Mann Library Video Podcasts

Hot with a Chance of Megadrought

Thu, 11 Aug 2016 19:53:29 +0000

Following years of unprecedented scarcity in snow and rain fall, California had a nice, wet winter this year…but when it comes to dry weather, the American West is not out of the woods. In this Reunion lecture at Mann Library, Assistant Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Dr. Toby Ault avails himself of both hard data and old-fashioned teaching props to explain how global warming is happening and what the long-term trends are likely to be. Having captured the recent attention of U.S. scientists and policy makers, Dr.

Soda Politics

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 18:23:56 +0000

Little more than flavored sugar-water, soda drinks have given their makers--principally Coca-Cola and PepsiCo--global recognition, distribution, and political power. In a book talk at Mann Library, renowned food policy expert and public health advocate Dr. Marion Nestle discusses her newest book, Soda Politics: Taking On Big Soda (And Winning), highlighting a contradiction within the soda industry.

The Holy Earth

Mon, 09 May 2016 19:54:34 +0000

At the turn of the last century, when farming first began to face the most rapid series of changes that industrialization would bring, Liberty Hyde Bailey, a public intellectual known as the “Father of Modern Horticulture,” offered one of the most compelling voices representing the agrarian tradition.

Bird Families of the World

Wed, 11 May 2016 18:01:58 +0000

Many people are captivated by the amazing variety of birds they see and hear, and observing birds can be a life-enriching pursuit. To explore avian diversity requires a mental map that helps us organize our experiences and observations, and fortunately, the scientific classification of birds provides exactly what we need. “Bird Families of the World” presents this framework in a richly illustrated reference guide and learning tool—useful to ornithologists and amateur birding enthusiasts alike—for understanding the diversity of the world’s birds.

Another Modernism

Wed, 11 May 2016 13:20:16 +0000

Focusing on the homemaker as the primary user of domestic interior, the Home Economics movement formulated a spatial model that differed from the dominant spatial ideal of architectural modernism in the first half of the twentieth century. Whereas the home economists' model was intended to protect the user from overexertion, assuming the engagement of the user's whole body, the dominant modernist model's intention was mainly to reward the spirit via the aesthetic experience transmitted by optic data. In a lecture presented at Mann Library in March 2016, Anna S.

Genetic Modification and Food Quality

Tue, 03 May 2016 18:27:32 +0000

The safety and health benefits of GMO foods has been a contentious issue in the media lately, and the development of recombinant DNA methods signifies major changes in the food industry. Crops which have been genetically modified are being cultivated in more and more countries, and this trend is likely to accelerate as desirable traits are identified. Many critics claim that the modification of the genome of plants or animals poses an unacceptable risk to the consumer. But does it, really?

Glacier Change in Greenland and Alaska

Wed, 25 Nov 2015 13:48:56 +0000

Around the turn of the 20th century, Cornell professor Ralph Stockman Tarr and his students and collaborators organized several expeditions to glaciated areas in Greenland and Alaska. Hundreds of photographs taken during the expeditions captured both the stunning beauty of these areas as well as data that is proving valuable to the field of glaciology today.

The Economics of Biofuel Policies

Wed, 20 Jan 2016 21:16:21 +0000

In 2007-2008, grain and oilseed prices tripled and increased even more in 2010-2011 and again in 2012-2013, reversing the long run decline in the real prices of food commodities and increasing price volatility. Unlike previous price booms that were followed by a bust, these increases have been a boom and a boom and a boom, but no bust. Why?

It's Not Like I'm Poor

Wed, 25 Nov 2015 20:27:52 +0000

How do low income families make ends meet in the twenty-first century? Now that welfare has radically changed, more “working poor” parents are trading welfare checks for low-wage jobs. Their earnings qualify them for hefty checks when filing income tax returns with the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other refunds. Such tax credits reach some 26 million working families—far more households than welfare ever supported—and help many to catch up on debt and make large purchases.

Food Price Policy in an Era of Market Instability

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 19:54:17 +0000

The last decade has seen some dramatic food price fluctuations, especially for commodities such as rice, wheat, and maize, with huge impacts on poverty and malnutrition worldwide. Despite the importance of agriculture in many developing countries’ economies, few understand the processes that led to the policy responses during this time. Nor was the relative power and behavior of stakeholders well recognized.

Ergonomics in the Postwar Home

Fri, 29 Jan 2016 22:22:28 +0000

In architecture and design, the postwar period in America saw the rise of a new phenomenon: ergonomics research. The primary aim of ergonomics was to improve human environments by studying a wide range of factors that influenced use. These broad-ranging and ambitious studies, which covered everything from anatomical to psychological factors, could only be realized by bringing together large multidisciplinary research teams, including engineers, architects, planners, medics, engineers, home economists, and psychologists.

