2023-2024 Thursday Forum
Coe College is excited to invite local community members to participate in Thursday Forum, a weekly series in which Coe faculty share their expertise on a variety of topics of interest. Coe has been presenting this initiative to the community for over 30 years. This year, our series begins with insights on the Russia-Ukraine War, examines philosophy in filmmaking and ends with a series to make complex physics more approachable. With a can’t-miss lineup of engaging lectures, we’re excited for you to join us at the following series:
- Perspectives on Russia, September 7 and 14, 2023: For a year now, the war in Ukraine has headlined the news, with Ukrainian thoughts and experiences easy to access from the outside. But what about the perspectives within Russia? Or its neighbors? Associate Professor of Anthropology Julie Fairbanks kicks off Thursday Forum with a two-week overview of the Caucasus region and its nuanced relationships to the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Women in American Art, September 21 and 28, 2023: When we think of American artists, most people can name a few women — but not those behind the scenes. For two weeks, Assistant Professor of Art History Ranelle Knight-Lueth will take us on a journey from the colonial era to present day, discussing the incredible (and often untold) impact women have had on building an American artistic tradition.
- Philosophy Through Film: How Movies and TV Shows Are Asking Life's Challenging Questions, October 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2023: Throughout history, philosophers have used speculative storytelling to explore and pose some of life’s most challenging questions. So…how does this present itself in modern media? Adjunct Assistant Professor of Philosophy Tom Javoroski spends a month on major philosophical questions, their presentations in film and television and what influential philosophers have had to say on the same subjects.
- Hopes for our Health: How New Medical Devices and Techniques Work, November 2, 9 and 16, 2023: Over the past several decades, medical science has grown leaps and bounds, with scientists and engineers constantly finding better ways to care for patients. For three weeks, B.D. Silliman Professor of Physics Steve Feller will highlight some of the most important advancements in medical technology throughout recent decades.
- The Health of Our Relationships, November 30, 2023: In a special one-week forum presented by Assistant Professor of Psychology Ellen Lee, audience members will discover how the health of our relationships impact our mental and physical well-being. Lee explains the behaviors that build connection as well as the science behind creating healthy relationships.
- The Evolving Universe from the Big Bang to Homo Sapiens, January 25 and February 1, 2024: We know that the universe originated in a fraction of a second during the Big Bang — but how, exactly, did the Big Bang occur? And how did humanity as we know it today come to exist? Associate Professor of Physics Firdevs Duru walks us through the emergence of the Universe and life on Earth over the course of two weeks.
- Hell for Christians: Justice after Death from the Bible to Dante, February 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2024: Across Christian literature, readers can find multiple visits to hell in which they are taken along to discover the various punishments enacted on those who have done wrong. In this four-week forum, Joseph E. McCabe Professor of Religion Meira Kensky and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Religion Geoff Chaplin examine the different presentations of hell in Christian tradition, Christian views on justice and their root in the Bible.
- The Economics of U.S. Health Care, March 7, 21 and 28, 2024: The U.S. spends more money than any country on healthcare — yet, Americans are nowhere near the healthiest citizens on Earth. For years, politicians on both sides of the aisle have sought to solve our healthcare woes, with little success. Assistant Professor of Economics Chelsea Lensing informs audience members on the economics of the U.S. healthcare system, its potential solutions and their respective pitfalls.
- Four Hard Ideas of Physics, Explained Simply, April 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2024: When most people hear physics, they think of it as an entirely unapproachable subject. To close out this year’s forum, Fran Allison and Francis Halpin Professor of Physics Mario Affatigato aim to make four “difficult” ideas of physics approachable for even the most apprehensive student.
Thursday Forum is held in Kesler Auditorium on the first floor of Hickok Hall. Attendees can arrive from 8:45-9:15 AM for registration and refreshments, immediately followed by the day’s lecture until 11:30 AM. Each presentation blends lecture, media (film, music, etc) and discussion for an engaging experience. All Thursday Forum events are open to the public.
Admission for each four-week series is $40, while admission to individual lectures and one-, two- and three-week forums is $12 per week. This includes the lecture and refreshments beforehand. Attendees can pay in-person with cash or personal check. All credit card transactions can be processed by registering online in advance at www.coe.edu/thursday-forum. For more information, visit the Thursday Forum website or call 319.399.8523.