Open to participants across the world, the Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs (MCAA) is an annual conference bringing together scholars of Asian studies from the US Midwest Region (North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin). The MCAA seeks to promote Asian Studies at the university, secondary, and primary levels. Our mission is to encourage scholarly interchange between Asianists in the American Midwest with colleagues from other parts of the US and around the world. The Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, part of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, is pleased to host the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs (MCAA), September 13 to 15, 2024. For additional information on registration, accommodations, and programming, visit the conference website at mcaaconference.nd.edu. Originally published at asia.nd.edu.

Register here  The Center for Social Concerns hopes you will join it each month for the Virtues & Vocations lunchtime webinar series, Conversations on Character & the Common Good. There is always time for audience questions. Angel Adams Parham is an associate professor of sociology and a senior fellow with the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Virginia. She is the author of The Black Intellectual Tradition: Reading Freedom in Classical Literature. We will consider how questions of moral purpose and character are integral to education. Virtues & Vocations is a national forum for scholars and practitioners across disciplines to consider how best to cultivate character in pre-professional and professional education. Virtues & Vocations hosts faculty workshops, an annual conference, and monthly webinars, and engages issues of character, professional identity, and moral purpose through our publications.

Each day brings new dramatic news about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Ukrainian defense measures and counterattacks. Gathering expert panelists from both the University of Notre Dame and Ukraine, this flash panel will assess the situation in Ukraine from different perspectives. The Nanovic Institute for European Studies will host it on September 16, 2024. In August 2024, Ukraine broke through Russian border defense and occupied Russian territory. F-16 fighter jets arrived in the country. Russian aggression seemed to increase with massive air strikes. On August 24, Ukraine’s president Zelensky signed a controversial law banning Russia-linked religious groups with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as the main target – a move criticized by Pope Francis the following day. There are also discussions of peace plans following a “Summit on Peace in Ukraine” in Switzerland in June. What is the situation in the country now (September 2024)? What are the main developments over the summer of 2024? How can we assess the position Ukraine finds itself in? Where is the country heading? What are the expectations for fall and winter in Ukraine? In this 60-minute flash panel, we want to shed light on these questions. Register to AttendPanelistsVolodymyr TurchynovskyyDean of the Social Sciences FacultyUkrainian Catholic UniversityMary Ellen O'ConnellRobert & Marion Short Professor of LawProfessor of International Peace Studies—Kroc InstituteUniversity of Notre DameTaras ZhovtenkoActing Executive DirectorIlko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives FoundationAssociate Professor and Project Lead on Security Studies ProgramUkrainian Catholic UniversityOlha VorozhbytDeputy Editor-in-ChiefUkrayinskyi Tyzhden (Ukrainian Week)Foreign Policy CouncilUkrainian PrismAffiliated expert of the Global Outreach ProgramModerated by Clemens Sedmak, director of the Nanovic Institute and professor of social ethics at the Keough School of Global Affairs.   Originally published at nanovic.nd.edu.

Finnish American composer Ilari Kaila and Prof. Patrick Yim perform and discuss Kaila's Solitude for solo violin and other works. Notre Dame Professor David Bird will moderate a discussion with Yim and Kaila. Originally published at music.nd.edu.

Please join the Kellogg Institute in its annual tradition — this year in a new format! — that introduces research of its new Visiting Fellows in an informative and inviting atmosphere. Learn firsthand why Kellogg has invested in the work of these fellows from brief research overview presentations then delve deeper during a Q&A session, moderated by Kellogg Director Aníbal Pérez-Liñán. A light lunch will be available in this first session of a three-part series. Session 1Marianne Kneuer, Professor of Comparative Politics and Director of the Institute of Political Science at the Dresden University of TechnologySandra Botero, Associate Professor in the Facultad de Estudios Internacionales, Políticos y Urbanos at the Universidad del RosarioJuan Chamorro, Nicaraguan Economist,Businessman, and PoliticianFor more information, click here.  Sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies

