The Commons announces Red Hot Research dates for fall 2026

LAWRENCE — The Commons at the University of Kansas will host three Red Hot Research events this fall, convening faculty scholarship under broad themes of “Materiality & Archive,” “Community Care and Stewardship” and “Abolition, Uproot, Create.”

At each event, researchers from different disciplines speak for six minutes — an adapted form of PechaKucha talks — about a specific aspect of their research. Presentations are followed by an opportunity for informal conversation and reception. 

The events are intended to bring researchers together to learn about the work of colleagues and become more familiar with the methods and practices across disciplines, according to Emily Ryan, director of The Commons.

Fall 2026 Red Hot Research schedule

Materiality & Archive

Oct. 30

4-5:30 p.m. Watson Library-3 West

Presenters:

• Noah McLean, associate professor of geology, on geology
• Zay Dale, assistant professor of English, on English textiles, literature & history, capitalism, American slavery, Blackness, violence
• Webster McDonald, assistant professor of theatre & dance, on archival weight/wait/waste, submerging ontologies, violent angularities
• Maggie Unverzagt Goddard, assistant professor of museum studies, on museum studies material culture, museums, public history, memory
• Tadeo Weiner Davis, assistant professor of social welfare, on community archives, oral history, labor movements, organizing.

Emcee: Emily Casey, assistant professor of the history of art.

Community Care & Stewardship
Nov. 6

4-5:30 p.m. Watson Library–3 West

Presenters:

• Steve Fawcett, research professor, Center for Community Health & Development, Life Span Institute & WHO Collaborating Centre
• Kristi Williams, professor of nursing, KU Medical Center
• Rachel Straughn-Navarro, education program coordinator, Spencer Museum of Art
• Kortney Carr, assistant professor of social welfare
• Justin Hutchison, associate professor of civil, environmental & architectural engineering
• Andrew Moddrell, associate professor of architecture design.

Emcee: Kathryn Berringer, assistant professor of social welfare

Abolition, Uproot, Create

Dec. 4 

4-5:30 p.m., Watson Library–3 West

Presenters:

• Deborah Whaley, professor of English
• Sharon Brett, associate professor of law
• Lilly McElroy, assistant teaching professor of visual art
• Allie Graham, assistant professor of molecular biosciences
• Meggie Mapes, associate specialist of communication studies
• Nikia Smith Robert, assistant professor of religious studies.

Emcee: Juliana Carlson, professor of social welfare.

Additionally, one Red Hot Graduate Research event, scheduled for 4 p.m. Nov. 13 in Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union, will feature the work of five graduate students across disciplines.

More information is available at the Red Hot Research webpage.