"Rapid Response History" lecture series to explore climate and the environment through the lens of history

Spring 2018 series titled, "History of the World: Thinking Climate and Environment"
Sunday, February 18, 2018

History doesn't only happen in the past. It also lives in the present, and can point the way to a better future.

After a successful run in the fall 2017 semester, the Department of History is continuing its "Rapid Response History" lecture program in spring 2018, with a series titled, "History of the World: Thinking Climate and Environment."

The upcoming series of seven weekly lectures, featuring faculty members from across the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will run from March 20 to May 1. All talks will be held on Tuesdays from 5:30 - 7:20 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the Iowa City Public Library.

This semester's Rapid Response History series ties in with the University of Iowa's 2017-2018 Theme Semester, "Climate for Change." During each spring's Theme Semester, faculty, students, and staff, are invited to create public programming that engages with the theme. The Theme Semester initiative is spearheaded by the UI Office of Outreach and Engagement.

UI students wishing to attend the entire series may enroll to receive one hour of academic credit (HIST 1166:001).

Here is the complete list of lectures:

  • 3/20 Real Climate, Real Science: Bradley Cramer, Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • 3/27 Indigenous Foodways and Biodiversity: Stephen Warren, History
  • 4/3 Imagining Climate in the Age of Romanticism: Eric Gidal, English
  • 4/10 Who Invented Extinction?: Elizabeth Yale, History/Center for the Book
  • 4/17 Liquid Gold or Fool’s Gold? Biofuels in the US: Silvia Secchi, Geographical and Sustainability Sciences
  • 4/24 Elephants and Hunters in Africa: James Giblin, History
  • 5/1 American Climate Policy from George H. W. Bush to Donald Trump: Tyler Priest, History/Geographical and Sustainability Sciences

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact the Department of History in advance at historydept@uiowa.edu.

The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers about 70 majors across the humanities; fine, performing and literary arts; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines. About 15,000 undergraduate and nearly 2,000 graduate students study each year in the college’s 37 departments, led by faculty at the forefront of teaching and research in their disciplines. The college teaches all Iowa undergraduates through the college's general education program, CLAS CORE. About 80 percent of all Iowa undergraduates begin their academic journey in CLAS. The college confers about 60 percent of the university's bachelor's degrees each academic year.