Civic Ecology

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:08:05 +0000

Communities around the world are coming together to rebuild and restore local environments that have been affected by crisis or disaster. In New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, in New York after Hurricane Sandy, in Soweto after apartheid, and in many more cities, people work together to restore nature, renew communities, and heal themselves.

The Modern Land-Grant University

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:28:44 +0000

Outlined in the Morrill Land Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890, the land-grant mission was not only about agricultural development, but about changing the world in positive, meaningful ways and creating greater opportunity for all. Today, the essence of the land-grant is in its mission of service and service-minded leadership, providing a liberal and relevant education, whether that be crafting the undergraduate academic experience, stimulating research, or engaging with the community through extension activities.

Art in Unseen Partnerships

Thu, 02 Apr 2015 20:26:14 +0000

Recent technological advances have presented a new view of the world to biologists, one in which obligate alliances between animals and microbes are the rule rather than the exception. The microbial partners, while sometimes occurring at such densities as to be visible to the naked eye, are often best studied with the use of powerful microscopes. The combination of the subject matter and the microscopic methods render the images startlingly beautiful.

Chasing the American Dream

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 18:44:59 +0000

The American Dream has captured the imagination of all of us, but what is the price we pay for our individual pursuit of this ideal?

The Neoliberal Regime in the Agri-Food Sector

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 18:51:49 +0000

For the last three decades, the neoliberal regime has shaped production and consumption in the agriculture and food business. Policies of the new global economy emphasize economic growth through deregulation, market integration, expansion of the private sector, and contraction of the welfare state. Neoliberalism proposes that our well-being can best be advanced by liberating individual entrepreneurial freedoms with the support of institutional frameworks. Have we now reached some institutional and material limits? Is the neoliberal regime exhausted?

The Dollar Trap

Fri, 23 Jan 2015 15:22:09 +0000

The creation of the euro in the late 20th century challenged the U.S. dollar's position as the world's leading reserve currency, and the Chinese renminbi has also emerged as a rising competitor. With the recent global financial crisis and ineffective policy making brought on by political dysfunction in the United States, many have speculated that the dollar’s pedestal position in the global economy will likely be displaced.

Greening in the Red Zone

Fri, 23 Jan 2015 15:27:53 +0000

Environmental crises, economic challenges, and a variety of major disruptions of recent years have led to awareness for the need to understand both the theory and practice of crisis management, especially from the human perspective. How can our deep connection with nature be transformative and help us recover from these disasters?

Brewing on the Horizon

Fri, 07 Nov 2014 17:55:47 +0000

New York is fermenting a renaissance. Once the leading producer of hops and beer in the United States, our state is beginning to see a vibrant revival in hops cultivation and the growth of microbreweries. At a Cornell Reunion 2014 lecture at Mann Library, Steve Miller, hops specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County, and Randy Lacey ’77, MEng. ’99, owner of Hopshire Farm and Brewery in Freeville, N.Y., present a look at the history and current developments in the production of hops and the emergence of farm breweries in the state.

Toward Engaged Anthropology

Fri, 07 Nov 2014 17:43:41 +0000

Today universities are challenged to become more actively engaged with society, government, and the private sector. By partnering with people to reduce inequities and provide greater access to knowledge gained from anthropological research, universities can play a larger role in democratizing society. This engaged stance moves the application of theory, methods, and practice toward action and activism, and reduces the growth of disparities in underserved communities.

International Development

Fri, 07 Nov 2014 17:29:33 +0000

How have ideas on development changed since the Second World War? The certainties of the postwar period are no longer with us anymore, and we find gaps between the goals of public policy and what is achieved by practice. In an April 2014 talk at Mann Library economist Ravi Kanbur presents his new book “International Development: Ideas, Experience, and Prospects.” This work examines how the real-life experiences of different countries and organizations have been inspired by and have in turn contributed to the ideas behind development. As Dr.

Falconry

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:53:14 +0000

With ancient roots in Mesopotamia and Central Asia, falconry also finds impassioned practitioners in North America. At an April 2014 talk at Mann Library, writer, wildlife photographer, and falconer Timothy Gallagher presents a history of this art, touching in particular on its current practice in the U.S. Currently editor-in-chief of “Living Bird,” the flagship publication of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Gallagher has had a lifelong interest in wilderness exploration and falcons.

