LFPL's At the Library Series

Cannabis has been cultivated for thousands of years for durable fibers, nutritious seeds, and psychoactive drugs. Most Cannabis research in the U.S. focuses on the effect of the drug on the human body, but there is much more to Cannabis than the drug. Dr. George Weiblen - scientific director of the Bell Museum of Natural History and Planetarium at the University of Minnesota - is one of few researchers permitted by the federal government to study the genetics of Cannabis and his research challenges opinions on all sides of the public debate about marijuana.Join Dr. Weiblen for a fascinating discussion about the genetics and politics of America’s most controversial plant.Part of the Sigma Xi 2016-2017 Distinguished Lecturer series sponsored by the Louisville Chapter of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.

How to Tame a Fox and Build a Dog with Dr. Lee DugatkinUniversity of Louisville professor and author Lee Dugatkin shares the fascinating story of the science, politics, adventure, and love behind the research of a dedicated team of researchers in Siberia domesticating silver foxes to study the evolution of the dog in real time.Dr. Lee Dugatkin is a professor and university scholar in the biology department at UofL.

In her new book, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean (Rin Tin Tin and The Orchid Thief) reopens the unsolved mystery of the most catastrophic library fire in American history, and delivers a dazzling love letter to a beloved institution—our libraries. Weaving her life-long love of books and reading with the fascinating history of libraries and the sometimes-eccentric characters who run them, Orlean investigates the legendary Los Angeles Public Library fire to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives. She also delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from a metropolitan charitable initiative to a cornerstone of national identity. She reflects on her childhood experiences in libraries; studies arson and the long history of library fires; and she re-examines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the library over thirty years ago. Along the way, she reveals how

Chinese gender equality & LGBTQ activist Li Maizi will lead the discussion. Presented by the World Affairs Council, the U of L Center for Asian Democracy, The Louisville Free Public Library and the Asia Institute Crane House.

Marsha Weinstein discusses the History Of Women’s Suffrage In Louisville.

"The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook," the long-awaited first cookbook from Deb Perelman, the food blogging founder of SmittenKitchen.com, debuted at #2 on the New York Times Bestseller list and features over 100 original recipes, each illustrated with Perelman's own colorful photographs.

Bestselling author Cokie Roberts marks the sesquicentennial of the Civil War with her new book Capital Dames - a look at Washington, D.C. and the experiences, influence, and contributions of its women during this momentous period of American history.

Stephen Foster’s 1852 ballad “My Old Kentucky Home” conjures visions of home as a nurturing, humble environment, but for some Kentuckians during the Gilded Age, home was anything but nurturing. Charlene Fletcher (PhD candidate, Indiana University-Bloomington) will examine family violence in 19th century domestic spaces as she recounts the lives of two African American women from Lexington, Kentucky, Fannie Keys Harvey and Lila B. White, who were incarcerated at the Frankfort Penitentiary after fighting back against their abusive families. Using their stories, Fletcher will present home as a site of confinement for women and children in central Kentucky, an area plagued with various forms of domestic abuse, and pull acts of resistance from the archives to bring awareness to this dark chapter of history. This program is presented by MyLibraryU and the Kentucky History Room.

A presentation by the Anne Braden Center explores the history of the 1954 Louisville controversy when Andrew and Charlotte Wade, an African American family, moved into a segregation-minded majority-white suburb in what is now Shively. The talk explores how the event highlighted the ongoing issues of racism and segregation in Louisville, the role of civil rights activists Carl and Anne Braden in fighting for the Wades and for racial equality, and how the culture of the "Red Scare" was used to reinforce white supremacy.www.blackfreedomwhitealliesredscare.org

On the cusp of the 150th anniversary of that Amendment’s ratification, join us in a discussion with State Representative Charles Booker and the American Civil Liberties Union about the history and current situation of voting rights.

