Talks and events in the South Bay

A workshop on Catholic social teaching and artificial intelligence, exploring how the Church's tradition of humanistic philosophy engages with AI ethics and technology. Part of the Markey Center's monthly Faith Meets World series, this session includes interactive discussion and reflection opportunities for all participants.

A Cantor Arts Center exhibition showcasing recent acquisitions from the Asian American Art Initiative (AAAI), founded in 2018 by Stanford art history professor Marci Kwon and curator Aleesa Pitchamarn Alexander. The AAAI has grown from roughly 30 works to over 800, making it one of the nation's leading museum initiatives dedicated to Asian American art. This exhibition presents works by artists including Pacita Abad, Ching Ho Cheng, Tseng Kwong Chi, Young Joon Kwak, Masami Teraoka, and Rupy C. Tut, spanning generations, media, and artistic approaches. Many works are being presented to the public for the first time. The exhibition runs during regular museum hours; admission is always free.

What does it take to turn research into a company? A panel explores the journey from Stanford lab to startup commercialization, featuring Brian Bartholomeusz, Managing Director of Innovation Transfer at Stanford's TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy; Caraiosa O'Farrell, a Stanford founder; and a representative from StartX's energy vertical. The conversation covers idea validation, early-stage challenges, and how to navigate Stanford's entrepreneurial ecosystem for founders at any stage—from hackathon prototype to company launch.

An interactive afternoon summit centered on youth voice and civic engagement for children and families. Participants will engage with hands-on stations in art, music, writing, and voting, with inspiring youth speakers, movement breaks, and a quiet room for reading and regrouping. Hosted at Santa Clara University.

How can climate data drive real-world solutions? A panel discussion on turning climate insights into actionable opportunities, featuring Giancarlo Savini (Carbon Removal Partners), Kevin Kopczynski (Congruent Ventures), and Ajay Gupta (CLAI Ventures). The discussion explores how investors evaluate climate solutions, what evidence validates promising ideas, and what it takes to move from prototype to adoption. Aimed at hackathon participants seeking to connect technical work to customer needs, commercial viability, and measurable climate impact.

A guided multi-course dining experience exploring sustainable food systems from production to plate. Hosted by Stanford Climate Week Executive Director Naomie Chien and JC Arce, Founder & CEO of Tidefield, with participants from the Mercedes-Benz BeVisioneers fellowship, the event pairs curated dishes with conversations about agriculture, climate, science, and technology. Farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and chefs discuss environmental challenges across the food value chain and emerging solutions, examining topics from agricultural climate footprint to the role of consumer behavior and culinary innovation in building sustainable food systems.

A screening of *Oceania: Journey to the Center*, an award-winning documentary following Kiribati elder Tekinati Ruka as she explores her nation's history, cultural strength, and response to predicted sea-level rise. The 75-minute film will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Natalie Zimmerman, who spent 10 years developing relationships in Kiribati, and Impact Producer Lindsay Gordon. The film addresses climate realities facing the Pacific Island nation, which scientists predict may become uninhabitable within a decade, and explores pathways to climate resilience.

As solar, wind, and battery storage displace conventional generators, the grid loses the stabilizing inertia that once came free from spinning mass. This interactive session explores how inverter-based resources can help maintain grid stability, what their limits are, and how reactive power support fits into the picture. Stanford IEEE's Power & Energy Society will walk through real-world grid events and their lessons, with live demos and open discussion. No power systems background required; open to all majors.

Dr. Becca Robinson, Education Director at the SETI Institute and outreach lead for NASA's Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) mission, discusses solar mysteries and recent discoveries in solar physics. She will share how a serendipitous research moment led to new understanding of the Sun's atmosphere, and explain how MUSE will help observe magnetic explosions, predict space weather events, and improve forecasting of auroral displays and signal disruptions. The talk follows a 7:30pm social hour with snacks.

A live demonstration of how used cooking oil is transformed into soap through circular economy principles. Attendees will watch the soap-making process in action, learn about the environmental impact of cooking oil waste, explore the science behind the transformation, and discover ways to support sustainable solutions from everyday materials. The session explores both the practical methodology and the broader concept of converting waste into useful products.

A free dinner and fireside chat exploring how advocacy, research, infrastructure, and public policy can advance environmental justice. Speakers include Khalid Osman (Stanford, environmental justice and equitable water infrastructure), Cynthia Leung (WeaveGrid, utility-scale solar and clean energy), Arieann Harrison (Marie Harrison Community Foundation, Bayview environmental advocacy), Gabbie Listana (San Francisco Youth Commission), and Roberto Torres (San Francisco Environment Department). The event addresses meaningful community collaboration, the interplay between different disciplines, and how students in engineering, law, business, policy, and the arts can contribute to a just, sustainable future.

