Weinberg College
of Arts & Sciences

Science Salon & Humanities Hour

Lectures at Lunch for Staff

There is remarkable research and scholarship that surrounds us every day at Northwestern University. Weinberg College staff members host an ongoing series of faculty talks given especially for staff where there is plenty of opportunity to ask questions, discuss, and learn about what the scholars we work with do, and the new knowledge that they create.

2024-25 Schedule

• Spring Quarter - Thursday, May 1 from 11:30 - 1:00 PM with Professor Cristina Lafont (Department of Philosophy)
  • This event will be IN PERSON and requires an RSVP as lunch will be served. 
  • The lecture will take place in Ruan Conference Center (Lower Level) and is co-sponsored by the Phil Waldenberg Mentor Committee.
  • Reclaiming Democracy in a Time of Crisis
    • The rapid spread of misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories is fueling polarization and social fragmentation. This development poses a significant threat to democracy. The more divided and polarized citizens become, the less feasible democratic inclusion is, and the more appealing authoritarian solutions may seem. Is there a way to reverse this trend? In my research, I focus on citizens' assemblies and similar institutional innovations that are being organized all over the world. They create new spaces for inclusive political debate and citizen participation, offering potential for democratic renewal. Yet, current proposals for institutionalizing citizen assemblies risk increasing democratic deficits. Against this trend, I argue that citizen assemblies can positively impact democracy only if they are established with genuine democratic goals in mind.
• Spring Quarter - Monday, June 2 with Professor Kevin Hunter (Department of Chemistry)
  • This event will be IN PERSON, in Tech M128
  • The Chemistry of Photography

Past Events

• Fall Quarter - Wednesday, November 6 from Noon - 1:00 PM with Professor Peter Locke (Program in Global Heath Studies)
  • This event will be IN PERSON, in Harris 108
  • War and Public Health: This talk will explore war’s many short- and long-term impacts on public health and consider obstacles to effectively addressing them. Topics will include medical humanitarianism, post-traumatic stress and mental health, and conflict-driven migration.

• Winter Quarter -  Thursday, January 23 from Noon - 1:00 PM with Professor Akin Ogundrun (Department of History)
  • This event will be IN PERSON, in Trienens Forum (Kresge 1515)
  • Addictive Consumption: How Tobacco Financed Atlantic Slavery

• Winter Quarter - Monday, March 3 from Noon - 1:00 PM with Professor Katie Gesmundo (Department of Chemistry)
  • This event will be IN PERSON, in Pancoe Auditorium
  • The Science of Cooking: The Chemistry behind Creating Delicious Food
    • Ever wonder how the ingredients in a recipe transform while cooking? Or curious why lemon juice makes some foods change color? Prof. Katie Gesmundo from the Department of Chemistry will present some examples of chemistry that make the everyday task of cooking more delicious.

Science Salon & Humanities Hour committee members:

• Amanda Bartosiak- Spanish and Portuguese
• Christy Bullion- Economics
• Beth Clifford Smith – Weinberg Administration
• Nancy Hickey – Anthropology
• Adrienne Mintz - Physics & Astronomy

For information contact: Nancy Hickey