Topics from "Alternative Fuels" to "Poe" in MTSU Lectures!

Feb 02, 2013 at 10:55 am by bryan


Longtime MTSU alternative fuels researcher Dr. Cliff Ricketts and a distant family member’s take on the late poet Edgar Allan Poe are just two of the presenters participating in the spring 2013 Honors Lecture Series.

“Innovation and Design” is the spring series theme, which is both for a University Honors College class and free and open to the public. The lecture series runs from 3 to 3:55 p.m. every Monday (except March 11 because of spring break) through April 15th in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building Room 106.

ADVERTISEMENT

MTSU alternative fuels researcher Dr. Cliff Ricketts and a distant family member’s take on the late poet Edgar Allan Poe are just two of the presenters for the spring 2013 MTSU Honors Lecture Series.

MTSU faculty member and interim Honors College associate dean Dr. Philip Phillips once again has organized a special lecture Series for the semester.

From the Monday, February 4th, “Discovering Your Leadership Strengths” presentation by Dr. Deana Raffo in MTSU management and marketing to the April 15th “Roundtable Discussion on Manufacturing and Distribution,” the lectures will incorporate various aspects of the series theme.

“The series will feature multi-sector perspectives on the role of ‘Innovation and Design’ in the process of identifying and solving ‘real-world- problems,” Phillips, the series organizer, said. “As creative initiative intersects with past, present, and future technologies in diverse cultural venues, critical or ‘design’ thinking will be investigated as the pivotal component of success.”

Along the way, distinguished off- and on-campus presenters will include:

• Harry Lee Poe, who will share “Edgar Allan Poe and the Universe” on Feb. 11. Harry Lee Poe holds the Charles Colson Chair of Faith and Culture at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., author of numerous books and an indirect descendant of the family of Edgar Allan Poe.

• Dr. H. Lee Martin, who will discuss “The Impact of Innovation on Society — a Historical Perspective” on Feb. 25. Son of the late Paul W. Martin Sr., H. Lee Martin leads the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Engineering Entrepreneurship Program.

• Ricketts, who will talk about “Running Engines Off Sun and Water: Science or Science Fiction” on March 4. The School of Agribusiness and Agriscience professor’s talk will come four days before beginning a three-car, coast-to-coast trip on energy from the sun and hydrogen from water (no gasoline or ethanol will be used).

Among items he plans to mention in his presentation, Ricketts said he plans to “discuss the university’s partnership with TVA in order to make the solar production effective and efficient and the university’s demonstration system that it has in place to show how every commuter in the country could drive daily off sun and hydrogen from water.” He also will discuss his March trip.

Phillips and Dr. Janis Brickey, an associate professor in human sciences, will co-moderate.

Class members will be guided through fellowships, scholarships and grants process in the April 22 class. Honors thesis presentations will be made in the April 29 session. 

For more information, CLICK HERE or call 615-898-2152.

Sections: News