UPenn Assistant Professor Daniel Rock examines how AI is reshaping scientific research by shifting computational and labor bottlenecks. Part of a university seminar series on AI's impact on science and research methodology.

Medical anthropologist and author Sherine Hamdy discusses her debut graphic novel Landing in Place (Penguin Random House, 2026), illustrated by Myra El Mir. The coming-of-age story follows Anisa, an Egyptian American college freshman navigating premed expectations, identity, and artistic aspiration as she spends time in Cairo discovering her own voice. Hamdy is a leading scholar of Muslim medical ethics and the political economy of disease in Egypt, and a pioneering advocate for academics sharing research across multiple media forms, including her co-authored graphic novel Lissa: A Story of Friendship, Medical Promise, and Revolution.

Drag Story Time as a Site of Resistance, Queer World-Making and Community Building — a lecture by Danny Castillo (they/them), an emerging queer scholar and multidisciplinary artist specializing in queer anthropology and child development at San Jose State University. Castillo recently co-organized "Rhinestone Skies: A Night of Drag and Poetry," a family-friendly evening at the San Jose Museum of Art, and is a fellow for the Bay Area Artist Census. Part of the Carol Mukhopadhyay Feminist Lecture Series.

Hiroyuki Murase, CEO and Creative Director of suzusan, discusses the textile brand's mission to bring traditional Japanese shibori dyeing into contemporary fashion. Murase reflects on the relationship between tradition and innovation, local identity and global exchange, and design's role in shaping a sustainable future for craftsmanship.

Nori Nakata, Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, presents recent research on reservoir evolution during enhanced geothermal system (EGS) development. Using seismic networks and distributed acoustic sensing data from Cape Station and Utah FORGE, Nakata examines microearthquake stress drops, fracture network imaging, and focal mechanisms to understand subsurface stress changes and fracture activation. The work integrates seismic and aseismic slip observations to connect individual earthquakes to reservoir-scale processes and improve geophysical monitoring of geothermal development.

A hands-on tutorial on compiling and debugging code on WAVE, Santa Clara University's High Performance Computing Center. The session opens with an informational presentation from WAVE support staff, followed by supervised practice time and direct Q&A with the technical team. Bring a laptop to access WAVE during the workshop.

How did Iraq and Syria navigate independence in the 1940s–50s, balancing constitutional democracy with military intervention and emergency rule? Matthieu Rey, senior researcher at CNRS-EHESS and former director of the Contemporary Studies Department at IFPO Beirut, examines this contradictory political legacy — the flourishing of parliaments, parties, and civil society alongside authoritarian constraints and military interference. Drawing on 15 years of fieldwork across the Middle East and his book *Histoire de la Syrie*, Rey explores the foundational questions both countries faced: who deserved citizenship, how to develop the nation, and how to distribute power between executive and legislature. These tensions, he argues, prefigure struggles that continue today.

Orion Weiner explores the mechanisms of collective cell migration, drawing parallels between swarms and flocks to understand how cells coordinate movement. Part of Stanford's Biology Seminar Series.

A panel discussion on Abiya Ahmed's new book *Being Muslim on Campus: Religion, Inclusion, and Agency at a Secular University* (OUP, 2026), examining the intersection of scholarship and institutional practice. Ahmed, PhD '21, is Director of the Markaz Resource Center and Associate Dean of Students at Stanford. The panel features Anna Bigelow (Associate Professor of Religious Studies), Anthony Antonio (Associate Professor of Education), and Samuel Santos (Senior Associate Vice Provost of Student Affairs), chaired by Shirin Sinnar (William W. and Gertrude H. Saunders Professor of Law) and Alexander Key (Associate Professor of Comparative Literature).

A fireside chat on artificial intelligence's dual role in energy systems—driving new demand for power while enabling cleaner, more reliable, and efficient infrastructure. Richard Newell, former CTO of Sustainability Solutions at C3 AI, discusses concrete AI applications in energy, 'physical AI' for grids and infrastructure, AI's reshaping of software deployment, and promising opportunities at the AI-energy intersection, in conversation with John Weyant, Stanford professor and energy systems analyst. The discussion explores lessons from past energy transformations and how students and early-career professionals can contribute to this emerging field.

A Theory of Operatic Scene Type. Joy H. Calico, Professor of Musicology at UCLA, presents her theory of operatic scenes as recurring narrative and musical nodes — love duets, diegetic songs, rage arias — that constitute a kind of operatic DNA recognizable across centuries and musical styles. Drawing on examples from twentieth- and twenty-first-century opera, including Kaija Saariaho's L'amour de loin, Calico demonstrates how scene types transcend composer, subgenre, and style to reveal deep structural patterns in how opera makes meaning through music, character, and performance.

