February, Black History Month, brings programs focusing on race and society, as well as the usual Big Idea smorgasbord. Write event stories here. 

LOOKING AHEAD

February 8 – March 25
Rare Book and Manuscript Library | Institute for Research in African American Studies
On view now, an exhibit on the late Manning Marable, an author, activist, scholar, and the founding director of Columbia’s Institute for Research in African-American Studies. View hours here. Mark your calendars: exhibit, panel discussion, and reception on March 11. Butler Library, 6th floor, Chang Octagon.

REMINDERS

February 9: Human Rights Connectivity and the Future of the Human Rights System, A Diverse Nation: the French Model of Integration, and Better Git It in Your Soul: An Interpretive Biography of Charles Mingus
February 10: 99 Homes
February 11: World Leaders Forum and Embodied Cognition Workshop: Music and Neuroscience
February 13: Albert Murray—An American Original

PICKS

February 8 
6 – 8 p.m.
Mailman School
Negotiating Humanitarian Space: Experiences from the Field 
A round-table discussion about humanitarian space in conflict zones. Speakers from Doctors Without Borders will share their experiences. RSVP here. 722 West 168th St, Allan Rosenfield Building, Hess Commons. (Global)

February 10
6 – 7 p.m.
Columbia Global Reports | Committee on Global Thought
Planes, Trains, and Root Canals: The New World of Medical Tourism
Sasha Issenberg, Bloomberg Politics contributor and author of Outpatients: The Astonishing New World of Medical Tourism; Michael Doyle, director of Columbia Global Policy Initiative and member of the Committee on Global Thought; and Nicholas Lemann, director of Columbia Global Reports and journalism dean emeritus, will discuss Issenberg’s book, medical tourism, and global healthcare. Register . Columbia Law School, Jerome Greene Hall, Room 105. (Global)

February 12
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
SIPA | Center on Global Economic Governance
BRICS 2.0: Challenges of Global Governance and Growth
This BRICLab conference will bring together academics, policymakers, and business leaders to examine how Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are continuing to build new global governance platforms and the impact on the global political economy. Moderated by David Fergusson, CEO of the M&A Advisor and opening remarks by Jan Svejnar, director of the Center on Global Economic Governance. Registration is required here. Low Library Rotunda. (Global)

​February 18​
​6 – 7:15 p.m.
​Center on Global Energy Policy
Richard L. Kauffman, chairman of energy and finance for New York in the office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, will discuss the strategy to build a cleaner, more resilient, and affordable energy system in New York. David Sandalow, inaugural fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy, will moderate. Registration is required . Faculty House, Presidential Room 2/3. (Climate Change, Global)

February 19
12:15 – 2 p.m.
Center for Race, Philosophy, and Social Justice
The Future of Racial Morality After Black Love and Black Rage
Christopher Lebron, assistant professor of African American studies and philosophy at Yale University, will talk as part of the speaker series. Lebron has been active in public forums discussing race, social justice, and democratic ethics – most recently he has written for the Boston Review and the New York Times. (Just Societies)

February 23
6 – 8:30 p.m.
Rare Book and Manuscript Library | Lehman Center for American History
As part of the Live from Columbia Archives series, a discussion with Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Arthur Browne. Butler Library 523. (Just Societies)

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

Columbia Universe-ity! Current picks include one of those banner campus days: a Wallach Gallery opening, films at SoA and Barnard, and talks on the promise of precision medicine, oral history and social justice, fetal alcohol syndrome and public health, and more — all on February 18 alone. Write event stories here. 

FEATURED BIG IDEA EVENT

February 18
5:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Center for Science and Society | Presidential Scholars in Society and Neuroscience
Speakers will highlight some big questions surrounding precision medicine—ethical, social, economic, and legal implications of advancing this research. With David Goldstein, director of Columbia’s Institute for Genomic Medicine, and Jonathan Metzl, director of the Center for Medicine, Health, and Society, at Vanderbilt University. Moderated by Alondra Nelson, dean of Social Science. A full list of respondents is available here. Register here. Low Library Rotunda. (Precision Medicine)

REMINDERS

February 1: Robin Bell on Antarctica
February 2: Socioeconomic Disparities, Children and Brain Development
February 3: Founders Series with Jamie Hodari ’04CC
February 5: Innovation and the Value of Privacy
 
PICKS

February 9
6 – 7 p.m.
University Lecture
Human Rights, Connectivity, and the Future of the Human Rights System
A lecture hosted by President Lee C. Bollinger and Provost John H. Coatsworth with Sarah H. Cleveland, Louis Henkin Professor of Human and Constitutional Rights and faculty co-director of the Human Rights Institute. Registration required here. Low Library Rotunda. (Just Societies, Global)

