Last Lecture Series

Our series was inspired by a talk Professor Randy Pausch delivered at Carnegie Mellon University entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." In this talk Pausch discussed everything he wanted his children to know after his pancreatic cancer had taken his life. It included stories of his childhood, lessons he wanted his children to learn, and things he wanted his children to know about him. He repeatedly stressed that one should have fun in everything one does, and that one should live life to its fullest because one never knows when it might be taken.

In honor of Randy Pausch we initiated our own Last Lecture Series here at UCSC to continue his legacy. This is an ongoing series of lectures where top academics are asked to think deeply about what matters to them, and then give a hypothetical "final talk", i.e., "what wisdom would they try to impart to the world if they knew it was their last chance?" This is a very exciting opportunity for students to learn more about their instructors'/administrator’s interests and/or thoughts on a subject they care deeply about.

Past Last Lecturers

Faye Crosby: May 14, 2014	Jody Greene: May 15, 2014
Randa Roland: May 22, 2014	Wendy Martyna: May 29, 2014
George Blumenthal: May 13, 2015