For their 2019-2020 seasons, Actors Theatre and StageOne Family Theatre have both included productions that feature young athletes facing and overcoming personal challenges through sports. Why have these two companies decided to tackle these topics now? How does sport act as a lens through which to dramatize the lives of young people? Panelists include Idris Goodwin, Artistic Director, StageOne Family Theatre; Dr. Kish Cumi Price, Director of Education Policy & Programming, Louisville Urban League; Alexandria Hoefler, Graduate Assistant, Spalding University Women’s Soccer; and Erica Denise, Director of Learning & Creative Engagement, Actors Theatre. The panel will be moderated by Laura Ellis, Senior Producer and Podcast Editor at 89.3 WFPL News Louisville.

Join us for an onstage conversation between State Representative Attica Scott (District 41), the first black woman to serve in the Kentucky General Assembly since 2000, and State Representative Nima Kulkarni (District 40), Kentucky’s first Indian-American state legislator. Kulkarni and Scott will discuss their paths to politics, the hurdles women and people of color face in our society and in electoral politics, and their experiences in Frankfort representing two of the most diverse districts in the state

Will artificial intelligence help or hinder society? What will scientists and engineers need to do to keep AI from causing harm? Many scientists have predicted that humanity will achieve Artificial General Intelligence within the next hundred years. After summarizing the arguments for why AGI may pose significant risk, UofL's Dr. Roman Yampolskiy will survey the field’s proposed responses

Renowned songwriter and performer Will Oldham and celebrated music journalist Alanna Nash share a hometown (Louisville, of course), a love of Kentucky music, and a penchant for insightful observation. In this on-stage conversation, Oldham and Nash will delve into their long careers and reflect on growing up in love with music in Louisville

***Note: Contains explicit language and adult content.*** J.R. Ward is the author of more than thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There are more than fifteen million copies of her novels in print worldwide.

In August 1914 the streets of Paris were eerily empty, devoid of their typical summer tourist crowds. Hurried preparations were made to fortify against an advancing German army. Railway stations were jammed with people attempting to flee. However, a few brave souls chose to remain. Among them was celebrated sculptor Enid Yandell, the daughter of a prominent Louisville family, who was in Paris to complete a piece of public statuary. Enid had the opportunity to return home to the United States but instead chose to throw her lot in with the Parisians. In this MyLibraryU Fast Class, Filson Historical Society associate curator Jana Meyer explores Enid's experiences in Paris during the early weeks of World War I, as well as her subsequent involvement in relief efforts to ease the suffering of French civilians. This program—part of the year-long Enid Yandell: A Life of Art and Activism celebration.

Bruce Cannon Gibney is an American writer and venture capitalist. In his latest book, The Nonsense Factory, the entire legal factory -- from law schools, to judges, bureaucracies, police, and the presidency -- is falling apart

The Violins of Hope are a collection of more than 50 restored instruments played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. These instruments have survived concentration camps, pogroms and many long journeys to tell remarkable stories of injustice, suffering, resilience and survival. During this (BYO) lunch-and-learn program, Avshi Weinstein, son and partner of luthier and project founder Amnon Weinstein, will speak about the project and one of the violins will be used for a live performance featuring a violinist from the Louisville Orchestra. The song played in the middle is Bach Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor – 1st mvt. Adagio

Carolyn Finney, PhD is a storyteller, author and cultural geographer. Her widely-praised first book, Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors (UNC Press 2014) brought her to national attention as a scholar and speaker on race, belonging, environment, narrative and place – on whose story counts and who belongs. She is a former Fulbright scholar and has served on the U.S. National Parks Advisory Board.Previously a faculty member at UK, Finney is now the Environmental Studies Professor of Practice in the Franklin Environmental Center at Middlebury College.

Neighborhoods in Louisville and across the country are undergoing demographic shifts and reinvestment that have led to rising property values, physical changes to the streetscape, and in some cases the displacement of longstanding residents. How has this process impacted Louisville neighborhoods? What are the public policy, economic, and social impacts? A panel moderated by State Representative Charles Booker (D-43) will take on these questions and more. Stacie Williams, director of the Center for Digital Scholarship at the University of Chicago and author of Bizzaro Worlds will join the discussion along with Laura Grabowski, director of the Metro Vacant and Public Property Administration, and members of the Portland community.