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Chico State

EDXCHICO Lectures Will Ignite Curiosity on First Day at CSU, Chico

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On a day when jitters, anticipation, and excitement fill the air, California State University, Chico is offering an open-air teach-in for all.

On Monday, August 27, the first day of classes at CSU, Chico, eight University faculty will provide 5- to 7-minute presentations during EDXCHICO on Glenn Lawn from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The presentations are free and open to the public. Coffee and refreshments will be provided

Fashioned after the popular TED Talks, EDXCHICO will provide fast-paced presentations to engage and excite students, whether graduation is on the horizon or they’re just beginning their college journey.

“This event showcases our outstanding faculty and the joy of learning,” said Kate McCarthy, interim dean of Undergraduate Education. “Whether it’s their first day of college or their last first day of school ever, students will be engaged and inspired by popular faculty from across disciplines offering their best stuff—from the physics of hammer-throwing to how to read a painting!”

Presentations will be made by:

  • Asa Mittman, Department of Art and Art History, “Strange Musings on Medieval Art: Do We Judge Them or Join Them?”
  • Jennifer Malkowski, Communication Studies Program, and Stephen Caldes, Department of Journalism and Public Relations, “Unleashing Your Super Power, Your Own Voice”
  • Cawa Tran, Department of Biological Sciences, “First-Gen Student, Island Hopper, Coral Reef Rescuer”
  • Pablo Cornejo, Department of Civil Engineering, “The Intersection Between Hip Hop and Sustainable Engineering”
  • Kasey DeAtley, College of Agriculture, “Growing Food Requires More Than Just Getting Your Hands Dirty”
  • Nandi Crosby-Jordan, Department of Sociology, “By the Way, Martin Luther King, Jr. Was a Sociology Major”
  • Nicholas Nelson, Department of Physics, “Learn How to Love Physics in a Single Hammer Throw”

Nelson will close out EDXCHICO with a demonstration-filled and interactive presentation that explores a physics concept called “conservation of angular momentum.”

“It explains, among other things, why it’s so much easier to balance on bicycle when it’s moving than when it’s not, and why it’s almost impossible to flip a hammer end over end without it rolling in mid-air as well,” Nelson said. “It’s also why the Earth doesn’t crash into the Sun.”

Through his presentation, Nelson wants people to know that Chico State is a place where we tackle big, important, challenging questions about how the universe works.

“Exploring these big, important, challenging questions is a labor of joy and wonder,” Nelson added. “And, of course, it’s just a lot of fun to throw hammers around.”

EDXCHICO is presented by Chico State’s seven colleges and is sponsored and coordinated by the Office of the Provost.

Those who require an accommodation in order to participate in EDXCHICO or who have questions about accessibility should contact the Accessibility Resource Center at 530-898-5959.