Lasting peace in Colombia requires understanding and addressing the different and disproportionate impacts of the armed conflict on ethnic peoples and communities. Now that Colombia is at the halfway point in implementing its peace accord, it is clear there are serious challenges in achieving the goals established to guarantee the rights of ethnic peoples in the peace process. As part of this event, the Kroc Institute is launching its third special report on the implementation of the Colombian Final Accord’s Ethnic Approach. The report seeks to understand the limitations and weaknesses, as well as progress and successes, of implementing Ethnic Approach’s commitments. Based on quantitative and qualitative findings, the report offers recommendations that can guide the second half of the implementation period for the Ethnic Approach to experience accelerated implementation. Event speakers will provide an overview of the report findings and open space to discuss lessons learned and best practices for inclusive peacebuilding. Additionally, opening remarks and closing reflections from the international community supporting the accompaniment of the Ethnic Approach will provide insights on the critical next steps for guaranteeing Colombia’s ethnic communities stay at the center of the peace process.   Opening Remarks: H.E. Mr. Daniel García-Peña Jaramillo, Ambassador of Colombia in the United States  Panelists: Josefina Echavarría Alvarez, professor of the practice and director of the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM)  Anne A. Witkowsky, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, U.S. Department of State  Ángela María Ramírez Rincón, executive director of the Barometer Initiative in ColombiaIvonne Zúñiga, researcher for the Barometer Initiative in ColombiaGimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)María Claudia Pulido, Assistant Executive Secretary for the Monitoring, Promotion and Technical Cooperation, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Helmer Quiñones, researcher, Accountability Research Center, American University School of International Service       Originally published at kroc.nd.edu.

This workshop will cover how Generative AI works, explore models, chatbots, and companies in the consumer space, explain key terms (including model, LLM, training, hallucination, bias, context, and RAG), delve into AI capabilities, and discuss how your data is used in Generative AI. Click HERE to register Originally published at ai.nd.edu.

Registration deadline extended! Register by noon Monday, September 8! To attend this in-person event on September 18, PLEASE REGISTER at https://bit.ly/ActionReg so we can get a count for ordering food!    In his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’: Care for Our Common Home, Pope Francis “urgently appeals” for a “new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet.” We, the Notre Dame Minor in Sustainability and the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, invite you to enter into that dialogue by forming a team from your campus organization or local parish to participate in the two-part workshop, The Pathway to Ecological Citizenship and Spirituality, organized by the Catholic Climate Covenant and the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests. Part One of the Workshop is an online Webinar on September 11 that addresses the spiritual message of Laudato Si’. Part Two of the workshop is an in-person event on September 18 at Notre Dame that will be the live origination site for a national webinar focused on climate change and how your organization or parish can become involved in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.  6:00 PM        Gathering reception with heavy hors 'd'oeuvres   6:30 PM         Begin live Webinar feed   Welcome by Rev. Emmett Farrell, founder of Creation Care, Diocese of San Diego.   Opening prayer by Rev. Stephen P. Newton, C.S.C., executive director, AUSCP.   “A Scientific Perspective of Our Climate Crisis” by Philip Sakimoto, director of the Minor in Sustainability and Professor of the Practice in Physics and Astronomy, University of Notre Dame   “A Primer on the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform and Planning” by Notre Dame alumna Christina Bagaglio Slentz, Director of Creation Care, Diocese of San Diego.   8:00 PM         Conversation and Dessert ReceptionParticipants coming by private car may drop off passengers at the McKenna Center and then drive across the street to the Morris Inn to obtain a parking pass and instructions on where to self-park. If you cannot come to Notre Dame, you may view the program part of the September 18 Part Two event online. For this, and to view the September 11 Part One Webinar online, register at https://bit.ly/ccc_AUSCP_EcologicalPathwayFor information about the Laudato Si’ Action Platform please visit:            https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/               https://godsplanet.us/              https://laudatosiuniversities.com/              https://www.ncronline.org/feature-series/laudato-si-action-platform/storiesIf you have any questions about this event, contact Phil Sakimoto, director of the Notre Dame Minor in Sustainability, at psakimot@nd.edu. Sponsored by the Minor in Sustainability, Office of Sustainability, Catholic Climate Covenant, Association of U. S. Catholic Priests, and Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.  Originally published at susminor.nd.edu.

