS for 11 years. Lundgren’s research and education programs focus on assessing the ecological risk of agricultural practices and developing long-term solutions for regenerative food systems. Lundgren received the Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering by the White House. Lundgren has served as an advisor for US and International regulatory and granting agencies. Lundgren has written 140 peer-reviewed journal articles (with an h-index of 52), authored his first book by the age of 30, and has received more than $13 million in grants. He has supervised and trained dozens of scientists from around the world. One of his priorities is to make science applicable to end-users, and he regularly interacts with the public and farmers regarding agroecology and planetary health. His ecological research focuses heavily on conserving healthy biological communities within agroecosystems by reducing disturbance and increasing biodiversity. A recording of this lecture is available to view at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture website, at: https://vimeo.com/1076187677?share=copy

Wild Life: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World
5:30 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Rae Wynn-Grant is a wildlife ecologist who researches how human activity influences the behavior of wild animals. As an active scientist, she spends long periods in the wilderness tracking and observing black and grizzly bears in the western United States, and African lions in rural Kenya and Tanzania. Her wildlife exploration and media work has taken her to six of seven continents and over 25 countries. A native Californian, Wynn-Grant attributes her interest in wildlife and conservation from the nature shows she watched on television as a child, and today she uses media to increase representation of Black scientists and explorers. Wynn-Grant received her BS in Environmental Studies from Emory University, her MS in Environmental Studies from Yale University, and her PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Columbia University. She is a faculty member at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Wynn-Grant envisions a near future where the outdoors is a safe, equitably accessible, and positively transformative space for all people. She is a scientist, conservationist, equity and justice advocate, and storyteller. Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is the host of the PBS podcast, Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, which takes listeners deep into the heart of the world’s most remote jungles, savannas, tundras, mountains, and deserts with her as she studies wild animals in their natural habitats. She is also the Host of the NBC series, Wild Kingdom - a new version of the iconic wildlife show premiering Fall 2023. 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.The University Book Store will be onsite selling copies of Wild Life at the event.Due to speaker request, this recording will not be available until 3 days after the lecture and will be on the Available Recordings site only for those with an ISU Net ID.

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 the Broadway musical Hamilton. DuPrey served on the faculty at the Ray Bolger Program in Musical Theater at UCLA from 2006-2017 where her renowned Rock Musical Theater Class helped usher countless students onto the Broadway and National Tour Stages.This lecture was recorded and can be viewed on the Available Recordings page.