A week for saving lives and changing lives!

October 27
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Earth Institute
The Ebola Crisis: What it Means for Africa and the World
Earth Institute Director Jeffrey Sachs and Irwin Redlener, MD (P&S, Mailman), director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness, host an array of thought leaders addressing the crisis. Topics include “Covering an Epidemic: What We’re Learning from Ebola and What Journalists Need to Know,” “Ebola Fundamentals: What are the Major Challenges?” and “Is Science Keeping Up with the Demands of Ebola and Challenges to Come?” Featuring Richard Besser, MD, ABC News chief medical editor and former acting director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Ranu Dhillon, MD, senior health advisor, Earth Institute and adjunct assistant professor, SIPA; Anne Liu, MPH, program manager, health systems development, Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development, Earth Institute; Robert Kanter, MD, adjunct senior research scientist; professor of pediatrics, pediatric critical care medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine; Robert Klitzman, MD, professor of psychiatry; director, Masters of Bioethics Program; director, Ethics, Policy and Human Rights Core, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies; Stephen Morse, PhD, director, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Certificate Program, professor of epidemiology, CUMC; and Jay Varma, MD, deputy commissioner for disease control, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and former medical epidemiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Faculty House Presidential Ballroom. Livestream available.

October 27
7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Columbia Global Centers
India Beyond Technology and Yoga: The Power of Literature in a Globalizing World
Miller Theatre. Livestream available. (Reminder)

October 29 – GIVING DAY!
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
CUMC Healthcare Forum
Achieving Global Health Equity: Strategies, Challenges, and Champions
Faculty from the four CUMC schools look at the issue from a variety of angles. Featuring David A. Albert, DDS, MPH (College of Dental Medicine, Mailman School of Public Health); Jennifer Dohrn, DNP, CNM (Nursing), Margaret Kruk, MD (Mailman), and Stephen Nicholas, MD (College of Physicians and Surgeons). Moderated by Randi Hutter Epstein, MD, MPH (Journalism School), and introduced by Elaine L. Larson, PhD, RN, FAAN, CIC (Nursing, Mailman).

October 30
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Columbia Entrepreneurship and SIPA
Innovations in Global Entrepreneurship: Cities, Not Countries, Take The Lead
Introduced by SIPA Dean Merit E. Janow. 222 Broadway, 22nd Floor. (Reminder)

Jerry’s Picks will usually come on Mondays. This is a special edition to get out word on the Ebola event. Highlighted above are general interest campus events across a range of topics of possible interest to alumni, donors, and prospects. This listing is highly selective by design – regrettably, much more is omitted than featured. For ticket availability and other details, follow the links.

As always, I appreciate hearing from you about future events! Best, Jerry

We are aging, disarming, jogging – just another Columbia fortnight!

Highlighted below are general interest campus events across a range of topics of possible interest to alumni, donors, and prospects. This listing is highly selective by design – regrettably, much more is omitted than featured. For RSVP, ticket availability, and other details, follow the links.

October 22
4 p.m.
Mailman School of Public Health
The New Age of Aging: Are Longer Lives a Good Thing?
In the last century, average lifespans have increased by 30 years. In many countries people commonly live till 80, 90, and even 100. By 2030, almost 20 percent of the U.S. population will be 65 and over. Are we ready for this severe demographic shift? Join Mailman Dean Linda P. Fried and Alliance for Aging Research Founder Dan Perry in a thought-provoking discussion moderated by documentary filmmaker Perri Peltz ’84MPH. Alumni Auditorium, Black Building, 650 West 168th Street.

October 23 – Two Blix Picks!
12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Law School Center on Global Governance
The Development of the United Nations Security System, with Dr. Hans Blix, who has served as foreign minister of Sweden, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and chief United Nations weapons inspector. Jerome Greene Hall, Room 102 B.

3 p.m.
World Leaders Forum
Dr. Hans Blix: Non-Use of Armed Force in State Relations – an Evolving Norm
Followed by a question and answer session. Introduction by Richard Gardner, Henry L. Moses Professor Emeritus of Law and International Organization, School of Law, Columbia University in the City of New York. Teatro, Italian Academy, 1161 Amsterdam Avenue.