The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, in partnership with its Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) Working Group, as part of the Keough School of Global Affairs, proudly offer a four-part lecture series over the 2024-25 academic year. The series focuses on U.S. imperialism and U.S. military and humanitarian involvement in the Middle East, and in particular Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan. Graduate students serve as discussants after each lecture, prior to Q&A with the audience. The series conducts a critical evaluation of U.S. policy in the Middle East and calls for a reassessment of the nature and function of a U.S. presence, and the implications posed for peacebuilding practitioners and contemporary global affairs scholarship. Though the US-led “war on terror” has been ongoing for over two decades, it is a war that has been waged largely in the shadows—in the concealed spaces of black sites, extraordinary renditions, covert drone programs, secret global surveillance, and through expanding terrorism laws and security databases. This talk tracks a little-known but ever-expanding dimension of US counterterrorism warfare, one that travels in and through a growing body of US counterterrorism law and sanctions regimes that tether to foreign aid flows and monetary transactions around the world. Drawing on over a decade of ethnographic fieldwork in Palestine, this talk traces how US counterterrorism law bundles and embeds in humanitarian and development aid flows inbound to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, transporting, in turn, Washington’s counterterrorism regime into the intimate spaces and interstices of Palestinian everyday life—in a greenhouse in Gaza, in a library in Bethlehem, in the collection of personal information and mapping of land plots, in the halls of municipal councils, and in local elections. Tracing the transnational operation of US law, this talk demonstrates how US empire operates as a topological formation that projects security and war power through opaque arrangements and blended genres of rule—in this case contracted relationships of aid—that render Washington’s counterterrorism regime intimately embedded in the lifeworlds of those afar. More broadly, it suggests that a close analysis of the topological workings of the US security state in Palestine tells us something significant about the shape-shifting nature of imperial formations, their realignments and reformulations, their haunted sites, and their obscured but intimate forms. Speakers:Lisa Bhungalia is a political geographer researching late-modern war, law, empire, and transnational linkages between the US and Southwest Asian and North African region and an Assistant Professor of Geography and International Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her first book, Elastic Empire: Refashioning War through Aid in Palestine, published by Stanford University Press in December 2023, examines the entanglements of aid, law, and war in Palestine with attention to policing and surveillance regimes produced through the embedding of counterterrorism laws and infrastructures into civilian aid flows. She is also developing new research on the social lives of terrorism databases. Her research has been supported by the American Council of Learned Societies, National Science Foundation, and Palestinian American Research Center, among other bodies, and her published work has appeared in Politics and Space, Political Geography, Geopolitics, Small Wars & Insurgencies, Society and Space, Environment and Planning A, Middle East Report, and Jadaliyya, among other venues.Student respondent: Francesca Freeman, Peace Studies and HistoryFaculty respondent: Perin Gürel, Associate Professor American StudiesOriginally published at kroc.nd.edu.

Kellogg Work-in-Progress seminars are designed to generate in-depth discussion of new scholarly work. For the pre-circulated paper and to attend, register here.  Kelly McMannKellogg Institute Visiting FellowLucy Adams Leffingwell Professor, Case Western Reserve University When are democracies, or other regime types, more successful at mitigating problems? Examining numerous economic, environmental, health, and security problems and guided by an initial theoretical framework, this project will provide an answer to the question. For mor information, click here. 