February 11
10 – 11 a.m.
World Leaders Forum
The Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, speaks on “Leadership in the Age of Change: Managing Current Developments in the Mediterranean and Throughout Europe.” Introduced by President Lee C. Bollinger and moderated by economics professor Alessandra Casella. Register here. Low Library Rotunda. (Global)

February 13
9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Center for Jazz Studies
Albert Murray—An American Original
On the occasion of the Albert Murray Centennial, panel discussions on the Harlemite Albert Murray, jazz critic, novelist, and thinker. A full schedule and list of speakers is available here. Opening remarks by Robert O’Meally, Zora Neale Hurston Professor of English. Followed by a jazz performance by the Michael Carvin Experience. RSVP to [email protected]. (Public Square)

February 17
4 – 5:30 p.m.
Mailman School
The Urban Landscape and Public Health
Join Dean Linda P. Fried for a Dean’s Grand Rounds with Jonathan F.P. Rose, president of Jonathan Rose Companies, and Mitchell J. Silver, commissioner of the New York City department of parks and recreation. For more information, please contact Kim Milian at [email protected]. CUMC Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th Street, 1st floor.

February 18—One of those Columbia days!
4 – 6 p.m.
Wallach Art Gallery
Open This End: Artists in Conversation
Joseph R. Wolin, independent curator and art critic, will lead a panel discussion featuring several of the artists included in Open This End. Register here.  Schermerhorn Hall, 8th floor.
 
6 p.m.
Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library
Message in a Bottle: The Making of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Spectrum Disorder
Janet Golden, professor of history at Rutgers University, ​will trace the disorder’s discovery, public health, medical, and legal ramifications, as well as its portrayal in the media in terms of race, class, and gender. Augustus C. Long Health Sciences, Hammer Building, Conference Room 103 A.

6:30 p.m.
School of the Arts
Chapter and Verse
Interdisciplinary conversation on race, justice, and the carceral continuum following a screening of Jamal Joseph’s Chapter and Verse. Speakers include Jamal Joseph, professor of professional practice; Kathy Boudin, director of the Criminal Justice Initiative; Soffiyah Elijah, executive director of the Correctional Association of New York; Carl Hart, professor of psychology; and Samuel Roberts, director of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies. Moderated by Kendall Thomas, director of the Center for the Study of Law and Culture. Miller Theatre. (Just Societies)

6 – 8 p.m.
Columbia Center for Oral History Research | Oral History Master of Arts Program
Performance into Policy: Doing Justice by Oral Histories of Place and Displacement
Hudson Vaughan, deputy director and a co-founder of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center for Saving and Making History, and Della Pollock, executive director, will discuss the process of moving from oral history as performance towards policy intervention. Knox Hall, Room 509. (Just Societies)
 
February 18 – 21
Barnard | Athena Center for Leadership Studies
6th Annual Athena Film Festival: A Celebration of Women and Leadership
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. (Public Square)

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

Calvin Trillin! Antarctic Glaciers! 99 Homes! Charles Mingus! Two brain events! Startups, data privacy, and diversity in France! Can we even find enough exclamation points? Write event stories here!!! 

REMINDERS
 
January 25:  What We Can Learn from the Asylum: A Documentary Quest
January 27: A Public Health Lens on Violence
January 29: The Latino Vote: Myth vs. Reality
January 30: Brentano String Quartet and Gabriel Calatrava: Bach’s Art of the Fugue

PICKS

January 28
6 p.m. – 8 p.m. 
Columbia Journalism School
Calvin Trillin – author of Dogfight: The 2012 Presidential Campaign In Verse and numerous other books, also, a regular contributor to The New Yorker who is known for his commentary on the American scene – will speak as part of the Delacorte Lecture series. Followed by a Q&A and moderated by Eric Bates, veteran magazine editor. Pulitzer Hall, World Room. (Public Square)

February 1
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Earth Institute
Robin Bell on Antarctica
Renowned glaciologist Robin Bell, researcher at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, will speak about her team’s discoveries during their recent expedition to the ice-covered Gamburtsev Mountains, the last unknown mountain range on Earth. Purchase tickets here or e-mail [email protected]. Explorers Club Headquarters, 46 East 70th Street. (Climate Change)

February 2
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Zuckerman Institute
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Brain Insight Lecture: Socioeconomic Disparities, Children and Brain Development
As part of a team of social scientists and neuroscientists, Kimberly Noble and her colleagues are planning the first-ever controlled trial of the effects of poverty reduction by providing a random group of low-income mothers a monthly income supplement for the first three years of their children’s lives. The team will estimate the impact on children’s cognitive, emotional, and brain development, as well as the effects on family functioning. Register here. Graduate School of Journalism, Lecture Hall. (Zuckerman Institute and the Future of Neuroscience, Just Societies)

February 3
5:30 p.m.
Columbia Entrepreneurship | Columbia Startup Lab
Founders Series with Jamie Hodari ’04CC
Jamie Hodari ’04CC, co-founder and co-CEO of Industrious, will provide first-hand knowledge of what it takes to make it in the startup world. Prior to Industrious, Hodari was the co-founder and CEO of Kepler, a rapidly growing experimental university that Scientific American called a “daring global experiment” to bring “top-tier instruction to the neediest parts of the planet.” Register here. Columbia Startup Lab, 69 Charlton Street.

