Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

Students Faculty Staff Community
University of Nebraska Omaha logo
Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About the CEC Backback to Main menu
    • Who We Serve
    • Our Mission and Vision
    • Our Values
    • Facility Hours and Holidays
    • Severe Winter Weather Policy
    • Document and Policy Library
    • About the CEC
    • Meet Our Team
    • By the Numbers
    • Continuous Improvement
    • Committees and Meetings
  • Meetings and Parking Backback to Main menu
    • View Meeting Spaces
    • Eligible Groups and Events (Weekdays)
    • Request Meeting Spaces
    • Weekend Reservations
    • Food in the CEC
    • Get Directions
    • Check Room Availability
    • Room Technology
  • News and Events Backback to Main menu
    • Read News
    • Find Events
  • Office Space & Current Building Partners Backback to Main menu
    • Apply for Office Space (Community)
    • Apply for Office Space (UNO)
    • Rental Fees (Office Space)
    • View Current Building Partners
    • Building Partner Portal
  • Get Involved Backback to Main menu
    • Volunteer Programs and Events
    • Marian Ivers Community Service Leadership Award
    • Student Engagement Resources
    • Office of Engagement
    • Campus Resources for Community
  • Support Us
  • Contact Us
  1. UNO
  2. Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center
  3. Events
  4. Curious People Lecture Series: Information and Speakers

Curious People Lecture Series: Information and Speakers

General information about the Curious People Lecture Series events, including an online request form for UNO faculty interested in speaking at future series events.

  • published: 2023/05/18
  • contact: Heike Langdon
  • search keywords:
  • curious people
  • curious minds
  • free series
  • community
curious minds graphic

2022-23 Series Information

The fall 2022 and spring 2023 series dates, speakers, and their topics will be announced on this website page between August and September 2022.


If you are a UNO faculty member interested in speaking at a future Curious People Series event, please contact Heike Langdon at halangdon@unomaha.edu.

Sign-up for Email Notifications


Connecting Curious Minds

Curious People events feature a UNO faculty member who speaks about a topic they are an expert in or have studied in their personal and academic lives.

These events are free and open to the Omaha community to explore and learn about a number of topics, ranging from parasitic brain drain to technology developed to bring missing service members home.


2021-22 Series

Theme: Making a Difference Through Engaged Research and Creative Activity

This year, the Curious People Lecture Series is spotlighting a diverse array of UNO faculty whose research or creative activity is deeply linked to the community. We call this type of work "Engaged Research" or the "Scholarship of Engagement" -- and it's happening all across campus and in our community. Engaged Research plays an important role at Metropolitan Universities like UNO, as it is defined by collaboration, community partnerships, and tangible contributions to the public good.

Many thanks to the UNO Office of Research and Creative Activity for being our campus partner in this year's series.

Date Speaker and Topic Link to Event Type of Event Video
October 27, 2021 Andrea Grover, Ph.D. --- Science For, With, and By the People Learn More Zoom Webinar Watch Video
November 17, 2021 Mark Gilbert, Ph.D. --- Seeing the Patient Learn More Zoom Webinar Watch Video
February 7, 2022 Laura Alexander, Ph.D. --- Immigration and Nationalism: What Difference Does Religion Make? Learn More Zoom Webinar Watch Video
March 3, 2022 Michelle Black, Ph.D. --- Understanding Deterrence and Why Different Perspectives Matter Learn More Zoom Webinar Watch Video
March 21, 2022 Derrick Nero, Ed.D. --- Nurturing the Scientist and Engineer In Everyone Learn More Zoom Webinar Watch Video
April 12, 2022 Justin Nix, Ph.D. --- Police Use of Deadly Force: What We Know and What We Need to Know Learn More Zoom Webinar Watch Video

2020-21 Series

The focus of this Curious People Series related to UNO's Big Ideas.

