August 6, 1984 - Lieutenant General James Abrahamson, the director of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, speaking at Minnesota Meeting. SDI is a group which is conducting research on the possible use of lasers, particle beams, and other high technology methods of defending against a Soviet missile attack. The plan was proposed last March by President Reagan, and quickly became known as the "star wars" defense plan. After speech, Abrahamson answers listener questions. General Abrahamson is a former test pilot. He trained as an astronaut. He directed NASA's space shuttle project until this past April, when the president appointed him to direct the strategic defense project. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
September 7, 1984 - Arthur Caplan, associate for the humanities at The Hastings Center, speaking at a local medical conference. Caplan’s address was on the ethical problems of obtaining sufficient organs for transplant surgery.
September 21, 1984 - Dr. Benjamin Spock discusses caring for babies and children. He also talks on geo-political issues. Dr. Spock also answer listener questions. Dr. Spock is author of numerous books, including “The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care.”
November 13, 1984 - Dale Archibald, editor of Computer User magazine, discusses latest computer products and practical applications of computers for home, business and teaching. Archibald also answers listener questions.
November 28, 1984 - MPR’s Jo Ann Shroyer reports on University of Minnesota-Duluth hypothermia study in the freezing waters of Lake Superior. Shroyer views and describes an actual human experiment in the dangerous waters.
December 28, 1984 - Alexis Herman, chief operating officer and a co-founder of Green-Herman and Associates, a minority-owned corporation that specializes in improving productivity for small businesses, speaking at the 1984 Itasca Seminar. The theme of the seminar was "Competition and Cooperation - Power and Sharing: Finding the Balances". Herman addressed the effects on employment of a competitive high-tech environment. After her presentation, Herman took several questions and comments from conference participants. Herman heads a minority-owned small business corporation in Washington, D.C. Previously, Alexis Herman was director of the women's bureau in the U.S. Department of Labor during the Carter administration. She is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana. The Itasca Seminar is organized and sponsored by the Minneapolis Foundation. This year's seminar was also co-sponsored by 17 different corporations, foundations and other organizations in the Twin Cities.
May 28, 1985 - Morris Abram, the past chairman of the first Presidential Commission on the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and current vice chairman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, speaking at Minnesota Meeting. Abram’s address was titled "A Matter of Life and Death: Biomedical Ethics.” Abram discusses how the 11-member commission looked into many ethical problems that have arisen with the advance of medicine's ability to keep people alive. Abram says he learned a lot about biomedical ethics personally in 1973, when he successfully conquered leukemia. He has written a book about the experience entitled, "The Day is Short". The moderator was Harlan Cleveland of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
October 1, 1985 - Dr. George Freier, University of Minnesota physics professor, discusses the scientific basis for some popular weather myths. Topics of weather lore include the nature of proverbs, rings around moon, insect movement, sky color, fishing, and rainbows. Freier also answers listener questions.
November 2, 1985 - On this Weekend program, MPR’s Bob Potter interviews Kathy Heidel, naturalist at the Lowry Nature Center, on what is going on with plant and animal life this time of year. Heidel also answers listener questions.
January 4, 1986 - On this Weekend program, Futurist Arthur Harkins discusses how new technology and other changes will affect people's personal relationships in the future. Topics include growth in use of information technology, social dynamics, and personal commitments. Harkins also answers listener questions.