To Encircle the World

Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:31:31 +0000

For her distinction of being the first woman of color to earn a Ph.D. in Home Economics, Cornell University alumna Flemmie P. Kittrell is often regarded as an exceptional figure in histories of the discipline and in higher education for minorities. After completing her Cornell degree, Dr. Kittrell went on to become the dean of women and head of the department of home economics at Hampton Institute and then head of the home economics department at the prestigious Howard University in Washington, D. C. Through her work Dr.

Tracks and Shadows

Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:16:36 +0000

Curiosity becomes science, and what we understand becomes what we value. In a Chats in the Stacks book talk in March 2014 at Mann Library, Cornell professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Harry W. Greene presents thoughts on the making of his new book Tracks and Shadows: Field Biology as Art.

The Neuroscience of Risky Decision Making

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 20:46:44 +0000

Whether or not to have unprotected sex, save money or spend it, consent to surgery, take that extra dessert—risky decisions permeate our lives, sometimes with disastrous consequences. How and why risk taking occurs has important implications, yet we have many unanswered questions about what influences risky behavior. At a Chats in the Stacks book talk Mann Library in February 2014, Dr.

Food Security and Sociopolitical Stability

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:24:46 +0000

With recent political unrest in low and middle-income countries, global food prices spiked. Consumers took to the streets in protest, rioting and pressuring governments to make major changes. Such developments suggest that the rising demand for food is no longer being met with a rising supply, and the specter of widespread food insecurity fostering sociopolitical instability weighs on policymakers worldwide. In a Chats in the Stacks book talk given at Mann Library in November 2013, Dr. Chris Barrett, Dr. Wendy Wolford, Joanna Upton, and Samuel Crowell discuss this complex relationship.

The Insects

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:44:15 +0000

Insects are the most successful multi-cellular organism on our planet, and new discoveries about them help us understand the natural world.

Fixing Family Problems Around the World

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 19:43:20 +0000

How did home economics intersect with international missionary work? What did this mean for American women? In a special lecture hosted by the College of Human Ecology and Mann Library, Anna Schatz, 2012 Dean's Fellowship recipient in the History of Home Economics, examines the history of the School for Missionaries at Cornell University. From 1930 through the 1950s, this program sought to unite the insights and methods of academia with the Protestant missionary movement. Focusing on the participation of female missionaries and home economists, Ms.

The People's Colleges

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:31:50 +0000

Challenged by recent economic changes, is higher education turning into a private rather than public good? President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act during dark days of the Civil War. Three years later, with the founding of Cornell University on April 27, 1865, obligations to the people were implicit in the university’s designation as New York State’s land grant college.

The Autobiographical Self in Time and Culture

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:12:24 +0000

In a book talk presented at Cornell University’s Mann Library in September 2013, professor of human development Dr. Qi Wang examines the developmental, social, cultural, and historical origins of the autobiographical self—the self that is made of memories of our past. By analyzing everyday family storytelling, autobiographical writings in Western and Chinese literature, memory data from controlled experiments in the laboratory, and personal narratives on blogs and Facebook, Wang illustrates that our memories and sense of ourselves are conditioned by time and culture.

More Mushroom Alumni

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 14:21:51 +0000

Mushrooms are mum and mysterious things, and won't tell their own tales. In a lecture presented at Mann Library for Cornell Reunion on June 7, 2013, mycologist and director of Cornell’s Plant Pathology Herbarium Dr. Kathie T. Hodge does talking for them as she introduces an array of fascinating fungal specimens and the remarkable Cornellians who have shaped our understanding of fungi in all their wondrous forms.

Service-Learning in Design and Planning

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 16:49:21 +0000

In a Chats in the Stacks book talk at Cornell University’s Mann Library, landscape architecture professor and director of Rust2Green (rust2green.org) Paula Horrigan provides highlights from her new book, "Service-Learning in Design and Planning."Linking professional work and social change, the book radically revises the standard protocol for university-initiated design/build projects in the community.

Rural Aging in 21st Century America

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 16:21:27 +0000

In 2010, 41 million Americans were 65 years of age or older. By current estimates, that number will reach over 72 million by 2030, representing 19% of the total population. Rural populations of the United States are aging more rapidly than urban areas, yet rural places face particular challenges in securing elements of their local infrastructure of important significance to older citizens.

VIVO

Fri, 31 May 2013 14:38:27 +0000

The world of scholarship is changing rapidly, and increasing demands on scholars require new approaches.