Leo Varadkar, former Taoiseach of Ireland (2017-2020, 2022-24) and current member of parliament in Dáil Eireann, will join the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies for a public discussion of Irish current affairs, including public health initiatives, civic life, and the political future of the island of Ireland. Varadkar will be in conversation with Colin Barr, professor of modern Irish history and director of the Clingen Family Center for Study of Modern Ireland. About the Speaker Leo Varadkar was Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland from 2017-2020 and again from 2022-24. He served in cabinet for 13 years in the Ministries of Transport, Tourism & Sport, Enterprise, Trade, Employment, and Social Protection and Health. He is currently Teachta Dála for the Dublin West constituency and a member of Ireland's Council of State. Varadkar helped guide Ireland through the Pandemic with public health and economic responses that were internationally recognized for their efficacy. He led Ireland through Brexit, preventing a hard border between North and South, upholding the Good Friday Agreement, and maintaining Ireland's place at the heart of the European Union and its single market. A strong supporter of Irish unification, Varadkar allocated over €1 billion to North-South projects under the Shared Island Fund and helped to get the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement operating again. As Taoiseach, Varadkar established a Child Poverty and Well-being Programme, early results of which include the introduction of free school books, hot school meals, and lower childcare fees for working parents. Varadkar also doubled spending on the arts, culture, and sport as well as significantly enhanced workers’ rights. His government introduced paid parental leave and statutory sick pay and made major progress towards a living wage and occupational pensions for workers. During Varadkar’s premiership, greenhouse gas emissions reached a 30-year low on foot of a new climate law, which included major investment in renewable energy production as well as a carbon tax with revenues ring-fenced for climate initiatives like subsidized home retrofits and greener farming. At the time of Varadkar leaving office, Ireland had record levels of employment and a budget surplus that allowed for increased investment in public infrastructure, such as new public housing, schools, and healthcare facilities. Varadkar is a medical doctor and a graduate of Trinity College Dublin. He lives with his partner Dr. Matthew Barrett in Dublin. Originally published at irishstudies.nd.edu.

Join the Klau Institute and NDVotes for this installment of "Pizza, Pop, and Politics" as Professor of Law Derek Muller discusses voting rights and election administration. Originally published at klau.nd.edu.

Michael C. Davis, a former professor at the University of Hong Kong, will discuss his recent publication, "Freedom Undone: The Assault on Liberal Values and Institutions in Hong Kong" (Columbia University Press, 2024). Liu faculty fellow Victoria Hui, associate professor of politics, will serve as a discussant and Michel Hockx, professor of Chinese literature and director of the Liu Institute, will moderate the event. The lecture is free and open to the public. Lunch will be served. Michael Davis's publication will be available for purchase during the event onsite through Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore. Sponsored by the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and cosponsored by Law School Human Rights LLM Program and the Global Human Rights Clinic. In support of the Liu Institute’s growing commitment to sustainability, we will no longer be offering drinks at our public lectures and panels. We encourage audience members to bring their own water bottles or to drink from nearby water fountains. Thank you for your understanding. Originally published at asia.nd.edu.

Please join the Kellogg Institute in its annual tradition — this year in a new format! — that introduces research of its new Visiting Fellows in an informative and inviting atmosphere. Learn firsthand why Kellogg has invested in the work of these fellows from brief research overview presentations then delve deeper during a Q&A session, moderated by Kellogg Director Aníbal Pérez-Liñán. A light lunch will be available in this second session of a two-part series. Session 2Kelly McMann, Lucy Adams Leffingwell Professor of Political Science at Case Western Reserve UniversityNermin Allam, Associate Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University-NewarkNusrat Chowdhury, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Amherst CollegeSr. Damien Marie Savino, Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist and Dean of Science and Sustainability at Aquinas CollegeFor more information, click here.   Sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies.