February 5
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Data Sciences Institute | Center for Leadership and Ethics
Innovation and the Value of Privacy
How can we use data to improve privacy for individuals? Can we tell how companies are using our data and which ones are offering better protection? Speakers include Kate Crawford, principal researcher at Microsoft, Abhay Edlabadkar ’07BUS, founder of RedMorph; Roxana Geambasu, assistant professor of computer science; Arvind Narayanan, computer scientist at Princeton; Deirdre Mulligan, professor of information at UC Berkeley; and Claudia Perlich, chief data scientist at Dstillery. Purchase tickets here. Schapiro Center for Engineering and Physical Science Research, Davis Auditorium. (Data and Society)

February 9
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.    
Maison Française | Alliance Program
A Diverse Nation: The French Model of Integration
Patrick Simon, director of research at INED at Sciences Po Paris; Andreas Wimmer, Lieber Professor of Sociology and Political Philosophy; and Riva Kastoryano, sociologist at Sciences Po will discuss how the French model of integration is responding to the growing diversity within French society. Moderated by Alexander Stille, San Paolo Professor of International Journalism. Pulitzer Hall, Lecture Room. (Global, Just Societies)

7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Center for Jazz Studies
Better Git It in Your Soul: An Interpretive Biography of Charles Mingus
A book with author Krin Gabbard, jazz studies faculty, about the life of Charles Mingus, renowned jazz composer. Gabbard will be joined by Boris Koslov, bassist, composer, and arranger; Alex Foster, member of the Mingus Big Band; and Freddie Bryant, member of the Mingus Orchestra. Followed by a Jazz performance by the Boris Koslov Trio. RSVP at [email protected]. Buell Hall.  

February 10
6:30 p.m.
School of the Arts | Office of University Life
99 Homes
A film screening of 99 Homes about a businessman who repossess homes and swindles the real estate market, Wall Street banks, and the government. Followed by a talk with the director Ramin Bahrani ’96CC, School of the Arts film studies faculty, and Nobel Prize-winning economist and University Professor Joseph Stiglitz. Miller Theatre.

February 11
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Center for Science and Society | The Heyman Center for the Humanities
Embodied Cognition Workshop: Music and Neuroscience
The relationship between music, embodiment, and cognition will be discussed by Luc Nijs, Ghent University and by Mariusz Kozak, assistant professor of music. Followed by a panel discussion with Carmel Raz, postdoctoral fellow at the Society of Fellows in the Humanities; Andrew Goldman, Presidential Scholar in Society and Neuroscience; and moderated by Jenny Boulboullé, lecturer in History. The Heyman Center, Common Room. (Zuckerman Institute and the Future of Neuroscience)

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

Note to Self: Attend events! Write event stories here. 

REMINDERS

January 25:  What We Can Learn from the Asylum: A Documentary Quest
January 27: A Public Health Lens on Violence
January 30: Stefon Harris & Sonic Creed

SNEAK PEEK (RSVP now: Nevis programs fill up quickly.)

February 11
7 p.m.
Nevis Science Center
Science-on-Hudson: A Brief History of Chemistry in the Cosmos
A public talk with Daniel Wolf Savi, senior research scientist at Nevis Laboratories. Learn about the cosmic chemical pathway from the Big Bang, to the formation of stars and life as we know it. Followed by stargazing with astronomers from the Columbia Astronomy Public Outreach Program (weather permitting). Science Center at Nevis Laboratories, Irvington, New York, 136 South Broadway.

PICKS

January 20
7 p.m.
Zuckerman Institute
WNYC Live: Note to Self
The launch of “Infomagical” – a podcast series that explores information overload on our brains, our relationships, and our ability to generate new ideas. Participants will experiment with ways to regulate their information diet, find focus, and discover the magic of clearer thinking. Manoush Zomorodi will host and be joined in conversation by Daphna Shohamy, associate professor of psychology, and Adam Cardone, magician escape artist. Purchase tickets here. The Greene Space, 44 Charlton Street. (Data and Society, Public Square, Zuckerman Institute and the Future of Neuroscience)

January 20
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The Office of Government and Community Affairs
Mental Health: Advances in Science to Improve Care in the 21st Century
A community forum to learn about research and mental health advances at Columbia. RSVP at [email protected]. Columbia University Medical Campus, Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion, Conference Room 2.

