Introduction to Graph Theory

(In-Person)

with Kevin Cheung

Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
Overview: In this lecture, we will look at the emergence of graph theory since Leonhard Euler’s solution to the Königsberg Bridge. We will see that what started out as recreational mathematics turned out to have interesting mathematical questions and important applications. We will end with a look at the celebrated/notorious Four Colour Theorem which pushes the boundary of what is regarded as a mathematical proof.


Lecture Biography:  Dr. Kevin Cheung has been a faculty member of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at Carleton University since 2005. After completing his PhD at the University of Waterloo in 2003, he spent two years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellow. His current academic interests include discrete optimization and correctness of computed results.

Nature in Literature: Telling Stories of Environment, Ecology, and Place

(Online)

with Samphe Ballamingie

Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
Overview: This lecture offers a close reading of fiction and creative nonfiction that deepens our understanding of, and relationship to, the natural world. We’ll sample ecopoetics (Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Michael Ondaatje); psychogeographic narratives (Teju Cole, W.G. Sebald); and essays on place (Joan Didion, John McPhee, Annie Dillard). Toward the end of our two hours together, we’ll take a look at writers who not only studied our Earth but also advocated for its protection (Stephan Jay Gould, Rachel Carson). Participants will leave this lecture with a strong understanding of what environmental writing entails, and a handful of authors to add to their bookshelves.

Lecture Biography: Samphe Ballamingie works as a freelance journalist, sharing stories of climate justice and sustainable urban design. Co-founder of the production company bluedotstudio, she produces films about food systems; sustainable agriculture; safe and affordable housing; community building; social innovation; and public space. You can access select publications, films and podcasts here: linktr.ee/samphe.

From Conflict to Catastrophe: Understanding the Israel-Gaza Crisis

(In-Person)

with Peter Larson

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm

 
Overview: In this session, using official statements from Israel, the UN, Hamas and the International Court of Justice, the lecturer will review the history of Israel/Gaza/Hamas to explain how things got to this point. He will address the objectives of both Israel and Hamas and discuss the obstacles to a permanent ceasefire and return of hostages. The first half of the 2-hour session will be a presentation followed by a one-hour discussion in which questions can be raised.

Lecture Biography: Peter Larson is the Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP), a Canadian human rights organization focussing on the Middle East. He had a stellar career in research and senior management positions at the Public Policy Forum and the Conference Board of Canada. For nearly two decades, he has focused on human rights issues in the Middle East, visiting and leading groups of Canadians to investigate the situation in Israel, Iran, Jordan, Egypt and the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza. He is a frequent lecturer for church and labour groups, retiree associations and service clubs and in several universities. His presentations are appreciated for being fact based and balanced. He was the founding Chair of the Middle East Study Group of the Canadian International Council (National Capital Region), a board member of the National Council on Canada Arab Relations, and chair of its National Education Committee on Israel/Palestine. In 2012, he was awarded The Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Governor General of Canada in recognition of his educational work on Canada Arab relations. Peter graduated in Economics from the University of Western Ontario in 1968. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy from Université de Grenoble, France. In addition to English, he speaks fluent French and passable Italian and Spanish.

Dark Pages: A Journey Through Literary Horror

Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market”: Monsters and the Men They Represent

(In-Person)

with Sebastian Angelosante

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Overview: Originally published in 1862, Christina Rossetti’s narrative poem “Goblin Market” follows the story of two sisters, Laura and Lizzie, as they interact with and fall victim to the goblins that come out at night. While Rossetti intended the poem to be a spooky fairy tale, through analyzing the content and the context it arose from, this session will uncover its feminist readings. Through analyzing the text, this session will dissect  the plight of women during this time, the “fallen woman” motif that plagued Victorian art during this time, and the importance of female companionship against adversity.

Lecture Biography: Sebastian Angelosante is a recent graduate. He received his Master’s in English literature from the University of Ottawa (2024). During his studies, he focused on queer representation throughout British and American literature. He also worked with the university’s Fulcrum newspaper and collaborated with his professors to lead engaging discussions on various works of horror and science fiction. In his free time, he enjoys reading and watching all things horror and/or queer.