October 24
8:30 a.m.
Athletics and Office of Alumni and Development
President Bollinger’s Thirteenth Annual Fun Run 5K Run/Walk
Join President Bollinger for a five kilometer run/walk through Riverside Park. The Fun Run started in 2002 as part of President Bollinger’s Inauguration festivities. It will begin on College Walk and proceed through Riverside Park, ending at the promenade overlook at 116th Street. Click here to view the map online. Online registration is required and is currently open. To register, click here.

October 27
7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Columbia Global Centers
India Beyond Technology and Yoga: The power of literature in a globalizing world
A conversation about the impact and agency of Indian literature in a global world featuring Vikas Swarup whose book Slumdog Millionaire (originally titled Q&A) has been translated into 42 languages and whose big screen adaptation grossed $375 million at the box office; Indian feminist publisher and author of The Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Partition of India, Urvashi Butalia; author of From the Ruins of Empire and public intellectual Pankaj Mishra, who the Economist says is the heir to Edward Said; and Suketu Mehta, whose Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize. Miller Theatre Moderator: Vishakha Desai, special advisor for global affairs to the President of Columbia. Miller Theatre. (Reminder)

October 30
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Columbia Entrepreneurship and SIPA
Innovations in Global Entrepreneurship: Cities, Not Countries, Take The Lead
The contention to be explored in this conversation is that a select few major municipalities around the world – and not national governments – are the real drivers of innovation in startup ecosystems and in job creation through fostering entrepreneurship. Moderator Fernando Fabre and the panelists are all driving global innovations in entrepreneurship in their own way but their approach is to focus on cities. With Fernando Fabre, president, Endeavor Global; Brad Hardgraves, co-founder, General Assembly; Miguel McKelvey, co-founder, WeWork; and Katherine Oliver, principal, Bloomberg Associates and former commissioner, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Introduced by SIPA Dean Merit E. Janow 222 Broadway, 22nd Floor. (Reminder)

As always, I appreciate hearing from you about future events! Best, Jerry

My Fellow Columbians…

October 31 is the University’s Charter Day – spooky! Highlighted below are general interest campus events across a range of topics of possible interest to alumni, donors, and prospects, along with a few reminders from last week’s picks.

This listing is highly selective by design – regrettably, much more is omitted than featured. For ticket availability and other details, follow the links or contact information.

October 17
8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
CUMC
Sixth Annual Steve Miller Medical Education Day
A day dedicated to promoting medical education and humanism in medicine in memory of Steve Miller, M.D., an inspirational leader at the College of Physicians and Surgeons who passed away in 2004. This year it includes a grand rounds talk by writer Andrew Solomon, Ph.D., and a workshop on humanism in medicine that includes Dr. Solomon, actress and human rights activist Debra Winger, and theater director Bryan Doerries. For more information, contact Morgan Tupper at (212) 304-7210 or [email protected].

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
SIPA Global Muckraking Conference
To celebrate the publication of Global Muckraking: 100 Years of Investigative Journalism from Around the World (New Press, 2014), journalists, scholars, and activists will gather to consider subjects that have galvanized the media and NGOs over the last hundred years. Discuss the current state of cross border investigations, the impact of technology, and the connections between the human rights and activist community and the media. Speakers include Prue Clarke, Avi Chomsky, Michael Massing, Michael Schudson, Sheila Coronel, Ken Silverstein, and many others. School of International and Public Affairs, Room 1510. (Reminder)

October 18
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
CAA Arts Access Lionel Loueke Trio
At the CAA Arts Access reception, Columbia music professor and cultural theorist Kevin Fellesz will host and introduce the dynamic music of Loueke, who grew up in Benin playing traditional West African music and studied jazz in Paris and the U.S. His music blends traditional jazz styles with electric synthesizers, African kora and kalimba sounds, and percussion. 6 p.m. reception at Columbia Alumni Center and 8 p.m. performance at Miller Theatre. (Reminder)

October 21
6 p.m.
Columbia Journalism School
All-Class Lecture: Political Corruption and the First Amendment with Tim Wu
Tim Wu, the Isidor and Seville Suzbacher Professor of Law at Columbia Law School and recent candidate in the democratic primary race for Lt. Governor, discusses the exploitation of the First Amendment with Journalism Dean Steve Coll. RSVP required: [email protected].

October 27
7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Columbia Global Centers
India beyond Technology and Yoga: The power of literature in a globalizing world
A conversation about the impact and agency of Indian literature in a global world, featuring Vikas Swarup, whose book Slumdog Millionaire (originally titled Q&A) has been translated into 42 languages and whose big screen adaptation grossed $375 million at the box office; Indian feminist publisher and author of The Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Partition of India, Urvashi Butalia; author of From The Ruins of Empire and public intellectual Pankaj Mishra, who the Economist says is the heir to Edward Said; and Suketu Mehta, whose Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize. Moderated by Vishakha Desai, special advisor for global affairs to the President of Columbia University. Miller Theatre.

October 30
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Columbia Entrepreneurship and SIPA
Innovations in Global Entrepreneurship: Cities, Not Countries, Take The Lead
The contention to be explored in this conversation is that a select few major municipalities around the world – and not national governments – are the real drivers of innovation in startup ecosystems and in job creation through fostering entrepreneurship. Moderator Fernando Fabre and the panelists are all driving global innovations in entrepreneurship in their own way but their approach is to focus on cities. With Fernando Fabre, president, Endeavor Global; Brad Hardgraves, co-founder, General Assembly; Miguel McKelvey, co-founder, WeWork; and Katherine Oliver, principal, Bloomberg Associates and former commissioner, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Introduced by SIPA Dean Merit E. Janow. 222 Broadway, 22nd Floor.

Share great general interest events on any Columbia campus at [email protected]. Wishing you stimulating weeks ahead! Jerry

Here’s to shorter days and busier calendars! Highlighted below are general interest campus events across a range of topics of possible interest to alumni, donors, and prospects.

This listing is highly selective by design — regrettably, much more is omitted than featured. For ticket availability and other details, follow the links.

October 7
6 p.m.
Comics at Columbia: Past, Present, Future Exhibition Opening
Art, manuscripts, and ephemera from Columbia’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library, including items from the University’s history as well as art from Mad artist Al Jaffee, Elfquest artist Wendy Pini, and New Yorker cartoonist Charles Saxon; drafts and notes from X-Men writer Chris Claremont and Legion of Super Heroes writer Paul Levitz; and correspondence from comics luminaries Stan Lee, Harvey Kurtzman, and Howard Cruse. Opening night on October 7 will include presentations by influential comics figureheads, celebratory reception, and viewing of the exhibition. Kempner Gallery, Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Butler Library, 6th Floor.

6:30 p.m.
Zuckerman Institute Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Brain Insight Lecture, “We Are What We Remember: The Biology of Memory & Age-Related Memory Disorders” featuring Dr. Eric R. Kandel. Join the Nobelist and Zuckerman Institute co-director for this public lecture at Miller Theatre. (reminder)

October 9
5:30 p.m.
World Leaders Forum, School of the Arts, Social Initiative at Columbia Law School
Screening and Discussion: Soft Vengeance: Albie Sachs and the New South Africa
This program will feature the screening of a documentary following lawyer, writer, art lover, and freedom fighter Albie Sachs, one of the principal architects of South Africa’s non-racial and non-sexist Constitution. A conversation with Sachs, director Abby Ginzberg, and Professor Kendall Thomas follows the screening. Miller Theatre.

October 11
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House
Whether you’re an aspiring young scientist or a long-time science enthusiast, you’re sure to enjoy LDEO’s Open House. Tour a lab, participate in hands-on earth science demonstrations, and learn from world-renowned researchers about their latest discoveries. Free and open to the public, with a $5 suggested contribution. Palisades, New York.

October 17
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
SIPA Global Muckraking Conference
To celebrate the publication of Global Muckraking: 100 Years of Investigative Journalism from Around the World (New Press, 2014), journalists, scholars, and activists will gather to consider subjects that have galvanized the media and NGOs over the last hundred years. Discuss the current state of cross border investigations, the impact of technology, and the connections between the human rights and activist community and the media. Speakers include Prue Clarke, Avi Chomsky, Michael Massing, Michael Schudson, Sheila Coronel, Ken Silverstein, and many others. School of International and Public Affairs, Room 1510.

October 18
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
CAA Arts Access Lionel Loueke Trio
At the CAA Arts Access reception, Columbia music professor and cultural theorist Kevin Fellesz will host and introduce the dynamic music of Loueke, who grew up in Benin playing traditional West African music and studied jazz in Paris and the U.S. His music blends traditional jazz styles with electric synthesizers, African kora and kalimba sounds, and percussion. 6 p.m. reception at Columbia Alumni Center and 8 p.m. performance at Miller Theatre.

Please tell me about great general interest events on any of our campuses at [email protected]. Wishing you stimulating weeks ahead! Jerry