Miller's Anatomy of the Dog

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:30:02 +0000

Now in its 4th edition, “Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog,” co-authored by professor emeritus of veterinary and comparative anatomy Dr. Howard Evans and professor emeritus of veterinary sciences Dr. Alexander de Lahunta, is a reference resource on canine morphology that is unparalleled in its coverage of the subject. Elaborate full-color illustrations in the 4th edition and detailed description make the intricate structures that are handled in the text easy to see and understand.

Plant Physics

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:49:59 +0000

Over 90 percent of all visible living matter is plant life. Plants clean the air, provide food, fuel, and fiber, and yield vital pharmaceuticals.

Research for the Public Good

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:33:59 +0000

In a September 2012 book talk at Mann Library, Cornell College of Human Ecology professors Elaine Wethington (Dept. of Human Development) and Rachel Dunifon (Dept.

Earth

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:02:40 +0000

In “Earth: A Tenant’s Manual,” distinguished geologist Frank H. T. Rhodes, President Emeritus of Cornell University, provides a sweeping, accessible, and informed guide to the home we all share, showing us how we might best preserve the Earth’s livability for ourselves and future generations. Having published widely on subjects of geology and education, in his newest book, Dr. Rhodes offers a comprehensive look at the structure of the planet, an analysis of how it is being depleted, and a road map for sustainability. In a Chats in the Stacks book talk at Mann Library in September 2012, Dr.

Why Calories Count

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:05:06 +0000

Calories are the source of health problems affecting billions of people in today's globalized world and these units of energy are a mystery to many of us. In a September 2012 talk at Mann Library Marion Nestle (Paulette Goddard Professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University and visiting professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell University) and Malden Nesheim (Cornell University Provost Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of nutritional sciences) draw from their recent book, “Why Calories Count” to explain what calories are and how they work, both biologic

Interspecific Competition in Birds

Tue, 08 May 2012 16:22:36 +0000

Three main types of biotic interactions between individuals of different species exist in nature: competition, predation, and mutualism. All three exert powerful selection pressures, and all three shape communities. However, the true importance of interspecific competition in nature remains a controversial and unresolved question. For a Chats in the Stacks book talk at Mann Library on April 26, 2012, Dr. André Dhondt, the Edwin H.

Accumulating Insecurity

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:06:51 +0000

Security is often sought through armaments and containment, which can lead to the impoverishment rather than the nourishment of laboring bodies.

Food Policy for Developing Countries

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:00:37 +0000

Nearly a billion people around the world still suffer from hunger and poor nutrition while a billion are overweight or obese. This imbalance highlights the need not only to focus on food production but also to implement successful food policies. In a Chats in the Stacks book talk at Mann Library in March 2012, Cornell University economist Per Pinstrup-Andersen discusses his new book, coauthored with economist Derrill Watson II of the American University of Nigeria.

The Adolescent Brain

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:14:36 +0000

In the second decade of life, young adults have endless choices, but the decisions they make depend on developing the power of the human brain to learn and reason. In a Chats in the Stacks book talk at Mann Library, Cornell professor of human development and psychology Dr. Valerie Reyna introduces her new book, “The Adolescent Brain: Learning, Reasoning, and Decision Making” published by the American Psychological Association in 2012.

Cultivating the Country's Best Crop

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:04:07 +0000

In a talk at Mann Library presented on November 14, 2011, Amrys Williams, the 2011 Recipient of the History of Home Economics Fellowship Award at the Cornell College of Human Ecology, provides a look at the history of 4-H clubs and their relationship to the developing ideas about rural culture, community and modernity in 20th century U.S. 4-H clubs—the youth phase of agricultural and home economics extension work—were central to the USDA’s program for rural modernization in the early decades of the 20th century. Cultivating “the country’s best crop,” as these young people

Craving Earth

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:18:15 +0000

In a Chats in the Stacks book talk at Mann Library, nutritional scientist Sera Young presents her new book, "Craving Earth." Pica--the urge to eat clay, starch, ice and chalk--has been a phenomenon among humans, particularly women, for a very long time. Dr. Young’s study seeks to answer why some people engage in this curious behavior , also shedding light on the properties that the non-food substances associated with pica possess.

The Oxford Handbook of the Social Science of Obesity

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:42:24 +0000

The need to better understand the causes and consequences of obesity, and how to prevent and treat it, has become urgent worldwide. In a Chats in the Stacks book talk at Mann Library, John Cawley discusses his new book, The Social Science of Obesity, highlighting insights from the specific approaches that each social science discipline uses to model human behavior, including diet and physical activity.

