Randy Rasmussen Memorial Lecture Series

Dinosaur Molecules: Exploring how soft tissues and biologic molecules can persist in dinosaur bones

Wednesday, April 3rd at 6:30pm, Chester Fritz Library Room 406

We have known for over a decade that original cells, tissues (such as blood vessels), and proteins can occasionally survive in fossils, but the question of how remains mysterious. Jurassic Park suggested amber could be a source of ancient DNA, but is that really possible? In his talk, he will present several examples of such exceptional preservation, review what we know about burial circumstances that can promote long-term molecular stability, and highlight questions which still perplex molecular paleontologists.

Join us to hear Dr. Paul Ullmann from the Harold Hamm School of Geology and Geological Engineering on how dinosaur fossils can contain the building blocks of life and inspire our imaginations, shaping both popular culture and scientific discovery.

Food and refreshments will be served!

The Beatles in Academia: Reflections on Teaching Popular Music in Higher Education

Thursday, October 19th at 7:00pm, Chester Fritz Library Room 406

Since The Beatles broke up in 1970, they have become a cultural institution, with tourist sites in Liverpool, Hamburg, and London, countless fictionalized and documentary films, and even a Cirque du Soleil show dedicated to their music in Las Vegas. Their influence has especially reached the academic world, as they were one of the first pop groups to be “taken seriously” by college professors in the late 1960s. Since then the field of Beatles Studies has come into its own; one can even get a graduate degree in the topic from the University of Liverpool. 

In this lecture, Dr. Christopher Gable, Teaching Associate Professor in the Music Department, will reflect on his recent experience teaching a seminar on the band, and also report on his presentation in April at the Popular Culture Association National Conference in San Antonio.

This presentation will also include a live performance of arrangements of Beatles songs by Music graduate students. 

Understanding Science Fiction

April 13th, 2023 at 4:30pm in room 406 at the Chester Fritz Library or Zoom Webinar

Join the Chester Fritz Library in welcoming author and editor Eric Carl Link, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. In this illustrated talk, “Understanding Science Fiction,” Link will introduce audiences to the field of science fiction film and literature.  During this talk, he will answer the question what is science fiction? and talk about the language of science fiction, including such concepts as alloplastic and autoplastic societies, alterity, the novum, distance markers, and cybernetics.  He will discuss the impact of contemporary techno-philosophical ideas such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the technological singularity hypothesis on modern science fiction, and give a tour through many of the most common science fiction plot structures, from the alien contact story to the alternative history to the dying-earth scenario.

This lecture requires no specialized knowledge of literary theory: it is intended for broad academic audiences. Food and refreshments will be served. 

Occult Adventures in the Chester Fritz and the Digital Press @UND

January 26th, 2023 at 4:30pm in room 406 at the Chester Fritz Library or Zoom Webinar

Chester Fritz Library will host Brian Urlacher, chair of Political Science at UND, for a reading and discussion of his new book, The Library of Chester Fritz, which recasts the career of CFL's namesake as a globetrotting dark adventurer. We will be joined by William Caraher from the Digital Press at the University of North Dakota - which published The Library of Chester Fritz - and Patrick Henry from the Department of English for a panel discussion of their plans to advance scholarly and literary publishing at UND in a changing publishing landscape.

This is the first of lectures and presentations honoring the life and legacy of Randy Rasmussen, a beloved and longtime staff member at CFL - and a scholar of horror movies. Food and refreshments will be served.