801 Lecture Series: Alie Ward
Tuesday, September 8 at 3 PM
Special Collections Library, Room 271
https://calendar.uga.edu/event/1801-lecture-series-an-afternoon-with-alie-ward

What can squirrels, sleep, pain and awe teach us about the world — and ourselves?

Alie Ward has built a devoted audience by following curiosity wherever it leads. As host of the acclaimed podcast “Ologies,” she asks leading researchers the questions many of us have wondered but never thought to ask, turning complex subjects into conversations that are accessible, surprising, and deeply human. Join the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences for a lively conversation about science, storytelling and what happens when we stay curious. Ward will explore how she finds the human story inside complex subjects, why seemingly simple questions can lead to unexpected discoveries and how communicators can make science accessible without making it less rigorous.

The moderated Q&A will be led by J. Marshall Shepherd, associate dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, director of UGA’s Atmospheric Sciences Program, Regents Professor and Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor.

The da Vinci’s Cube: Arts-Integrated Pathways to Human-Centered Innovation
Wednesday, September 16 at noon
https://a2ru.org/event/the-da-vincis-cube-arts-integrated-pathways-to-human-centered-innovation/

As an a2ru member institution, UGA students, faculty, and staff are eligible for free registration.

What role do the arts play in fostering innovation? This webinar introduces the da Vinci’s Cube, a new framework that places human experience — emotion, sensory perception, empathy, and aesthetics — at the center of discovery and innovation. Developed with colleagues at Leonardo and Northeastern University and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts Research Labs program, this work explores how human feelings and senses help reveal possibilities that conventional innovation models often miss.

Extending Pasteur’s Quadrant, the da Vinci’s Cube adds a new dimension — contemplation of sentiment — highlighting the value of arts-informed inquiry in identifying opportunities, framing problems, and generating novel ideas. The session will examine implications for arts-integrative research, interdisciplinary collaboration, higher education, talent development, and organizational innovation, offering a new lens on how artistic and scientific ways of knowing can work together to advance creativity and impact.

Webinar: Making the Most of Your a2ru Membership
Thursday, September 24 at 3PM
https://a2ru.org/event/making-the-most-of-your-a2ru-membership/

We’re inviting all a2ru members to join us for a interactive and informal information session to meet a2ru staff, leaders, and network colleagues. We’ll kick off the academic year by sharing case studies about how member institutions have leveraged their a2ru memberships to advance scholarship, creative practice, and strategic initiatives on their campuses, and we’ll outline all your your a2ru benefits so that you — and your campus communities — can take full advantage of being a part of the network!