A conversation on collective action and resistance in the age of AI, examining how technology reshapes privacy, free expression, and accountability. Meredith Whittaker, Signal President and former AI Now Institute director whose research shaped global AI policy, discusses the surveillance practices and power concentration embedded in modern AI alongside Professor Lowry Pressly, who specializes in the ethical and political dimensions of AI and surveillance. The discussion explores how individuals, corporations, and government can be held accountable for technology's growing influence on society.

A research seminar on landslide hazard assessment and forecasting across scales—from individual tree root systems to national risk mapping. Ben Mirus, Research Geologist at the USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center, presents recent work on the national landslide susceptibility map, annual frequency estimates, seasonality patterns, and the critical zone continuum linking atmosphere, biosphere, and groundwater to slope stability. Drawing on post-Hurricane Helene response efforts and long-term site monitoring, the talk addresses knowledge gaps in predicting when and where landslides will occur.

Sidra Hamidi, Assistant Professor at Trinity College, presents her book *After Fission: Recognition and Contestation in the Atomic Age* (Cambridge University Press, 2026). Challenging the assumption that nuclear status is merely a technical matter, Hamidi argues that states actively contest how their nuclear capabilities are recognized globally. Drawing on diplomatic history of India, Israel, Iran, and North Korea, she examines the Non-Proliferation Treaty's legal structure, technical ambiguities in nuclear testing, and debates over rights in the global nuclear regime. Her work illuminates how powerful states like the US recognize or reject states' desired nuclear status formulations—with implications for negotiating with countries like Iran and North Korea.

From Reliability to Resilience: Risk-Informed Asset Management for the Energy Transition. Lina Bertling Tjernberg, Visiting Professor at Stanford University and Professor of Power Grid Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, discusses advances in reliability-centered asset management, probabilistic risk assessment, and predictive maintenance for sustainable power grids. Drawing on two decades of research and industry application, including her leadership at Sweden's national transmission system operator, Bertling Tjernberg explores how risk-informed decision-making can support the transition to electrified, resilient energy infrastructure.

Maisha T. Winn, Excellence in Learning Professor at Stanford's Graduate School of Education, discusses her historical ethnography *Futuring Black Lives*, examining Black institution builders of the late 1960s–70s who used publications and literary imagination to shape education for Black children. The book traces how Independent Black Institutions anchored shared Black values while preparing students in identity, purpose, and direction—a model Winn argues remains vital amid current racial disparities in schooling, disproportionate discipline of Black students, and attacks on children's literature through censorship and book bans. She demonstrates how historical archives of Black educational thought can inform contemporary equity and justice work in schools.

An introduction to materia's yearly theme exploring micropower and the non-human. The reading session engages Foucault's concept of the microphysics of power from *Discipline and Punish*, examining how power operates between state apparatuses and material bodies—understood in an expanded, non-human sense. Participants will consider contemporary manifestations like algorithmic governance and corporate attention capture. The session includes excerpts from Foucault, Jane Bennett's *The Force of Things*, Clarice Lispector's *The Hour of the Star*, and Nerea Barjola Ramos' *The Sexist Microphysics of Power*. Organized by materia, a Stanford-based Latin Americanist humanities collective.

A reading and conversation with Palestinian American physician, poet, and translator Fady Joudah, whose newest collection, Exhibit G, comprises poems, essays, and photographs offering a Palestinian perspective on grief, resilience, and survival amid genocide. Joudah is an acclaimed translator of Arabic poetry, including works by Mahmoud Darwish, and has won the Yale Younger Poets Prize, Griffin Poetry Prize, Guggenheim Fellowship, and American Book Award, among others. He co-founded the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize and practices internal medicine in Houston.

An open class session of the Institute for Diversity in the Arts' Intro to IDA course, exploring power, art, and practice through conversation with scholars working across disciplines—theater, performance, visual art, music, and film. Associate Professors Matthew Morrison (African and African American Studies) and Usha Iyer (Art and Art History) lead a facilitated discussion using the Long Table format, inspired by the practice of legendary queer performance duo Split Britches (Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver), examining how artists engage these themes both within and beyond the university.

A hands-on workshop on designing AI-integrated assignments that promote critical thinking, reflection, and deeper learning. Participants will redesign one of their own assignments and leave with a ready-to-use version. Led by Wendy Lee, Associate Professor in the College of Science at San Jose State University.

A series of educational sessions throughout October exploring the history and traditions of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), culminating in the 4th Camino de los Muertos on November 1st. The program examines the meanings behind key elements of the celebration—the ofrenda (altar), calaveras (skulls), catrinas (dapper lady skulls), cempasúchil (marigolds), and more—with particular focus on place, memory, and resistance in altar-making practices. Hosted by Santa Clara University, open to the community.

