Kenneth Shonk, History, presented "Ireland of the East? Ireland and the Constitutional Mission of Burma, 1947–1962" at The Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs on Friday, Oct. 2 in La Crosse, WI.

Kenneth Shonk, History, presented "Our Standing Matters--Irish governmental support for 'A Sense of Ireland', 1979-1980" at the Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Conference for Irish Studies on Sept. 26 at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana.

Theresa Holford, Murphy Library; Pete Rydberg, VPA; Kjerstin Lang, University Marketing & Communications; Taylor Cole Miller, Communication Studies; Jason Anfinsen, Murphy Library; Paul Lacount, University Centers; and Jeff Kerkman, University Marketing & Communications; coordinated "TEDxUWLaCrosse" on Oct. 1 in La Crosse, WI.

A huge thank-you to everyone who helped bring TEDxUWLaCrosse to life on Oct. 1 in The Bluffs, Student Union. Special thanks to TEDxUWLaCrosse committee, as well as student speakers, student workers and student volunteers who helped with videography, registration and more.

There are so many moving parts to an event like this, and whenever something needed to be figured out, someone always jumped in to do it. Everyone contributed in different ways, and together a show was created that looked deceptively effortless from the audience’s perspective. There’s a lot of trust, a lot of competence and, thankfully, a healthy amount of humor involved in pulling it all off.

Niti Mishra, Geography & Environmental Science, presented "The World Between the Pixels" at TEDxUWLaCrosse on Oct. 1 in La Crosse, WI. Mishra shared a fascinating look at how drones, LiDAR and thermal imaging can help us see environmental change in new ways. His talk took us from the Himalayan Mountain Range to right here at home, showing how better tools for observing our world can lead to better decisions about protecting it. The vivid visuals and real-world examples made complex technology accessible, engaging and meaningful. Thank you, Niti, for bringing your expertise, curiosity and enthusiasm to the TEDx stage — and for reminding us that sometimes seeing the world differently starts with simply having the right tools to look more closely.

Jennifer Williams, Art, presented "Finding Creative Flow in the Driftless" at TEDxUWLaCrosse on Oct. 1 in La Crosse, WI. Thank you to Jennifer for inviting us to slow down, pay attention and see the Driftless landscape in a new way. Through her stories and artistic practice, Jennifer showed how drawing, painting and simply observing the natural world can create a sense of creative flow — a space where distractions fade, curiosity takes over and we become more present in the moment. Her talk was a beautiful reminder that creativity isn’t just about making something; it can also be a way of experiencing the world more deeply. Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your art, perspective and curiosity with the TEDxUWLaCrosse audience and reminding us to take a little more time to look closely at the world around us. Stay tuned for her video, coming out later this month.

Nainil Mukesh Jariwala, Accountancy & Business Analytics student; Avery Manthe, Communication Studies & Public Administration student; and Lexi Mincoff, Management & Legal Studies student; presented as part of  TEDxUWLaCrosse on Oct. 1 in La Crosse, WI.

A special shoutout to the three UWL students who helped bring this year’s “Driftless” theme to life on the TEDxUWLaCrosse stage by sharing what the word means to them. Woven throughout the event, their short talks gave the audience a student perspective and reminded us that the Driftless Region is more than a place on a map — it can represent experiences, connections, memories and dreams for the future.

Thank you for stepping onto the TEDx stage, sharing your personal stories and perspectives, and helping create a meaningful thread throughout the event. Your voices helped make TEDxUWLaCrosse feel uniquely connected to the UWL community.

Heather Walder, Archaeology & Anthropology, served as a facilitator for a public book talk. Walder and Dr. William Green, Beloit College Anthropology Professor Emeritus, discussed Green's recently published scholarly text "This is the Route of My Forefathers: the 1837 Ioway Map" at Pearl Street Books on Oct. 6. The event was co-sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center.

John Kelly, Geography & Environmental Science, was named to the editorial board of The Geography Teacher (journal) on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Rosalie DeFino, Educational Studies; and Jennifer Kosiak, Jenni Mccool and Maggie Mchugh, all Mathematics & Statistics; co-authored the article "Moving Math Forward for Wisconsin: Recommendations for Learning and Long-Term Growth," self-published on Sept. 29 by Creative Commons. This report, written in collaboration with mathematics educators and researchers from UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison, responds to increasing interest in state legislation focused on numeracy and mathematics.