April

The History and Legend of Grace Sherwood, Virginia’s Witch

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

Even though colonial witch trials are normally viewed as a New England phenomenon, one of the most famous occurred in Virginia. In 1706, Grace Sherwood was tried for witchcraft in Princess Anne County and locals have been telling stories about it ever since. This talk examines the life and legend of one of America’s most famous accused witches, showing how the past continues to shape our culture and society. Scott Moore, Professor of History, ECSU

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Leadership in Turbulent Times

Thursday, April 3, Zoom presentation from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. with discussion to follow

|PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE FOR THIS CLASS|

Doris Kearns Goodwin, one of the most renowned historians of our time, will present a Road Scholar lecture on the fragility of our democracy and the deepening political polarization unmatched since the Civil War.  Drawing from her book “Leadership in Turbulent Times, Goodwin transports us back in time to provide perspective and analysis on the presidents she has studied most closely—Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson, to provide proof that as a country we have been through difficult times before and came through stronger. Please note the time change. Discussion

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Race and Privilege in the Battle to Reduce Gun Violence

Wednesday, April 9, 1:15 to 2:45

This presentation examines the trajectory of gun violence prevention organizing in the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting and examines how privileged activists become aware of community gun violence and reckon with their privilege while working to reduce all forms of gun violence. The speaker draws on interviews and ethnographic participant observation with activists in Connecticut and nationally Mary Bernstein, Associate Dean and Professor of Sociology, UConn

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How Studies of Biotic Crises in Deep Time Inform Human Society’s Present and Future Challenges

Thursday, April 10, 1:15 to 2:45

Earth has experienced sever biotic crises several times in the past 550 million years and has taken millions of years to recover each time. Several other less obviously catastrophic events are also recorded in deep time, including the end of glacial periods and associated warming. In this talk, the speaker will explore some of these events and highlight their relevance to current earth surface conditions. Christopher Fielding, Department of Earth Sciences

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UConn Chronic Absenteeism: School is Better When You are Here

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

Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10 percent of school days or 18 days per year, continues to be a growing concern even after schools fully reopened in the wake of the pandemic. Reducing chronic absenteeism requires an understanding of obstacles families face. Schools need to provide a variety of options to help families understand the need for consistent school attendance and provide more comprehensive supports. Shamin Patwa, Mansfield Public Schools

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Scammers are Bullies

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

The speaker relates her terrible experience with cyber scammers, which she said looked so real and unexpected.  She guides the audience through several wrong steps she took in losing $7900 in 2023. She offers advice on what to look out for. Sharen Peters, Victim of a Cyber Scam

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Addressing the Climate Crisis in Connecticut

Wednesday, April 23, 1:15 to 2:45

2024 was the hottest year on record. Destructive wildfires ravaged Los Angeles. Climate migrants challenge national borders. Our new president calls climate science a hoax. What does the science say? What can we in Connecticut do to address these challenges? How can we maintain hope for ourselves and our grandchildren? Hedley Freake, Emeritus Professor, Nutrition Sciences, UConn

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Women with Mouth Sewn Shut: Gender and Sexual Anxieties of Iranian Women

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

The Iranian women’s movement has a long and complex history, marked by both resistance and resilience in the face of political, social, and cultural challenges. From the early 20th century, when women first gained access to education and began advocating for basic rights, to the contemporary struggles against legal discrimination and oppressive gender norms, Iranian women have been at the forefront of efforts to secure equality and freedom. Nancy Redekeer, School of Nursing, UConn

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An Afro-Caribbean in the Nazi Era

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

How did an Afro-Caribbean civilian become a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp? What did he witness? How did he survive: This presentation answers these questions through the story of Lionel Romney, who revealed his wartime experiences in an oral history. Video excerpts from that oral history are included in the presentation, as well as the presenter’s account of her visits to the concentration camp. Mary Romney, English Department, UConn

May

Pest Management in Your Garden

Thursday, May 1, 1:15 to 2:45

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a pest management strategy based on fostering plant health while deterring pests with least risks to human health and the environment. Learn som practices to control common pest problems in your garden and landscapes. Dawn Pettinelli, Retired Associate Extension Educator, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, UConn

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Sleep Health Across the Lifespan

Tuesday, May 6, 1:15 to 2:45

The purpose of this talk is to describe the health benefits of healthy sleep and to discuss practical strategies to improve sleep among individuals and communities. Nancy Redekeer, School of Nursing, UConn

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How Long Have People Called Sicily Home?

