Fall 2024 Class Descriptions

Critical Illness and Recovery

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is characterized by physical, cognitive and mental health problems that impact the majority of people who experience a stay in an intensive care unit. The speakers provide an overview of PICS and related problems that often follow hospitalization. Prevention strategies and exercises that promote recovery will be reviewed and practiced.

Wednesday, September 11, 1:15 to 2:45

James Smith, Assistant Professor in Residence, Dept. of Kinesiology, UConn,

Aysia Starr Comins-Sporbert, graduate student, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, UConn

In Genghis Khan’s Footsteps: 30 years of Geological Research Amidst Central Asia’s Stunning Landscapes and Rich Nomadic Culture

Central Asia, one of earth’s last great geological frontier regions, is vast--Connecticut could fit inside Mongolia109 times! The speaker focuses on key scientific discoveries made during 20 research expeditions to Mongolia and western China. The talk for a general audience includes beautiful photos of natural scenery, nomadic people and native wildlife.

Tuesday, September 17, 1:15 to 2:45

Dickson Cunningham, Professor, Earth Sciences, ECSU

Homicide in the Cambodian Community: A Connecticut Teenage Girl Charged with Murder

Prison volunteer Doug Hood stumbled onto this case and met with the girl’s refugee family for years. There were traditional taboos: the Khmer Rouge, a hidden pregnancy, an overly harsh prosecutor. Doug’s team used the clemency process to take on the justice system and change a wrongful 18-year sentence.

Wednesday, September 18, 1:15 to 2:45

Douglas Hood, prison volunteer

Effective Behavioral Changes in the Presentation and Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Exercise, nutrition and weight loss all contribute to effective prevention and management of Type 2 Diabetes. Join us in exploring emerging research and best practice for improved clinical outcomes. Current exercise and nutrition recommendations as well as an overview of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical weight loss strategies are discussed.

Wednesday, September 25, 1:15 to 2:45

Allison MacKenzie, Department of Kinesiology, UConn

Science through the Lens: A Photographic Journey of My Life as a Marine Mammal Research Scientist

The speaker shares his academic journey and scientific accomplishments as a UConn faculty member. Travelling nationally and internationally, he collects biological samples and uses his camera to document his experiences and on-site field research.

Thursday, October 3, 1:15 to 2:45

Milton Levin, Associate Research Professor, Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science

The Role of Global Warming on the Health and Safety of Athletes, Laborers and Soldiers Who Perform Physical Activity in the Heat

This talk explores the intersection of global warming, an epic force slowly destroying civilization, with the reality that every day nearly a billion people on the planet must perform physical activity in the heat. In the not-so-distant future something will have to be done to modify their risk of suffering heat stroke.

Tuesday, October 8, 1:15 to 2:45

Douglas Casa, Kinesiology Department, UConn

Training and Working with Oxen in New England, Past & Present

Oxen, also known as working steers, played a significant role in the development of early New England and are still in use today. The speaker, a vetted ox teamster, presents a brief history of their use and discusses the processes of raising, training and working oxen.

Tuesday, October 15, 1:15 to 2:45

Frances Champagne, Ox Teamster

Appreciating the Bones of Connecticut’s Landscape

You will likely see the landscape in a new way after this slide-show presentation, which draws from speaker’s UConn Today article based on a series of short essays he wrote for a special edition of Connecticut Magazine. https://today.uconn.edu/2023/01/appreciating-the-bones-of-connecticuts-landscape/

https://www.ctinsider.com/connecticutmagazine/news-people-/article//forces-of-nature-connecticuts-natural-landscape-17512296.php

Wednesday, October 16, 1:15 to 2:45

Robert Thorson, Professor of Earth Sciences, UConn

How to Restore an Observatory in Nine Short Months

In 2023 the speaker worked to restore and upgrade UConn’s old observatory. He shares his team’s many challenges and successes as they revitalized it, detailing how they cleaned, repainted and upgraded the telescope with computerized controls, thus transforming an abandoned facility into a modern hub for astrophotography and private viewing events.

Thursday, October 24, 1:15 to 2:45

Matthew Guthrie, Department of Physics, UConn

The History and Psychology of Horror Literature

Drawing from his recent book “Historical Dictionary of Horror Literature,” the speaker presents a brief history of horror, discussing major authors and seminal works and exploring the psychology behind horror. He addresses such questions as What scares us? Why is horror so appealing to so many people? Can horror literature really be good for us?