The Road to Renewal

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:18:11 +0000

Despite record levels of government spending, America's transportation system is plagued by traffic congestion, decaying infrastructure, and politicization of transportation funding—leading to calamities such as the 2007 collapse an interstate highway bridge over the Mississippi River and political fiascos such as Alaska's infamous "Bridge to Nowhere." In his new book, The Road to Renewal, Cornell professor of policy analysis and management Rick Geddes surveys the current state of U.S.

The Complete Book of Potatoes

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:20:27 +0000

Whether as food, beverage ingredient, or even a component of biodegradable cutlery, potatoes are leading food crop in world agriculture and have had profound impact on many societies throughout human history.

Public Garden Management

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:38:46 +0000

Public gardens are in the forefront of organizations committed to promoting the conservation of plants and their habitats, developing sustainable environmental management practices, and providing green spaces where urban residents can reconnect with the natural world. In a Chats in the Stacks book talk presented at Mann Library on September 15, 2011, Donald Rakow, the Elizabeth Newman Wilds Director of Cornell Plantations and Director of the Cornell Graduate Program in Public Garden Leadership, talks about his latest book, Public Garden Management, co-authore

Fly-Fishing in the Finger Lakes

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 12:23:52 +0000

In a reunion talk at Mann Library in June 2011, angling master Michael Lenetsky of the Leon Chandler Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Ithaca, NY introduces the year-round fishing opportunities in the Finger Lakes region for fly fishing enthusiasts of all levels.

The CIARD Initiative

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:19:49 +0000

In a presentation given at Mann Library in May 2011, FAO’s Dr. Johannes Keizer reviews some of the work of the Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for Development (CIARD) initiative to make agricultural research information publicly available and accessible to all. This includes collaborating with numerous international organizations to make distributed data and information repositories interoperable.

Consuming Mexican Labor

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:42:15 +0000

Mexican migration is a highly contentious issue in the eyes of many North Americans, and every generation seems to construct the northward flow of labor as a brand new social problem. In a Chats in the Stacks book talk at Mann Library, Cornell professor of Latino studies Ronald Mize and Ithaca College professor of sociology Alicia Swords highlight research presented in their new book to explore the social relations that define how corporations, consumers, and states involve Mexican immigrant laborers in the politics of production and consumption.

Emerging Markets

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 02:45:21 +0000

Led by a set of large and dynamic countries—including Brazil, China, India, and Russia—emerging market economies have achieved a dominant economic presence in the world. However, the financial crisis of 2007-09 and the worldwide recession that followed cast a pall over the notion that EMEs had become self-reliant and decoupled from demand conditions in and financial flows from advanced countries.

Democracy and Higher Education

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:50:54 +0000

Of all the issues in need of attention at this moment in the history of American higher education, few are as important as the status and future of its public mission, purposes and work. Scott Peters takes this issue up in his newest book, Democracy and Higher Education, discussed in a Chats in the Stacks book talk at Mann Library on March 31, 2011.

Watchful Weighing

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:51:37 +0000

Not long after the turn of the century, home economists, physicians, and public health workers made the height-weight chart into a household term. Historian Rachel Moran examines the spread of tables in schools, agricultural extension programs, and home economics curriculum. By the early 1920s, experts were debating the balance between the benefits and dangers of height-weight charts, and questioning the charts that many of them had helped popularize.

Feed Your Pet Right

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:33:09 +0000

Human nutrition expert and author of the critically acclaimed What to Eat, Marion Nestle, Ph.D., M.P.H., has joined forces with Cornell animal nutrition expert Malden C. Nesheim to write Feed Your Pet Right, the first complete, research-based guide to selecting the best, most healthful foods for your cat or dog.

Honeybee Democracy

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:24:02 +0000

In his newest book, professor of neurobiology and behavior Thomas Seeley presents insights offered by years of close observation of how honeybees find new homes. For the honeybee, finding and moving into a new home is a challenge that takes place each year and bears life-or-death consequences for the entire swarm.

Losing Paradise

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:18:22 +0000

Losing Paradise presents case studies from across the Mediterranean region to provide an interdisciplinary framework for understanding problems of diminished and polluted water supplies. Stressing the importance of culture and history in addressing the Mediterranean water crisis, the authors demonstrate the need for an integrated legal, social and scientific management system appropriate to each country’s stage of development and cultural heritage.

Health Care Turning Point

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:11:32 +0000

Employer-based health insurance practiced in the United States today creates insecurity for American workers and saddles American companies with high costs that undermine their competitiveness against international firms. Few would argue the system needs serious reform, yet opinions on appropriate solutions differ widely. In his new book, Health Care Turning Point, health policy expert Roger Battistella of the Dept.

