Talks on Tap.
Nerd out. Give back.
About.
Talks on Tap is a public lecture series designed to bring people together for accessible, thought-provoking conversations to benefit community. Hosted in partnership with Slow Body Beer Co., the series features speakers sharing ideas, stories, and expertise through a short talk followed by a facilitated discussion and informal mingling.
The goal is to create a space where community and learning intersect, making ideas more approachable. Through the talks, speakers connect attendees to causes and organizations that matter to them.
Inspired by broader "on tap" lecture models that bring knowledge into casual spaces like bars and breweries, Talks on Tap emphasizes community engagement, conversation, and real-world impact. In partnership with:
Upcoming Talks.
Upcoming Talks.
August 5th, 2026: Dr. Ruth Lopez
Fomentando Esperanza - Fostering Hope: Im/migration & Educational Futures
benefitting Scholarships A-Z
Dr. Ruth M. López will share multiple ways the educational im/migrant students and their families could be (re)imagines to challenge current structures of dehumanization. This talk draws from Ruth’s lived experiences growing up in a mixed-status family and more than two decades of working with and for in/migrant families and students in schools and universities.
-
Ruth M. López, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in Educational Leadership and Policy in the Department of Educational Policy Studies and Practice at the University of Arizona College of Education. She earned B.A.s in Mexican American Studies and Spanish at The University of Texas at Austin, and her PhD in Educational Foundations, Policy, and Practice at the University of Colorado Boulder where she was an Ofelia Miramontes Scholar and a recipient of the AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship. She was previously a Senior Research Associate at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University and an Assistant Professor at the University of Houston. Prior to earning her PhD she worked as a college outreach counselor in Houston schools and a program coordinator of the Colorado Diversity Initiative at the University of Colorado Boulder. She was the recipient of the 2021 University of Houston Teaching Excellence Award and 2023 Texas TRIO Achiever Award. In her research, Dr. López addresses the social and political contexts that students of color navigate across K-12 schools and their access to higher education. Her research examines: 1) the intersections of education and immigration policies, 2) culturally responsive education and family engagement, and 3) college access for Latinx and immigrant students. Dr. López is proud of her multiple identities as the daughter of immigrants from El Salvador and Mexico, first-generation college student/graduate, and mother scholar to name a few. These identities inform her commitment to educational equity and college access.
September 2nd, 2026: Joshua Loughman
Pathways to Address the Global Climate Crisis
benefitting Southern Arizona Museum of Science and Technology
n this workshop, Dr. Loughman will engage attendees in the use of the En-ROADS Climate Solutions Simulator to explore different pathways, trade-offs, and options to solve the global climate crisis. Together, attendees will test their mental models using a complex, real-time simulation of the global economy, policy, technology, and Earth systems.
By the end of the workshop, attendees will see what it will take to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas concentrations and mitigate climate change.
Josh Loughman is a systems engineer and data scientist at Arizona State University’s Decision Theater, a Senior Global Futures Scientist at the Global Futures Laboratory, and an En-ROADS Climate Ambassador for Climate Interactive.
-
Josh Loughman is a systems engineer and data scientist at Arizona State University’s Decision Theater, a Senior Global Futures Scientist at the Global Futures Laboratory, and an En-ROADS Climate Ambassador for Climate Interactive.
October 7th, 2026: Dr. Adiba Nelson on Disability and Access to Recreation
November 4th, 2026: Dr. Eunice Lee on Immigration Detention
Talks Past
Dr. Eric Plemons
A Borrowed Uterus: How Transplant Medicine is Changing Maternity
Curious to know what we raised and for whom? Reach out for more information.
Monet is a lifelong educator with a passion for creating accessible, engaging learning experiences. Known for a calm, encouraging teaching style, Monet believes that growth happens when learners feel both challenged and supported.
Dr. Lindsey Feldman
Forging Selfhood:Exploitation and Transformation on a Prison Wildland Firefighting Crew
Curious to know what we raised and for whom? Reach out for more information.
Eleanor Parks
Eleanor's background spans education, coaching, and creative development. With a strong focus on process and progress, Eleanor helps learners move from where they are to where they want to be—one step at a time.