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Common Reading Program Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement

WSU Common Reading Book Refuge Focuses on Global Refugee Policy

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Refuge: Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World, by Alexander Betts and Paul Collier.

Refuge: Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World, by Alexander Betts and Paul Collier.Refuge: Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World, by Alexander Betts and Paul Collier.Pullman, Wash.—The book selected as the Washington State University common reading for first-year and other students in 2019-20 is Refuge: Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World, announced Karen Weathermon, director of first-year programs in WSU Undergraduate Education.

Refuge will be used at the Pullman, Tri-Cities, Spokane, and Global campuses. Published in 2017 by Oxford University Press, it co-authored by Oxford alumni and professors, Alexander Betts, 39, a political scientist, and Sir Paul Collier, 70, a development economist.

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Oct. 22: Soonish Authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith Will Deliver Common Reading Invited Lecture

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Soonish authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith.

Soonish authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith depicted in cartoon form.Soonish authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith depicted in cartoon form.PULLMAN, Wash.—Washington State University announces that the twelfth annual Common Reading Invited Lecture will be presented at 7 p.m. Mon., Oct. 22, in CUB M.G. Carey Senior Ballroom, featuring Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. The event is open at no cost to everyone; a book signing will follow the lecture.

“How Little We Know: Why Most of Our Opinions Are Probably Wrong” is the title chosen for the lecture by the authors of this year’s common reading book at the college. Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything is being used in dozens of WSU classes for first-year and other students. Extracurricular programming and events help to take the conversation about book topics beyond the classrooms. » More …

Now Open: Nominations for 2019-20 Common Reading Book (through Nov. 2)

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United nations, fish market, and a computer lock representing the 2019-2021 common reading theme of global stability, scarcity, and security.

United nations, fish market, and a computer lock representing the 2019-2021 common reading theme of global stability, scarcity, and security.PULLMAN, Wash.—Have you read a good book lately that lends itself to a theme of “global stability, scarcity, and security” and would be suitable for freshman classes and programming at Washington State University?

The Common Reading Program announces that nominations for the 2019-20 book are now open. An online form may now be used to submit nominations, which will be accepted through Nov. 2. » More …

Sept. 19: WSU researcher Jacob Leachman discusses hydrogen technology and the future at Common Reading lecture

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Common Reading lecturer Jacob Leachman.

Common Reading lecturer Jacob Leachman.Common Reading lecturer Jacob Leachman.PULLMAN, Wash.— Learn about hydrogen as a practical and sustainable energy source at a Washington State University Common Reading lecture titled “The HOW of a hydrogen organized Washington (and World!)” presented by Jacob Leachman Wed., Sept. 19 at 4:30 p.m. in CUE 203.

Leachman is an associate professor of mechanical and materials engineering, and director WSU’s Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research (HYPER) Lab. The goal of the lab is to efficiently advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of hydrogen systems. » More …

Author of “The Naked Roommate” to speak at WSU on Sept. 13, pizza following lecture

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Harlan Cohen, a nationally syndicated advice columnist , will discuss “The Naked Truth About Life in College” at Washington State University Sept. 13 at 4:30 p.m. in CUE 203. A reception with pizza will follow in the CUE atrium.

This event is sponsored by Washington GEAR UP and the WSU Common Reading Program, a part of the Office of Undergraduate Education.

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“The Law and Emerging Technologies” to be presented Sept. 5 by Jacob Rooksby, new Gonzaga law dean

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Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law Jacob Rooksby.

Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law Jacob Rooksby.Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law Jacob Rooksby.PULLMAN, Wash.— Jacob H. Rooksby, dean of the Gonzaga University School of Law, will deliver the inaugural Common Reading lecture for 2018-19 on Wed., Sept. 5, at 5 p.m. in CUE 203 at Washington State University.

The public is welcome at no charge to this event, which is cosponsored by the Common Reading Program with the WSU Pre-Law Resource Center.

First-year and other WSU students are reading the common book, Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything for many classes, and enjoying extracurricular programming related to it. The lecture series allows students to learn from experts in their fields about topics raised in the book. Rooksby’s presentation will be the first guest lecture of many this 2018-19 academic year. » More …

Common Reading Book for 2018-19 “Soonish” Explores Future Technologies

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Soonish: ten emerging technologies that'll improve and/or ruin everything, by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith.

Soonish: ten emerging technologies that'll improve and/or ruin everything, by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith.Soonish: ten emerging technologies that'll improve and/or ruin everything, by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith.PULLMAN, Wash.—Washington State University announced that its 2018-19 common read for first-year and other students is Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything.

Published by Penguin Random House in 2017, it is written by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. Kelly is a bioscientist, adjunct faculty member at Rice University, and natural-science podcaster. Her husband, Zach, is a cartoonist and creator of the popular geek webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. His work adds new dimensions to her text in Soonish.

The 10 different technological developments explored in the book examine what may be coming “soonish.” » More …

WSU Common Reading presents David Shier on “Being Human Virtually” March 21

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March 16, 2018

PULLMAN, Wash.–David Shier, associate dean of the Honors College at Washington State University, will present “Being Human Virtually” at 7:00 p.m. Wed., March 21, in Todd 130, hosted by the Common Reading Program. The lecture is free and open to the public. https://commonreading.wsu.edu/.

The lecture develops topics Shier taught in his fall Honors course, “Me, Myself, and AI.” » More …

MIS Professor Robert Crossler presents “Data Pitfalls in a Digital World: Protect Yourself” Mar. 6

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PULLMAN, Wash.—Robert Crossler, assistant professor of Management Information Systems, will present “Data Pitfalls in a Digital World: Protect Yourself” at 4:30 p.m. Tue., March 6, in CUE 203, hosted by Washington State University’s Common Reading Program. The lecture is free and open to the public.  https://commonreading.wsu.edu/

In this presentation, Crossler will consider the ramifications of putting personal data on the Internet, and what individuals can do to be protected from related hazards. He will also provide insight into various career opportunities, across a variety of disciplines, emerging to address these data challenges. » More …

WSU Common Reading presents Kimberly A. Houser on the legal consequences of VR and AI Feb. 26

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February 22, 2018

Pullman, Wash.­–­­­­­­­ Kimberly A. Houser, a technology attorney and WSU business law professor, will present “Legal Issues with Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence” at 4:00 p.m. Mon., Feb. 26, in CUE 202, as part of WSU’s Common Reading Program. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Houser researches and presents on the legal aspects of new technologies and privacy law. She made national headlines in fall of 2017 for her study examining ways that the IRS is breaking privacy laws by mining data from social media and public data pools. In this presentation Houser will talk about how the fast-paced developments in the largely unregulated fields of VR and AI lead to gaps in the law. » More …