January 21 – 22
Department of History | History in Action Program
High-Stakes History: The Many Conversations of the Historian
Historical research and skills play roles in such varied fields as policy making, scientific research, entertainment, educating the public via primary sources, and popular history. This conference will reflect on the ways history participates in and shapes thinking and action beyond its disciplinary boundaries. Opening remarks by Alondra Nelson, dean of social science, with a keynote address by Jill Lepore, professor of American history at Harvard. Full list of speakers and program here. RSVP here. Maison Française, Buell Hall, East Gallery. (Public Square)

January 29
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Graduate School of Journalism | Telemundo Network
The Latino Vote: Myth vs. Reality
Political experts will discuss the diverse demographics of Latino communities, how journalists can fact-check candidates and their positions, and understand election poll results. Panelists will comment on strategies the major parties will use in the coming elections. Full list of speakers . Moderated by Telemundo News co-anchors José Díaz-Belart and María Celeste Arrarás. Remarks by Luis Carlos Vélez, vice president of Telemundo Network, and Dean Steve Coll. RSVP here. Columbia Journalism School, Lecture Hall. (Public Square)

January 30
8 p.m.
CAA Arts Access
Brentano String Quartet and Gabriel Calatrava: Bach’s Art of the Fugue
A performance installation created by the Brentano Quartet, engineer Gabriel Calatrava, and choreographer John-Mario Sevilla. Featuring Nina Lee, cellist from Columbia’s department of music. Using instruments ranging from the quartet’s old Italian violins, to Calatrava’s 3D printer, this performance aims to bring a new approach to Bach’s Art of the Fugue. Purchase tickets here. 1395 Lexington Avenue, Kaufmann Concert Hall.

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

Welcome back! Along with climate change, Jamaica’s Queen Nanny, mental institutions, and public health, we have contemporary art at the Wallach and jazzman Stefon Harris’s good vibes at Miller Theatre. And a New Year’s resolution: attend at least one Columbia event this season and become a Jerry’s Picks event story contributor here! Still picky after all these years….

January 19
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 
The Earth Institute | Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
What Effect Will the Trans-Pacific Partnership Have on Domestic and International Climate Change Action?
The historic mega-treaty includes provisions related to fossil fuel exports, environmental standards, investor protections, and technology. What are the implications for climate change policy? Discussion panel will include Lise Johnson, head of investment law and policy, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment; Ben Beachy, senior policy advisor, Sierra Club; Claire E. Reade, senior counsel, Arnold & Porter LLP; and Norine Kennedy, vice president of strategic international engagement, energy, and environment, US Council for International Business. RSVP required here. Jerome Greene Hall, Room 104. (Climate Change)

January 22
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.    
School of the Arts | Office of Community Outreach and Education
Opening Reception of Renée Cox’s Exhibit: Revisiting the Queen Nanny Series
Renée Cox’s photographic series restages scenes from the life of Nanny, or Queen Nanny, the spiritual and political leader of the Maroon outpost Nanny Town, a fugitive community of previously enslaved Africans in Jamaica in the late 17^th and early 18^th centuries. On view January 22 to April 14. Russ Berrie Pavilion. (Public Square, Global)

January 25
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Global Mental Health Program
What We Can Learn from the Asylum: A Documentary Quest
The film Kings Park: Stories from an American Mental Institution asks, “How do our past decisions regarding the treatment of people with mental health conditions influence and shape mental health care policy and practice today and into the future?” Filmmaker Lucy Winer will speak about her experiences at an institution that once held her captive and share highlights from her award-winning documentary. 1051 Riverside Drive, Room 6601, New York State Psychiatric Institute.

January 26
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Mailman School | Program on Forced Migration and Health
Successes and Challenges of Leading a Presidential Initiative: PMI and the Fight Against Malaria
Barack Obama’s President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), has contributed to sustained progress in decreasing malaria-related mortality in 19 focus countries and the Greater Mekong Sub-Region including Burma, Cambodia, and Thailand. Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer shares his experiences in managing the president’s global initiative. 722 West 168th St, Allan Rosenfield Building, Auditorium. (Global)

January 27
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Wallach Art Gallery | The Skylark Foundation
Exhibition Reception – Open this End: Contemporary Art from the Collection of Blake Byrne
Features both iconic and lesser-known works from some of the most significant artists of the last 50 years. The title, from a 1962 Warhol painting included in the show, suggests that the exhibition is a present to be unwrapped and shows us some of the ways we might unpack contemporary art, and how we might begin to understand these works as engaged in a series of exchanges that span genres, mediums, historical periods, and artistic styles. Curated by Joseph R. Wolin ’92GSAS, independent curator and art critic in New York. On view January 20 to March 12. Wallach Art Gallery.

