You live near a major university and a community college. There are smart people that come here every week to talk to the general public about interesting topics. Perhaps you were not aware of this fact, or were overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities for possible enlightenment. If that’s the case, Smile Politely understands and is here to help. Here are several events going on in town this week. Check out one or more of them if you have time.
If you have a community event, speaker, or film event that you’d like to see featured on Listen Up!, send the event information to joelgillespie [at] smilepolitely [dot] com by Friday the week prior to the event. Listen Up! runs on Mondays.
WHAT: Innovation Week
WHEN: Now to Wednesday, Feb. 25
WHERE: Various locations
Check out the Innovation Week website for more detailed information, but here are a few highlights of the last few days of festivities:
- Discarded to Precious is a student competition where participants “explore a discarded material and to transform it beyond the confines of its current use to something precious.” The entrants’ displays will be available for viewing in the ARC lobby all day Monday.
- Brooks Scott of Patagonia will give a talk Monday at 5:30 p.m. in 100 Gregory Hall as part of the DesignMatters series. He will discuss “the pioneering work of Patagonia in ethical, organic, and sustainable manufacturing practice.”
- Find out more about patents from both Brian Frizzell and Gary Grube in two separate presentations on Tuesday in the Coordinated Science Laboratory..
- John Paul Kusz of IIT will speak on sustainable business practice in an era of climate change on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in 100 Gregory Hall. This event is also part of the DesignMatters series.
- Get a job! The Startup Career Fair will hold a panel discussion from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at 1404 Siebel Center this Wednesday, followed by a networking reception at Brother’s Bar and Grill from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
WHAT: “Digital Citizenship: The Internet, Society, and Participation” by Karen Mossberger, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago
WHEN: Monday, Feb. 23: Lunch Discussion, noon to 1 p.m.; Lecture, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: LISB, 501 E. Daniel; Lunch Discussion in LISB 109, Lecture in LISB 126
How do disparities in access to the internet affect participation in democracy and society as a whole? Dr. Mossberger examines these topics in her book of the same title, and shares the results today.
WHAT: Janet Burroway Book Reading and Signing
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 23, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Illini Union Bookstore — Author’s Corner
Burroway, author of Bridge of Sand, a novel about the aftermath of 9/11 and the culture of the southeastern U.S., as well as eight other novels and various other published writings, will be reading from and signing her latest.
WHAT: “Pakistan: Our Problematic Strategic Ally,” by Dr. Marvin G. Weinbaum, Scholar-in-Residence, Middle East Institute, Washington, D.C.
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 25, 2 to 3 p.m.
WHERE: 356 Armory Building
Dr. Weisbaum is a Professor Emeritus of UIUC and a former intelligence analyst at the State Department. He also knows how to wear a mean bowtie, so if you care about Pakistan, don’t miss this one.
WHAT: “Norms of Assertion” Philosophy Colloquium, Jonathan Kvanvig, Baylor University
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 27, 3 to 5 p.m.
WHERE: 213 Gregory Hall
Dr. Kvanvig has a paper of the same title being published in a book called Assertion, coming out in 2010. On his website, he also claims to be a fan of both the Cardinals and Cubs, so he’s likely an expert on logical paradoxes, as well.