From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu
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Alicia Bunyan-Sampson will give annual Jana Mackey Distinguished Lecture on ‘Abuse in Polyamory’
LAWRENCE — The Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity at the University of Kansas has announced that Alicia Bunyan-Sampson, best known for her digital presence Polyamorous Black Girl, will give this year’s Jana Mackey Distinguished Lecture at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union. Bunyan-Sampson’s lecture, titled “Abuse in Polyamory: The Politics of Believability,” will directly challenge mainstream polyamorous education and its continued refusal to consider and acknowledge the unique ways abuse happens in polyamorous relationships.
International Education Week to celebrate global connections
LAWRENCE — With a series of multicultural events and a social media campaign, the University of Kansas is celebrating International Education Week from Nov. 14 to 18. At KU’s Lawrence campus, the week will feature discussions on international careers, a panel on recent elections in key countries, a town hall meeting on U.S.-China relations and a World Expo, where international students will have the opportunity to showcase their cultures.
Two graduate students claim prizes in KU’s 2022 3MT Competition
LAWRENCE – The Three Minute Thesis Competition is a global research communication event that challenges graduate students to convey their research in three minutes or less. Two University of Kansas graduate students claimed honors and cash prizes at the conclusion of KU’s competition Nov. 9. Sayuri Niyangoda, doctoral student in chemistry, won first place and $500 for her presentation, “Alzheimer’s Disease through the Eyes of a Fish.” Kalin Baca, doctoral student in chemical engineering, earned second place ($250) for her presentation, “Recycling Refrigerants to Reduce Global Warming.”
Full stories below.
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Contact: Morelle Cox, Student Affairs, [email protected]
Alicia Bunyan-Sampson will give annual Jana Mackey Distinguished Lecture on ‘Abuse in Polyamory’
LAWRENCE — The Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity at the University of Kansas has announced that Alicia Bunyan-Sampson, best known for her digital presence Polyamorous Black Girl, will give this year’s Jana Mackey Distinguished Lecture at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union.
Bunyan-Sampson’s lecture, titled “Abuse in Polyamory: The Politics of Believability,” will directly challenge mainstream polyamorous education and its continued refusal to consider and acknowledge the unique ways abuse happens in polyamorous relationships, the impact of that refusal, as well as the ways in which trauma can complicate both the access to and the experience of polyamory. She will focus on digital space and its power to create and destroy connections.
Refreshments will be provided at the free and public event, and more information is available online.
KU established the Jana Mackey Distinguished Lecture Series in 2009 in honor and memory of a former student. Mackey, a feminist and activist, was murdered in 2008 by her ex-boyfriend. She dedicated her life to social justice and equality for all women. She was also the president of the student activist organization now called Students United for Reproductive and Gender Equity. Mackey was well-known in Kansas for her advocacy for women’s rights and victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Past lecturers include Pulitzer Prize winner Connie Schultz; author and advocate Leslie Morgan Steiner; director of the NW Network for Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian, and Gay Survivors of Abuse Connie Burk and television host Melissa Harris-Perry.
Event co-sponsors include the Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity; Jana’s Campaign; Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging; Office of Multicultural Affairs; Sexual Assault Prevention & Education Center and the Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center.
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Contact: Christine Metz Howard, International Affairs, [email protected], @KUintlaffairs
International Education Week to celebrate global connections
LAWRENCE — With a series of multicultural events and a social media campaign, the University of Kansas is celebrating International Education Week from Nov. 14 to 18.
A joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, the week promotes programs that prepare those in the U.S. for a global world and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States.
KU is a regional leader in internationalization efforts. More than 1,700 international students attend KU. During the 2021-2022 academic year, 945 KU students traveled abroad for university-affiliated activities, and an additional 15 students engaged in virtual education abroad and international internship experiences. KU teaches more than 30 different languages and is one of only 13 universities in the country to have four or more federally funded international area studies centers through the Title VI program.
In recognition of the impact of international education on Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly signed a proclamation recognizing International Education Week and noting that “international education, exchange and public diplomacy play a critical role in U.S. foreign relations today and tomorrow.”
“To have this affirmation of our mission and efforts from Governor Kelly is extraordinary. Internationalization is one the foundational priorities of the University of Kansas, deeply informing our work of educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world,” said Charles Bankart, senior internationalization officer.
“This week is a time to step back and reflect on all the work we have done to center the world at KU and KU within the global context,” he said. “We have created an exceptional foundation through our internationalization efforts, and we have exciting plans to build upon that foundation in service to the great state of Kansas.
At KU’s Lawrence campus, the week will feature discussions on international careers, a panel on recent elections in key countries, a town hall meeting on U.S.-China relations and a World Expo, where international students will have the opportunity to showcase their cultures. See the full list of events.
Throughout the week, International Affairs will be sharing stories from the KU community on the power of international education. Alumni, faculty, staff and students can share their international experiences by completing a brief survey.
The KU community is encouraged to join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #KU22IEW this week when posting information about international events and the importance of international education.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, Nov. 15
International Career Series: John Rodgers
4 p.m., 318 Bailey Hall
John Rodgers, a KU alumnus of the Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies, will speak about his career experiences and provide advice to students pursuing internationally focused professions. Rodgers served in the U.S. government from 1986 to 2015. He began his career as a political analyst for East European Affairs and witnessed the collapse of the communist systems in Eastern Europe and the reestablishment of democracy in those countries. The event is sponsored by CREES and the Center for Global & International Studies.
Beyond KU: Think Tanks
4:30-5:30 p.m., virtual
In this virtual event, panelists will share how to turn a passion for politics into a career. Panelists include Anna Bailey, senior policy analyst for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Ariel Simons, learning and development manager for the Brookings Institution; Devi Nair, associate director in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Catherine Nzuki, associate fellow in the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The event is sponsored by the University Career Center. Register for the event.