Wednesday, May 7, 1:15 to 2:45

This talk discusses the archeological and paleontological evidence for when humans first arrived in Sicily and what impacts they might have had on the local ecosystems during the last Ice Age, drawing on underwater exploration, cave excavations, and analysis of museum collections as part of the Early Occupation of Sicily (EOS) project. Christian Tryon, Professor and Head, Department of Anthropology, UConn

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Understanding the Causes of Loss of Muscle Quality with Aging

Tuesday, May 13, 1:15 to 2:45

In this talk, we’ll discuss our current and ongoing research at UConn that is investigating the underlying causes of age-related changes in physical function. Specifically, we’ll discuss the different pathways muscle quality (function relative to size) can decrease with aging and how understanding these pathways may lead to more targeted exercise, nutritional supplemental and therapeutic interventions to prevent functional decline with aging. Jacob Earp, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, UConn

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Trends in Graduate Education: The Situation at UConn and Opportunities for Engagement

Thursday, May 15, 1:15 to 2:45

This talk willl explore changes in graduate education at UConn, including advancements in learning technology, new research opportunities, and growth in interdisciplinary fields.Challenges include navigating the shifting federal funding landscape, addressing student mental health, and meeting the demand for flexible learning models. Engagement opportunities involve strengthening collaborations with industry and local communities to ensure graduates meet workforce needs and demonstrate the value of graduate education. Leslie Shor, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean, The Graduate School, UConn

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UFOs, Men in Black, and the Mothman: The Unbelievable Life of Gray Barkery

Tuesday, May 20, 1:15 to 2:45

Gray Barker (1925-1984) founded one of the first flying saucer fanzines, “The Saucerian,” and his press, Saucerian Books, brought out some of the strangest UFO-related books of the postwar era. Barker’s press became a platform for a range of conspiratorial concepts that became pop-cultural folklore. This stalk will explore the life and influence of this eccentric literary outsider. Gabriel McKee, librarian, The Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University

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Enhancing Independence in Older Adults through Research, Education and Clinical Care

Wednesday, May 21, 1:15 to 2:45

This talk will provide an update on research, educational, and clinical efforts at UConn and surrounding communities to promote the health, function, independence, and quality of life of older adults throughout Connecticut and beyond. George Kuchel, Director, UConn Center on Aging, UConn

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The Human Way of Being and the Problem of Personhood

FRIDAYS, May 30, June 6, and June 13, 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE FOR THESE SESSIONS

The German philosopher G.W. Hegal described the person in the following terms: “a person is a specific existence; not “Man” in general (a term for which no real existence corresponds) but a particular human being.” According to Hegel, the concept of the person is synonymous with a particular human being, a concrete individual. Persons cannot exist in the abstract (that is as “Man”). Persons are real individuals or else they have “no real existence.” However, the anthropological claim about personhood does not exhaust the problem of the person. The concept of the person raises moral, political, social, and even ontological questions about what constitutes human beings: and the meanings attendant to any definition. Personhood also involves the animal question and the practical and theoretical status of intelligent machines. Is a chimpanzee a person? If not, why not? Is a robot a person? Is there any sense in which it makes sense to extend personhood to animals and machines, non-human entities? And what of the fact that not all human beings (who are necessarily persons, according to Hegel) are treated like persons in culture and society? In other words, what shall we say of the familiar treatment of people as less than individuals, less than human? To think the problem of the person is to confront the most pressing moral, political, and philosophical issues of our time.