Please register by March 9 to join us for a two-day conference (Mar 16-17) focused on important questions, such as:

Please join us on March 15 for a presentation by Samuel Moyn, Professor of Law and History at Yale University, entitled "Human Rights in the Neoliberal Maelstrom." Marianne Constable, Professor of Rhetoric at UC Berkeley, will be the discussant.

Evan Reade, former U.S. Consul General to Strasbourg, will deliver a presentation called "Foreign Policy Formation: The Role of the National Security Council and the 'Interagency Process,'" followed by a round of Q&A.

Please sign up here to attend.

Scholars working around the world often come under threat of persecution or harassment, whether from oppressive governments or other sources. They may also be displaced by forces beyond their control, such as war or natural disasters. This panel discussion will focus on how universities and other institutions can support scholars who are persecuted or harassed because of their ideas and actions, or who are forced to leave their homes for other reasons. Participants will discuss the various types of threats facing scholars around the world, as well as as solutions that have been developed by governments, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations, including Scholars at Risk, which works to protect threatened scholars and promote academic freedom around the world.

Please join us on February 26 for "Autocratic Legalism," a presentation by Kim Lane Scheppele of Princeton University, with discussions by Dylan Riley and Jason Wittenberg.

Social Science Matrix is honored to welcome Craig Calhoun, President of the Berggruen Institute, for the Matrix Distinguished Lecture, "Cosmopolitanism and Belonging," to be delivered on January 31, 2018 from 4-6pm. A reception will follow the lecture.

This talk examines how electronic monitoring systems in the U.S. trucking industry are used to compel truckers' compliance with legal and organizational rules.

The Peder Sather Symposium fosters interdisciplinary discussion among scholars and policy makers on global and national issues of mutual concern and promotes the understanding of political, economic and cultural issues. Featured speakers include Dr. Knut Olav Åmås, Executive Director, Fritt Ord Foundation; and Azita Raji, Former US Ambassador to Sweden. The symposium is co-sponsored by the College of Letters & Science, the Royal Norwegian Consulate General, and the Honorary Consulate General of Sweden.

Dr. Michal Kosinski is a psychologist and data scientist. His research focuses on studying humans through the lenses of digital footprints left behind while using digital platforms and devices. In his talk, he will discuss his research showing that digital records of behavior, such as samples of text, Tweets, Facebook Likes, or web-browsing logs, can be used to accurately measure a wide range of traits, including personality, intelligence, and political views.