Thinking at Every Desk

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:41:13 +0000

Frustrated that their university students arrive unable to think, Dr. Laura Colosi of the College of Human Ecology’s Family Life & Development Center at Cornell University and Dr. Derek Cabrera of the Research Institute for Thinking in Education set out on a journey to change schools by bringing the results of their research into the real world classroom environment. The book "Thinking at Every Desk" is a snapshot of their continued work with educators and schools across America. At a 'Chats in the Stacks' book talk at Mann Library, Drs.

Brushes with Genius

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:06:48 +0000

At a presentation ceremony on August 6, 2010. Cornell professor of molecular biology and former Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Susan Henry presented to the Rare and Manuscript Collection of Cornell University Library an ear of corn and accompanying notes from the research lab of famed geneticist and Nobel Laureate Barbara McClintock ’23, M.A. ’25, Ph.D. ’27. Together with Dr. Murphy, a panel of scientists including biology and history of science professor Dr. Will Provine, emeritus professor of plant breeding Dr.

A. D. White on Beauty

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:51:07 +0000

Andrew Dickson White believed that the built environment of a university should reflect high standards of beauty and good aesthetics. In this Reunion 2010 lecture at Mann Library, historian Carol Kammen, who has written a number of books on Cornell’s history, presents a lecture that highlights the vision held by founder White in planning the Cornell University campus.

A video of this book talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Out of the Teeming Sea

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:53:58 +0000

Cornell University is one of a handful of academic institutions in the world with an extensive collection of glass invertebrates created by renowned 19th century glass artists Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka (of Harvard Glass Flowers fame). Drew Harvell, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and marine biologist, leads the curation and restoration of this extraordinary collection. In this reunion lecture at Mann Library in June 2010, Dr.

The Finger Lakes Wine Industry Reinvents Itself

Wed, 26 May 2010 16:06:44 +0000

Over 40 varieties of grapes are grown in the 10,000 acres under production in the Finger Lakes. Weaving together biological facts about our grape varieties with the history of the Finger Lakes wine industry, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station horticultural research Tim Martinson, contributing author to Wine Grape Production in Eastern North America (NRAES, 2008), presents a talk that explains why perhaps the world's most diverse collection of wine grapes exists right here in the Finger Lakes.

Dr. Asa Gray and His Finger Lakes Chum

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:26:14 +0000

Historian and physician Dr. Dan Weinstock discusses the correspondence and friendship between pioneering American botanist Asa Gray and his friend, physician and amateur botanical collector Nathan Wright Folwell of Ovid, New York. Presented are highlights from Asa Gray’s training and career and the contributions made to his botanical research through the collecting expeditions undertaken by Dr. Folwell.

A video of this lecture is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

American Vernacular

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:00:06 +0000

In their newest book, Herbert Gottfried (Dept. of Landscape Architecture) and Jan Jennings (Dept.

The Homemaker and the Home Economist

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:41:00 +0000

In a talk co-sponsored by Mann Library and the College of Human Ecology, recipient of the 2009 CHE Fellowship in the History of Home Economics Anna Flaming describes how home economists proposed a positive and diverse definition of the American homemaker. Through secondary and collegiate education and organized outreach to homemakers, home economists became important arbiters of American understandings of housewifery. Simultaneously, many home economists worked to defy stereotypes that equated home economics with housewifery and attempted to update the image of the discipline by

Bioelectrochemical Systems

Wed, 26 May 2010 15:09:25 +0000

Professor of biological and environmental engineering Lars Angenent co-edited and contributed to Bioelectrochemical Systems (IWA Publishing, 2010), which puts a spotlight on promising technologies currently taking shape on the clean energy and waste management frontiers. In this Chats in the Stacks book talk at Mann Library, Dr. Angenent explains what a bioelectrochemical system is, gives examples of its useful application, and highlights current research on wastewater-to-product conversion and biosensors being pursued in the Angenent lab.

The Traveling Tulip

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:19:42 +0000

As part of Ithaca’s 2010 Light in Winter festival Chad Miller (PhD candidate, Dept. of Horticulture) presents a lecture on the detailed history of the tulip, from its origin in Asia, to modern cultivation, to its place as a favored bouquet on a festive dinner table.

A video of this Light in Winter talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Health Care Reform

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:14:06 +0000

Health reform remains a work in progress. In a talk co-sponsored by Cornell University's College of Human Ecology and Mann Library on November 30, 2009, faculty members from the Department of Policy Analysis and Management discuss the current debate on health care reform in the U.S.. The discussion provides a comparison of legislative bills passed by the U.S.

