Academics

Exploring the path from data to decision-making

Thursday, April 18 | 4:30 p.m.
Steitz 102

What does it mean to measure soil health in agricultural systems? Once we measure it, how can we translate the science into practice to support sustainable agriculture?

In this presentation, Dr. Hava Blair, LU ’13 and Dept. of Soil Science at UW-Madison, will share how she have grappled with these questions through research conducted in farm fields, at laboratory benches, and between the pages of more than 200 meta-analyses drawn from the literature.

Dr. Blair’s research journey took her into the fields of 27 commercial farms across Minnesota, where she quantified the effects of agricultural practices on the soil with a suite of commonly used soil health indicators. This on-farm research experience spurred her to think more broadly about what it takes to translate science to practice. How do we synthesize primary research into a body of evidence that might be useful for decision-making? Dr. Blair will share how she explored one facet of this question through the lens of meta-research, and how she continues to explore it through her current work as a soil scientist who develops decision support tools for agriculture in Wisconsin.

Thursday, March 28 | 7 p.m.
Cloak Theatre

Staged reading of RUN WITH THE HARE, Daniel John Stapleton (1886-1968) and the Battle for Kilkenny.

Professor Troy’s new play is a result of his recent Irish Fulbright Scholar year researching the Irish War of Independence (1918-1921). This new play development presentation will showcase the contributions of four guest artists, Alan Kopischke, Olivia Gregorich, Stephen Spencer, and Jacque Troy joining forces with current Theatre Arts students. A talk-back with the playwright will follow.

Students applying to study off-campus at any point during the 2024-2025 academic year are encouraged to apply for the Off-Campus Programs Scholarship. The application is due April 5.

To apply, go to the OCP Scholarship Application on our website. For any questions, contact OffCampusPrograms@lawrence.edu.

Monday, March 4 | 4:30 p.m.
Steitz 102

Refuge Self-Reliance in the 21st Century

Climate change, urbanization, digitalization

The lecture will begin 4:30 p.m. in Steitz 102 immediately followed by a reception and celebration of the book launch of The 1951 Refugee Convention: A Commentary in the Steitz Atrium.

This event is free and open to the public.

Evan Easton-Calabria is a Senior Researcher at the Feinstein International Center, Tufts University, and a Research Associate at the Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford. She has conducted research with refugees and displaced communities, including work at the intersection of climate, conflict, and vulnerable populations. She holds a Masters and PhD in International Development. She is the author of over 75 publications aimed at policy, practitioner, and academic audiences. This includes two books, Refugees, Self-Reliance, Development: A critical history (Bristol University Press, 2022) and The Global Governed: Refugees as providers of protection and assistance (Cambridge University Press, 2020).

Dr. Easton Calabria recently published, with co-author Prof. Claudena Skran, a chapter on “The Historical Development of International Law,” in The 1951 Refugee Convention: A Commentary ed. by A. Zimmermann and T. Einarsen.

Friday, March 1 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Wriston Art Center 105 (Lower Level)

Come in and support local artists for this one-day event! There will be a variety of limited edition prints and ceramic pieces by both professional and student artists along with several workshops.

This is a family-friendly event for people of all ages. Free and open to the public!

Cash, check, credit cards, and Venmo are accepted. Spread the word, and we’ll see you at the sale!

Guest Speaker: Marissa Kawehi Loving

Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Nellie Y. McKay Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Friday, March 1 | 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Steitz 102

Title: From dimension 2 to 3 and back again

In this talk, Marissa Kawehi Loving will tell us a little bit of Thurston’s beautiful story connecting the dynamics of finite-type surface homeomorphisms with the geometry of 3-manifolds. She will then share some more recent work which connect the dynamics of infinite-type surface homeomorphisms with the geometry of 3-manifolds.

Her aim is for the talk to be accessible to a broad audience with many illustrations to help build intuition without getting too far into the technical weeds.

There will be snacks offered 4-4:30 p.m. in Steitz Atrium.