Chancellor's Distinguished Lecture Series
Presented by The Damrauer Endowed Lectureship Fund
Lectures are free and open to the public. RSVPs are requested.
The Chancellor’s
Distinguished Lectures focus on
subjects to help narrow the widening gap between fast moving advances in
knowledge acquisition and their understanding and appreciation by the general
public. The individuals selected as lecturers are chosen to fulfill the
lectureship’s important public outreach function and contribute to an understanding
and appreciation of rapid advancements and important nuances in their fields. Our
lecturers are chosen on the basis of their international renown and their
ability to speak and interact with a well-informed public audience.
These lectures are presented at CU Denver and are generally given each fall.
Upcoming Lectures
Celebrated Author of: The Wolves of Yellowstone
Wildness Restored: The Wolf's Return to Colorado
October 23, 2019
6:00 p.m.
STUDENT COMMONS 2600
RSVP's requested, please register via the link below.
Government supported wolf eradication programs began in the United States as early as the 1600's because the animal's existence conflicted with the agricultural interests of an expanding nation. These efforts continued until well into the 20th century until both gray and red wolves were nearly exterminated. Mike Phillips, Director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF), led historic efforts to restore red wolves to the southeastern United States and the gray wolf to Yellowstone National Park and surrounding national forests that collectively comprise the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In his talk, Phillips will examine the history and future of wolf recovery with an emphasis on western Colorado, which has become a keystone for the issue.
Join us for an evening with Mike Phillips to learn more about his efforts in wolf recovery and conservation. A public reception with light refreshments will follow the lecture.
Kip Thorne, PhD
2017 Nobel Laureate, Physics
Executive Producer of Interstellar
The Warped Side of the Universe:
From Black Holes and Wormholes to Time Travel and Gravitational Waves
April 17, 2020
Kip Thorne led a research group at Caltech from 1967 to 2009, focusing on relativistic astrophysics and gravitational physics, with emphasis on relativistic stars, black holes, the theory of time travel, and gravitational waves. He was a cofounder of the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory) Project and made the breakthrough discovery of gravitational waves arriving at Earth from the distant universe in 2015. For these contributions, Dr. Thorne shared the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. In 2009, he stepped down from his professorship at Caltech to ramp up a new career at the interface of art and science, which included authoring a treatment and serving as executive producer for Christopher Nolan's 2014 blockbuster, Interstellar. Today, he continues his research and scientific consulting and is working on a new movie project along a forthcoming book: The Warped Side of the Universe.
Paul Boulos, PhD
CEO, Digital Water Works
National Academy of Engineering
Building and Sustaining Successful Companies
October 7, 2020
Paul Boulos is one of the world's foremost experts on water resources and navigation engineering. He is the recipient of numerous honors from national and international scientific and engineering societies, governments, univerities, and NGO's. Among them is the U.S. Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which recognizes individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate, their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents, and selfless generosity. Dr. Boulos is a highly dynamic engineering and technology business leader and philanthropist, with a stalwart commitment to the welfare of young people and a passionate voice for the next generation of engineers.
Past Lectures (click on links to view archived lectures)