The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies honors this year’s International Day of Peace with a special presentation from one of its own — The Honorable Chernor Bah (M.A. ’11), Minister of Information and Civic Education in Sierra Leone, who will also receive this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Each year the Kroc Institute pays heed to the International Day of Peace (IDOP), established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly, by way of an event or panel discussion. The Institute also honors a Notre Dame graduate in peace studies annually with the Distinguished Alumni Award — someone whose career and life exemplifies the ideas of international peacebuilding. This year, the two events will merge. Using the 2024 IDOP theme “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” as a framework, Minister Bah will speak to his professional trajectory since graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a master’s degree in international peace studies. He will also address his current ministerial work with civic education related to cultural renaissance and decolonization, and the mindset shift necessary to rediscover our sense of identity and to see each other’s humanity. Minister Bah’s talk, "Intentional National Consciousness as critical tool for longterm Peacebuilding — A Sierra Leone case study," will discuss how national consciousness, the shared sense of identity among citizens, is essential for uniting a diverse nation like Sierra Leone. By examining the historical challenges stemming from colonial legacies, which fragment our national identity and contribute to social and political instability, this lecture will explore the crucial role of constructing and socializing an intentional national consciousness in long-term peacebuilding for Sierra Leone. In his lecture, Minister Bah will demonstrate how reconstructing these narratives purposefully and in citizen voices is critical to building a cohesive and peaceful society. Drawing lessons from countries including Rwanda, Germany, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, and the United States, strategies emerge for reconstructing Sierra Leone's national consciousness through national dialogue, civic education reform, cultural revitalization, inclusive governance, youth engagement, and international collaboration. By embracing these strategies, Sierra Leone can build a more united, peaceful, and prosperous society. Just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the strength (and positive peace) of a state is based on the power of its fictional narrative and the sense of ownership and pride that the citizens carry with them in their hearts. Originally published at kroc.nd.edu.

The University provides tuition assistance to the children of eligible faculty and staff who are attending Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s, or other four-year accredited colleges and universities. If you would like to learn more about this benefit, we hope you join us at our upcoming Children's Educational Benefits Information Session. Junior high and high school-age children are encouraged to attend with their parents. This event is sponsored by NDHR and the Enrollment Division.   Session Content:Educational benefits for attendance at Notre Dame, Saint Mary's, and other colleges and universities Academic preparation and admission requirements to Notre Dame Additional information on financial aidUpcoming Information Sessions:Tuesday, September 24 at 7 p.m. in Eck Visitors Center Wednesday, October 9 at 7 p.m. in Eck Visitors CenterIf you have any questions, please contact us at tuition@nd.edu. Originally published at hr.nd.edu.

Now in its fourth year, the 2024 Accountability in a Sustainable World Conference, as the flagship event of ASWQ, continues to ask the hard questions and delve deeper into regulation, sustainability reporting, capital allocation, and performance metrics. The ongoing conversation will answer the immediate need for dialogue among academics and non-academics about sustainability, data and measurement, related assurance, high-quality information to inform responsible investment decisions, and accountability in setting personal, corporate, and public sector goals. This conference will focus on key concerns regarding assurance of a sustainable future: the changing sustainability reporting landscape, the politization of ESG, accounting for sustainability with a particular emphasis on carbon accounting, measurement and assurance, performance metrics, the new corporate focus on sustainability, the effects of carbon footprint information on consumer choice and thoughts from a younger generation. A main feature of the conference is to generate discourse between academics and non-academics, featuring high-profile, well-informed, often provocative speakers. Events are online and open to the public. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Center for Accounting Research and Education (CARE).

Join the Center for Social Concerns in the Coffee House for free food, fellowship and informal conversation around justice. Featuring AngLes Southern soul comfort food. Co-sponsors: Initiative on Race and Resilience; Procurement Services; and  University Operations, Events, and Safety.

Join the School of Architecture in welcoming the 2024 Driehaus Prize Laureate, Peter Pennoyer for the annual Driehaus Prize lecture.  Register here Originally published at architecture.nd.edu.

Now in its fourth year, the 2024 Accountability in a Sustainable World Conference, as the flagship event of ASWQ, continues to ask the hard questions and delve deeper into regulation, sustainability reporting, capital allocation, and performance metrics. The ongoing conversation will answer the immediate need for dialogue among academics and non-academics about sustainability, data and measurement, related assurance, high-quality information to inform responsible investment decisions, and accountability in setting personal, corporate, and public sector goals. This conference will focus on key concerns regarding assurance of a sustainable future: the changing sustainability reporting landscape, the politization of ESG, accounting for sustainability with a particular emphasis on carbon accounting, measurement and assurance, performance metrics, the new corporate focus on sustainability, the effects of carbon footprint information on consumer choice and thoughts from a younger generation. A main feature of the conference is to generate discourse between academics and non-academics, featuring high-profile, well-informed, often provocative speakers. Events are online and open to the public. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Center for Accounting Research and Education (CARE).