If you're thirsty and have always wanted to know about looking for space microbes on Europa, what medieval people really thought about dragons, how to make energy from alternative sources, or what a philosopher has to say about what the heck is actually going on, come to Public Works! It's a free event in the style of Nerd Night but designed just for Ithaca. We're bringing a variety of intellectually-stimulating presentations right to you for your entertainment and educational pleasure at The Downstairs, the bar below The Watershed. Come hear talks given by Cornell and IC graduate students, professors, community experts, and everything in between! Each session will feature one to three accessible talks, followed by a Q&A session where audience participation is highly encouraged but not required!
Bring a friend, make a friend, ask an expert, and drink a beer!
The April 2nd Public Works event will feature 2 talks:
an anthropology talk:
"Anthropology and Fiction: Representing Distress on the Screen"
by Rediet Lewi
PhD Student in Anthopology at Cornell University
Mental health has been an increasingly popular topic in our current public conversations. Even so, there continues to be contentious disagreements about how it is understood and expressed. Through a deeper look at belief systems that shape not only different cultures, but also biomedicine, I argue that knowledge about distress is not neutral. Instead, it is influenced by assumptions about nature of humanity in general but also by biased views about the nature of particular social groups. Anthropology and its ethnographic methods allow us to examine the complex layers of factors that color experiences of distress. In this talk, I ask, how do we best capture such experiences of distress? I explore the possibilities that are opened up by incorporating fiction into social science research and communication.
and an environmentalist talk:
"Hot Girl Conservationist: How to Be a More Educated and More Caring Conservationist"
by Aalayna R. Green
PhD Candidate in Natural Resources & the Environment
What if everything you ever knew about conservation was wrong? This talk explores the histories and modern practices of conservation from a perspective that likely wasn't taught in your classroom. From human zoos to wildlife trafficking, we'll delve into the hidden underbelly of conservation science and practice. We'll also explore avenues for a more caring and just future, including how we can all take steps to become better conservationists ourselves.
Time and Location
First Wednesday of every month, 7 PM.
The Downstairs
121 W. State Street
Ithaca, NY
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We want to hear from you! Come talk to us at a Public Works event or send us a message at ithacapublicworks@gmail.com. Are you an academic? Feel free to list your Public Works talk as an outreach event on your CV! Are you not an academic? We still want to hear from you!
