Favorite popular culture icons — from bracketology to Hollywood film explosions — take center stage as the University Libraries’ “Sci Pop Talks!” series opens Feb. 4.
The talks explore the science within popular culture and are delivered by faculty from UNL, Doane College and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The free, open to the public presentations are held at 7 p.m. every Wednesday (to March 18) in Love Library Room 222.
A few of the topics discussed will be turning garbage into textiles and fashion, Marvel Comics, and Game of Thrones chemistry. An online guide has been set up with the full schedule at http://unl.libguides.com/scipoptalks. Multimedia tie-ins and reading lists for each topic will be published two to three weeks in advance of a talk.
“We have scheduled a variety of talks to continue to attract different groups,” said Joan Barnes, University Libraries community engagement librarian. “For example Husker women’s basketball fans will want to attend the March 11 talk with Jeff Griesch, radio color commentator for Nebraska women’s basketball, who will give us the bracketology of women’s basketball.”
The complete schedule of “Sci Pop Talks!”:
Feb. 4 — “Art and Science of Fermented Foods,” Robert Hutkins, UNL
Feb. 11 — “Innovation in Textiles: From Garbage to Fashion,” Yiqi Yang, UNL
Feb. 18 — “The Radioactive Origins of Marvel Comics,” Dan Claes, UNL
Feb. 25 — “Fire and Explosions in Hollywood Films: What You Need to Know to Survive,” Brad D. Elder, Doane College
March 4 — “Biomechanics in Technology: From Pop Culture to Rehabilitation,” Sara A. Myers, UNO
March 11 — “Bracketology of Women’s Basketball,” Jeff Griesch, UNL Athletics
March 18 — “A Song of Ice and Fire and Chemistry,” Raychelle Burks, Doane and UNL
The talks are sponsored by the University Libraries, the UNL Chemistry Department and Doane College.
