Happening in March

Happening in March

By University Communications
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Science City returns to the Tucson Festival of Books this weekend with presentations, demonstrations, exhibits, talks and more.
Science City returns to the Tucson Festival of Books this weekend with presentations, demonstrations, exhibits, talks and more.
Pima County Cooperative Extension's Garden Kitchen will offer three hands-on cooking classes in March, including one covering the basics of handling kitchen knives.
Pima County Cooperative Extension's Garden Kitchen will offer three hands-on cooking classes in March, including one covering the basics of handling kitchen knives.
The UA Alumni Association will hold its annual Cats at the Capitol event on March 11.
The UA Alumni Association will hold its annual Cats at the Capitol event on March 11.
Alexander Fisher, professor and acting director at the University of British Columbia School of Music, will give this year's Town and Gown Lecture. The lecture is presented by the Division for Late Medieval and Reformation Studies.
Alexander Fisher, professor and acting director at the University of British Columbia School of Music, will give this year's Town and Gown Lecture. The lecture is presented by the Division for Late Medieval and Reformation Studies.
The annual TEDxUofA will feature seven speakers from the UA community. This year's event is themed "aberration."
The annual TEDxUofA will feature seven speakers from the UA community. This year's event is themed "aberration."

While some of the recent weather might not be the best indicator that spring is near, the arrival of March is probably a good reminder.

This month also marks the return of the Tucson Festival of Books, which has a variety of UA-led offerings, including scientific presentations and children's literature events that parents shouldn't miss. Later in March, catch TEDxUofA, cooking classes, a day of children's activities at the Poetry Center, and more.

If these events aren't what you're looking for to ring in spring, check out the UA Master Calendar.

Tucson Festival of Books | March 2 and 3

Tucson's signature event for promoting literacy and the love of reading returns to campus for the 11th straight year, and there are plenty of UA events to check out.

Science City, presented by the College of Science and the BIO5 Institute, will offer demonstrations and activities that will ignite your senses and engage your mind, as well as presentations by UA researchers and authors for audiences of all ages. Science City also includes tours of campus museums and labs, including the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab, the UA Insect Collection and the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research.

Science City runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days of the festival.

UA BookStores will host two Storytime Character events during the festival, starting with the Storybook Parade on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The parade will feature children's book characters such as Pete the Cat, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Esteban the Magnificent. Participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character or bring their favorite book to march with.

On Sunday morning, "Pete the Cat" creator James Dean will be at the Character Breakfast in the Student Union Memorial Center's South Ballroom to talk about his drawing process and to give a demonstration of his work. Attendees will get to meet Pete and have their books signed.

The Arizona State Museum will hold a free open house to the public as part of the festival and Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month. Attendees will have a chance to go behind the scenes, meet curators and tour collections areas in the largest state-run archaeological curation facility in the nation. The event also will feature hands-on activities and sales of Native American art and used books.

The open house runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the museum's north building.

Garden Kitchen Cooking Classes | March 9, 16 and 27

Want to sharpen your skills with that set of kitchen knives, spice up your Italian recipes or learn how to make your own bread? Pima County Cooperative Extension's Garden Kitchen will cover all these topics in classes throughout March.

The knife skills class on March 9 will cover basic culinary cutting techniques such as the mince, dice, brunoise, bâtonnet and julienne techniques. Participants will get to practice with large food items, such as a head of cabbage, as well as onions and delicate herbs. Proper ways to maintain and sharpen knives also will be covered, and a light Mexican-style lunch will be served.

On March 16, an Italian-themed cooking class will cover ways to mix up your usual Italian dishes, but without the pasta. The class will include gluten-free and healthier options, such as arugula spinach pesto, orange fennel salad, stewed white fish with capers and olives, and creamy polenta.

At the bread-baking class on March 27, participants will leave knowing the proper mixing techniques and basics for making a quick whole wheat bread at home. The menu also includes naan flatbread and soda bread. A variety of toppings will be provided to create lunch using the breads.

All classes are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Garden Kitchen, 2205 S. Fourth Ave. The price of $55 per class includes lunch. All proceeds support Pima County Cooperative Extension's free programming.

