University of California Video Podcasts (Video)

Permanent body modification is a unique and variable practice among humans, not observed in other mammals. Despite being costly and risky, it is regularly performed. Scientific understanding of this phenomenon is nascent, prompting a symposium aiming to assess current research status and prioritize questions for the next decade. The event brings together academics and industry practitioners, exploring historical and contemporary practices like tattooing, piercing, finger amputation, and cranial modification. The symposium aims to investigate the 'when' and 'where' of permanent body modification and understand the motivations behind it, considering personal justifications and scientific hypotheses. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39476]

Thinking about changing careers and have an interest in brewing? Have you considered getting into the brewing industry? Kelly Nielsen, Ph.D, discusses the expanding field of brewing, the pathways into a career in the brewing industry, and the skills you will need to be successful. Series: "Career Channel" [Business] [Show ID: 39082]

Claudia H. Kawas, M.D., addresses Alzheimer's disease and related conditions in older adults, noting the challenge of accurate diagnosis and the resemblance of other brain conditions to Alzheimer's. She introduces "resistance" and "resilience," explaining how some individuals remain cognitively intact despite brain changes. Kawas suggests declining dementia risk due to improved vascular health management, emphasizing the complexity of cognitive decline and the need for further research. Series: "Brain Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39532]

Director Arthur Jones and producer Giorgio Angelini join moderator Chelsea Kai Roesch from UC Santa Barbara to discuss their film "Feels Good Man." They talk about working with artist Matt Furie and unpack the social and political contexts behind Pepe the Frog and its cooptation by the alt-right. They also reflect on the cinematic challenges in telling a story about the internet and discuss the larger implications of internet culture and political polarization in the United States. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39567]

Latinx and Chicanx student organizations are more than just clubs. They provide ways to find your cultural compass, foster lifelong friendships, and amplify your voice in a supportive, empowering space. These organizations explore traditions, navigate challenges, and help students flourish both socially and academically. Hear how these organizations host events, discussions, and gatherings where diversity is embraced, ideas spark, and unity thrives. Series: "Education Channel" [Education] [Show ID: 39346]

Timothy Corrigan of the University of Pennsylvania joins moderator Patrice Petro to discuss Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s classic film Ali: Fear Eats the

Soul. Together, they examine the larger body of work and influences of the German filmmaker, which include Brechtian aesthetics and classical Hollywood melodramas like that of Douglas Sirk. They also offer close readings of scenes from the film, analyzing themes of class, race, and gender and the social relations of melodrama. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39573]

Southern California’s giant kelp forests are ecosystems that are potentially vulnerable to the region’s warming waters, but unlike terrestrial forests, changes in these underwater ecosystems are largely invisible to most of us. Join biologist Mohammad Sedarat and artist Oriana Poindexter in an exploration of their collaboration on the aquarium’s new art exhibition, Hold Fast, an immersive journey through our local giant kelp forests. Learn how their unique perspectives are combined to provide visitors with insight into climate change through the lens of art. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 39556]

Born in the rhythms of Burkina Faso and cradled by the tradition of the griots, Adama Bilorou knows how to transform his heritage into a melody of multiple nuances—a musical journey that crosses continents and cultures. Drawing inspiration from the sights and sounds of his childhood in the Ivory Coast and his later journeys to Italy, France, the United States and Burkina Faso—Adama Bilorou has creatively composed his uniquely beautiful score. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 39524]

In the literature on lip plates in Southern Ethiopia there has been a strong emphasis on their socio-cultural importance and little information about their biocultural significance. Shauna LaTosky proposes that cultural keystone species theory and cultural keystone place theory could provide a useful frameworks for understanding relationships between the agro-pastoralist Mursi of Southern Ethiopia and the plant species and places that are integral to maintaining their cultural bodily practices. Keystone designations are applied here to the indigenous fruit tree lomay (Ximenia americana) and special clay pits in recognition of their role in the success of permanent body modification practices such as the piercing and stretching of women’s lower lips, but also in the promotion of health, social well-being and a sustainable environment. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39470]

How is AI reshaping industries and everyday life? And what are the ethical and societal implications of these changes? Brandie Nonnecke, Ph.D., Founding Director of the CITRIS Policy Lab at UC Berkeley, is navigating the intricate landscape of artificial intelligence, from its basic forms — such as narrow AI focused on specific tasks — to the aspirational concepts of generative AI that can be applied across various domains. In this program, Nonnecke gives a comprehensive understanding of AI, cutting through the hype to reveal its actual potential and limitations and preparing attendees for the nuanced reality of an AI-integrated future. Series: "UC Center Sacramento" [Science] [Show ID: 39566]