Presenter: Timothy Johnson, Horace T. Morse Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law, University of Minnesota

Come and discuss the current U.S. Supreme Court term that ended in June and where the Court may go from here.

Presenter: Shawn L. Williams Ed.D., Dean of Police Training & Education, Alexandria Technical & Community College

Delve into the dynamic landscape of current police standards and their far-reaching effects across the state of Minnesota. With a spotlight on the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board and the Minnesota Law Enforcement Education Reform Initiative, we explore the evolving framework shaping law enforcement practices. Amidst these regulatory shifts, educational institutions like ATCC (Alexandria Technical & Community College) find themselves at a pivotal juncture, tasked with navigating the complexities of compliance and adaptation. Join us as we navigate the intricacies of current police standards and explore ATCC's role in shaping the future of law enforcement education and practice.

Presenter: Timothy Schoonhoven PE, retired City Engineer, WSN BSCE, Montana State University

We are at an unprecedented time in the history of our planet. For the first time ever, our actions as humans are having worldwide consequences. We are clearly at a crossroad where the actions of this generation will have a tremendous impact on all future generations. Humans are capable of great things – of tremendous advances and equally tremendous harm.

This session will showcase where we are, how we got there and our possible paths forward. It will present some sobering facts of our impact on the environment and some real reasons for hope for a sustainable common future.

Presenter: Louis Johnston, Associate Professor of Economics, College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University

Election Year Economics

Presenter: Kelly Hughes, Economics Instructor Liberal Arts Department, Alexandria Technical & Community College

The Federal Reserve 101: Structure and Impact on Money Supply and Interest Rates

Presenter: Linda Wessel-Beaver, Professor (retired, Ad honorem) Department of Agroenvironmental Sciences University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, USA

We know fall is here when piles of pumpkins and squash appear, and “pumpkin spice” flavorings and aromas are added to everything from candles to lattes to ice cream. About 10,000 years ago, pumpkins and squash became the first domesticated crops in the Americas. In this talk we will learn how crop evolution, domestication and plant breeding transformed wild gourds with bitter, inedible fruits into the huge variety of squashes and pumpkins we enjoy today, including the 2,749-pound world record pumpkin grown in Minnesota last year. We will also learn what distinguishes a pumpkin from a squash, how pumpkins and squash are used in the Americas and around the world, and hear some interesting history about Jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin pie. 

Presenter: Julie Hanson, Licensed HS science teacher (Iowa); Master's Degrees in Horticulture and Education; PhD in Food Science

We expect to see large, wall-mounted periodic tables in science classrooms, but this internationally recognized symbol of science has now found its way onto t-shirts, coffee cups, quilts, pens, and much more. The concept of a “periodic” table, with patterns and trends and immense amounts of information, has also spawned a wide range of amusing creations such as periodic tables of desserts and comic books. During this presentation, we’ll explore the history, development, and governance of the modern Periodic Table of the Elements while also reviewing the fundamentals of chemistry embedded in this ingenious invention.

Presenter: Lori Lahlum, Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Professor & Graduate Program Coordinator Department of History and Gender Studies, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Equality at the Ballot Box