January 27
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Mailman School
A Public Health Lens on Violence
Join Dean Linda P. Fried for a Dean’s Grand Rounds with Rodrigo Guerrero, the mayor of Cali, Colombia, and a Harvard-trained epidemiologist. For more information, please contact Kim Milian at [email protected]. CUMC Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th Street, 1st floor. (Just Societies)

January 30
8 p.m.
Miller Theatre
Stefon Harris & Sonic Creed
Miller does jazz! Armed with marimbas, vibes, and an electrifying stage presence, Stefon Harris offers “a high-gloss, dizzyingly virtuosic blend of postbop and funk- and R&B-informed groove” (Time Out New York).  His new group, Sonic Creed, is packed with talent, including the rising-star Elena Pinderhughes, praised by the New York Times for throwing “her flute, body, and soul into Latin jazz”—at age ten. Since then, she’s flourished, bringing her bold sound on vocals and flute. Purchase tickets here. Miller Theatre.

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

Welcome to the 2015 finale. This year we inaugurated Your Event Stories  written by our colleagues. We hope they inspire your New Year’s resolution to (1) attend at least one Columbia event a season; (2) invite  a friend, prospect or alum along; and (3) share your stories here.

Thanks, Carolina Castro, Brian Chapman, Linda Ury Greenberg, Ryan Hart, JoAnn Huether, and Lily Shen for your stories. You can read them all here. 

See you next year!

REMINDERS
 
Tonight: An Evening with Jules Feiffer
December 8: Learning to March: Selma 1965 and its Legacy with Congressman John Lewis and
Death and Dying in West Africa
December 9: Justice Poetry Featuring the BreakBeat Poets and Global Exposure
December 11: Women, Music, Power: A Concert by the International Contemporary Ensemble
December 12: Rudresh Mahanthappa: Bird Calls

PICKS

December 10
7 p.m.
School of the Arts
Mat Johnson – Creative Writing Lecture Series
A conversation with Mat Johnson, professor at the University of Houston creative writing program and author of the novels Loving Day, Pym, Drop, and Hunting in Harlem; the nonfiction novella The Great Negro Plot; and the comic books Incognegro and Dark Rain. Dodge Hall, Room 501. (Public Square)

December 11
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
European Institute | Harriman Institute
Cold War Public Diplomacy: The Power of Culture
A student conference with Adam Tooze, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of History and director of the European Institute; Victoria Phillips, lecturer in history; Richard R. John, professor of history and communications; and Lynn Garafola, professor of dance at Barnard. Panel topics include “World Leaders and Propaganda,” “Soft Power,” “The Performance of Cultural Exchange,” and “Broadcasting ‘Truth’”. Full list of speakers and program here. RSVP here. Hamilton Hall, Room 302. (Global, Just Societies)

December 14
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Presidential Scholars in Society and Neuroscience
The Complexities of Choice in the Real World
Panelists will discuss individual mechanisms that underlie decision-making in social environments. Including Michael Platt, the Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor at the University of Pennsylvania; L. A. Paul, professor of philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Alessandra Casella, professor of economics. Moderated by David Barack, 2015 Presidential Scholar in Society and Neuroscience. Reception to follow. Maison Française, Buell Hall. (Zuckerman Institute and the Future of Neuroscience)

8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Maison Française | Heyman Center for the Humanities | Center for Contemporary Critical Thought | Film and Media Studies Program
Radical Grace
Philosopher, playwright, novelist, and political activist Alain Badiou will be in conversation with filmmakers and James Schamus about the role of art in response to present tragic circumstances, including the recent attacks in Paris and around the world. Columbia Law School, Jerome Greene Hall, Room 101. (Just Societies, Public Square, Global)

December 19
1 p.m.
CAA Arts Access | Columbia Alumni Association | Miller Theatre
The Carnival of the Animals
Miller Theatre inaugurates a new holiday tradition with a playful production that brings to life the 19th century French composer Camille Saint-Saëns’ musical The Carnival of the Animals. Camille Saint-Saëns’ zoological fantasy comes to life on stage with a modern twist on the Victorian toy theater combining music, scenic elements, puppetry, and movement, along with the poetry of Ogden Nash. Join the CAA for a pre-performance pizza party and art making activities at the Columbia Alumni Center at 1 p.m. The performance starts at 3 p.m. at Miller Theatre. Purchase tickets here.

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

This week, a special Jerry’s Picks round two. So many happenings, so little December! Check out our event stories from colleagues around the University. And be sure to submit your story here!