Wednesday, Nov. 16
Global Headlines: Election Dynamics in Key Countries
1:30 p.m., Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center and via Zoom
KU faculty members will discuss recent elections in key countries and global implications for the results. Panelists include Rami Zeedan, assistant professor of Jewish studies; Sofia Vera, assistant professor of political science; and Mark Joslyn, professor of political science. The panel will be moderated by Mike Wuthrich, associate director for the Center for Global & International Studies. The event is organized by CGIS, in collaboration with the Department of Political Science, Jewish Studies Program and Middle East Studies. Zoom info.
CHINA Town Hall
6-8 p.m., virtual event
CHINA Town Hall connects leading China experts with Americans around the country for a national conversation on the implications of China’s rise on U.S.-China relations and its impact on our towns, states and nation. This two-part event will include a national webcast from 6 to 7 p.m. and a local webinar from 7 to 8 p.m. The national webcast will feature guest speaker Jon Huntsman Jr., former ambassador to China, Russia and Singapore. The local webinar will focus on the legacy of COVID-19 on U.S.-China relations. Speakers will include Dali Yang, author of numerous books and scholarly articles on the politics and political economy of China, and Deborah Seligsohn, assistant professor of political science at Villanova University. Jiakun Jack Zhang, KU assistant professor of political science, will moderate the webinar.
The event is sponsored by the KU Center for East Asian Studies, National Committee on United States-China Relations, International Relations Council and World Trade Center Kansas City. Register for the event.
Thursday, Nov. 17
Tea @ Three
3-4 p.m., Kansas Union, Level 4
Tea @ Three gives students an opportunity to enjoy a cup of tea with a variety of cookies. At the Nov. 17 event, International Support Services and the International Student Association will be tabling to promote the World Expo, as well as engaging the campus community with international trivia.
Friday, Nov. 18
World Expo
2-4 p.m., Burge Union, Forum C and D
Celebrate International Education Week by learning about the different cultures represented at KU. At the World Expo, international students will showcase their cultures at an interactive tabling fair. All members of the KU community are invited to connect with international Jayhawks during this event. The event is sponsored by International Support Services.
From Study Abroad to the State Department: How Developing Global Perspectives Supports U.S. Foreign Policy
3-5 p.m., virtual
This two-hour webinar will feature an interview with Secretary of State Antony Blinken exploring how U.S. diplomatic work affects the lives of the American people and how studying abroad furthers the State Department’s foreign policy mission. Webinar attendees will hear directly from the secretary of state and a panel of U.S. foreign service officers focusing on how their work at the State Department advances U.S. foreign policy, how that work impacts Americans, and how study abroad shaped their careers and continues to impact their lives as American diplomats.
The event is sponsored by USA Study Abroad, part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and its Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. Recipients and alumni of the Gilman Program, the Critical Language Scholarship Program, ECA exchange alumni and all interested U.S. undergraduate and graduate students are invited to attend this 2022 International Education Week virtual event. Register.
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Contact: Evan Riggs, Office of the Provost, 785-864-1085, [email protected], @KUProvost
Two graduate students claim prizes in KU’s 2022 3MT Competition
LAWRENCE – The Three Minute Thesis Competition is a global research communication event that challenges graduate students to convey their research in three minutes or less. After weeks of presentations featuring cutting-edge research, two University of Kansas graduate students claimed honors and cash prizes at the conclusion of the competition Nov. 9 in the Burge Union.
Sayuri Niyangoda, doctoral student in chemistry, won first place and $500 for her presentation, “Alzheimer’s Disease through the Eyes of a Fish.” Niyangoda also won the People’s Choice Award ($125) for her presentation. As the top finalist, Niyangoda will represent KU at the regional Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools 3MT Competition, which will take place March 29-31, 2023, in Chicago, with expenses paid by the Graduate Studies office.
“It’s a great honor and a privilege to have won the 3MT competition this year,” Niyangoda said. “It is a great platform to communicate and highlight the importance of the research we conduct at KU to a generalist audience. It was a challenging yet delightful experience. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Office of Graduate Studies for giving me this valuable opportunity.”
Kalin Baca, doctoral student in chemical engineering, earned second place ($250) for her presentation, “Recycling Refrigerants to Reduce Global Warming.” Baca’s research is currently being tested on a pilot scale and will soon be commercialized by her startup company, Iconium Engineering Company.
“My research is on separating refrigerant mixtures into their components so that they can effectively be reused and recycled,” Baca said. “The 3MT competition was a great opportunity to meet graduate students in different departments and learn about their amazing research. I enjoyed the challenge of quickly and concisely explaining my research, and its impact, which is a skill I know I will continue to use and develop.”
All finalists also received a professional head-and-shoulder portrait session and will have their research spotlighted on the Office of Graduate Studies’ social media channels.
Nineteen graduate students participated in KU’s 2022 3MT event, with 11 advancing to the competition finals and two bringing home awards. Each student had to condense their complex research into a polished three-minute presentation using only one PowerPoint slide as a visual aid. The competition does not allow students to use video, notecards or props.
“All of the finalists gave fantastic presentations that made complex subjects accessible to all audience members and highlighted the meaningful research that is being conducted by graduate students across KU,” said Jennifer Roberts, vice provost for academic affairs and graduate studies. “I congratulate our winners for standing out in a very impressive field of presenters.”
2022 marks the fifth year that KU has hosted a 3MT competition and the first year since before the COVID-19 pandemic that the event took place in person. The event was sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies.
The 3MT academic research communication competition was developed by the University of Queensland in Australia and was first held in 2008. 3MT competitions have been held at more than 900 universities in more than 85 countries worldwide.
All presentations from the 2022 KU 3MT will be available online.
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