UCI offers public talks by world-class speakers

Ready by SJLooking to expand your intellectual horizons -- or simply entertain new ideas -- in the new year? Then don’t miss the array of public talks offered by UC Irvine that bring internationally recognized scholars, thinkers and innovators to campus.

The university’s schools and departments regularly invite experts with interesting backgrounds to talk to the faculty, students and community, giving nearby residents easy access to events that educate and inspire. The public can also attend many enlightening presentations by UCI’s own leading researchers.

The sixth annual Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellows Series offers a chance to see an astrophysicist, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a civil rights advocate, among other renowned figures.

“The series includes distinguished scholars or other influential people from nonacademic professions who enrich university life through their contact with students, faculty and the local community,” said Michael Clark, vice provost for academic planning, who oversees the series.

This year’s fellows include:

* Alan Lloyd, secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, speaking on “Air Quality, the Environment and Energy from Smog to Global Climate Change.” It is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 18 in Beckman Center.

* Mary Frances Berry, former chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, speaking on “Civil Rights in the United States: Past, Present and Future?” Her talk is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 in Crystal Cove Auditorium at the Student Center.

* Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, speaking on “Environment: The Language of Human Life.” His talk will be at 7 p.m. March 20 in the Humanities Instructional Building, room 100.

* Smithsonian astrophysicist Margaret Geller, best known for her 3-D map of the universe, speaking on “Einstein Meets Newton: Mapping Dark Matter in the Universe.” Her talk will be at 8 p.m. April 19 in the Social Science Lecture Hall.

* Jagdish Bhagwati, Columbia University professor of economics, speaking on “Globalization’s Critics: Why They Are Wrong.” The talk will be at 4 p.m. April 26 in the Social Science Lecture Hall, room 100.

* Harvard sociologist and author William Julius Wilson speaking on “The Bridge over the Racial Divide: Rising Inequality and Coalition Politics Re-Examined.” His talk is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 11 in the Beckman Center.

* Marvin Minsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and pioneer of artificial intelligence, speaking on “Building Intelligent Machines: Impact on Our Lives Today and Vision for the Future.” This talk will be at 7 p.m. May 24 in the Beckman Center.

Presentations are free. For more information, call (949) 824-6503 or check www.chancellor.uci.edu.

Individual schools, departments and organizations also host public talks. Most are free but many require reservations. Among the upcoming events:

* The Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium, sponsored by the Cross-Cultural Center, features a talk by Julianne Malveaux, economist, activist and author. Free. 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at Crystal Cove Auditorium, Student Center. (949) 824-7215.

* The Henry Samueli School of Engineering’s Engineering Innovations Breakfast Lecture Series presents “Will Carbon Replace Silicon as the Top Engineering Material?” with Marc Madou, Chancellor’s Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and of Biomedical Engineering. Free. 7:30 a.m., Jan. 24, University Club. RSVP: [email protected]. (949) 824-3923.

* Academic Senate’s Distinguished Faculty Lectures honors Wilson Ho, Donald Bren Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Chemistry; Frank LaFerla, associate professor of neurobiology and behavior; Diane O’Dowd, professor of developmental and cell biology; and Roger McWilliams, professor of physics and astronomy. Free. 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at the University Club. (949) 824-8340.

* University Club Forum presents a talk on “Memories of a Chancellor’s Wife” with Jean Aldrich, wife of UCI’s founding chancellor, the late Daniel G. Aldrich Jr. $9 for members, $10.25 for nonmembers. Noon on Feb. 15 at the University Club. RSVP: (949) 824-7960.

* The Paul Merage School of Business Distinguished Speaker Series presents a talk by Bob Eckert, chairman and CEO of Mattel. A short reception will follow. $50. 6 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Beckman Center. RSVP: (949) 824-2728.

Information for visitors about the campus and other events can be found at www.uci.edu/community.shtml.

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The Orange County Chapter of the ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Foundation will hold its sixth annual Scholars Dinner to honor this year’s 19 ARCS scholarship recipients on Friday, Jan. 27, at the Beckman Center.

ARCS is a nonprofit, national organization of women whose 14 chapters provide scholarships to outstanding U.S. graduate and undergraduate students in natural sciences, medicine, engineering and computer science. The Orange County chapter was founded in 1999.

The dinner will include remarks by Chancellor Michael Drake and a presentation by Douglas Wallace, director of UCI’s Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics. Tickets are $100 per person. Event chairs are Geraldine Schultz and Joan Torres.

To attend or make a donation, call (949) 644-0472 or visit www.ARCSfoundation.org /Orangecounty.

* SUSAN MENNING is assistant vice chancellor of communications at UC Irvine. She can be reached at [email protected].