Hancock Symposium begins Wednesday

Kurt Jefferson
Kurt Jefferson

Five weeks of work will come to fruition next week with the 2016 Hancock Symposium at Westminster College in Fulton.

"It's a colossal effort. It's a team effort," said Kurt Jefferson of the Churchill Institute for Global Engagement, director of the Hancock Symposium. "We have three committees, probably 30 to 40 people linked to those committees, and about 100 volunteers."

This year's theme is "Audacious Ingenuity: Pushing the Boundaries of Science." About 25 speakers have been engaged for the symposium.

"It's a wonderful event," said Jefferson. "We start on Oct. 1, two weeks after the last symposium, and start meeting as the faculty academic committee with students, too. Usually we have our speakers lined up by April. It's a huge job - it's not like we show up a month before or even six months before."

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Four of Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith's recruits from his home state committed to the Hogs in July. He uses his outgoing personality to his advantage.

A second event, the 57th John Findley Green Lecture, will be 1 p.m. Thursday. This year's Green Lecture speaker is Dr. Bennet Omalu, a pioneer in the study and diagnosis of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. CTE is a brain disease he discovered and named that affects professional football players and other athletes. He's also a forensic pathologist, professor, medical examiner and founder of the Bennet Omalu Foundation.

"It is a historical lecture we put on for Fulton," Jefferson said. "Dr. Omalu, he is big news. He is in the headlines as we talk."

The symposium agenda is as follows:

Wednesday

9-9:20 a.m., opening of 2016 HSWC, Champ Auditorium

9-10:15 a.m., Plenary Session 1: Dr. Tyrone B. Hayes, professor of integrated biology, University of California-Berkeley, "Toxicology," Champ Auditorium

10:30 a.m., Executive Session 1: Dr. Norman Lederman, distinguished professor of mathematics and science education, Illinois Institute of Technology, "The Ends May Justify the Means, but the Means Should Never Become the Ends," Champ Auditorium

Dr. Sharon Deem, director, Institute for Conservation Medicine, Saint Louis Zoo, "Conservation Wildlife and Mammalian Epidemiology," CSC Lecture Hall

11:45 a.m. lunch, Mueller Leadership Hall/Backer Dining Room

1:30 p.m., Breakout Sessions A and Special Guest Session: Special guests Dr. Francis Ali-Osman, Margaret Harris and David Silverman, distinguished professor of neuro-oncology, professor of surgery, and professor of pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, "The Art and Science of Cancer Treatment," Champ Auditorium

Dr. Sharon Deem, Director, Institute for Conservation Medicine, Saint Louis Zoo, "Conservation Wildlife and Mammalian Epidemiology," CSC 207

Dr. R. E Burnett, associate dean of academics and professor, National Defense University, "Science and Technology Policy and Engineering and Disruptive Technology Policies and National Security Affairs," CSC 138

Dr. Norman Lederman, distinguished professor of mathematics and science education, Illinois Institute of Technology, "Understanding Science Education for Education Students and Teachers," CSC 305

Dr. Jay McDaniel, professor of religion and director of the Steel Center for the Study of Religion and Philosophy, Hendrix College, "Greening Religion," CSC 139

Dr. Julia Halsey, dospitalist, University of Missouri-Columbia, "The work of a medical professional," CSC 239

2:45 p.m., Executive Session 2: Dr. Mario Livio, fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and astrophysicist, Space Telescope Science Institute, 1991-2015 (home of the Hubble Space Telescope), "Brilliant Blunders," CSC Lecture Hall

Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, associate professor of physics and space sciences, Florida Institute of Technology and MLK visiting professor of physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Chief Science Officer, Discovery Communication/Science Channel, "NASA, Space Exploration and the Future," Champ Auditorium

7-9 p.m. (CSCLH): Showing of "Concussion" starring Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu

Thursday

9 a.m., Plenary Session 2: Dr. James C. Carrington, president, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, "Innovations Needed in Plant Science and Agriculture," Champ Auditorium

10:30 a.m., Breakout Session B: Dr. Bina Vanmali, director of the Arizona Science Education Collaborative, Arizona State University, "Biology and Science Education for Secondary Students Today," CSC 207

Dr. Aric Krogstad, veterinarian, professor, researcher and formerly of the Tulane Primate Center, "Tropical Diseases, Research, and Human and/or Mammalian Epidemiology," CSC 239

Dr. Colleen Mitchell, associate professor of mathematics, University of Iowa, "Mathematics and Physiology," CSC 329

Dr. Daniel Jackson, assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and physician, MU Health, "Fetal Medicine," CSC 305

Mr. David Baker, program coordinator, Missouri Assistive Technology, Blue Springs, Missouri, "Technologies for Missourians with Physical and other Challenges," CSC 304

Mr. Mike Szydlowski, Coordinator, Columbia, Missouri Public Schools Science, "Making Science popular with youth," CSC 138

Dr. Zachary Feinstein, assistant professor, Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, "The Economics of 'Star Wars': How the Empire Collapses," CSC 139

11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. lunch, Mueller Leadership Hall/Backer Dining Room

1 p.m.: the 57th Green Lecture: Dr. Bennet Omalu, pioneer in the study and diagnosis of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in professional football players, forensic pathologist, professor, medical examiner and founder of the Bennet Omalu Foundation, Champ Auditorium

2:15 p.m.: wrap-up for the 2016 Green Lecture and Hancock Symposium, Champ Auditorium