WHAT: “Ecological Sustainability of Biofuel Crops and Climate Services of Ecosystems,” Dr. Evan H. DeLucia, School of Integrative Biology at UIUC
WHEN: Wednesday, September 7 @ 12 noon
WHERE: Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, One E. Hazelwood Dr., Champaign
From the event description: “The ecological sustainability of biofuel crops is in large measure a land use issue; the ability of given landscape to retain carbon and nitrogen may be altered by displacing current patterns of land use or vegetation with different biofuel feedstocks. These changes can be positive or negative depending the specific changes in land use or vegetation type. In the US, both feed and bioenergy are produced from corn, despite the water and air pollution that are associated with its mass production. We used a process-based model to estimate the effects of replacing corn ethanol with alternative crops on both food and ecosystem services.”
WHAT: “Marxism and Liberation Theology: Notes from Morazan,” Jeffrey Gould, Professor of History, Indiana University
WHEN: Friday, September 9 @ 12 noon
WHERE: 101 International Studies Building, 910 S. Fifth Street, Champaign
Morazan is in El Salvador, people. And you know what that means. Well, if you do, let me know, because I don’t.
WHAT: “Adding Biofuels to the Invasive Species Fire?” Adam Davis, Assistant Professor of Crop Sciences, UIUC
WHEN: Monday, September 12 @ 4 p.m.
WHERE: 140 Burrill Hall, 407 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana
From the event announcement: “This lecture will present an important emerging research topic: assessing the invasive potential of biofuel crop sciences. Covered will be some of the potential risks associated with nonnative plant species introduction, especially warm-season grasses, for biofuel use.”
You live near a major university and a community college. There are smart people that come here every week to talk to the general public about interesting topics. Perhaps you were not aware of this fact, or were overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities for possible enlightenment. If that’s the case, Smile Politely understands and is here to help. Here are several events going on in town this week. Check out one or more of them if you have time. Get your learn on, as they say, and join the cognoscenti. It’s free, you know. Plus, sometimes there’s free food, too!
If you have a community event, speaker, or film event that you’d like to see featured on Listen Up!, send the event information to joelgillespie [at] smilepolitely [dot] com by Friday the week prior to the event. Listen Up! runs on Tuesdays when classes are in session.