September Topic: Peopling the Last New Worlds: The First Colonization of Sahul and the Americas
Speaker: Dr. Iain Davidson
              Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, University of New England, Australia
              Formerly (2008-9) Chair of Australian Studies, Harvard University
Date and Time: Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Location: ELA 227

Abstract: Sahul (Australia and main island of New Guinea) and the Americas were both colonized only by people who were modern in their biology and their behavior, but the outcomes of those colonizations were rather different. After 50 thousand years or so of human occupation, Australia remained “a continent of hunter-gatherers” who never participated to any great extent in the agriculture that emerged early in the northern part of Sahul; the Americas, after perhaps 15 thousand years had some hunter-gatherers but also had seen the emergence of agriculture and at least two of primary states. This paper considers evidence from genetics and archaeology as a source of argument about how the observed diversity of behavior emerged in the two new worlds. It suggests that some of the similarities between the archaeohistories arise from the common cognitive problems posed by the barriers to colonization; the differences arise in part from the different solutions to those cognitive problems.

October Topic: Promotion of Latina Health: Intersectionality of IPV and Risk for HIV/AIDS
Speaker: Dr. Michele Rountree
              Associate Professor, School of Social Work
              The University of Texas at Austin
Date and Time: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 12:30pm
Location: TBD

Abstract: Latina women in the United States are vulnerable to two intersecting public health concerns: intimate partner violence (IPV) and subsequent risk for HIV/AIDS infection. Examination of the cultural and contextual life factors of this understudied population is crucial to developing culturally relevant HIV interventions. Focus groups with Latinas (15 monolingual; 10 bilingual) who have experienced IPV were conducted. Monolingual and bilingual Latinas endorsed that they were concerned about HIV infection, naming partner infidelity and experiences of forced and coerced sex as primary reasons for their concern. However, monolingual participants had lower levels of HIV knowledge, spending much time discussing myths of HIV infection whereas bilingual participants spent more time discussing specific prevention techniques, including challenges related to the violence in their relationships. These findings suggest that HIV/AIDS prevention programs for Latinas need to pay close attention to the different historical, contextual, and cultural experiences of this at-risk group of women.

November Topic: Storytelling and Humor: Opening the Door to Difficult Dialogues About
Social Justice Topics
Speaker: Shane Whalley, LMSW
              Education Coordinator of the Gender and Sexuality Center
              Division of Diversity and Community Engagement
The University of Texas at Austin
Date and Time: Thursday, November, 15, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Location: TBD

Abstract: Were you raised that talking about sex, religion, politics and money were taboo? I was and now I get paid to facilitate conversations on these topics on The University of Texas at Austin campus everyday. What are the tips and tricks I use to open up conversations about difficult topics: storytelling, humor and professional use of self. This presentation will be a combination of facilitation tips, storytelling and information on LGBTQ topics.