The UNLV College of Liberal Arts presents the fall University Forum Lecture Series. Free and open to the public, these events bring experts from UNLV and across the nation to discuss a range of political, social and cultural issues.

Reno, Las Vegas and the Strip: A Tale of Three Cities, 1945 - 2014

This presentation will analyze the development of Reno and Las Vegas since 1945 and describe how the Las Vegas Strip converted the county's portion of the metropolitan area into its own informal city run by the Clark County commissioners.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 3
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Eugene Moehring, professor of history, UNLV

The Radical Right Has a Radical Plan: What Taking Back the Country Really Means

Author Claire Conner will chronicle her experiences growing up in a Birch family and discuss the current plans of anti-government libertarians, religious zealots, and old John Birchers to take America back 100 years.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Claire Conner, author of "Wrapped in the Flag"

What are Constitutions For?

Law professor Richard S. Kay will discuss the foundations of American constitutionalism and their implications for implementing the law of the U.S. Constitution and for perpetuating our political institutions.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Richard S. Kay, professor of law, University of Connecticut School of Law

Becoming Insomniac: How Sleeplessness Alarmed Modernity

Drawing a connection between technology and insomnia, this talk explores the history and phenomena of "modern insomnia."

• When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Lee Scrivner, visiting lecturer in humanities, University of Rosario, Columbia

Under the Castles' Cannon: The Archaeology of Africa in the Atlantic World

This talk will explore the impacts of Africa's interactions within the wider Atlantic and examine how the Atlantic trade affected and transformed West African societies.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Christopher DeCorse, professor of anthropology, Syracuse University

The Benefits of Lifelong Learning for Well-being

The panel will discuss a sociological view of the relationship between education and well-being across three important life stages: schooling, work and retirement.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speakers: Takashi Yamashita, Jennifer Keene and Erick Lopez, UNLV sociology department

The Evolution of Area 51

The speaker will present an insider's account of the genesis of the facility within Area 51, including declassified photo and video. Discussion will include the facility's accomplishments and how it became a permanent technological laboratory for exploiting enemy technology, as well as testing and evaluating advancements in American military technology.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Thornton D. "TD" Barnes, former executive director, Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame

Homes of Stone, Place of Dreams: The Ancient People of Flagstaff

The speaker will discuss the archaeology of the Flagstaff region, focusing on when ancient peoples came to the area and changes in their society as they moved from hunting and gathering to being pueblo farmers.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Christian Downum, professor and director of Anthropology Laboratories, Northern Arizona University

The Immune System and Sepsis Under the Microscope

This presentation will describe the types of immune cells involved in sepsis and discuss treatments under investigation to boost these immune cells.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speakers: Barbara St. Pierre Schneider, associate professor, UNLV School of Nursing; and Charles C. Caldwell, associate professor, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

The American Women's Antarctic Expedition: Anything if the Mind Allows It

Merging outdoor expedition leadership with rich life experiences, Sunniva Sorby shares a personal and powerful message about the inherent need to take risks and makes a case for continually innovating as we navigate change.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Sunniva Sorby, Canadian explorer and lecturer, One Ocean Expeditions, Inc.

Human Trafficking and the Narratives of Modern Slavery

Survivor-activists of modern day slavery are emerging with their stories in what Laura T. Murphy is calling "the new slave narrative." Murphy will discuss the political, religious and economic conditions that influence these new narratives of slavery.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Laura T. Murphy, assistant professor and director of the Modern Slavery Research Project, Loyola University, New Orleans

45 Years in the Desert: Nevada Women's Long Journey to the Ballot Box

To commemorate 100 years since Nevada's male voters allowed Nevada's women voters to vote and hold office, the speaker will describe the process and re-introduce many long-forgotten Nevadans who were instrumental in the long battle to win the vote for Nevada women.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Dana R. Bennett, independent scholar

Just Games: The Racial and Sexual Politics of Testosterone in Women Athletes

Controversial new policies exclude elite women athletes with naturally high testosterone from international competitions. This talk challenges these policies on both scientific and ethical grounds.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Rebecca M. Jordan-Young, associate professor of women's, gender, and sexuality studies, Barnard College, Columbia University

Global Climate Change: What's Going On?

This talk will investigate global climate change from a physicist's perspective and discuss what to expect for the future.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speaker: Michael G. Pravica, associate professor, UNLV department of physics

Fashion and the Changing Face of American Femininity

Cultural historian Deirdre Clemente and clothing connoisseur Corinne Entratter Sidney discuss the evolution of 20th century American fashion and femininity.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8
• Where: Barrick Museum Auditorium
• Speakers: Corinne Entratter Sidney, Grande Dame of Las Vegas Fashion and Deirdre Clemente, UNLV assistant professor of history