If topics such as tsunamis, robots, graphic novels and strange earthquakes interest you, then the annual "Great Conversations", featuring leading professors from the college of arts and sciences, is just what you're looking for.
The event will be held tonight at the University Club on Central Avenue, beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. It will be followed by a welcome speech from University President Shirley Raines and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Henry Kurtz. Dinner will begin around 6:30 p.m. and will include conversations on topics ranging from Memphis gangs to stem cell research.
"This is a great tool to help the faculty communicate with the public," said Jennifer Wagner-Lawler, associate dean for interdisciplinary studies. "We have a lot of cutting-edge and fascinating research going on at The University and this dinner is a great way to tell the people of Memphis what the faculty is doing."
Those attending the event must make reservations beforehand and may select up to three topics, ranking them in order of preference.
Attendees will sit at the table of their chosen topic with about eight other people and the expert. The expert will then give about a 10-minute introduction on the subject and then it will be freer flowing and open to interaction with the audience.
"I will be speaking on the topic of political division between people of rural areas and people of urban areas," said Barbara Ching, associate professor of English and director of the Marcus W. Orr Center for the Humanities. "From past feedback we know that people are most interested in how we do what we do. So, the presentation will mainly focus on how we study culture and how it's important."
This will be the second time that Barbara Ching will participate in the event, following her presentation on musical theater in 2003. Her presentation this year will also feature a guest appearance from Gerald Creed of the CUNY Graduate Center.
Other presentations include "Indian Ocean Tsunami" from Arleen Hill and Arch Johnston, "The Stem Cell Controversy" from Sarah Clark Miller, and "How Minds Work" from Stan Franklin.
"This will be the fourth year that we host the event and it has been successful every year. People always have a good time and learn a lot," Wagner-Lawler said. "People are always interested in coming back and we have a lot of requests to hold it more often."
The event costs $75, and those interested can look online for a complete list of topics and speakers. Reservations are required.
"If I had time I would like to attend," said Michael Stribling, sophomore biology major. "I'm a biology major so a lot of these topics interest me and might help me in the future."
