On October 17th, JILA hosted JILAX, an annual event that invites JILA community members to step away from their research and share their passions, interests, and hobbies. This year’s event brought an eclectic mix of talks, covering everything from automotive restoration to mobile gaming, showcasing the diverse talents and interests of JILA’s community. Intending to foster camaraderie and connection beyond scientific pursuits, JILAX highlighted the fun, nerdy, and deeply personal sides of JILA’s members.

JILAX is designed as a platform where speakers give short, five-minute talks on any subject—except physics or JILA-related work. The topics are as unique as the people themselves, offering a rare opportunity to peek into the passions that fuel them outside the laboratory.

This year’s speaker lineup didn’t disappoint.

Staff member James Uhrich kicked things off with his talk, "Vanagon, agon," diving into the highs and lows of owning and restoring a classic Volkswagen Vanagon. His humorous take on van life resonated with the crowd, drawing laughs as he recounted various breakdowns and triumphs on the road, including trapping innocent victims in the Walnut Street parking garage when the van broke down. 

Next, JILA Fellow Eric Cornell presented, "You don't really need that extra hand!" offering a lighthearted perspective on modern conveniences and how we’ve become reliant on gadgets that perhaps add more clutter than utility to our lives. The Nobel laureate’s dry humor captivated the audience, making everyone reconsider the gadgets they own.

JILA staff member Sarah Schreiner followed with "Not your grandmother's quilts," exploring the modern revival of quilting. Far from a simple pastime, she showed how quilting has become a medium for artistic expression, creativity, and even political commentary.

Then, graduate student Rae Larsen shifted the focus to culture in "LGBTQ+ signaling: a brief history of LGBTQ+ fashion," tracing how fashion has been used as a form of identity and signaling within the LGBTQ+ community. The talk was both enlightening and inspiring, weaving history with personal insight.

Following Larsen, JILA postdoc Rachael Merritt brought the world of Dungeons & Dragons to life with her talk, "The Best Class in Dungeons & Dragons," where she highlighted the importance of warlocks in the popular role-playing game. 

Graduate student Lane Terry brought some musical enthusiasm to the event with "Ya Like Jazz?" offering an engaging look at the history of jazz by having the audience participate in a quick five-minute dance routine reminiscent of Bob Fosse's dance style.

After a brief break, the second half of the talks continued with JILA staff member Ellen Keister, whose presentation, "Chaos Muppets," discussed a key theory around muppets: breaking them down into chaotic archetypes or order muppets who follow the rules. Her talk was completed by her homemade muppet, who illustrated various points. 

With her talk, "Leave No Trace: Accessing and Enjoying our Backyard Wilderness, " graduate student Iona Binnie encouraged everyone to appreciate and preserve nature. Her message about responsible outdoor recreation struck a chord with the adventurers and nature enthusiasts in the audience.

JILA staff member James Fung-a-Fat's "Words to Sign: An Interpreter's POV" offered a fascinating look at sign language interpretation. He discussed the intricacies of conveying meaning between languages, offering insight into the art and skill of interpreting.

JILA undergraduate student Aaron Barrios took the stage with "A Review on Mobile Gaming: Methodology and Outstanding Examples. " He discussed his favorite mobile games and why he recommends them to other players. 

Finally, Eric Sunday Alvarado closed out the event with "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" He delved into the myths and cultural perceptions surrounding wolves and challenged preconceived notions about these often misunderstood creatures. He spoke about his history of working at a wolf restoration organization and how that impacted his views on these animals. 

Throughout the evening, JILAX created a sense of community and shared joy, allowing everyone to appreciate their colleagues' talents and passions in a setting that transcended the daily grind of scientific work. JILAX is a celebration of the diverse interests that make JILA’s community unique, and this year’s event reaffirmed the importance of coming together, not just as scientists, but as people with rich and varied lives.

Written by Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, JILA Science Communicator