Date Speaker and Topic UNO Big Idea Link to Event Video
October 29, 2020 Ann Fruhling, Ph.D. --- Enhancing Patient Experiences through Technology Transforming Wellness and Aging Through Business, Informatics and Gerontology Learn More Watch Video
November 17, 2020 Peggy Jones, MFA --- Tell Me a Story! Ted Kooser Center for Health Humanities Learn More Watch Video
February 9, 2021 Chris Moore, Ph.D. --- Elevating Human Potential Through Lifelong Learning, UNO STEM Trail Center STEM TRAIL Center Learn More Watch Video
February 23, 2021 Jorge Zuniga, Ph.D. --- Biomechanical Rehabilitation and Manufacturing: Improving the Quality of Life of Medically Underserved Populations Biomechanical Rehabilitation and Manufacturing Learn More Watch Video
March 9, 2021 Gina Ligon, Ph.D. --- UNO in the Fight and Prevention of Terrorism Security and Intelligence Studies Learn More Watch Video
March 25, 2021 Mark Celinscak, Ph.D. --- Samuel Bak, An Inspirational Journey Samuel Bak Institute Learn More Watch Video

2019-20 Series

Date Speaker and Topic Link to Event
October 29, 2019 Sachin Pawaskar, Ph.D., MBA, MS --- CoRA: Honoring the Fallen, bringing our missing service members home Learn More
January 27, 2020 LaTrina Hall, Ph.D. --- Using the Theory of Synectics to Make Meaningful Connections Learn More
February 20, 2020 Debora Wisneski, Ph.D. --- The Value of Play Across the Lifespan Learn More
CANCELED Elizabeth Chalecki, Ph.D. --- Can We Solve Climate Change With Technology? Learn More
June 16, 2020 Chancellor Jeffrey Gold, MD --- Special Edition: COVID-19 and the Year Ahead Learn More

2018-19 Series

Date Speaker and Topic Link to Event
October 17, 2018 Gina Ligon, Ph.D. --- How Do People Become Homegrown Terrorists? Learn More
November 7, 2018 Jonathan Benjamin Alvarado, Ph.D. --- My Life with the Castros: One Scholar’s Unlikely Journey. Learn More
January 28, 2019 Julie Masters, Ph.D. --- Aging with Intention. Learn More
February 25, 2019 Paul Davis, Ph.D. --- Parasitic Brain Drain: A Look at Toxoplasma, the Most Common Brain Infection in the World. Learn More
March 25, 2019 Sofia Jawed-Wessel, Ph.D., MPH --- Sex: What are we so ashamed of? Learn More
April 24, 2019 B.J. Reed, Ph.D. --- Scotch Whisky: It is a lot more complicated than you think! Learn More

More about the Curious People Lecture Series

The goal of this series is to stimulate curiosity among attendees. Curiosity has many benefits to those who ask questions, including an increase in the ability to learn and retain information, personal growth, openness to new opportunities, and overcoming stereotypes. It also increases problem-solving skills, maintains a sense of wonder that helps with innovation, and creates positive interpersonal interactions.

Curiosity stimulates productive conversations by seeking to understand another’s beliefs and allowing participants to authentically examine their own assumptions and opinions. In order to genuinely explore new ideas, one must be actively listening and open to exchanging knowledge. This free series is intended to foster a community of like-minded searchers, interested in learning more about the hidden areas of expertise at UNO.

News Sections

  • Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center News Center
  • UNO News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

Featured

  • UNO Students Set to Graduate as Community Engaged Scholar
  • Office Spaces in UNO's Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center
  • Common Senses Festival Brings Arts and Innovation to UNO This Spring
  • UNO Scholar Selected for National Experiential Learning Fellowship

Most Viewed

  • Explore a New and Improved UNO CEC Viewbook
  • UNO Launches Office of Engagement

Contact Us

For questions or more information about the UNO Office of Engagement, including units and initiatives, please contact Robyn Loos at rloos@unomaha.edu. 

Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center

CEC Lot E Guest Parking
  • Office of Engagement
  • Suite 115 Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center
  • 6400 South University Drive Road North
  • Omaha, NE 68182   map
  • 402.554.6000
  • Contact Us
Social media
Meeting and Event Spaces
  • Request Meeting Spaces
  • View Meeting Spaces
  • News
  • Events
  • Meet Our Team
  • Office of Engagement

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • The Maverick Store
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.