Skip to main content
Intellect

"Culture Matters" topic of BYU Global Focus Series in September

The Global Focus Series sponsored by the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies at Brigham Young University will feature a lecture each Wednesday at noon Sept. 8 through 29 in 238 Herald R. Clark Building.

The theme for the fall series is "Culture Matters," and all events are free.

The schedule includes the following:

Daniel C. Peterson, director of BYU's Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts and associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies, Sept. 8, "Behind the Headline: Islamic Background of Current Events."

Valerie M. Hudson, BYU professor of political science, Wednesday, Sept. 15, "Bare Branches: Security Implications of Asia's Surplus Male Population."

Dodge Billingsley, documentary film producer and director, Wednesday, Sept. 22, a discussion of his five-film series "Beyond the Border." Produced by Combat Films and Research, the first of the series will be broadcast later that night at 9 and 9:30 p.m. on KBYU-TV (Channel 11).

Roger Gibbins, Palmer Lecturer in Canadian Studies honoree at BYU and president and CEO of Canada West Foundation, Wednesday, Sept. 29, "Troubled Partnership: Canadian Reflections on the North American Community."

For information on news, events, archived lectures or a Kennedy Center calendar, visit http://kennedy.byu.edu, or contact Lee Simons at (801) 422-2652.

Writer: Lee Simons

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"

Wildflowers not wildfires: How BYU and Provo City are helping to restore Rock Canyon Trailhead

July 10, 2025
At Rock Canyon Trailhead in Provo, Utah, BYU researchers are fighting fires with flowers. By replacing a problematic weed called cheatgrass with wildflowers, students and faculty are working to protect and restore one of Provo’s most popular hiking spots.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Wildfires in residential areas are on the rise; why hydrants and the water system behind them were never meant to stop those fires

July 01, 2025
BYU professor Rob Sowby teaches and studies environmental engineering, urban water infrastructure and sustainability. He has particular expertise in the planning, design, construction and operation of public water systems. That expertise has been increasingly important (and regularly sought out) in the wake of apocalyptic wildfires that have taxed those public water systems.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Meet the BYU math student helping make wildfire predictions faster and smarter

June 25, 2025
Using machine learning and math, a BYU student improved a key tool firefighters rely on during wildfire season
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=