Past Classroom Connect Programs
2019 Program Schedule
8:30–9:00 a.m.
Check-in & Continental Breakfast
9:10–9:15 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
9:15–10:00 a.m.
The Future of Work
Speaker: Margaret Beier, associate professor of industrial and organizational psychology
10:15–11:00 a.m.
Red Texas, Purple Texas or Blue Texas: The Future of Texas Politics
Speaker: Mark Jones, professor of political science and Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies
11:10 a.m.–12:10 p.m.
Concurrent Morning Lectures: Choose 1
Erupting Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Landsliding in Hawaii: The 2018 Crisis and Beyond at Kilauea Volcano
Speaker: Julia Morgan, professor of earth, environmental and planetary sciences
Board Service Fundamentals: Where the Future of Philanthropy Begins
Speaker: Leslie Wang, associate director for the Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership
The Ethics and Economics of Paralegal Use in the 21st Century Law Firm
Speakers: Lori Swann '85 and Clay Crawford, instructors in Rice's Glasscock School of Continuing Studies' Paralegal Certificate Program
*This session is approved for a CLE Ethics credit.
Bringing History to Life: Poetry's Relationship to the Iconic Past
Speaker: Joseph Campana, Alan Dugald McKillop professor of English
Navigating the Waters of the 2018 Tax Law
Speaker: Scott Lumpkin, Philanthropic Advisor and former vice chancellor of advancement at the University of Denver
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Lunch & Learn: "Inspired or Depressing? Crafting Public Policy in Texas Today and Beyond"
Keynote Speaker: Ed Emmett '71, professor in the practice, former Harris County Judge, former member of the Texas House of Representatives, and former Commissioner at the Interstate Commerce Commission
1:50–3:00 p.m.
Concurrent Afternoon Experiences: Choose 1
Human Evolution in the 21st Century and Beyond
Speaker: Scott Solomon, associate teaching professor of biosciences
Introduction to Mindfulness: Informing your Future Practice
Speaker: Elizabeth Slator, associate director of programs at the Gibbs Recreation Center
The Great American Songbook
Speaker: Arthur Gottschalk, professor of composition and theory, with pianist Brian Connelly and soprano Susan Lorette Dunn
The Intersection of Architecture and Computers: Future Trends Built on Overturning Classical Roots
Speaker: William Cannady, professor of architecture and civil and environmental engineering
3:15–4:15 p.m.
Afternoon Plenary: Creativity Up Close: An Inside Look into How Ideas Evolve
Keynote speaker: Anthony Brandt, professor and chair of composition and theory, with student performances by Samuel Park (violin), Evie Chen (violin), Erica Schwartz (viola) and Katherine Audas (cello)
4:15–5:00 p.m.
Closing Networking Dessert and Wine Reception, powered by Sallyportal
Watch the Classroom Connect 2019 Presentations
Watch past Classroom Connect programs.
Classroom Connect 2018 Program:
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.: Check-in & continental breakfast available
9:10 - 9:15 a.m.: Welcome Remarks
9:15 - 10:00 a.m: Journey to Space
Featured Speaker: Peggy A. Whitson '85, NASA Astronaut
>>Peggy Whitson's presentation
10:15 - 11:00 a.m.: Economics, Climate and Flooding Resilience: The Future of Houston
Speaker: Jim Blackburn, professor in the practice of environmental law, Department of Civil and Environmental
>>Jim Blackburn's presentation
11:10 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.: Concurrent Morning Lectures: Choose 1
- Prophet Muhammad's Relations with Christians - Lessons for our Time
Speaker: Craig Considine, lecturer, Department of Sociology
>> CLICK HERE for a copy of the presentation
- Reflections on Monet: Water and Reflections
Speaker: Leo Costello, associate professor of art history, Department of Art History
- Pursuing Mindfulness in a Distracted Work World
Speaker: Erik Dane, associate professor of management, Jones Graduate School of Business
12:15 - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch & Learn: When Culture Kills: Well-Being and the Cultural Ideology of Honor
Keynote Speaker: Ryan Brown, Managing director for measurement, Doerr Institute for New Leaders
>>Ryan Brown's presentation
1:50 - 3:00 p.m.: Concurrent Afternoon Experiences: Choose 1
- Birds, Bugs, and Botany: A Guided Walk Through Rice's Harris Gully
Speaker: Cin-Ty Lee, professor and chair of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
- Stephen Sondheim: Broadway Musicals' Foremost Composer/ Lyricist
Speaker: Debra Dickinson, Art Teacher of Opera Studies for Acting and Movement
- Green TEA Approach: Modern Feng Shui Practice
Speaker: C.C. Lee, AIA, LEED AP, AMDP; President & CEO of STOA Architects
- Advances in Robotics
Speaker: Lydia Kavraki, Noah Harding Professor of Computer Science, professor of bioengineering, professor of electrical
and computer engineering, professor of mechanical Engineering
- Thinking Out Loud: Problem Solving with Simple Objects
Speaker: Matthew Wettergreen '08, Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen lecturer
3:15 - 4:15 p.m.
