Sept 4: “Hidden hurdles – Inventing new approaches to old problems by re-thinking systems”
Jeni Cross – Professor
Are you striving to improve your organization or make a difference in the world, but find yourself feeling stuck? Do you see opportunities for people to change their behavior and feel frustrated that they don’t? Dr. Cross will talk about a new framework for creating meaningful social change, challenge you to see your work in new ways, and highlight the latest insights from social science about how to be an effective catalyst for change. References and resources

Sept 18: “Elephant names: What we can learn from how elephants communicate”
George Wittemyer – Professor
It’s a new discovery from CSU, that elephants appear to have individual names for one another. But this discovery is lifting the veil on not only how elephant communicate, but how they understand their world. Learn the science behind how studying the vocalizations of elephants and other species helps us understand how they think, and what it may teach us about what made humans into what we are today. Explore ideas on how important vocal communication is among social animals, allows them to thrive and develop in unexpected directions, and imagine where it could lead.

Oct 2: “Taking on the challenge of toxic polarization: better conversations in a hyper-partisan world” Martin Carcasson – Professor
Explore the key challenges posed by information disorder and toxic polarization, and the growing movement to counteract their impact. Dr. Carcasson, a faculty member in Communication Studies and director of the CSU Center for Public Deliberation, will review research on polarization – its types, causes, and effects – and introduce tools and resources for individuals and communities to address these challenges and elevate the conversations needed for democracy to thrive.

Oct 16: Pre-Halloween special: “Morbid Trickery – What science is learning from CSU’s Corpse Flower”  Jessica Metcalf  – Professor, Valerie Seitz – Postdoctoral Fellow & Tammy Brenner – Plant Growth Facilities Manager

On the evening of Saturday May 25th of this year, the CSU corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanium) began blooming and attracted over 8,600 people to CSU’s campus to catch a glimpse, and a whiff. The flowering of this unique and rare Sumatran plant not only brought together members of the Fort Collins and Front Range community, but also CSU scientists from across different departments who had previously not collaborated. Join us for a talk about Cosmo, the CSU corpse flower and some of our discoveries. We promise some interesting sensory opportunities!

Nov 6: “Muscles Alive! – Your electric muscles are movers and sensors” Brian Tracy – Associate Professor

An impossibly large number of nerve and muscle cells are involved in generating even the simplest human movement. The function of these cells can change dramatically with aging and disease. This evening, we will briefly discuss the physiology of movement, followed by a lengthy period where everyone will be subjects in VERY engaging “experiments”. These demonstrations are designed to 1) display in real time the actual electrical signals that activate your muscle, 2) produce attention-getting reflexes and proprioceptive sensory illusions, and 3) assess your postural control with a smartphone. Participants may also be able to “control the professor” with signals from
their own brain.

Nov 20: “CSU’s super-laser technology and the quest for fusion energy” Ken Reardon – Professor and Associate Dean for Research

Fusion energy, the process that powers the sun, has long been a goal of researchers seeking a clean, limitless energy source with zero carbon emissions and no long-lived radioactive nuclear waste. Yet it has been difficult to achieve – until now. Recently, thanks to high-powered lasers, fusion energy was accomplished. CSU is one of the few places in the world that has the technology and expertise to make laser-driven fusion energy feasible. Join us to learn more about fusion, lasers, and “big numbers”. Discover why Fort Collins is a hotbed for laser research in the US, and how CSU is helping shape the future of clean energy.