Context-Aware Mobile Computing

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:29:46 +0000

Great potential exists for ubiquitous mobile computing to inform and develop the social experiences and relations that play out in community spaces. Yet, the transformative benefits of this technology are often lost because of underlying design that doesn’t account for complex human-technology interactions occurring in context. Professor of communication Dr. Geri Gay highlights results of recent research to reflect on the promise of context-aware mobile technologies for realizing an active rather than passive role for the people who use them.

Plant Cell Biology

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:45:50 +0000

The cell is the basic unit of life--but what constitutes life and what makes it possible? Cornell professor of plant biology Dr. Randy Wayne presents a discussion of an approach to plant cell biology that crosses a rich variety of disciplines in the study of life, presents great moments of discovery in biology, and encourages students to build on this work to embark on their own explorations that will further our understanding of the cellular basis of life.

For the Rock Record

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:00:00 +0000

In conjunction with a Cornell University Library celebration of Darwin’s impact on the life sciences, Cornell geologist Warren Allmon highlights the record of life’s evolving complexity—and the argument for Darwinian evolutionary theory—that is found in the earth’s rocks.

A video of this book talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Poetry reading by Frank Robinson and Tom Clausen

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Poets Frank Robinson of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art and Tom Clausen of Mann celebrate National Poetry Month with a reading of haiku, senryu and tanka at Mann Library and commentary touching on the characteristics of each form.

A video of this poetry reading is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Westcott’s Plant Disease Handbook

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Now in its 7th edition, Wescott’s Plant Disease Handbook is known as a must-have resource for academic plant science programs and an indispensable guide for practicing landscape professionals and master gardeners. Dr. Ken Horst highlights the intriguing history of this classic work.

A video of this book talk is also available on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

A Growing College, redux:

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:00:00 +0000

In 1969, after 5 years of deliberation and planning, Cornell's College of Home Economics became the College of Human Ecology. Gwen Kay, Associate Professor of History at SUNY Oswego and 2008 recipient of the Cornell CHE Fellowship in the History of Home Economics, examines how and why the new name came into being, and what the hopes were for the new college.

A video of this talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Rural Retirement Migration

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:00:00 +0000

While most people entering retirement are residentially stable, those who do migrate are most likely to move to rural communities. Development sociologists David Brown and Nina Glasgow highlight the challenges and opportunities presented by migration at older ages both for successful aging and for rural community development.

A video of this book talk is viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Light & Video Microscopy

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Plant biologist Randy Wayne brings together mathematics, physics, and the history of science to reflect on the foundations of microscopy, the development of modern imaging systems and their practical application in cell biology.

A video of this book talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

The College on Wheels and Post WWII Extreme Home Makeovers

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Karen Dunn-Haley, 2007 recipient of the College of Human Ecology’s History of Home Economics Fellowship, examines the history of post-War Cornell extension demonstration trains and their impact in bringing principles of modern home design into the everyday life of American households.

A video of this talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Turfwork!

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:00:00 +0000

In telling the story of a group project that transformed a green expanse of Cornell's farm research fields into a living work of art, artist and horticulture extension associate Marcia Eames-Sheavly and recent Cornell graduates Sven Kalim and Flisa Stevenson share thoughts on drawing from a diversity of strengths and perspectives for a large scale, collaborative project

Saving Forests, Protecting People?

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Calls to conserve rapidly disappearing forest lands around the world have been urgent over recent decades, but official programs for forest conservation have been unevenly successful. Citing a comparative study of forest conservation areas in Costa Rica and Honduras, professor of development sociology Max Pfeffer looks at key factors behind these mixed results.

Poetry reading by Frank Robinson

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:00:00 +0000

In celebration of National Poetry Month at Mann Library, poet and director of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum Frank Robinson reads haiku poetry written through different years and stages of life.

The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Stephen Kress of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology presents tips and how-to guidance for nurturing native plant communities to create thriving, beautiful natural landscapes filled with color and bird song the whole year through.

A video of this book talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

The Cornell eClips Collection

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Harnessing powerful communication tools of the iPod and YouTube era, the Cornell eClips collection offers a large collection of video clips and podcasts documenting interviews with leaders in business, government and nonprofits. Professor of applied economics and management Deborah Streeter discusses the success of this program in bringing the authentic voices of entrepreneurship into the classroom.

A video of this talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Child Language

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:00:00 +0000

How do humans learn languages? Why do we learn them at all? Human development scholar Barbara Lust presents highlights from her new book exploring human language development, noting recent discoveries about child language acquisition from the fields of linguistics, developmental psychology and cognitive science.