Afternoon Plenary: Trails and Tribulations of Entrepreneurship
Keynote speakers: Craig Ceccanti '08, co-founder and CEO of Pinot's Palette and Bo Bothe '05, president and CEO of BrandExtract
>>Craig Ceccanti '08 and Bo Bothe '05 presentation
4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Closing Showcase & Networking Reception
Classroom Connect 2017 Program:
8:30 - 9:15 a.m.: Check-in & continental breakfast available
9:20 - 9:40 a.m.: Dr. John B. Boles '65, William P. Hobby Professor of History, will give a welcome address about how the teaching and learning landscape has evolved from his time as a Rice student to now serving as a professor.
9:45 - 10:15 a.m: Dr. Robert F. Curl, University Professor Emeritus, Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor of Natural Sciences Emeritus, Professor of Chemistry Emertius, will give a keynote presentation about automation in the 21st century. Dr. Curl shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1996 with Harold Kroto and Richard Smalley for their discovery of the carbon cage compounds.
>>Dr. Curl's presentation
10:15 - 10:45 a.m.: Dr. Genevera Allen '06, assistant professor of statistics and recipient of Forbes magazine's 30 Under 30 in Science and Health Care, will give a keynote presentation about the field of data science and how it enables medical discoveries.
>>Dr. Allen's presentation
11 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Concurrent Sessions (choose one of the following)
- Dr. John Anderson, W. Maurice Ewing Professor in Oceanography, will offer a concurrent session about how scientists are measuring the changes in ice sheets and the implications for the future.
- Dr. Aysha Pollnitz, Assistant Professor of History, will provide a discussion about Niccolo Machiavelli who is famous for his work The Prince and you will play historical detective to decide for yourself if he was really a democrat or a republican.
- Dr. Matthew Wettergreen '08, Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) lecturer, will offer a hands-on session in the OEDK where you will learn how to solve problems with physical objects that can be found around your own house. (Please note: this session will be held at the OEDK and attendees who wish to attend will need to walk from the Anderson-Clarke Center to this program.)
12:15 - 1:30 p.m.: Lunch and Learn — While enjoying a buffet lunch, the Honorable Annise Parker '78, Rice professor in the practice, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Neighborhood Centers, Inc. and former mayor of Houston, will deliver a keynote address titled "Why Cities Matter" where she will discuss the role of the new city-state in driving culture, paradiplomacy and the world economy.
1:50 - 3:00 p.m.: Concurrent Sessions (choose one of the following)
- Ben Kamins, professor of bassoon, and Janet Rarick, associate professor of music career development, will lead a hands-on session about the Alexander Technique — a process that develops one's ability to use conscious thought to achieve balance in the body.
- Dr. Andre Droxler, professor of Earth science, will lead a session about half-billion year old microbial reefs in central Texas.
- Daisy Ames, lecturer and visiting studio critic in the School of Architecture, will lead a roundtable discussion about the impact of emerging economies on the design of housing in Houston and the transformation from isolated neighborhoods to the desire for new living models in downtown.
3:15 - 4:15 p.m.: Brock Wagner '87, the founder and owner of Saint Arnold Brewing, and Scott Birdwell '75, the owner of DeFalco's Home Wine & Beer Spirits, will lead an afternoon keynote session about the science and business behind beer making and breweries. During the lively session, a variety of complimentary Saint Arnold beer will be available to enjoy for those 21 and above.
4:15 - 5:30 p.m.: Moody Center for the Arts Showcase — Enjoy exploring the Moody Center for the Arts' exhibits in action and learning from gallery guides in the Struth Exhibition and the Tilt Brush Gallery. Complimentary wine, beer, and food will be available on the Anderson-Clarke Center patio adjacent to the Moody Center for the Arts.