This year the 55th Annual Nebraska Symposium on Motivation will address smoking and nicotine dependence - the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. The Psychology Department has gathered leading researchers in the field of nicotine dependence and tobacco use to discuss recent advances in research, theory, and application. In doing so, we hope not only to start generating a more coherent and cohesive picture of the motivational effects of nicotine, but to critically discuss new intervention and prevention approaches to tobacco use. Continuing Education (CE) for psychologists is approved by the American Psychological Association. Please register at http://www.unl.edu/psypage/symposium

"Can the Path be Altered?" Salvaging and Renewing Communities of the Rural Plains, Larry Swanson, Director, O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, University of Montana. Many rural areas of the northern and central plains lost population during the '60s, '70s, and '80s, before this population decline slowed in the '90s. Most rural areas of the Plains region even saw population growth in the '90s and some experts began to refer to this as a "rural renaissance". However, more recently, rural depopulation has reaccelerated and out migration is being increasingly supplemented by out-right population attrition. Rural areas of the region are growing increasingly old, with rising death rates and falling birth rates. Adding to this is a farm and ranch economy that remains financially uncertain. Population growth in most of the Plains region is showing growing imbalance with most focused in and around only a few large urban centers. The question becomes- can anything be done to counter these trends? Reception begins at 3:00 pm. Free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by the Grassland Foundation, UNL Center for Great Plains Studies, UNL Department of Economics, UNL Rural Initiative, UNL School of Natural Resources, and Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

Jeff Bennetzen, University of Georgia, will present "Patterns and dynamics in grass genome evolution." The event is open to the public.

The 2007 Krivosha Lecturer is fiction writer, Steve Stern, Professor of English and Creative Writing, Skidmore College, will be reading from his work on Thursday evening, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Center for Great Plains Art Gallery, 1155 Q Street. Steve Stern is the author of several novels and collections of the stories, including "The Wedding Jester" and "The Angel of Forgetfulness", both of which won the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction. He is the recipient of many other prizes, including the Edward Lewis Wallant Award for Jewish Fiction. He is the recipient of many other prizes, including the Edward Lewis Jewish Book Award for Fiction. He is the recipient of many other prizes, including the Edward Lewis Wallant Award for Jewish Fiction and a Guggenheim Fellowship. A light reception will follow. This event is co-sponsored by the creative Writing Program, English Department and the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies. This event is free and open to the public. In preparation for Steve Stern's visit to Lincoln, Gerry Shapiro will be leading a discussion group on "Hyman the Magnificent," one of Stern's stories, on Sunday, April 8 at 1:30 p.m. at South Street Temple, 20th & South Streets, Lincoln. You are welcome to attend the discussion as well.

"Finding Black Holes in Space," Dr. Debra Fischer, San Francisco State University

Astrobiology, the study of life in the universe, is still a science without any specimens. However, ongoing research in planetary science, biology, and astronomy is sharpening our estimates for the probability of life elsewhere and highlighting the weakest links in our understanding. In astronomy, the discovery of more than 200 planets orbiting other stars has helped us to see our own solar system in context. What does it take to make a world habitable? Key issues in understanding the possibilities for life on other worlds will be highlighted and the missing exoplanet link -- potentially habitable rocky worlds -- will be discussed. Dr. Fischer will explain how her team hopes to bridge that gap and find other Earths.

Date: Thursday, April 12th
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Regency Room, City Campus Union

"Freedom Sings" a live multimedia performance celebrating freedom of expression in America, will be presented free at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 12, at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

Using musical performance, film, photographs and narration, the critically acclaimed 90-minute program tells the story of three centuries of banned or censored music in the USA, and invites the audience to take a fresh look at the First Amendment and the impact of freedom of speech.

The performance will be presented at the Lied Theatre on the UNL campus as part of the university's J Days. Sponsored by the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications in partnership with the ASUN, "Freedom Sings" is free and open to students and the public. For more information, contact the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at 402-472-3041.