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MORNINGS WITH THE PROFESSORS

Friday, September 29, 2023 , 9:30 am 11:30 am CDT

September 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27 (Fridays) 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Attend in person at ISU’s Alumni Center, 1101 N. Main St., Normal

            OR

Watch Online via Zoom

FEES:

$35 for Senior Professional members (includes all four sessions)

$45 for non-members (includes all four sessions)

For in person participation, pricing is per person.

For ZOOM participation, pricing is one registration per household.

Price includes:

Six 2-hour sessions

$15 single-session option available for in-person attendance (pay at door).

Register online at seniorprofessionals.illinoisstate.edu or call (309) 438-2160.

Zoom participants will receive a Zoom link a week prior to the class(es) and again on the day of each session.

Class Description

September 29 – Cultures of Science: A Historical Survey of the Varied Ways of Knowing

Science is inseparable from culture. For the last 150 years, the history of science has worked to explain and analyze that connection. As current debates rage about the reliability of scientific data, the growing reliance on digital technology and the political biases of scientists, one of the best tools for contributing to the debate is historical context. During this session, we will explore three case studies in the history of science from the Middle Ages (Astronomy), the early Modern period (Botany), and the Victorian Era (Physics) that will help provide context and encourage an appreciation for the sociocultural intricacies embedded in science.

Nathan Kapoor, Assistant Professor of History, ISU

October 6 – Is the Supreme Court in Peril?

With public opinion plummeting for the Supreme Court’s decisions and justices mired in ethics controversies, can the Supreme Court still be a pillar of democracy and a guardian of liberty? Is the Supreme Court an unbiased referee of legal disputes? Does the Court still dispense equal justice under the law? Does this Court situation differ from former crises? These and related questions will be discussed.

Bob Bradley, Professor Emeritus, Politics and Government, ISU

October 13 – The Illinois SAFE-T Act and Its Impact on Law Enforcement, the Courts and Our Community

The Illinois SAFE-T Act (and its component Pretrial Fairness Act) was adopted as part of an intended reform of the criminal justice system. Its impact has been wide-reaching, and the legislation has had both strong proponents and vocal critics. Notwithstanding the intentions of the General Assembly that adopted it, does the SAFE-T Act truly make our community more safe? This presentation will educate attendees about the material provisions of the Act, provide initial data and commentary on the Act’s effect on community safety concerns, and describe the Act’s practical impact on the day-to-day operations of police agencies, the courts, and other criminal justice system stakeholders.

Chief Judge Casey Costigan and Associate Judge Scott Kording

October 20 – Life 3.0: Delving into Artificial Intelligence

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? How does it affect us? Learn of work done by computational science researchers, specifically Max Tegmark and colleagues’ book on Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Discover the current state of AI applications in areas such as healthcare, media, and judicial system, and implications thereof for citizens. What do the outlook into the near future and the challenges and opportunities from this new wave of digital transformation look like?

Elahe Javadi, Associate Professor of Information Technology, ISU

October 27 – White Talk, Privilege, and Ignorance

You have likely heard white talk. It sounds like this: I’m not a racist. My ancestors never owned slaves. I have Black and Latino friends. I don’t see color. I’m from a poor white family and you don’t hear us complaining. People of color make everything about race. All lives matter. It’s no accident that these responses are often the first words out of white people’s mouths when talking about race. This class will examine the spoken, embodied, and performative nature of white talk. Consider not what white talk says, but what it does; that is, how do these utterances function to maintain white comfort and privilege?

Allison Bailey, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, ISU

November 3 – The World We Live In: Democracy Retreats, Authoritarianism Surges

In the past decade and a half, the world has experienced a dramatic decline of democratic countries and meteoric rise of autocratic rulers in various parts of the world. Analysis shows that the level of democracy for the average global citizen by 2022 is back to 1986. This presentation examines the state of democracy, causes of and conditions for the global trend of democratic backsliding, roles of various international actors, and future trajectories of democracy.

Ali Riaz, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, ISU

(309) 438-2818

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1101 N. Main Street
Normal, Illinois 61761
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309-438-2160
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Room

118

Status

Confirmed