'Eureka! Recognizing When Research Gives Rise to Invention' | March 7

UA researchers regularly find solutions to everyday problems, but some may not know if or how their work can be turned into an invention. This one-hour panel discussion, presented by Tech Launch Arizona, will help participants develop the mindset of an inventor.

The talk will feature three UA researchers and entrepreneurs who have worked with TLA to commercialize inventions that came from their research: Roberta Diaz Brinton, director of the UA Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Mohab Ibrahim, program director of the Pain Medicine Fellowship, and director of the Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic and associate professor of anesthesiology, and Louise Hecker, associate professor of medicine and research investigator for the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. Lisa Lin, TLA licensing manager for the College of Medicine – Tucson, will moderate the discussion.

The talk also will include information about free TLA services, including assistance with invention reports and management of intellectual property protection.

The event will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the Thomas W. Keating Bioresearch Building, Room 103. A light lunch will be provided for those who register by March 3.

Cats at the Capitol | March 11

The UA Alumni Association will hold its annual event to thank Arizona legislators for their support and to demonstrate the University's impact on the state and beyond. Special guests include UA President Robert C. Robbins. and UA Alumni Association President Melinda Burke.

Interactive exhibits will feature a variety of University units and organizations, including the College of Medicine – Phoenix, UA Global, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Science and the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. Exhibits will include hands-on demonstrations of medical equipment, as well as presentations by Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and 4-H youth programs.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the House Lawn at the Arizona State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St., in Phoenix. At 1:15 p.m., Robbins and Wilbur Wildcat will be introduced on the House floor.

2019 Town and Gown Lecture – 'Sound Propaganda: On Sound and Music in Early Modern Religious Persuasion' | March 12

The Division for Late Medieval and Reformation Studies' Town and Gown Lecture has brought renowned scholars to the UA for public talks since 1985.

This year's lecture will feature Alexander Fisher, professor and acting director at the University of British Columbia School of Music. Fisher's talk will explore the role of sound in religious persuasion in Germany during the early modern period, from roughly the late 15th century to the early 18th century.

Fisher, a specialist in music, sound and religious culture in early modern Germany, has authored several books, as well as articles in publications including the Journal of Musicology and the Journal of the Royal Musical Association.

His talk will begin at 7 p.m. in Holsclaw Hall at the Fred Fox School of Music.

TEDxUofA | March 15

TEDxUofA returns this month with talks by seven faculty members and students.

At the independently organized event, speakers give talks styled after TED, a nonprofit that holds conferences and talks around the world.

The theme for this year's event is "aberration," referring to "a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome." The talks aim to challenge the audience's expectations and preconceptions about topics related to science, law, philosophy and more.

The talks are:

  • "Why Innovation is Overrated"Matthew Mars, assistant professor of agricultural leadership and of education policy studies and practice in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • "Is Marriage the New Deviance?"Albertina Antognini, associate professor of law in the James E. Rogers College of Law
  • "Where Is the Love?"Bryant Valencia, higher education doctoral student
  • "There Is No Planet B"David Galbraith, professor of plant science and biomedical engineering in the School of Plant Sciences and a member of the BIO5 Institute
  • "The Aftermath of Activism: Boycott vs. Buycott"Nooshin Warren, assistant professor of marketing in the Eller College of Management
  • "Transforming Students Into Global Citizens"Albrecht Classen, University Distinguished Professor of German Studies
  • "Parkinson's Disease: Fold or Fail"Jeremiah Pate, biochemistry undergraduate

The event runs from 3-7 p.m. at Environment and Natural Resources 2, 1064 E. Lowell St. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite. All proceeds go toward next year's event.

Kids Create | March 23

Presented by the Poetry Center, Kids Create is three hours of workshops, music, activities and refreshments for children 10 years old and younger. The day begins with an hourlong creative writing workshop, with different versions offered for different age groups.

The workshops will be followed by a breakfast, featuring healthy food (plus coffee for the grown-ups), and live local music that both kids and adults will enjoy. Drop-in writing activities, games and typewriters also will be available in the center's library. All children must be supervised by a parent.

Kids Create will be held at 10 a.m. at the Helen S. Schaefer Building, 1508 E. Helen St. The event is free and open to the public.

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