Arm yourself to ward off sketchy sales pitches and fake news. Critical thinking and skepticism are under- appreciated skills. 2024 marks the 28th anniversary of Carl Sagan’s Baloney Detection Kit. This talk discusses how to use the kit to analyze news stories, scientific claims, and advertising. Buckle up for an interesting year. Presented by Elizabeth Cowles, Professor and Chair, Biology Dept., ECSU

First there were baby boomers, then Gen X and Millennials and now there is Generation Alpha! This talk discusses some of the research that debunks the mythology behind generational differences, the problems with how generations are defined and labeled, and why “what’s wrong with these kids today” is probably the wrong question. Presented by Peter Bachiochi, Professor of Psychological Science, ECSU 

The speaker’s new book is a groundbreaking, expansive new account of Reconstruction that fundamentally alters our view  of this formative period in American history, 1860- 1920. Presented by Manisha Sinha, Draper Chair in American History, UConn 

Who are the killers on the frontlines of genocide and how do they come to such extraordinary evil? Based on interviews with over 225 rank- and- file perpetrators, this talk focuses on the ordinary origins of these killers and the processes by which they become capable of such atrocities. Understanding these processes is vial to preventing the future occurrence of genocide. Presented by James Waller, Director, Dodd Human Rights Impact Program, UConn

Topics covered:
-Commissioner Conduct
-Conflicts
-Bias and Pre-determination
-Ex-parte Communications
-Freedom of Information (FOI)
-How to deal with applicants’ and public testimony; Statutory standards for variances, including hardship; Differences among ZBA functions: variances, appeals, and other possible matters

General Commissioner training hours: 2
Fair & Affordable Housing training hours: 0

Cost: Free - Registration deadline May 19, 2024 at 11:00 p.m.

If you would like to order the book “What’s Legally Required” 8th Edition by Michael A. Zizka in advance of the meeting, please visit s.uconn.edu/zizkabook. The cost is $35 plus shipping.

Contact: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR, renata.bertotti@uconn.edu, (860) 345-5210

The New England whaling industry dominated global whaling for the first half of the 19th century and then saw sustained decline, coming to an end in the 1920s even as global demand for the products of whaling remained high. This research examines the history of New England whaling and the labor market factors that led to its death. Presented by Niti Pandey, Professional Studies, ECSU

This talk, tailored for general audiences, briefly introduces the chemistry behind plastics, discusses approaches for making protein- based plastics, and presents recent research on plant- derived proteins for making plastics. Presented by Chilalla Kumar, Chemistry Dept., UConn

An Inupiaq microbiologist, evolutionary biologist, and ecotoxicologist shares her journey from a small Alaskan Arctic town to a professorship at UConn. She also discusses how her research interests changed from bacterial toxins to parasites to how microbes in the gut stimulate growth and what happens when those microbes encounter ecotoxicants like crude oil and plastics. Presented by Kat Milligan- McClellan, Professor of Microbiology, UConn 

Throughout the history of human thought artists, philosophers and political theorists have envisioned Utopian societies. The concept of an ideal intentional society that represents the best in human possibility may be an aspirational goal but can also serve as a form of social criticism without having to be achievable reality. A second meaning of utopia is the perfect society that nowhere exists and never could. This course traces the origins of the utopian concept and follows its career in seminal moments of human history, and also considers notion that we may well have reached the end of history. Taught by Jerry Phillips, Dept. of English, UConn

Throughout the history of human thought artists, philosophers and political theorists have envisioned Utopian societies. The concept of an ideal intentional society that represents the best in human possibility may be an aspirational goal but can also serve as a form of social criticism without having to be achievable reality. A second meaning of utopia is the perfect society that nowhere exists and never could. This course traces the origins of the utopian concept and follows its career in seminal moments of human history, and also considers notion that we may well have reached the end of history. Taught by Jerry Phillips, Dept. of English, UConn