Fall 2019 Edition
Alumni & Friends Magazine
OHIO gifts share knowledge, wisdom, and love
Not many small Appalachian towns can attract such notable speakers as feminist activist Gloria Steinem or National Public Radio鈥檚 Ira Flatow. But two of 51社区鈥檚 public lecture series have been bringing dozens of renowned figures like these to Athens for decades, enriching the relationship between OHIO and its surrounding communities through the open exchange of knowledge.
By Peter Shooner | October 15, 2019
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Not many small Appalachian towns can attract such notable speakers as feminist activist Gloria Steinem or National Public Radio鈥檚 Ira Flatow. But two of 51社区鈥檚 public lecture series have been bringing dozens of renowned figures like these to Athens for decades, enriching the relationship between OHIO and its surrounding communities through the open exchange of knowledge.
The Kennedy Lecture Series, established in 1962 by a gift from Edwin L., AB 鈥26, HON 鈥65, and Ruth Kennedy, BSED 鈥30, hosts speakers who appeal to a broad cross-section of the OHIO community to discuss significant issues in American life.
The Frontiers in Science Lecture Series was born from the generosity of Jeanette Grasselli Brown, BS 鈥50, HON 鈥78, and her husband, Glenn Brown, in 1991. It hosts speakers who are adept at sharing their research with a general audience.
Both seek to give the greater OHIO community access鈥攁t no cost鈥攖o 鈥減eople who have important things to say,鈥 says Judith Rhue, chair of both series鈥 speaker selection committee.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes [these gifts] so special 鈥 because it鈥檚 not private, only available to a few people who have the opportunity to go,鈥 says Rhue, a professor of family medicine. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really available to everyone on campus and the community surrounding it.鈥
Though Grasselli Brown retired from Standard Oil Company in 1989, her scientific ambitions and philanthropic support for multiple organizations remains. Photo by Dustin Franz, BSVC 鈥10
Grasselli Brown and her husband established the Frontiers in Science series due to a desire to share their own relationship with the field, which is rooted in their long careers in science, with the broader public.
鈥淏ecause we are scientists, as world or local issues were arising, we were very dismayed by the lack of understanding鈥攐ften even in the media鈥攐f scientific issues,鈥 says Grasselli Brown, a former University trustee who retired as director of corporate research and analytical science for BP America.
鈥淪cience is fun. It really is,鈥 she continues. 鈥淚 hope that learning a little bit more from experts 鈥 would make people say, 鈥楳aybe I鈥檇 like to do that.鈥欌
For Rhue, both the Frontiers in Science and the Kennedy Lecture Series exemplify OHIO鈥檚 role in its immediate community, as well as within society at large.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a public university, and so our goal is to educate and to share that education for the public good. This is one aspect of that,鈥 she says.
Feature photograph: OHIO鈥檚 Kennedy Lecture Series welcomed Julie Cohen, co-producer and director of the Oscar-nominated documentary, 鈥淩BG,鈥 in September. Photo by Ellee Achten, BSJ 鈥14, MA 鈥17
