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Interior of James F Veninga Theater

Faculty share their knowledge and expertise with the Wausau community

In-person and streamed live on YouTube from UWSP Wausau’s James F. Veninga Theater, our HANK Talks feature our talented faculty, talking about what they know best.

Each talk starts at 7 p.m. and lasts about 30 minutes. They are followed with a live Q&A session.

The Fall 2023 Series Schedule

“The Neuroscience of Doomscrolling: The Case for a Healthier Relationship with Social Media”
Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 7 p.m. in the UW Center for Civic Engagement in Wausau
Jason J. Siewert, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Education and Prevention Coordinator

Series Archive

The Spring 2023 Series Schedule

The Russian Invasion of Ukraine: The Relevance of History | Tuesday, February 21, 2023

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, against the great majority of pre-war expectations, will soon enter its second year with no clear end in sight. During this HANK Talk, we will emphasize the role that competing understandings of History have played in the decisions of the war’s most important participants and discuss how future historians may likely present its importance.
Jeff Leigh, Ph.D.
Professor of History
View the video presentation here

The James Webb Space Telescope: An Amazing First Year | Tuesday, March 14, 2023 – postponed until March 28, 2023

We will explore the amazing first year of NASA’s latest great observatory—The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). We will discuss the scientific discoveries and breakthroughs that have been made to date.
Aaron Steffen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Astronomy
View the video presentation here

Genetic Engineering and Biofuel Production: Making Better Yeast | Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Kristine Prahl, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
View the video presentation here

Prof. Lisa Siewert 
Senior Lecturer of Geography and Geology
Ancient Local Rocks: A Geologic History of Marathon County
ARCHIVED HERE

Dr. Jason Siewert
Licensed Psychologist, Education & Prevention Coordinator
The Pessimist’s Guide to Good Mental Health
ARCHIVED HERE

Prof. Tim Buchholz
Associate Professor of Music
Music and Maps: A Perspective Through the Eyes of a Jazz Musician and Adventure Racer
ARCHIVED HERE

Prof. Scott Sybeldon
Senior Lecturer of Business
Bob Geldof and Live Aid: Elements of Visionary Leadership
ARCHIVED here

Dr. David Barry
Associate Professor of Sociology
Desert Planets, Clones, and Hyperspace: Seeing Society through the Lens of Science Fiction
ARCHIVED here

Dr. Jeff Leigh
Professor of History
The Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Its Causes, Course, and Significance
ARCHIVED here

Dr. Aaron Steffen
Associate Professor of Astronomy and Physics
The James Webb Space Telescope: NASA’s Latest Great Observatory
ARCHIVED here

Dr. Jim Servi
Assistant Professor of Management
A Quick Trip around the GLOBE: Recognizing Important Differences in Culture to Better Understand Yourself and Others
ARCHIVED here

Dr. Penny Workman
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Kitchen Chemistry: Exploring the Chemistry of Food
ARCHIVED here

Dr. Timothy Buchholz
Associate Professor of Music
Stories from the Trail: An Inside Look at Adventure Racing
ARCHIVED here

Dr. Brett Barker
Professor of History
Why Slavery Caused the Civil War and Why That Matters Today More than Ever
ARCHIVED here

Dr. Paul Whitaker
Professor of Biology
Apple Core Lore: Origins of America’s (Second) Favorite Fruit
ARCHIVED here

Prof. Jill Stukenberg
Associate Professor of English
Slivered Words on Silver Screens: Exploring and Creating Poetry Films
ARCHIVED here