March 27, 2008

Today's events

Thursday, March 27

-- Department of Statistics 40th Anniversary Lecture, Research Colloquium, and College of Science Centennial Distinguished Lecture. Speaker: Professor Persi Diaconis, the Mary V. Sunseri Professor of Statistics and Mathematics, Stanford University. Topic:  On Coincidences. Coincidences amaze us. They can affect where we live and what we do. 4:30 p.m. Room 175, MATH. Reception at 6-7:30 p.m. Anniversary Drawing Room, PMU.

-- Physics Department General Colloquium.  Speaker: Paul Shepson, Purdue Climate Change Research Center. Topic: Climate Change: Fundamentals, Impacts and Opportunities. 4 p.m. Room 223, PHYS.

-- Election Film Forum: "Voting in America." Plus mock vote and demonstration of voting machines by officials of Tippecanoe County Board of Elections. Purdue Student Union Board. 6-9 p.m. South Ballroom, PMU.

-- 2007-08 Literature Speaker Series. Speakers: David Chioni Moore, associate professor of international studies and English at Macalester College, "Genre Trouble: Langston Hughes, African Writing and the Creation of a World Literature, 1952-1967"; and Alfred Lopez, associate professor of English and American studies at Purdue, "Comparative Literature and That Dangerous American Supplement; or, A Tale of Two 1877s." 4-5:15 p.m. English graduate lounge, third floor, Heavilon Hall. Co-sponsored by the Department of English and the Program in American Studies.

-- Conversations on Teaching: "A Boomer's Survival Guide to Teaching the Millennials." Pete Bill, veterinary medicine. Sponsored by Office of the Provost. 3:30-5 p.m. West Faculty Lounge, PMU. For more information, 494-6969.

All week

-- Through April 20. "Autotelematic Spider Bots." Stewart Center Gallery. Made by artist Ken Rinaldo, an associate professor of art and technology at Ohio State University, the Spider Bots are five spider-like sculptures that interact with the public in real-time and self-modify their behaviors based on their interaction with the viewer, themselves and their environment. They will function for 15-minute periods at 10:30 a.m. and at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. daily. Sponsored by Purdue Galleries. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, plus Thursday until 8 p.m., and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

-- Through April 20. "Machinic Drift." Robert L. Ringel Gallery in the Purdue Memorial Union. Various interactive works and imagery by artist Ken Rinaldo, including robotic fish and electronic sound work sculptures. Sponsored by Purdue Galleries. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, plus Thursday until 8 p.m., and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

-- Through April 29. "Chronicling Women's History at Purdue: Selections from the Susan Bulkeley Butler Women's Archives." The exhibit will feature artifacts, documents and photographs highlighting the history of university women and coinciding with Women's History Month. The exhibit includes collections on the "Queen of American Agriculture", the "Mother of Modern Management," Amelia Earhart and more. In Stewart Center, Room 279.

Monday-Friday

-- John Purdue Room Lunch Special. This week, the featured specials in the John Purdue Room will be Lentil Soup & Salmon Roulade with Almond Crust. To access the menu: www.cfs.purdue.edu/htm/about/restaurants.shtml.