REMINDERS
 
Tonight: World AIDS Day – Launch Party and Panel Discussion for Dying Words
December 2: Narrative Medicine Rounds: Rick Guidotti
December 3: The Science and Art of Confidence: What Women Need to Know
December 3 – 5: The Politics of Memory: Victimization, Violence, and Contested Memories of the Past
December 9: Justice Poetry Featuring the BreakBeat Poets – Public Humanities Initiative and Global Exposure

PICKS
 
December 3
6 p.m.
Department of Art History and Archaeology | Middle East Institute
Modernities: Discontent and Alliances
Part of a series of lectures entitled ‘Islamic’ Art: Disrupting Unity and Discerning Ruptures addressing the historiography of the field Islamic art by scoring the particular moments of ruptures that fractured its foundations. Nada Shabout, director of the Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Institute at the University of North Texas, and Zainab Bahrani, Edith Porada Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Art and Archaeology, will be in discussion. Schermerhorn Hall, Room 612. (Global)

7 p.m.
Columbia Engineering | Columbia Entrepreneurship
The Future of Food Sustainability
Discussants will look at how startups can address famine, drought, mass relocations, climate change, and more. Speakers include Dickson Despommier, emeritus professor of microbiology and public health; Adnan Durrani ’81SEAS, CEO of American Halal/Saffron Roads; David Rosenberg ’02BUS, founder or AeroFarms; and Sonny Wu, managing director of GSR Ventures. Moderated by Dean Mary C. Boyce (engineering). Reception to follow. Purchase tickets here. Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street. (Global, Climate Change)

December 8
12 p.m.
Center for American Studies
Learning to March: Selma 1965 and its Legacy with Congressman John Lewis
Civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis will discuss his award-winning, New York Times bestselling graphic novel series March, and his campaign to use graphic novels to revolutionize civil rights and nonviolence education. Lewis will be joined in conversation by Andrew Aydin, co-author, digital director, and policy advisor to the congressman. Registration required here. Italian Academy. (Just Societies, Public Square)
 
4:30 p.m.
Columbia Medical Center
Death and Dying in West Africa: Understanding Cultural Traditions and Conflicting Biomedical Imperatives During the Ebola Epidemic
An Alexander Ming Fisher Dean’s Lecture by Craig Spencer ’13PH, director of global health in emergency medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian, has worked in Africa and Southeast Asia as a field epidemiologist on numerous projects examining access to medical care and human rights. Most recently, Spencer provided medical care to West Africa during the Ebola epidemic. He was also one of the first people in New York to be diagnosed with the disease and be successfully treated. Alumni Auditorium, 650 West, 168th Street. (Global, Just Societies)

6 p.m.
Miller Theatre
Pop-Up Concerts: TILT Brass – Wild Ones
Brooklyn’s TILT Brass ensemble takes the stage for the final pop-up of the fall. TILT presents new works by contemporary composers Anthony Coleman, Chris McIntyre, and Catherine Lamb. TILT will also provide their interpretations of existing works, such as an all-brass version of James Tenney’s Swell Piece and Australian composer Liza Lim’s Wild Winged One. The event will be first come, first seated. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Miller Theatre.

December 12
8 p.m.
Miller Theatre
Rudresh Mahanthappa: Bird Calls
Miller isn’t just classical! Mahanthappa, composer and alto sax, is best known for his blend of jazz and Southern Indian music. His latest project, Bird Calls, is a multi-cultural ensemble that weaves in modernist electronic music with Charlie Parker’s style. Performance includes Adam O’Farrill (trumpet), Matt Mitchell (piano), Thomson Kneeland (bass), and Rudy Royston (drums). Purchase tickets here. Miller Theatre.

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

Another dazzling array—from the AIDS reporting of Jeffrey Schmalz, to a global think-in, to an exploration of women, music, and power. And a shameless plug: among the most exciting events on the calendar, see the December 9 Heyman Center program on the BreakBeat poets. None other than Daniel Kisslinger, son of Jerry, produced this timely evening featuring voices for justice from the first-ever anthology of hip hop poetry. And be sure to share your event stories!

REMINDERS
 
December 3-5: Politics of Memory: Victimization, Violence, and Contested Memories of the Past
December 4: Climate Change and the Scales of Environment
December 7: An Evening with Jules Feiffer

PICKS

December 1
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Brown Institute for Media Innovation
World AIDS Day – Launch Party and Panel Discussion for Dying Words
The launch of Dying Words: The AIDS Reporting of Jeff Schmalz and How it Transformed The New York Times, coinciding with World AIDS Day. A book and radio documentary by Samuel G. Freedman (author, professor, and journalist) and Kerry Donahue (radio producer) about the life of Jeff Schmalz, who is best known for his reporting on the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s and its impact on the LGBT community at that time. Author Eric Marcus ’84JRN ’03GSAPP; Adam Moss, editor of New York Magazine; and Ann Northrop, ACT UP activist and television host will discuss gay journalists during the crisis. RSVP here. Pulitzer Hall. (Public Square, Just Societies)
 
