Camarillo, CA - CSU Channel Islands (CI) invites the public to sample the compelling work and presentations of its faculty in a free lecture series at libraries in Ventura, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley. The lecture series offers community members the opportunity to hear from some of CI’s most dynamic speakers and experts; engage in discussions on a variety of timely, thought-provoking topics; and be a CI student for an evening in the free, convenient setting of their local library.

Below are listings of scheduled speakers and topics for each of the three libraries.

Thousand Oaks – Grant R. Brimhall Library, 1401 E. Janss Rd.

Stem Cells – Boon or Bane?

Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Join Dr. Nitika Parmar, Associate Professor of Biology, as she discusses the medical applications, advantages, disadvantages and controversies surrounding stem cells.

Business Success in China – Understanding Business Culture

Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Dr. Priscilla Laing, Associate Professor of Finance, will explore the influences, challenges and rewards of China’s unique business culture and offer perspectives on how global corporations can better grasp Chinese culture in order to succeed.

Climate Change in the 21st Century

Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Join Dr. Simone Aloisio, Professor of Chemistry, as he discusses climate change, the most important environmental issue of our time. Aloisio will cover the scientific basis for climate change, including the most recent findings on its causes and effects, as well as its impacts, adaptations and mitigation.

Paradoxes and Shocking Outcomes in Math: Do You Still Believe in Math?

Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Dr. Jorge Garcia, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, exposes logical arguments behind math paradoxes in a stimulating, philosophical discussion. Why can a turtle win the race over champion Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt? Is infinity the end of everything? Why can't the set of all sets exist? Why can a sphere be cut and be reconstructed to make two spheres of the same size? If an infinite hotel is full, why can we still accommodate an extra guest?

Ventura – E.P. Foster Library, 651 East Main Street

The Human Prehistory of the Channel Islands and Coastal California: A 10,000 Year Retrospective

Saturday, Sept. 14, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Drawing from 20 years of research experience, Anthropology Professors Jennifer Perry and Colleen Delaney will present an overview of the prehistory of coastal Ventura County and the Channel Islands from an archaeological perspective. Learn why this region is so unique and the importance of the islands to people today.

The Era of the Celebrity CEO is Over

Saturday, Oct. 12, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Recent data indicates that consistently “great” companies were not led by charismatic or transformational leaders but rather by leaders who possessed a blend of humility and strong personal will. Join Dr. Andrew Morris, Professor in CI’s Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics, as he examines our fascination with leaders, possible predictors of humility, and ways in which we can develop greater humility and enhance our leadership abilities.

Stories Behind the Stories: English Faculty Reading and Discussion

Saturday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m.

Published authors and CI English Professors Brad Monsma, Bob Mayberry, Mary Adler, Sean Carswell and Sofia Samatar will read excerpts of their fiction, nonfiction or poetry and discuss the stories behind them, including experiences with multiple drafts, writing groups, writing stamina, and revisions. Community members are invited to add their perspectives during a brief Q&A session that follows.

Simi Valley Public Library – 2969 Tapo Canyon

Australian Actors and Hollywood Stars

Friday, Sept. 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Australian actors have been Hollywood stars since the 1930s. They continue to play leading roles and win awards. Why are they so successful? Is it their training, their Aussie optimism, or their work ethic? Dr. Luda Popenhagen, Professor of Performing Arts, will discuss the ongoing success of Australian actors in the U.S. movie industry.

Humpback Whales: Gentle Giants of the North Pacific

Friday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Join Dr. Rachel Cartwright, Lecturer in Biology, for a glimpse inside the underwater world of humpback whales. Her presentation will include details of her research on humpback whales, underwater video, recordings of whalesong, and fascinating tales of a life spent working with whales.

Lessons from Finland

Friday, Nov. 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Finnish schools perform at the top in international tests. What makes them outperform other countries? Dr. Tiina Itkonen, Associate Professor of Education, looks at the structure of schooling, teacher training, and philosophy of education in Finland.

All lectures are free and open to the public, with complimentary parking. Visit websites for the Ventura Library at http://www.vencolibrary.org/locations/epfoster, the Thousand Oaks Library at www.toaks.org/library, or the Simi Valley Library at www.simivalleylibrary.org/home/.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.