UNL Speakers Bureau in 14th year of 'free speech'

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Speakers Bureau begins its 14th year this fall with 18 speakers and 40 topics from which to choose. This free service connects faculty and other university experts with Nebraska citizens through service organizations, schools, and other groups who want knowledgeable, interesting speakers on a variety of topics.

Some speakers are available on a year-round basis and others during the academic year only. The bureau's Web site, www.speakersbureau.unl.edu, provides access to each speaker's topic information with a form to submit to book a speaker. For questions, contact Barbara Bowers, Speakers Bureau coordinator, in the Office of University Communications, 202 Canfield Administration Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0424; or telephone (402) 472-0088 or e-mail speakers2@unl.edu.

The 2008-2009 members of the Speakers Bureau are:

Dee Aguilar, coordinator, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute -- "Lifelong Learning: Your Brain or Mine?'; "Play: A Lifelong Ambition"; "Humor: What's So Funny?"

Patrice Berger, professor of history and director of the University Honors Program -- "Europe: 2008"; "Europe: 1939"; "University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the 21st Century."

John Brasch, associate vice chancellor emeritus, Office of Technology Development -- "Nebraska Angels."

Don Costello, lecturer, Computer Science and Engineering -- "Information Technology: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"; "Computer Games: From Pokemon to Cutting-edge Research"; "The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Computers in Banking."

Ken Dewey, professor of applied climate sciences, School of Natural Resources -- "Global Warming: Fact or Fiction"; "Storm Chasing with the Nebraska Vortex Intercept Team"; "Photographing the Extremes in Great Plains Weather."

Bob Diffendal, professor emeritus, Conservation and Survey -- "New Zealand: Lands of Geysers, Greenstones, and Gandalf"; "Curacao, Netherlands Antilles: Tropical Desert Island in the Caribbean Sea"; The Netherlands: Canal Barges Provide Scenic Trips to View Culture and Art."

Carolyn Pope Edwards, Cather professor of psychology and family and consumer sciences -- "Showing that Early Childhood Education Works."

David Feingold, assistant general manager-content, NET -- "Straight Talk about Digital Television."

James Goeke, research hydrogeologist, School of Natural Resources -- "Nebraska's Water Resources: Past, Present, and Future."

Michael Hoff, professor of art history -- "Ancient Roman Religion and Nebraska Football"; "Pirates and Roman Along the Cilician Coast of Ancient Turkey"; "Athens under Roman Domination."

Peter Levitov, international affairs and immigration attorney, NU Central Administration -- "International Students in the United States."

Wes Peterson, professor of agricultural economics -- "A Billion Dollars a Day"; "International Trade Agreements"; "Africa: Problems and Prospects."

Paul Read, professor of horticulture and viticulture -- "Grape Expectations: Nebraska's Developing Grape and Wine Industry"; "Gardens of the World."

John W. Richmond, professor of music, and director, School of Music -- "Does Music Make You Smarter? It Depends on What You Mean!"; "Thinking About Common Dimensions of Aesthetic and Religious Experience"; "Finding the Next Mozart! Music Composition Education in the 21st Century."

John Rupnow, professor of food science and technology -- "History and Agents of Agroterrorism"; "It Must Have Been Something I Ate: Issues in Food Safety"; "Guru or Gourmet: The Science of Food."

Greg Snow, associate dean for research, College of Arts and Sciences -- "Did a Giant Asteroid Kill the Dinosaurs?"; "E=mc2: The Most Famous Scientific Formula."

Sandra K. Stockall, professor emeritus, University of Nebraska Extension -- "Wow, That Felt Great!"; "Communication Is a Contact Sport."

Chris Timm, associate director, Career Services -- "Developing a Top Internship Program"; "Using the Web to Effectively Recruit College Students."