This is the first of a the IDEAS-BE Graduate Student Seminars Series. The IDEAS-BE research chair will hold three series of these seminars per academic year: fall, winter, and summer. During each series, 7-10 IDEAS-BE graduate students will present some aspect of their work, followed by a discussion to help the work move forward. This first series started in May 2019. It is organized by the research chair holder Dr. Carmela Cucuzzella.