'SciPop Talks!' series begins Feb. 4 at UNL's Love Library

            University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries has announced the schedule of its spring talk series, "Sci Pop Talks!" which start Feb. 4.

            The talks explore the science within favorite popular culture icons and are given by faculty from UNL, Doane College, and University of Nebraska at Omaha. The free talks are open to the public and held at 7 p.m. every Wednesday Feb. 4-March 18 in Room 222 of Love Library, 13th and R streets.

            A few of the topics discussed will be turning garbage into textiles and fashion, Marvel Comics, the bracketology of women's college basketball and the chemistry in "Game of Thrones." For more information, go to http://unl.libguides.com/scipoptalks. Multimedia tie-ins and reading lists related to each topic will be published two to three weeks in advance of each talk.

            "We have scheduled a variety of talks to continue to attract different groups," said Joan Barnes, UNL Libraries community engagement librarian. "For example Husker women's basketball fans will want to attend the March 11 talk with Jeff Griesch, radio color commentator for Nebraska women's basketball, who will give us the bracketology of women's basketball."

            The complete schedule of "Sci Pop Talks!":

• Feb. 4 -- "Art and Science of Fermented Foods," Robert Hutkins, UNL
• Feb. 11 -- "Innovation in Textiles: From Garbage to Fashion," Yiqi Yang, UNL
• Feb. 18 -- "The Radioactive Origins of Marvel Comics," Dan Claes, UNL
• Feb. 25 -- "Fire and Explosions in Hollywood Films: What You Need to Know to Survive," Brad D. Elder, Doane College
• March 4 -- "Biomechanics in Technology: From Pop Culture to Rehabilitation," Sara A. Myers, UNO
• March 11 -- "Bracketology of Women's Basketball," Jeff Griesch, UNL Athletics
• March 18 -- "A Song of Ice and Fire and Chemistry," Raychelle Burks, Doane and UNL

            The talks are sponsored by UNL Libraries, the UNL Chemistry Department and Doane College.