Local Briefs

Pop Talks event Wednesday at University of Idaho

A slew of speakers will deliver brief, back-to-back presentations Wednesday in Moscow during the University of Idaho’s inaugural Pop Talks event.

The Power of Possibility presentations will run 3-4 p.m. at the Bruce M. Pitman Center Vandal Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public. It can also be viewed remotely at uidaho.edu/news/ui-live.

Each presenter will speak for fewer than five minutes, but those minutes will be “jam-packed with information about the research, exploration and innovation that the researchers are conducting” at UI, according to a news release from the university.

At the end of the event, students attending in person will have a chance to win two $1,000 scholarships. All attendees, in person and virtual, will be able to vote for their favorite talk.

Speakers include: Omi Hodwitz, who will explore the impact of prison education and its effects on recidivism; Jason Barnes, who will discuss his project with NASA to build an octocopter to explore the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan; Brian Johnson, who will talk about the tricky dynamics of the modern power grid; Shelley McGuire, who will present her work on the perfect human nutrition delivery system; Sydney Freeman Jr., who will talk about building a thriving community where belonging is paramount; Jaap Vos, who will ask pertinent questions about the future of Idaho based on research into population demographics and community planning; Renee Love, who will delve into her work with mammoths and other prehistoric mammals of the Ice Age; and Ryan Long, who will talk about how his work with large mammals all over the world helps improve management of animals and human-animal interactions.

ASUI student leaders announced candidate endorsements

The Associated Students University of Idaho (ASUI), the University of Idaho’s official student body government, announced Thursday they endorse Bryce Blankenship, Drew Davis and Sandra Kelly for the Nov. 7 Moscow City Council election.

ASUI held a forum Oct. 17 for all six Moscow City Council candidates, who answered questions about the University of Idaho, mental health and how they view their role, if elected, to elevate student voices and concerns at the city level. The ASUI also collected a completed questionnaire from each candidate and members of the ASUI Senate and Presidential Cabinet considered each candidate’s responses to the questionnaire and at the forum.

A resolution was put on the Senate floor on Oct. 18 to endorse Blankenship, Davis and Kelly. The resolution passed unanimously Wednesday.

Other candidates running for three available seats are Joe Campbell, Evan Holmes and Nathan Tupper. The top three vote-getters are elected.

Family Promise anniversary celebration Thursday

Family Promise will celebrate 10 years of serving families who are homeless at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Best Western Plus University Inn in Moscow. Volunteers, donors, faith communities and supporters will be honored for their collaborative efforts to address poverty issues. A new initiative to help families will also be announced

The public is welcome and an RSVP to (208) 882-0165 is appreciated.

Climate panel discussion scheduled Thursday via Zoom

Members of the local Citizens’ Climate Lobby will compose a panel and discuss climate change issues from 7-9 p.m. Thursday via Zoom.

The event is organized by the League of Women Voters of Pullman and the Zoom link can be found on the group’s website, lwvpullman.org.

Panel participants will include Azdren Coma, Kynan Witters Hicks and Judy Meuth. Topics will include local efforts to address climate change including tree planting projects in Pullman, disseminating information on accessing resources for sustainable home energy use and working with local government and universities to address climate issues.