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: 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: 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 Library Era: Charlotte Mecklenburg's New Main Library SPEAKER: Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE, Executive Director, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation A library has stood on the corner of Sixth and North Tryon Streets in Uptown Charlotte since 1903 when industrialist Andrew Carnegie donated $25,000 (equivalent of $1million today). In the spring of 2027, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library…
TOPIC: Deadwood, Wild Bill Hickok, and Calamity Jane: The Births of Three Legends SPEAKER: Peter Cozzens, Author The presentation will scrutinize the birth and evolution of three of the most legendary subjects of the Wild West. It will also look at how Deadwood provoked the most consequential Indian War in the West. NOTE: This presentation…
TOPIC: Habitat's Evolving Business Model SPEAKER: Laura Belcher, President/CEO Habitat for Humanity, Charlotte Region Founded locally 42 years ago, Habitat Charlotte Region has built over 1500 new homes and served over 5000 families. In recent years, as land availability becomes scarce and building material costs escalate, Habitat has looked at how it needs to evolve…
TOPIC: Be a Voice for the Children in Our Community with Rhonda McGuire SPEAKER: Rhonda McGuire The Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program recruits, screens, trains, and supervises volunteer advocates to protect and promote the best interest of abused and neglected children in the state's custody (foster care). A GAL works as part of a team…
TOPIC: AI in Your Hands: A Practical Guide to Capabilities, Prompting, and Pitfalls SPEAKER: Cori Faklaris, Asst Professor, UNC Charlotte AI is everywhere, but it doesn't come with a user manual. Tools such as ChatGPT can be powerful assistants for brainstorming, writing, and learning. At the same time, they are used to create scams, "deepfakes,"…