How does hydrodynamics emerge from the dynamics of discrete quantum particles? Matthew P.A. Fisher, professor of physics at UC Santa Barbara and member of the National Academy of Sciences, explores this question in open quantum systems of bosons, examining how spontaneous symmetry-breaking transitions separate quantum from classical dynamics. He will discuss observations of these transitions in cold atomic gas experiments and the role of information-theoretic quantities in characterizing dynamical phases.

An evening of AI research and insights featuring Dr. Ed Chi, discussing the future of personalized universal agents. The event includes a reception with opportunity for networking.

A reading and conversation with Fady Joudah, Palestinian American physician, poet, and translator. Joudah will discuss his newest collection, *Exhibit G: Poems, Essays, and Photographs of Gaza*, which combines poetry, essays, and photographs to document Palestinian grief, resilience, and life under genocide. A multiple-award winner—including the Yale Younger Poets Prize, Griffin Poetry Prize, and American Book Award—Joudah has also translated works by Mahmoud Darwish and co-founded the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize. *Exhibit G* will be available for purchase and signing.

Cryptocurrency is reshaping illicit finance and international sanctions enforcement. Alexander Browder, founder of the Global Cryptocurrency Laundering Database, analyzes two decades of major cases to explore how digital assets and stablecoins enable sanctions evasion, state-backed activity, and money laundering by Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other actors. He discusses policy responses from governments, financial institutions, and tech companies, and shares how his research prompted UK and EU action—and led to his being sanctioned by Russia in June 2026.

A screening of The Unbroken Sky, a narrative dramatic film adapted from the memoirs of Francisco Jiménez, chronicling his family's journey as immigrant farmworkers in California—their labor in the fields, struggle to access school, and fear of deportation. The screening is followed by a fireside chat between Francisco Jiménez, Professor Emeritus at Santa Clara University, and Tomás Jiménez, Professor of Sociology at Stanford and Founding Faculty Director of the Institute for Advancing Just Societies. A Q&A with the production team—director Josh Peterson, executive producer Normandie Ramirez, and producer Robin Mortarotti—concludes the evening. Jiménez's four-book memoir series, The Circuit, Breaking Through, Reaching Out, and Taking Hold, is recognized among the American Library Association's 50 Best Young Adult Books of All Time.

A teach-in and conversation exploring Stanford's legacy of student activism and multiracial solidarity. Student organizers from the Stanford Asian American Action Committee, League of Filipino Students, and Stanford Students for Justice in Palestine reflect on how the 1980s Rainbow Coalition won resources for communities of color, including the establishment of the Asian American Activities Center, and discuss lessons for contemporary organizing.

A reading and conversation celebrating *Best Literary Translations 2026*, an annual anthology edited by National Book Award winner Arthur Sze featuring poetry and prose translated from 62 languages—from French to Xitsonga, Korean to Guaraní. Translators Wendy Call (author and co-founder of the anthology, recent Fulbright Scholar to Colombia), Dmitri Manin (whose translation of Nikolay Zabolotsky's *Columns* was shortlisted for the NCBA and ALTA First Translation Prize), and Ilze Duarte (translator of Marilia Arnaud's *The Book of Affects*) will read from their work, discuss the craft and discovery of translation, and answer questions. The event concludes with a book signing.

A panel exploring film, the internet, and human agency in the digital age. Bara Kolenc, Gregor Moder, and Jure Simoniti (University of Ljubljana, Department of Philosophy) discuss where subjectivity is located when AI shapes cinema and ideology shapes desire online. Topics include Lubitsch's *To Be or Not to Be* as a meditation on theatrical power, and the dialectic between image and narrative in American versus European cinema. Moderated by Pavle Levi, Stanford Department of Art & Art History.

A screening of the 70-minute documentary Remathau: People of the Ocean featuring Dr. Nicole Yamase, the first Micronesian to earn a PhD in Marine Biology and reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench. The film explores her historic dive alongside themes of identity, culture, and belonging, reconnecting with the resilience of her people and the ocean navigation wisdom of earlier generations. Yamase, Director of Impact at OneReef, leads efforts to advance ocean science, conservation, and community-led stewardship across Micronesia. Hosted by Stanford's Doerr School of Sustainability.

A fireside chat with Patrice D. Douglass on the philosophical and social dimensions of Black ontology, absence, and what theorists call social death—the historical and ongoing erasure of Black humanity and presence. Douglass brings critical scholarship to bear on how Blackness has been theorized, negated, and reclaimed.

