The Science of Evil: How the circuits in our brain determine the decisions we make (Cleveland L1)
Jared Schwartzer, Associate Professor of Psychology and Education, Director of the Science Center, and Chair of Geology & Geography

150 Years of Art History at Mount Holyoke (Gamble Auditorium)
Jessica Maier, Associate Professor of Art History and Chair of Art History

The Geothermal Project at Mount Holyoke College (Cleveland L2)
Karla Youngblood, Associate Vice President for Facilities Management

What is action research? (Cleveland L3)
Ren-yo Hwang, Assistant Professor of Gender Studies and Critical Race and Political Economy

Course Descriptions:

The Science of Evil: How the circuits in our brain determine the decisions we make (Cleveland L1)
Advances in our understanding of the human brain have reshaped our thinking about good and evil. Why do we make the decisions we do? Are we in control of our actions? As we learn more about our brain’s ability to influence our moral reasoning, science is looking deeper into the extent to which we can or cannot be held accountable for our innate biology. This class will examine the underlying brain circuits that shape our decisions and question the use of brain science to influence our legal system.

150 Years of Art History at Mount Holyoke (Gamble Auditorium)
Art History is one of the oldest departments at Mount Holyoke and has always been central to the College's liberal arts mission. Drawing on wonderful material held by Archives and Special Collections, this lecture will trace the fascinating evolution of Art History at Mount Holyoke from the 1870s to today. Along the way we will touch on the origins of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum as well as the Studio Art and Classics departments, the origins of which were all closely aligned with Art History. We will also explore how the department and art collections evolved along with the campus and its architecture.  

The Geothermal Project at Mount Holyoke College (Cleveland L2)
What is taking place on Skinner Green? Join for this special Back to Class session, where alum Karla Youngblood FP'99, associate vice president for facilities management, shares about the geothermal project on campus. Learn about this once-in-a-century endeavor, which will reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030, significantly advancing the College's goal of carbon neutrality by 2037. 

What is action research? (Cleveland L3)
This session will introduce participants to the world of action research. From Participatory Action Research (PAR), social movement activist research, abolitionist research to decolonizing methods of research, this interactive session will offer a brief introduction to how such models of activating community-centered research, as both a horizontal and relational practice, can challenge dominant systems of power. Participants will have the opportunity to work through these concepts in small team-based activities via case studies to consider how engaging in action research is possible and necessary as rooted beyond the college classroom.