A video of this book talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Contributions to the History of Herpetology

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:00:00 +0000

Professor of neurbiology and behavior Kraig Adler presents some highlights from his 2007 book to describe the lives of key figures in the history of the study of herpetology, the socio-cultural contexts of their work, and the central role played in herpetology’s history by faculty and students who've taught and studied at Cornell.

"To Make More Useful"

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 21:00:00 +0000

Architectural historian Mary Anne Beecher explores the historic development and design implications of storage elements in the 19th and 20th century American home, reflecting on the influence that American home economics education had on the evolution of modern American storage design.

A video of this talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Wired Shut

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:00:00 +0000

Communication professor Tarleton Gillespie takes a closer look behind the battle smoke of current disputes over copyright to suggest some sobering trends. The shift to “technical copy protection” being promoted by commercial interests and lawmakers coincides with a growing commercialization of culture and points to a profound loss in the democratic potential of a network society.

A video of this book talk is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Poetry Reading by Fred Muratori

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:00:00 +0000

Cornell librarian and poet Fred Muratori reads poetry selections that have appeared diverse journals and other published anthologies and in his poetry collections "The Possible" and "Despite Repeated Warnings."

Engaging Campus and Community

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 21:00:00 +0000

Education professor Scott Peters describes promising academic-external partner collaborations addressing problems of agricultural, environmental and community sustainability at six different institutions in the national state and land-grant university system.

Forsaken Females

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 21:00:00 +0000

In a book talk timed to commemorate International Women’s Day, professor of policy analysis and management Andrea Parrot and health educator Nina Cummings explore the diverse ideologies and cultural conditions that promote violence against women. Their book offers compelling stories that women themselves share about the physical, emotional and economic impact of their victimization.

A video of this book talk is also available on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Pleasure and Comfort

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 21:00:00 +0000

Professor Jordan Le Bel of Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration explores the history of chocolate consumption from the Olmec Indians of Mexico to the current frenzy for all things "chocolate-y."

A video of this talk is also available on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Mindless Eating

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 21:00:00 +0000

Reporting on the results of his widely acclaimed recent research, economist Brian Wansink explores the effects of different marketing "tricks" on the volume of food people consume.

Book talk video is also viewable on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

The Science of False Memory

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 21:00:00 +0000

Charles Brainerd and Valerie Reyna of Cornell’s Dept. of Human Development review a comprehensive trove of studies in cognitive science to highlight what is currently known about why people can remember things differently from what really took place and why some people have vivid memories of things that never took place at all.

A video of this book talk is also available on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Forest Farming

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:00:00 +0000

Forest farming is the sustained cultivation and harvest of fruits, mushrooms, nuts and plant medicinals under a thriving tree canopy. In a special lecture at Mann Library, horticulture professor Ken Mudge reflects on the promise of forest farming for the northeastern United States.

A video of this talk is also available on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

First-Person Cornell

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 21:00:00 +0000

Historian Carol Kammen and a team of graduates from her Knight Wrighting Seminar at Cornell bring 150 years of diverse Cornell student experiences to life, reading from student letters and diary entries of the past as well as email and blog postings of today.

A video of this book talk is also available on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Salamander Crossing

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 21:00:00 +0000

Kraig Adler of Cornell's Dept. of Neurobiology and Behavior highlights current efforts to preserve the Ringwood area amphibian population and discusses the problem of dwindling amphibian populations in global perspective.

A video of this talk is also available on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Poetry Reading by Route 9 Haiku Group

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:00:00 +0000

Poets Yu Chang, Tom Clausen, John Stevenson, and Hilary Tann of the Route 9 Haiku Group set the stage for celebrating National Poetry Month at Mann Library, reading haiku and related poetic forms and sharing reflections on creating poetry and friendship.

A video of this poetry reading is also available on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Cheap & Tasteful Dwellings

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 21:00:00 +0000

In her 2005 book, Jan Jennings describes a series house design competitions for architects in the 1879 to 1909 period, noting the insight they offer on the development of architectural history and practice in the U.S.

A video of this book talk is also available on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

Food Aid After Fifty Years

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 21:00:00 +0000

Drawing from his acclaimed 2005 book, Chris Barrett reflects on the real impact of US food aid practices in Africa and other countries and argues for simple changes that could make American food aid relief far more effective than it is.

A video of this book talk is also available on Mann Library's Youtube channel.

The Grail Bird

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 21:00:00 +0000

Tim Gallagher shares some of the excitement caused by the suspected sighting of a bird long thought to be an extinct species in the swamplands of eastern Arkansas.