How does compassion differ across cultures? Birgit Koopmann-Holm, Associate Professor of Psychology at Santa Clara University, presents research on how people in the United States, Ecuador, Mexico, China, and Germany understand compassionate responses to suffering. Drawing on hypothetical scenarios and real experiences of bereavement, she shows that cultures systematically differ in whether they favor sharing in someone's pain, helping them toward positive emotions, or balancing both. These differences persist in real grief experiences, suggesting people from different backgrounds may need different kinds of support while grieving. The lecture explores what true compassion means across cultural contexts.

Bestselling historian and former criminal defense attorney Mark Shaw discusses his book *Girl Around the World*, which reveals the untold friendship between pioneering journalist Dorothy Kilgallen and aviator Amelia Earhart in the mid-1930s. Shaw explores how these trailblazing women supported each other's groundbreaking achievements—Kilgallen's famous 1936 24-day solo race around the globe and Earhart's historic transatlantic flights—and Kilgallen's response to Earhart's mysterious disappearance in 1937. Shaw is the author of *The Reporter Who Knew Too Much* and nearly 30 other books, with presentations garnering over 16 million YouTube views.

The Future of Decision-Making Conference examines how AI-enabled systems are reshaping high-stakes decision-making across military commands, intelligence analysis, crisis management, and clinical settings. Hosted by Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation, the conference brings together scholars, practitioners, and operational experts to discuss cognitive surrender, military decision-making and AI, and featured research presentations. Topics include how reliance on machine outputs reshapes professional judgment and how AI is changing command decisions in practice. October 28, 2026.

A Stanford HAI conference exploring the societal implications of rapid AI advancement, centered on workforce and labor concerns. Keynote speakers include Fei-Fei Li (Founding Director, Stanford HAI), James Landay (Denning Director, Stanford HAI), Jeff Dean (CEO, DiscoveryLoop), and Audrey Tang (Cyber Ambassador-at-large, Taiwan). The conference addresses widespread anxiety about AI's impact across sectors, examining questions of human worth and place in a shifting technological landscape.

Theatre and Dance Professor Katie Dowse discusses the pedagogy of her course on costume design as world-building, examining how visual design communicates identity, hierarchy, environment, and ideology across theatre, film, and television. The course approaches costume as an interdisciplinary interface between fantasy, technology, contemporary global conditions, and visual storytelling, exploring how costume shapes relationships between body, space, material, and audience.

A seminar on Europa's dynamic ice shell and its potential to support life. Martin Kihoulou, a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at UCSC and recent Ph.D. in Physics of the Earth and Planets, presents evidence for tectonic-like activity on Jupiter's moon—including dilation bands and subduction zones driven by orbital cycles. He explores how vertical transport of chemical compounds across Europa's ice shell might create transient habitable conditions in the subsurface ocean, while addressing inconsistencies between observed surface age and current thermo-orbital models.

A guided observation-based exploration of 'a small ocean swallowed', an exhibition of contemporary art centering water, ecology, and human-environmental relationships. Led by Shelby Hendricks, the museum's group tour and family programs manager, participants will engage in close looking and discussion of work by six intergenerational and international feminist artists—Sholeh Asgary, Patricia Belli, Kiyo Gutiérrez, Jessie Homer French, Erin Jane Nelson, and Sunaura Taylor—whose pieces explore the material, sociopolitical, and cultural histories of specific waterways and grieve lives lost to human intervention while celebrating paths of collective healing and resistance.

Lesley Currier of Shakespeare for Social Justice discusses the organization's work bringing Shakespeare courses and performing arts programs to fourteen California state prisons and rehabilitation centers since 2003. Participants will explore the crisis of mass incarceration in California and the U.S., and engage in creative exercises demonstrating theater's capacity to build empathy, foster connection, and transform lives. The event combines lecture with interactive workshop components.

A conversation on Pakistan's democracy, secularism in the global South, and the political demands of the current moment with Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, a distinguished Pakistani physicist, public intellectual, and longtime advocate for science and secular thought. Hoodbhoy taught physics for 47 years at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad and founded The Black Hole, a community space dedicated to science, art, and culture.

Dan Yamins of Stanford University presents on AI and data-driven methods in science. Part of AI + Data for Science, a weekly Wednesday seminar (4:30–5:30 pm) organized by Emmanuel Candès, Balasubramanian Narasimhan, Brian Wandell, and Gordon Wetzstein. Open to Stanford and non-Stanford attendees.

Carina Hong, founder of Axiom Math, discusses AI systems for mathematical reasoning at Stanford's Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Speaker Series. The series features entrepreneurs and innovators sharing insights on building and scaling ventures.

Llisa Demetrios, Chief Curator of the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity and granddaughter of Ray and Charles Eames, discusses infinite curiosity, design, and possibility. The conversation offers fresh perspective on the Eames legacy—one of design's most enduring influences—and invites makers, thinkers, students, and anyone seeking to create with intention and joy to connect and learn together.

