International Travel Talks (formerly the International Brown Bag Series) have been an integral part of the Alworth Institute's programming since its inception in 1987. In the fall of 2013, the series was renamed to honor Martha B. Alworth, the spouse of Royal D. Alworth, Jr. The talks provide the audience the opportunity to share in the international travel experiences of numerous individuals from the University, local, national and international communities. Many presentations are travelogues, some are reflections of the current issues confronting a country's people, others capture the cultural character of distant societies, but each allows a unique insight into places many would never have the opportunity to visit.
The objectives of these talks are to:
- help fulfill the overall objectives of the Alworth Institute;
- introduce students, staff and the wider community to interesting aspects of foreign culture, society and history;
- raise awareness of political life and conditions in diverse parts of the world;
- create opportunities for sharing insights developed during professional and leisure interest travel and other programs of study abroad;
- create opportunities for visiting faculty to share relevant topics with the wider University;
- involve students, staff and community members in exchanging ideas and reflecting on international and any related domestic policy issues.
If you are interested in proposing a topic for discussion, finding a qualified speaker, or co-sponsoring a lecture; check the suitability of the topic and the speaker against the objectives above and contact the Alworth Institute at [email protected] or (218) 726-7753.
Fall 2024 Schedule (5 total)
Thursday, October 10 – 12:00 pm – KAM Library 4th Floor Rotunda – Submerged Silver! The Preposterous Story of the Silver Islet Silver Mine – Presented by Joe Piwoschuk, former Safety Investigator and avid traveler and backpacker - Just a couple hundred miles north of Duluth are the remains of a silver mine, which at one time was the richest silver mine in the world! The interesting part of the story is that the mine was located under Lake Superior! Come hear Joe Piwoschuk, tell the tale of the discovery, development, and ultimate end of the Silver Islet Silver Mine. Piwoschuk first visited the mine site in 1974 while backpacking on the Sibley Peninsula near Thunder Bay, Ontario. Since then he has completed extensive research on the mine and is anxious to share what he has learned.
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Thursday, October 31 - 12:00 pm - KAM Library 4th Floor Rotunda - A Walk Around Beirut - Presented by Dr. Jayson Iwen, Professor and Chair, Department of Writing. Language and Literature, University of Wisconsin, Superior (UWS) - Dr. Iwen, who taught Creative Writing and Literature at The American University of Beirut from 2002 to 2006, will lead the audience on a photographic walking tour of contemporary Beirut and the nearby mountains, sharing images from his trip there last March, during which he lead a series of creativity and cultural bias workshops at AUB.
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Thursday, November 7 – 12:00 pm - KAM Library 4th Floor Rotunda - Returning to China: A Tribute to the City of Beijing - Presented by Dr. Hairong Feng, Professor, UMD Department of Communication - Dr. Feng, a native of China, visited her homeland during the summer of 2024. She and her family visited iconic landmarks of the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts, along with the lesser-known Huguang Guild Hall in Beijing. The blend of ancient traditions and contemporary life makes the city unique. Dr. Feng will share stories of experiencing Beijing China once again since her last visit in 2019 before the global pandemic.
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Thursday, November 14 –12:00 pm – KAM Library 4th Floor Rotunda – A Foreigner’s Take on the American Southwest – Presented by Dr. William Henderson, International Associate and former director of the Alworth Institute for International Studies and Emeritus Professor of the University of Birmingham, U.K. - This idiosyncratic account, mainly, but not entirely, derived from one long road trip through southern Colorado, southern Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, will reflect on the all-American road trip and on the truly awesome landscapes, rescuing, through the landscape, the dramatic and original sense of the word, ‘awesome’. It will explore: Page, AZ through an encounter with a highly skilled Navaho storyteller; Tucson through the lens of friendship and Santa Fe through his interest in looking at and buying art. There will be unexpected connections with northern Minnesota and mention made of quirky towns, fruit pies and of personality distortions caused by an extreme tipping culture.
Thursday, November 21 - 12:00 PM - KAM Library 4th Floor Rotunda - International Travel Talk - Honduras and the Root Causes of Migration - Presented by Dr. Carol Wallace, UMD Assistant Professor of Spanish Studies - Dr. Wallace participated in a delegation to Honduras through the Witness for Peace Solidarity Collective in August of 2024. The experience focused on the reasons for the migration of Hondurans out of the country, including forced displacement related to extractive industries, militarization, and climate change. She will emphasize the human face of migration and the role of U.S. policies in perpetuating many of these issues.
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Thursday, December 5 –12:00 pm – Education Endazhi-gikinoo'amaading (EduE) 40 - Books, Bordeaux, and Bali - Presented by Mary Anderson-Petroske - Retired Teacher and Administrator, Superior, WI School District, and Real Estate Agent - After retiring from her education positions, Anderson-Petroske started travelling the world, and she hasn't stopped. She took over running a book shop in a tiny village in Scotland, visited the enchanting wine country of Bordeaux, did a volunteer stint caring for elephants in Thailand, and found her Zen at a Goddess Retreat in Bali. By sharing the highlights of her experiences, we will get a sense of the satisfaction of fulfilled dreams.