The University of Canterbury holds free public lectures on campus every Wednesday night from 6.30pm.
Upcoming Lectures.
| 22 May | What if... Schools had more tools? Find out more... Presenter: Professor Bill Evans
There is an emerging body of information that suggests that the skills needed by teachers of regular and special needs children are quite similar. This presentation will examine empirically-based teaching skills and techniques and their use in regular and special education settings. Of particular importance will be how these skills are perceived by teachers and how they can be systematically built into teacher training programmes. |
| 29 May | What if... We took sustainability more seriously? Find out more... Presenter: David Round
For several decades ‘sustainability’ has been accepted by both environmentalists and official agencies as the desirable objective of environmental policy and law. The Resource Management Act 1991 declares that its one and only purpose is ‘sustainable management’. For whatever reason, however, the objective may not actually be being achieved. Could this have something to do with the concept itself? Does ‘sustainability’ actually have any real meaning? If we want to live ’sustainably’ in future, how should we go about expressing our wishes? And how should we actually live? |
| 5 June | What if... The North Korean regime collapsed? Find out more... Presenter: Professor Alex Tan
Since the end of the Korean War, the Korean peninsula continues to be one of the most dangerous flashpoints in Asia. Despite the seeming ‘peace’ in the area, events in the last month surrounding North Korean missile tests serve as a raw reminder of the volatility of the peninsula. In this lecture, we examine how the stalemate in the Korean peninsula persists and the implications of drastic changes to the status quo. |
| 12 June | What if... we could detect type 2 diabetes before it was a problem? Find out more... Presenter: Professor Geoff Chase
Diabetes, and in particular type 2 diabetes, is an increasing epidemic worldwide. As populations age and live longer, diabetes is increasing, exacerbated by the impact of our increasingly sedentary lives. The result is a “diabetic tsunami” with increasing economic costs to healthcare systems and rising costs to society from long-term exposure to the disease. There is currently no cure for type 2 diabetes, although better treatments and care are available. The only true solution is to have less type 2 diabetes. This talk will introduce you to the real size of the “diabetes tsunami” and its impact on healthcare systems and the economy. It will also show you how technology and engineering is helping reduce the effects of this disease on our society. |
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Lecture videos
We aim to make all lectures available online subject to receiving permission from the speaker/s to do this, and subject to no technical problems with the recording of the event. Videos are normally available 10 working days after the event.
View videos from the 2012 and 2013 What if Wednesdays lecture series on the University of Canterbury What if Wednesdays You Tube channel. The most recent videos are at the bottom of the page.
Venue and Parking
The Undercroft is located at basement level of the James Hight Library in the centre of campus.
Map Details. The closest parking area is the Clyde Car Park (corner Clyde Road & Arts Road). Map Details.
Further Information
If you have a question or want to find out more, contact us events@canterbury.ac.nz