How can decolonization take shape within a former colonial power's political framework? Audrey Célestine (NYU) examines Aimé Césaire's cultural policy as mayor of Fort-de-France through the lens of Léopold Sédar Senghor's 1976 visit to Martinique. Drawing on Césaire's work as both intellectual and elected official, Célestine explores the tensions between local, national, and diasporic political imaginaries—and the central role culture played in defining an emancipatory project pursued within, rather than outside, the French political framework.

A Medical Humanities Research Workshop exploring the intersection of medicine, culture, and human experience. Speaker Bryant Lin, MD, a primary care physician, educator, and researcher at Stanford University, discusses how the humanities inform and transform medical practice and understanding. Part of Stanford School of Medicine's ongoing Medical Humanities Research Workshop Series, supported by the Humanities Center, Division of Literatures, Cultures & Languages, and Department of Anthropology.

A hands-on workshop on running AI models locally on your own computer. Participants will learn how to deploy and manage AI systems independently, without relying on cloud services or external platforms. Ideal for anyone interested in AI infrastructure, self-hosting, and practical machine learning applications.

Ann Liang, New York Times bestselling author, reads from and discusses her lush historical fantasy *To Dream in Darkness*, set in ancient China where a Death God and a healing goddess strike a bargain with devastating cosmic consequences. The novel explores an unlikely alliance that blooms into romance while threatening to unravel the balance of the celestial realms. Event includes Q&A and signing; ticket includes admission and a copy of the book.

A discussion on manga as a form of conversation and cultural expression. Hanako Asakura from San Francisco State University explores how manga functions as a medium for dialogue and artistic communication.

Speaker: Tarje-Nissen Meyer Professor in Environmental Intelligence, University of Exeter Abstract: Soils are among Earth’s most vital ecosystems: they provide 99% of humanity’s calories, store more carbon than vegetation and the atmosphere combined, regulate water, and host most terrestrial biodiversity. Yet soil health remains poorly characterised because key properties such as bulk density, porosity, carbon, moisture, texture and horizon depth, vary at centimetre-to-metre scales, while conventional sampling is destructive, costly and sparse. Seismology offers a non-destructive, inexpensive and scalable way to image these subsurface properties. I will present work by our non-profit Earth Rover Program spanning field experiments on three continents, development of low-cost high-frequency MEMS sensors and AI-based inference, and results showing seismic mapping of bulk density, soil horizons and temporal moisture variation, with promising implications for improved soil-carbon stock estimates.

South Korea's nuclear export journey spans three landmark projects—KEDO in North Korea, Barakah in the United Arab Emirates, and Dukovany in the Czech Republic—each shaped by different international conditions and policy environments. Dr. Eunjung Lim, visiting scholar at Stanford's Asia-Pacific Research Center and professor at Kongju National University, traces how Korea's nuclear capabilities evolved across nonproliferation cooperation, energy development, and commercial competition. As AI and data centers drive renewed interest in nuclear power, she examines whether Korea's future may require returning to a core lesson: the centrality of international cooperation in nuclear policy and energy security.

A lecture examining how Belarusian, Polish, and Ukrainian scholars of the late 17th and early 18th centuries introduced classical culture into Orthodox Eastern Europe, despite initial religious skepticism toward pagan antiquity. Drawing on specific works by Simiaon Polacki, Jan Białobocki, and Teofan Prokopovych, the speaker traces how these authors navigated the tension between Orthodox tradition and classical learning, ultimately catalyzing the reception of ancient culture in Muscovy and the emergence of Neoclassicism in the Russian Empire. Part of The Other Europe Research Workshop, sponsored by the Stanford Humanities Center.

A lecture on the Sindbad and Seven Sages of Rome narrative tradition, one of the most widely transmitted premodern story cycles, told in at least 30 languages across more than 10 centuries from Persia to Iceland. The cycle centers on a medieval false rape accusation between a mute prince and his young stepmother, exploring themes of truth and justice in a royal court. Jutta Eming, professor of medieval German literature at Freie Universität Berlin, discusses why this enormously popular medieval and early modern tradition has received fragmentary scholarly attention, and presents new collaborative research and a comprehensive database of all known textual witnesses that enables renewed comparative philological, literary, and cultural analysis.

A lecture on the global prevalence and societal costs of violence, examining why interpersonal violence—homicide, intimate partner violence, and severe physical punishment of children—imposes far greater societal damage than wars and terrorism, and what evidence-based interventions can reduce these harms. James D. Fearon, Theodore and Frances Geballe Professor of Political Science at Stanford and Senior Fellow at the Freeman-Spogli Institute for International Studies, presents research showing that while wars are geographically concentrated, nearly all countries face high rates of homicide and assault affecting women and children—yet these rates are demonstrably reducible through targeted programs and social movements.

