First Wednesdays 10am & Third Thursdays 2pm This recurring opportunity for discussion provides space to share what we're thinking about and what is impacting our campus community. Next (and last) convo for the semester is Wednesday, December 4 at 10AM.

Asylum offers legal protection for individuals fleeing persecution and torture. Over the last several years, the U.S. has seen an increase in asylum seekers from abroad, seeking refuge from the acute humanitarian crises in the region. The use of expert witnesses greatly increases asylum seekers' chances of success, reframes the narrative, and transforms biases. In immigration proceedings, experts are often professors, activists, journalists, researchers, staff of non-profit organizations, or other individuals with specialized knowledge about a specific country. This workshop aims to give Latin American Studies scholars the tools to write compelling, well-structured, and admissible declarations to support asylum cases. In part two, we will explore common challenges experts experience when writing a declaration and testifying in immigration court. These include common issues in dealing with attorneys, interactions with applicants (including those who choose to apply pro se), ethical issues, including whether and how much to charge, and qualification challenges. Participants will meet and interact with seasoned experts and will be able to share their questions and experiences from around the world.

All MCB Grad students are invited to mingle and build connections! Please bring a tray of your favorite cookies if you are able!

For the full class schedule, descriptions, and to register, please visit the UConn Recreation website (https://recreation.uconn.edu/group-fitness-schedule/).

Chemistry Colloquium: Kyle Lambert, Old Dominion University Host: Dr. Amy Howell "Bench-Stable Cobalt (III) Complexes for Efficient Carbonyl Additions, Cross-Couplings, and the Synthesis of Natural Products"