December 3
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Oral History Master of Arts Program
How You Sing Your Song: Miguel Zenón’s Oral History-Based Music
Identities Are Changeable is the latest album from Miguel Zenón, Puerto Rican-born saxophonist and composer. The music on the album includes interviews with several New Yorkers of Puerto Rican descent. Erica Zora Wrightson, a graduate of the Oral History Master of Arts Program, will be in discussion with Zenon about his process for turning oral histories into music and listen to samples on the album. Knox Hall, Room 509. (Public Square)

December 9
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The Committee on Global Thought
Global Exposure
A “global think-in” on virtual transparency in the 21st century with Agnès Callarmard, director of Columbia Global Freedom of Expression; Bernard Harcourt, director of the Center for Contemporary Critical Thought and author of Exposed; Betsy Reed, editor-in chief of The Intercept; and Clive Thompson, writer for The New York Times and columnist for Wired. Jerome Greene Hall, Room 104. (Public Square, Just Societies, Data and Society)

6:15 p.m.
The Heyman Center | Center for Justice
Justice Poetry Featuring the BreakBeat Poets – Public Humanities Initiative
An evening of justice poetry with the editors and contributors of The BreakBeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip Hop. Poets will read works related to issues of justice and discuss the events and experiences that inspired them. Featuring Angel Nafis, Kevin Coval, and Nate Marshall. Schapiro Center, Davis Auditorium. (Public Square, Just Societies)

December 11
7 p.m.
The Italian Academy
Women, Music, Power: A Concert by the International Contemporary Ensemble
Part of a two-day event entitled Women, Music, Power, which celebrates the work of musicologist Suzanne G. Cusick through a symposium. The International Contemporary Ensemble is dedicated to reshaping the way music is created and experienced with a flexible roster of instrumentalists performing in forces ranging from solos to large ensembles. Music by David Adamcyk, Canadian composer and visiting postdoctoral scholar at the Computer Music Center; Zosha Di Castri, assistant professor of music; Natacha Diels, from UC San Diego; and Maria Stankova, Bulgarian composer and vocalist. The Italian Academy, 1161 Amsterdam Avenue.

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

A burst of late fall interdisciplinary foraging before we mammals hibernate. Be sure to share your event stories!

REMINDERS

November 23: What Can Neuroscience Offer the Study of Creativity? – Seminars in Society & Neuroscience
November 30: From Juvenile Justice to Young Adult Justice: An Emerging Framework for Policy and Practice
December 2: Narrative Medicine Rounds: Rick Guidotti

PICKS

November 24
6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Earth Institute | School of Professional Studies
A Tale of Two Insecurities: Why the Paris COP has so Little to Do With Climate Change Impacts on Human Security and What We Can Do About It
Marc Levy, deputy director of the Center for International Earth Science Network, and Josh Fisher, director of the Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexity, will discuss the latest research and policy linking climate and security in the lead up to the United Nations climate change conference in Paris. RSVP here. Lewisohn Hall, Room 602. (Climate Change, Global)

December 1
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
SIPA
The Challenges of Responding to Medical Humanitarian Needs in Sub-Saharan Africa
How can local and international organizations work together to provide high-quality medical care in chronic emergencies like malnutrition and outbreaks such as Ebola? Suerie Moon, research director and co-chair of the Forum on Global Governance for Health at Harvard; Augustin Augier, co-founder of the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA); and Susan Shepherd, manager of ALIMA’s research portfolio, will discuss the current humanitarian aid system. Moderated by Somini Sengupta, United Nations bureau chief at The New York Times. Register here. International Affairs Building, Room 802. (Global)

December 3
12:15 p.m.
The Heyman Center for the Humanities | Society of Fellows in the Humanities
Teaching Contemporary Civilization in Prison – Public Humanities Initiative
Joshua Dubler, assistant professor of religion at the University of Rochester, served as a post-doctoral fellow with the Society of Fellows in the Humanities from 2008-2011 and taught Columbia’s Core course Contemporary Civilizations in Graterford Prison in Pennsylvania. His talk will be a reflection of that teaching experience. The Heyman Center, Common Room, 2nd floor. (Just Societies, Public Square)

6:30 p.m.
Columbia Engineering | Columbia Entrepreneurship
The Future of Food Sustainability
In Columbia Engineering’s series on innovation and entrepreneurship, discussants will look at how startups can address famine, drought, mass relocations, climate change, and more. Speakers include Dickson Despommier, emeritus professor of microbiology and public health; Adnan Durrani ’81SEAS, CEO of American Halal/Saffron Roads; David Rosenberg ’02BUS, founder or AeroFarms; and Sonny Wu, managing director of GSR Ventures. Moderated by Dean Mary C. Boyce (engineering). Reception to follow. Purchase tickets here. Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street. (Global, Climate Change)