A panel discussion on creating meaning and purpose in retirement, featuring three emeritus faculty members: Pedro Hernandez Ramos (Education), Nancy Unger (History), and Cynthia Mertens (Law). The panelists explore how retired scholars and professionals can build fulfilling lives beyond their careers.

A conversation on the history of data and algorithms, tracing how data has been used as a tool and weapon—from the US Census and Victorian eugenics through facial recognition and AI systems today. Matthew L. Jones, Smith Family Professor of History at Princeton, discusses his book *How Data Happened: A History from the Age of Reason to the Age of Algorithms* (cowritten with Chris Wiggins), examining how technical capabilities shaped power relations among states, corporations, and people. Tom Mullaney, Stanford University, offers comments.

Amanda M. Smith, Associate Professor of Latin American Literature and Culture at UC Santa Cruz, discusses her forthcoming book *The Nature of Conflict: Rivers in the Wake of the Colombian Peace Accords*. Examining how rivers have participated in art and media addressing Colombia's internal conflict, Smith explores hydrofeminism and aqueous ecologies as frameworks for understanding water as a creative subject. She traces what she calls "ripple effects"—aesthetic decisions and procedures that register the material marks of watersheds in art-making—and argues that creative practice involving water transforms media into an archive of fluvial subjectivity, offering new approaches to understanding the more-than-human impacts of war.

A technical dinner exploring how recursive self-improvement is changing software development and AI systems. Hosted at Qualia Contemporary Art.

Elizabeth Dospěl Williams, Penny Vinik Chair of Fashion, Textiles and Jewelry at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, explores late antique Egyptian textiles and the detection of imitation fabrics produced for the modern art market. Drawing on technical analysis, archival research, and visual sources, Williams examines how non-authentic works function as primary sources in the reception history and historiography of Coptic and Byzantine art, with particular attention to racialized depictions and the lasting impact of provenance issues on contemporary collecting and exhibition practices.

Filmmaker and human rights advocate Babak Payami examines how Iran's Woman, Life, Freedom uprising marked a fundamental rupture in decades of state-society relations. Drawing on his work with families of Flight PS752 victims, Payami traces the evolution of resistance language from cautious reform to direct moral and political rejection. He argues that their disciplined campaign for truth and accountability foreshadowed a broader transformation in Iranian civil society, as women, students, workers, and marginalized communities challenge both state authority and inherited political divisions. Digital media has rendered these struggles visible and connected across borders, creating new possibilities for democratic participation—though serious obstacles remain.

A comprehensive conference on heart rhythm disorders and arrhythmia management, featuring world-renowned cardiologists and electrophysiology experts. Plenary sessions explore digital health, wearables, and emerging technologies in arrhythmia care. Three parallel tracks with rapid-fire sessions cover mechanisms of cardiac fibrillation, inherited arrhythmias, catheter ablation strategies, and stroke prevention. Designed for physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, fellows, residents, and students seeking CME/CEU credits. Free in-person registration for Stanford-affiliated attendees; professional registration available at sliding scale ($90–$390). Hosted by Stanford University.

Serena Connolly, Professor and Chair of Classics at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, examines Emperor Hadrian's overlooked commitment to science and technology alongside his better-known philhellenism. Drawing on substantial evidence, she argues that Hadrian's intellectual interests in science and technology were shaped by personal inclination and imperial precedent stretching back to Augustus. Connolly's research spans Roman social and political history, women and non-elites in the Roman world, and the history of science and technology. She is the author of *Lives Behind the Laws* and *Wisdom from Rome*, and is completing *Learned Emperors: Science, Technology, and Power at the Roman Imperial Court*.

An examination of corruption and impunity in societies where rule-breaking is ordinary business practice. Rather than measuring violations, Michael Derrer investigates who is protected from legal consequences and who remains exposed—framing unequal impunity as the basis of hierarchy and state power. Drawing on 55 interviews in Moscow and Kyiv conducted in 2021, Derrer contrasts Russia's centralized control of protection with Ukraine's fragmented system, and argues that anticorruption reform, without addressing the underlying distribution of impunity, can paradoxically increase extraction. Derrer is Professor of Economic Sociology at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) and author of a three-volume study of informal governance in Russia and Ukraine.

A screening of How to Divorce During the War, Lithuania's 2026 Academy Awards submission, with commentary from Maarja Merivoo-Parro, CEO of Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom, and Gabrielius Landsbergis, visiting fellow and former Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Director Andrius Blaževičius's family drama follows a couple navigating divorce as Russia's invasion of Ukraine begins, exploring how personal crisis intersects with historical upheaval.

