TOPIC: Charlotte at a Crossroads: Building a Sustainable City for Generations SPEAKER: Shannon Binns, Founder/Executive Director Sustain Charlotte Charlotte is growing faster than almost any city in the nation. With this growth come big questions: How will we move around safely and efficiently? How do we keep housing affordable? How do we protect our air,…
TOPIC: The United States and Africa: History, Change, and the Road Ahead SPEAKER: Beth Whitaker, Professor of Political Science, UNC Charlotte How has the United States engaged with Africa over time and what does that relationship look like today? In this talk, Dr. Beth Elise Whitaker, Professor of Political Science and longtime scholar of African…
TOPIC: Microplastics and Other Contaminants of Emerging Concern SPEAKER: Olya Keen, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director, UNC Charlotte The talk will focus on microplastics and other contaminants of emerging concern, such as PFAS, plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, etc. I will discuss where they come from in the environment, where we encounter them in our…
TOPIC: Vaccines Science, Development and Clinical Trial Applications SPEAKER: Courtney Labonge, Associate Director, Alkermes, Inc This presentation explores the fundamentals of vaccine science, the various types of vaccines, and their critical role in clinical trials. It covers the importance of vaccines in public health, mechanisms of immune response, safety and efficacy principles, phases of clinical…
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: Ukraine and the Future of European Security SPEAKER: Steven Sabol, Professor of HIstory, UNC Charlotte This presentation encompasses America’s strategic interest in Europe and its stake in NATO, Europe’s strategic interests in Ukraine and its response to this conflict, and the future of European security generally. BIOGRAPHY Dr. Steven Sabol is a…
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: America and the World: Navigating Trump 2.0 SPEAKER: Dr. Harry I. Chernotsky, Professor Emeritus of Global Studies, UNC Charlotte Since assuming office for his second term, President Trump is charting a new course for U.S. foreign policy that is transforming America's overall position in the world and its relationships with both longstanding…
TOPIC: History of Stem Cell and Regenerative Therapies for the Treatment of Chronic Pain, Disease, and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System SPEAKER: Steven Spencer, Director of Community Relations for NeoGenix Stem Cell & Regenerative Therapies Steven will define regenerative medicine, encompassing stem cell therapy, and discuss an overview of tissue engineering, cellular therapies, and biologics,…
TOPIC: State of the Canopy SPEAKER: Krysten Reilly, Director of Programs, TreesCharlotte Charlotte is often called a “City of Trees,” with an urban tree canopy covering roughly about half of the city, making it one of the greenest large cities in the U.S. However, rapid growth and development along with an aging canopy and new…