December 3
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
CUMC Academic Affairs | Virginia Kneeland Frantz Society for Women Faculty
The Science and Art of Confidence: What Women Need to Know
A lecture with Claire Shipman, senior national correspondent for ABC’s Good Morning America and co-author of the New York Times bestsellers The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance, What Women Should Know, and Womenonmics. Reception to follow. Register . Alumni Auditorium, 650 West, 168th Street. (Public Square)

December 3 – 5
Historical Dialogues, Justice and Memory Network
The Politics of Memory: Victimization, Violence, and Contested Memories of the Past
Do societies with heightened awareness of their violent historical legacy have a stronger civic democratic identity? This conference aims to explore issues relating to memory, victimhood, and violence. Keynote speakers include Zoe Konstantopoulou, former Greek Parliament president, and Jeffrey Olick, professor of sociology and history at the University of Virginia. Konstantopoulou will speak on truth, justice, and selective memory and Olick will discuss collective guilt. Full list of speakers and program here. International Affairs Building, 4th floor. (Global)

December 4
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
GSAPP
Climate Change and the Scales of Environment
The symposium will be arranged around questions of scale—space, but also time—to articulate climate change as a necessary agent of change in architectural history, theory, discourse, and practice. Introduction by Dean Amale Andraos (GSAPP) and keynote speech by Dipesh Chakrabarty, Lawrence A. Kimpton Distinguished Service Professor of History at the University of Chicago. Full list of speakers and program here. Wood Auditorium. (Climate Change, Public Square)

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

Louis Armstrong to Jules Feiffer—another Thanksgiving cornucopia, gratefully featured.  Be sure to share your event stories!

REMINDERS

November 17: Income Inequality: Is This the End of the American Dream?
November 18: Louis Armstrong and the Jazz Trumpet Legacy
November 19: Diplomacy in the Digital Age

PICKS

November 17
8 p.m.
Miller Theatre
Home Within
A 60-minute audio-visual performance by Syrian composer and clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and Syrian-Armenian visual artist Kevork Mourad. In this new project, art and music develop in counterpoint to each other, creating an impressionistic reflection on the Syrian revolution and its aftermath. Purchase tickets here. Miller Theatre. (Global, Just Societies)
 
November 18
8 p.m.
The Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies
Screening of Rosenwald, a new documentary by Aviva Kempner
Followed by a special discussion with Hasia Diner and Rachel Grant Meyer on the history and philanthropy of Julius Rosenwald and maintaining alliances between the Jewish community and civil rights struggles. To RSVP, e-mail [email protected]. 501 Schermerhorn Hall. (Just Societies)

November 23
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Presidential Scholars in Society and Neuroscience
What Can Neuroscience Offer the Study of Creativity? – Seminars in Society & Neuroscience
Recent advances in neuroscience offer a new perspective with potential contributions to an explanation of the mechanisms, development, and origins of human creative faculties. How can neuroscience most effectively complement other disciplines? How could it benefit from other perspectives on creativity? Panelists include Rex Jung (University of New Mexico); James Kaufman (University of Connecticut); and Colleen Thomas-Young (Barnard College). Moderated by Andrew Goldman, Presidential Scholars in Society and Neuroscience. Reception to follow. Buell Hall, Maison Francaise. (Zuckerman Institute and the Future of Neuroscience)

November 30
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
From Juvenile Justice to Young Adult Justice: An Emerging Framework for Policy and Practice
A discussion of recent research on young adults from Vincent Schiraldi, senior research fellow, Harvard Kennedy School Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management; Jennifer A. Silvers (psychology); Richard Roderick, programs coordinator at the Justice-in-Education Initiative, subject of The Cooler Bandits, a documentary, and formerly incarcerated at 18 for nearly 20 years. Moderated by Judy Yu, director of the Juvenile Justice Project at the Correctional Association of New York. Jerome Greene Hall, Columbia Law School, Room 103. (Just Societies)

December 2
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
School of Professional Studies
Narrative Medicine Rounds: Rick Guidotti
Rick Guidotti, photographer of human diversity, award-winning fashion photographer and founder of Positive Exposure, an organization created to “affect a sea change in societal attitudes towards individuals living with genetic difference.” Hammer Health Sciences Center, Room 401. (Just Societies)

LOOKING AHEAD
 
December 7
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Comics@Columbia | The Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies
An Evening with Jules Feiffer
An evening with Jules Feiffer, award-winning cartoonist and author. Moderated by Daniel Fingeroth, comic book writer and editor. Butler Library, Room 523. (Global)

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