Wednesday, October 30, 1:15 to 2:45

Mark Fabrizi, Professor, Secondary Education and Department Chair, ECSU

A Troubled Sleep: Risks and Resilience in Contemporary Northern Ireland

This analysis of one of the world’s most deeply divided societies examines Northern Ireland’s current vulnerabilities, and points of resilience, as an allegedly “post-conflict” society. Northern Ireland offers deep insight into what happens when identity politics prevail over democracy, when government paralysis leads to a political vacuum for extremist voices to exploit, when de facto social segregation becomes normalized, when acclimatization to violence becomes a generational legacy, and when questions of who we are become secondary to who we are not.

Thursday, October 31, 1:45 to 2:45

James Waller, Director, Dodd Human Rights Impact, UConn

The Difficulties in Measuring Peace: What Have We Learned from Recent Ongoing Conflict in the World?

Drawing on the speaker’s book project “The Politics of Peace,” this talk focuses on understanding the concept of peace and on the challenge of how to measure it. Measurement is linked to the definitions used, so we will have as many measurements

as we have definitions. Despite this, measuring peace provides an important baseline for societies in their quest for long-term political stability. Conflicts in Ukraine and Israel will be discussed to elucidate practical implications of the study of peace.

Wednesday, November 6, 1:15 to 2:45

Martin Mendoza-Botelho, Chair, Department of Political Science, Philosophy and Geography

The Men Connected to Colchester, Connecticut Who Served During the Civil War

This study of a small Connecticut town’s soldiers and veterans examines its contribution to the Civil War, drawing from the documentation of 280 Colchester-affiliated individuals who served between 1861-1865 to preserve the nation’s union. Societal and cultural issues of that era, such as PTSD and the role of women, are also discussed, along with helpful information to assist those who would like to discover more about Civil War soldiers and veterans in their own small Connecticut towns.

Thursday, November 7, 1:15 to 2:45

Irene Watson and Norm Dupuis, Authors

HIV and AIDS: Who, Where, How and Why are Different Populations Affected?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has taken approximately 40 million lives since the 1980’s, and recent data estimates 39 million people are living with HIV in the world today. This talk covers fundamental information regarding HIV transmission, prevention, and treatment, and dives into the risk factors for various vulnerable populations locally, nationwide and globally who are most affected by HIV.

Tuesday, November 12, 1:15 to 2:45

Ariana Rosen, Assistant Professor in Residence, Department of Allied Health Sciences, UConn

The Writing Process: Non-Fiction and Fiction

Two authors discuss their writing process, how each approaches her subject and develops the story.

Thursday, November 14, 1:15 to 2:45

Susan Stand and Diana K. Perkins, local authors

Unlocking Ease and Efficiency: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique

Discover the principles of the Alexander Technique, a practical method for improving posture, reducing tension, and enhancing overall well-being. This talk explores the technique’s core concepts and provides simple, effective strategies to incorporate into your life for improved movement and health.

Tuesday, November 19, 1:15 to 2:45

Kristin Mozelko, PhD., Alexander Technique Instructor

The Emergence of a Congressional Alternative on US Policy toward Israel-Palestine

The United States Congress plays an important role in supporting the US alliance with Israel. But in recent years a small but vocal minority of Democratic members have been

critiquing Congressional action and expressing sympathy for Palestine as well as Israel. What explains the emergence of this bloc?

Thursday, November 21, 1:15 to 2:45

Jeremy Pressman, Associate Professor of Political Science, UConn

Camera Trapping to Observe the Behaviors of Elusive Mammals

Camera “trapping” is an effective way to passively observe animals without disturbing their natural behavior patterns. These photographs document the diversity of animals that share the landscapes with humans and their complex behaviors. The speaker discusses long-term research she conducts in the Temperates (Connecticut) and the Tropics (Costa Rica and Mexico) which combines field and specimen-based work to understand human effects on mammal and plant communities.

Wednesday, December 4, 1:15 to 2:45

Erin Kuprewicz, Curator, Collections Manager and Engagement Specialist, Connecticut State Museum of Natural History

The Early Fish Gets the Worm, or An Immunological Pyrrhic Victory: A Story of Parasitism, Evolution, and Immunology

Our immune systems protect us against infectious diseases, parasites, and cancer. For these benefits our bodies may pay a cost in the form of auto-immune diseases, allergies, inflammation and aging. The speaker’s research group uses a small fish, the three-spine stickleback, and its tapeworm parasite to understand how evolution fine-tunes the balance between these benefits and costs.

Wednesday, December 11, 1:15 to 2:45

Daniel Bolnick, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology