Ending incarceration, engineering human tissues, redistricting, migrant health…are these #DisruptiveThinking? Find out through this week’s Picks.  

March 1 – 4
Institute for Research in African-American Studies | The Center for Justice | Social Work
The 8th Annual Beyond the Bars Conference: Closing Jails and Prisons
This year’s conference topics include Ending the Incarceration of Women and Girls, Building the Movement: Conversations with Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Closing Jails and Prisons, and Building the Grassroots. Speakers from various fields will be in discussion. RSVP here. The Center for Justice, Room 828. (Just Societies)

REMINDERS

March 1: Politics of the Present: Rhetoric and Evidence in a Polarized Society
March 5: Evidence and Theory in Neuroscience AND The Founding of a Nation Through the Eyes of the Enslaved
March 7: Narrative Medicine Rounds: Children’s Fiction and Narrative Pediatrics
March 8: The Plundering of Iraq’s Oil Wealth with Erin Banco ’15SIPA

PICKS

March 7
4 – 5:30
Mailman
Forced Migration and Justice
A Dean’s Grand Rounds with Terry McGovern, Harriet and Robert H. Heilbrunn Professor and chair of population and family health; Michael Wessells, professor of population and family health; Monette Zard, senior associate for the Human Rights Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Sonia Rastogi ’14MPH, information management specialist at the Gender-Based Violence Guidelines in UNICEF. Join the conversation by using #DisruptiveThinking on Twitter. Allan Rosenfield Building, 8th Floor, Auditorium. (Just Societies)

March 8
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Oral History and the Arts
How to Listen
Daniel Alarcón, host of Radio Ambulante, an award-winning Spanish-language podcast distributed by NPR, will discuss the relationship between journalism, literature, and oral history. Alarcón will show how interviews and lived experience can serve as the building blocks for different types of storytelling. Knox Hall, Room 509. (Arts and Ideas)

March 13
4:30 –  5:30 p.m.
Physicians & Surgeons
Engineering Human Tissues
The Dean’s Distinguished Lecture in the Basic Sciences with Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic,
University Professor and director of the Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering. She is considered a world expert in engineering of human tissues for regenerative medicine and modeling of disease. P&S, William Black Medical Research Building, Alumni Auditorium. Reception to follow in the Faculty Club.

March 15
7 p.m.
Nevis Science Center
We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe
What is the Universe made of? How did the Universe begin? How will it end? PHD Comics creator Jorge Cham and particle physicist Daniel Whiteson will discuss their book We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe (which will be available for purchase). Book signing to follow after the talk. RSVP here. Science Center at Nevis Laboratories, Irvington, New York, 136 S. Broadway. (Arts and Ideas)

March 19
6 –  7:30 p.m.
Center on Global Energy Policy
Where Next on Climate? Responses from America’s Corporate Board Rooms
How strongly committed is America’s corporate sector to taking steps to reduce climate change? Can corporate actions on climate support rather than detract from market growth and profitability? These and other questions will be explored on a panel that includes Geoffrey Heal, Bernstein Faculty Leader at the Center for Leadership and Ethics; John MacWilliams, fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy; and others. RSVP required here. Pulitzer Hall, World Room. The event will be live-streamed here. (Climate Response)

March 22
5 – 7 p.m.
The Eric H. Holder Initiative
American Voter Project: Census 2020 and Redistricting
This series of events will bring together scholars, politicians, journalists, activists, artists, students, and community members to discuss key issues that influence American voting today.
John H. Thompson, former director of the U.S. Census Bureau, and Natasha Korgaonkar ’04GSAS ‘07LAW ’18BUS, former assistant counsel at NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund,  will discuss the upcoming Census 2020 and redistricting. Followed by a reception. RSVP here. Low Library, Rotunda. (Just Societies)

For RSVP, ticket availability, and other details, follow the links. We always appreciate hearing from you about future events. 

For 125 years Columbia University Press has been doing what the Picks do – sharing the work of Columbia faculty on issues of interest to the world. Check out CUP’s title launch for A Time to Stir: Columbia ’68 on March 7 and the amazing lineup of Picks below. From outer space to the inner brain, the history of slavery to the dream of democracy, Columbia explores.

March 1
5 p.m.
The Heyman Center
Politics of the Present: Rhetoric and Evidence in a Polarized Society
Mario Luis Small, Grafstein Family Professor of Sociology at Harvard University, will discuss why the public discourse on poverty, inequality, and economic opportunity requires improving our qualitative, not just quantitative, literacy. Includes Robert Krulwich, science correspondent for NPR and co-host of Radiolab, and Nick Lemann, dean emeritus of the Journalism School and director of Columbia World Projects. RSVP here. Barnard Hall, James Room. (Just Societies)

REMINDERS

February 22: The Hacking of the American Mind: A Discussion with Dr. Robert Lustig AND  Chasing Coral: Screening and Conversation
February 22 – 25: Athena Film Festival 2018
February 27: The Counterrevolution: How our Government Went to War Against its Own Citizen
February 28: The Sound of Diplomacy: “Truth,” News, and Radio

PICKS

February 22
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Engineering
Extreme Engineering: Astronaut Appearance
A talk with NASA astronaut Peggy A. Whitson, the first female commander of the International Space Station. With a total of 665 days in space, Whitson holds the U.S. record for most time spent in space. Schapiro CEPSR, Davis Auditorium, Room 412.

February 24
1 – 3 p.m.
Wallach Art Gallery
Dance Theatre of Harlem Dancers’ Panel
An afternoon of conversation with longtime members of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Includes Marcia Sells, Theara Ward, and Robert Garland. Hear about their experiences working with dance visionary Arthur Mitchell, the ballets they danced and the countries they toured, and how social justice infused the company’s identity from the start. Lenfest Center for the Arts, The Lantern. (Arts and Ideas, Just Societies)

February 26
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Mailman
The Emerging Epidemic of Neurological Disease
A talk with Justin C. McArthur, director of the Department of Neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Mitchell S. V. Elkind, professor of Epidemiology and Neurology and fellowships director at the department of neurology. Allan Rosenfield Building, Hess Commons. (The Future of Neuroscience)

March 5
4:15 p.m.
Zuckerman Institute
Evidence and Theory in Neuroscience
Speakers from a wide range of fields and disciplines including neurology, psychiatry, philosophy, and economics will explore the relationship between theory and evidence in the field of neuroscience. Includes Peter Bearman, Jonathan R. Cole Professor of the Social Sciences; Suzanne Goh, co-founder and chief medical officer at Cortica; and moderated by
Aniruddha Das, associate professor of neuroscience and principal investigator at the Zuckerman Institute. Faculty House. RSVP is required here. (The Future of Neuroscience) 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Institute for Research in African American Studies
The Founding of a Nation Through the Eyes of the Enslaved
A Zora Neale Hurston Lecture with Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Charles and Mary Beard Professor of History at Rutgers University and director of the program in African American history at the Library Company of Philadelphia. Books will be available for sale at the event. Faculty House, Skyline Ballroom. (Just Societies)

March 7
5 – 7 p.m.
School of Professional Studies | The Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race
Narrative Medicine Rounds: Children’s Fiction and Narrative Pediatrics
Sayantani DasGupta will speak about writing her novel, The Serpent’s Secret. DasGupta, the daughter of Indian immigrants, wanted to share her love of books with her own kids but was saddened by the lack of heroes that looked like her family and neighbors. She decided to write her own stories. Faculty Club of CUMC, P&S Building, Fourth Floor. (Just Societies, Arts and Ideas)

March 8
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Columbia Global Reports
Erin Banco at SIPA
A discussion with Middle East investigative reporter Erin Banco ’15SIPA, whose new book, Pipe Dreams: The Plundering of Iraq’s Oil Wealth, reveals how the dream of an oil-financed, American-style democracy in Iraqi Kurdistan now looks like a completely unrealistic fantasy. International Affairs Building, Room 1410. (Global Solutions)

March 10
1 – 4 p.m.
Zuckerman Institute
Saturday Science: Your Changing Brain
Students, families, and community groups are invited to explore the workings of the brain through hands-on activities and demonstrations with scientists. RSVP here. 605 West 129th Street, Greene Science Center, Education Lab. (The Future of Neuroscience)

For RSVP, ticket availability, and other details, follow the links. We always appreciate hearing from you about future events. 

What do a first-year PhD student in a social psychology lab, a former Philadelphia mayor, and  Columbia’s 1968 protesters all have in common? A spot in this week’s Picks along with other great Columbia happenings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 23 – 25
The Center for Science and Society
Science! The Musical
A new musical about life in the lab written by Presidential Scholar Andrew Goldman and directed by Jenna Hoffman. Follow the story of Janice, a first-year PhD student, who has just had her first paper accepted to an academic conference. The only problem is, she hasn’t written the paper yet. In the few short weeks before the conference, Janice must learn to do interdisciplinary science. Purchase tickets here. Fayerweather Hall, Room 513. (The Future of Neuroscience)

REMINDERS

February 8: Where Next on Climate? Energy Access, Development, and Climate Change: Implications for Policy AND Gravity: A Status Report
February 13: Being the First: The Pulitzer Prize Edition
February 15: Just Societies Speaker Series: Cathy Cohen
February 19: American Voter Project: The Problem of Voter Suppression
February 22: The Hacking of the American Mind: A Discussion with Dr. Robert Lustig  AND  Chasing Coral: Screening and Conversation

PICKS

February 15
12:15 – 1:30 p.m.
Institute for the Study of Human Rights | European Institute | The Harriman Institute | SIPA Forced Migrations Working Group | Mailman Program on Forced Migration
The Politics of Search and Rescue Operations: A View from the Mediterranean
A talk with Craig Spencer, director of global health in emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian/CUMC. Spencer has worked as a field epidemiologist on numerous projects examining access to medical care and human rights. Most recently, he led a medical team on a Doctors Without Borders search and rescue boat in the Mediterranean. International Affairs Building, Room 1219. (Just Societies)

6:15 p.m.
The Institute for Comparative Literature and Society
Preserving the World’s Languages and Cultures
What is the process to make languages available on mobile devices and computers, and how many scripts used to write languages are “missing”?  Why is this important, and how does emoji play into the work? A discussion with Debbie Anderson, researcher in the department of linguistics at UC Berkeley. Followed by a Q&A. The Heyman Center, Second Floor, Common Room. (Data and Society)

6:15 – 8 p.m.
CUMC | Precision Medicine and Society | Center for the Study of Social Difference
Consumers, Citizens, and Crowds in the Age of Precision Medicine
A discussion with Cinnamon Bloss, associate professor at the University of California, San Diego, as part of the Precision Medicine Initiative’s All of Us Research Program to showcase a series of empirical studies to both inform ethical questions raised by biomedical citizen science, as well as suggest areas for future research. 754 Schermerhorn Extension. (Precision Medicine)

February 19
6 – 7 p.m.
SIPA
Book Talk: Mayor: The Best Job in Politics
Michael A. Nutter, former Philadelphia mayor and David N. Dinkins Professor of Professional Practice in Urban and Public Affairs at SIPA, will discuss his new book. Moderated by Ester R. Fuchs, director of the Urban and Social Policy Program. Followed by a Q&A and book signing. Books will be available for sale at the event. Registration required here. International Affairs Building, Room 1501. (Just Societies)  

February 28
2:10 – 4 p.m.
The European Institute | The Harriman Institute | The History Department
The Sound of Diplomacy: “Truth”, News, and Radio
As part of Victoria Phillips’ course Cold War Power: Culture as a Weapon, a lecture by A. Ross Johnson, history and public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center and former director of Radio Free Europe. RSVP here. International Affairs Building, Room 1201. (Just Societies)

March 7
6 – 9 p.m.
Rare Book & Manuscript Library | University Seminar on the History | Columbia University Press
A Time to Stir: Columbia ’68
A conversation with participants of the Columbia University protests of 1968. Features Ray Brown, Karla Spurlock-Evans, Carolyn Eisenberg, and Mark Rudd. Moderated by the book editor Paul Cronin. RSVP here. Faculty House, Presidential Room 2. (Just Societies)

For RSVP, ticket availability, and other details, follow the links. We always appreciate hearing from you about future events.

All right, really look at this month. Which Picks will you attend with alumni and donor friends? From voting rights to the shapes of cities, attacks on democracy and thought to threats to coral reefs and sea life, #MeToo to women’s leadership, and arts and music at Miller and Lenfest, February is replete with ways of knowing. See you there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 19
6 – 7 p.m.
The Eric Holder Initiative for Civil and Political Rights
American Voter Project: The Problem of Voter Suppression
This series of events will bring together scholars, politicians, journalists, activists, artists, students, and community members to discuss key issues that influence American voting today. Discussion includes Eric Holder ’73CC ’76LAW, 82nd Attorney General of the United States; Patricia Ferguson-Bohnee ’01LAW, clinical professor of law at the College of Law at ASU; and Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-council of NAACP-LDF. RSVP required here. Low Library, Rotunda. (Just Societies)

REMINDERS

February 8: Where Next on Climate? Energy Access, Development, and Climate Change: Implications for Policy AND Gravity: A Status Report
February 13: Being the First: The Pulitzer Prize Edition
February 15: Just Societies Speaker Series: Cathy Cohen

PICKS

February 9
9:30 a.m.
GSAPP | The Center for Spatial Research
Conference: Ways of Knowing Cities
Panelists will discuss the role that technologies have played in changing how urban spaces and social life are structured and understood—both historically and in the present moment. Keynote by Wendy Hui Kyong Chun, professor of modern culture and media at Brown University, and Trevor Paglen, American artist, geographer, and author. See full speaker list here. Pre-registration is now closed, but non-registered attendees will be seated after pre-registered guests and Columbia GSAPP students are seated. Avery Hall, Wood Auditorium. The conference will be live streamed to Ware Lounge and online at arch.columbia.edu. (Data and Society)

February 10
1 – 3 p.m.
Wallach Art Gallery
Wallach Family Afternoon
An afternoon of interactive storytelling, art-making, and movement for families to enjoy together in celebration of the exhibition, Arthur Mitchell: Harlem’s Ballet Trailblazer. Lenfest Center for the Arts, The Lantern Room. (Arts and Ideas)

February 14
4:30 –  6 p.m.
Columbia Law School
#MeToo: Building a Movement
What does it mean to build a movement? And what is the role of litigation and lawyering in organizing and movement-building? These and other issues will be discussed by Katherine Franke, director of the Center for Gender and Sexuality Law; Kendall Thomas, director of the Center for the Study of Law and Culture; Olatunde Johnson, Jerome B. Sherman Professor of Law; and Melissa Murray, faculty director of the Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice at Berkeley Law School and visiting scholar at the Law school. RSVP here. Jerome Greene Hall, Room 104. (Just Societies)

February 22
2 – 5:30 p.m.
Center for Sustainable Development
The Hacking of the American Mind: The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains
Book discussion and presentation by Robert H. Lustig, professor emeritus of pediatrics at the division of endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco. Followed by an open discussion led by Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development. Light snacks will be served. RSVP here. Buell Hall, East Gallery.

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
SoA | The  Earth Institute
Chasing Coral: Screening and Conversation
Chasing Coral taps into the collective will and wisdom of an ad man, a self-proclaimed coral nerd, top-notch camera designers, and renowned marine biologists as they invent the first time-lapse camera to record bleaching events as they happen. Film screening followed by a conversation with Larissa Rhodes ’14SoA producer, and Maureen A. Ryan, associate professor of professional practice of film in the Faculty of the Arts. RSVP here. Lenfest Center for the Arts, Katharina Otto-Bernstein Screening Room. (Arts and Ideas)

February 22 – 25
Barnard | Athena Center for Leadership Studies | Women and Hollywood
Athena Film Festival 2018
A weekend of feature films, documentaries, and shorts that highlight women’s leadership both in real life and the fictional world. Includes panel discussions with directors and workshops. View the full program schedule here and venue locations here. Purchase tickets here. (Arts and Ideas)

February 27
6 –7:30 p.m.    
Maison Française | Center for Contemporary Critical Thought | Society of Fellows and Heyman Center for the Humanities
The Counterrevolution: How our Government Went to War Against its Own Citizen
A discussion celebrating recent work by Bernard Harcourt, director of the Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought. RSVP here. Buell Hall, East Gallery. (Just Societies)

ONGOING: Miller Theatre Jazz Series

For RSVP, ticket availability, and other details, follow the links. We always appreciate hearing from you about future events.