FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/17/12
MADISON – A look at the life-changing Odyssey Project, the use of floral imagery to influence behavior by the Japanese government and the fascinating world of brain-computer interfaces will all be part of the University Roundtable speaker series this spring.
The lunchtime talks will be held at Tripp Commons in the Memorial Union. The cost for each is $10, and buffet lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m.
– Wednesday, Feb. 8: Award-winning English professor Emily Auerbach will discuss “The Power to Change Lives: The UW Odyssey Project,” a humanities course for adults near the poverty level. Auerbach will describe her very personal reasons for launching this transformational program and will share some of her graduates’ successes and setbacks. Now in its ninth year, the Odyssey Project has empowered over 250 low-income adults to find their voices and get a jump start at earning college degrees.
– Wednesday, March 14: Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney, William F. Vilas Professor of anthropology, will speak about “Flowers That Kill.” Using visual images Ohnuki-Tierney will discuss anthropological interpretations of how the Japanese state has used cherry blossoms since the end of the 19th century and in the “kamikaze” operation during World War II, illustrating how the soldiers were told to sacrifice their lives for their nation to “fall like cherry blossoms after a short life.” Ohnuki-Tierney will compare the cherry blossoms to the rose used by modern dictators.
– Wednesday, April 11: Justin Williams, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and neurological surgery, has been probing people’s brains for the past decade. His talk, “Brain Twitter: Brain Computer Interfaces for Treating Neurological Disease,” will overview the development of implantable brain devices that can allow a patient to interface with a computer and communicate over the Internet “just by thinking about it.” The technology has implications for a wide range of neurological diseases and Williams will share some of the trials and tribulations of trying to turn science fiction into reality.
Roundtable programs are open to members of the university and their guests. The reservation deadline is one week prior to each event.
Please make reservations online at http://www.ohrd.wisc.edu. If you are unable to make reservations online, they can be made through Mary Johansen at 608-263-2985 or johansen2@wisc.edu. Checks should be made payable to UW Roundtable and can be sent to 270 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706.
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