The next University Forum lecture will offer a historical look at gambling in preRevolutionary France.

Thomas M. Kavanagh, a French professor at the University of California, Berkeley, will speak on "Cards and Culture in 18th-Century France" on Feb. 25. In his lecture, Kavanagh will discuss the history of gambling as an aristocratic pastime, drawing a contrast between gambling as a social practice in pre-Revoluntionary France and gaming in the themed casinos of contemporary Las Vegas.

On March 1, UNLV nursing professor Susan Meacham and UNLV emeritus professor of chemistry David Emerson will present "The Straight Skinny on Fats: Where Are We?"

In their lecture, they will attempt to untangle the confusion surrounding saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and trans-fatty acids. They will also share current information on the role of fats in diet and health.

Both lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History. All University Forum lectures are free and open to the public.

The University Forum lecture series is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and is underwritten by the UNLV Foundation. For more information on the series, call 895-3401.