Lecture series
When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays
Where: Gainesville Civic Center, 830 Green St. NE, Gainesville
How much: Free
Schedule
Monday: "Jazz is America's Music and Why that Matters" by Andy David, head of the department of performing arts
Sept. 27: "The Economy in Perspective: Where are we now? Where have we been? Where are we going?" by John L. Scott, associate professor and director of the Center for Economic Education
Oct. 4: "Engaging Science Students K-12: Motivating Tomorrow's Scientists" by Michael B. McGinnis, chemistry professor
Oct. 11: "Mobilizing Creativity: Artmaking, Community and an Airstream Trailer" by Chris Dockery, assistant professor of art education
Oct. 18: "Leadership in Uncertain Times" by Ruben Boling, director of the Center for the Future of North Georgia, and Wendy Walker, assistant business professor
Oct. 25: "Preparing Teachers for 21st Century Students" by Barbara Dixon, coordinator for post-baccalaureate education studies
Nov. 1: "Childhood Obesity" by Elaine Taylor, associate nursing professor
Lectures also are presented Wednesdays at Hampton Park Library in Cumming and Thursdays at North Georgia College & State University's Hoag Student Center in Dahlonega.
North Georgia College & State University is hosting a series of public lectures designed to both entertain and inform beginning Monday.
The talks will center on educational and regional issues, NGCSU spokeswoman Kate Maine said.
"People will learn a lot about what our university is doing as far as making an impact on the region," she said. "Part of our mission and outreach is to provide opportunities for lifelong learning in the community."
The topics were selected by faculty based on what they believed would provide the most interest to the community, Maine said.
Elaine Taylor, associate professor of nursing, will lecture on childhood obesity, which has more than tripled in the last 30 years, according to the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention.
"Childhood obesity is a problem many families are dealing with now," Maine said. "We haven't seen that presented locally, and we thought it would be an interest to the community."
Maine said the lecture, "The Economy in Perspective," by associate professor John L. Scott, will give audience members a snapshot of the economic situation regionally and nationally.
"It will provide some information for community members about how they might move forward with some best practices to deal with this, as we try to recover from the recession," Maine said.
The first installment of the series Monday will take a look at jazz music and features Andy David, head of the department of performing arts at NGCSU. David said he plans to infuse live and recorded music into the lecture, including drum and trumpet demonstrations.
"Jazz has always been a kind of reflection of what America is all about," he said. "It's a painless way of understanding ourselves, and it's a combination of the countries and people that made America happen."
David said the lectures are about making a connection between the academic world and the real world.
"The focus is to make university and community relations better and give the community something of value from the university," he said.
Other upcoming talks include topics such as leadership and preparing teachers for 21st century students.
The free lectures are scheduled every Monday for the next seven weeks at the Gainesville Civic Center. Talks also will be held Wednesdays in Cumming and Thursdays at the university in Dahlonega.