A talk on how algorithmic innovation is being deployed to create healthier futures through artificial intelligence in medical practice and research. Hosted as part of Klinikum+, an initiative exploring AI's role in healthcare.

Join the San Jose Astronomical Association for a hands-on solar observation event featuring white-light and hydrogen-alpha telescopes revealing sunspots, prominences, and the Sun's chromosphere. A short introductory talk at 1:30 pm will cover how the Sun works and the role of magnetic fields in solar activity. Attendees can observe the Sun safely through specially filtered equipment, ask questions about solar astronomy, and learn about the scale of the solar system. Bring your own filtered telescope to share views with others. Come prepared for outdoor conditions with hat, sunscreen, and water.

Santa Clara University's 4th annual Día de los Muertos celebration, a cultural festival drawing thousands from across the Bay Area. Co-produced with Enrollment Management, Inclusive Excellence, Mission & Ministry, the Mexican Consulate of San Jose, and Univision, the event brings together local communities on campus for this traditional Mexican holiday honoring the deceased.

How did Taiwan transform from an agricultural colony into an economic power in half a century, and how did it export that success globally? This talk traces the history and impact of the 'Taiwan model' of agrarian development—the land reforms, farmers associations, and improved crop varieties that Taiwan's authoritarian government promoted at home and throughout Africa and Southeast Asia during the Cold War. Drawing from Chapter 4 on Taiwan's agricultural missions to the Republic of Vietnam, the speaker explores how Taiwanese agricultural technicians and scientists framed their practices as proof of the Republic of China's modernity while seeking to maintain its contested international legitimacy and domestic martial-law rule.

How should democracies deal with an unreliable superpower? Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland discusses her new book examining power inside government, the intersection of trade, security and democracy, and how democracies might resist authoritarian states and oligarchs. Drawing on her careers as a foreign correspondent covering Russia's oligarchs and as a senior Canadian official who renegotiated the USMCA, Freeland offers insights into international political economy and democratic resilience. Moderated by Kathryn Stoner, Freeman Spogli Institute Senior Fellow and Director of CDDRL, with audience Q&A to follow.

Two presentations on Japan's geopolitical positioning: Koji Murata, professor of political science at Doshisha University, examines Japanese domestic politics and foreign policy under Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, focusing on the LDP's fragile political base and upcoming 2027 presidential election. Satoshi Ikeuchi analyzes the new geopolitical reality in the Persian Gulf—particularly Iran's role in the Strait of Hormuz—and its implications for Japan's energy security and alliance relationships in Asia.

Jonathan Pritchard discusses trait causal models and methods for combining genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genetic perturbations, and observational 'omics data to understand human biology. Part of Stanford's Biology Seminar Series.

What remains constant in energy technology investment, and what has fundamentally changed? Philip Deutch, Partner and Co-Head of Energy Transition at NGP Energy Technology Partners, draws on nearly three decades of experience as one of the nation's most active energy tech investors to examine the enduring drivers of energy innovation and the new forces reshaping the sector. Part of Stanford's flagship Energy Seminar series at the Precourt Institute for Energy, which brings perspectives from academics, entrepreneurs, utilities, nonprofits, and industry leaders.

A conversation on California's newly signed SB 1387, which allows Jews to identify as Jewish on government forms asking about ethnicity. Panelists explore implications for Jews in California and beyond, including potential unintended consequences and community concerns about state categorization. Featuring David Bocarsly (Jewish California coalition leader), Aliya Saperstein (Stanford sociologist studying census questions and racial categorization), Keith Feldman (UC Berkeley), Ari Y. Kelman (Stanford), and Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh (American Jewish University), moderated by Asaf Elia-Shalev of J. The Jewish News of Northern California.

The Stanford Medicine Children's Health Center for IBD and Celiac Disease Research Symposium brings together faculty, trainees, postdocs, students, and researchers to discuss the latest advances in diagnosing, managing, and treating pediatric inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. The day-long program features translational research presentations and clinical discussions at the forefront of both fields, with opportunities to learn about innovations in therapy and patient care. Researchers are invited to submit abstracts.

How has Russia sustained its confrontation with the West since 2022, and at what cost? Hanna Notte, Director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, examines Russia's adaptation after the invasion—working around sanctions, building new partnerships, cultivating support across the Global South, and deepening divisions within Western democracies. Her account combines policy analysis with field reporting from more than a dozen countries and interviews with officials and ordinary people. She also explores domestic consequences: Putin's focus on confrontation has distorted Russia's economy and moved the country toward full authoritarianism. Moderated by Kathryn Stoner, FSI Satre Family Senior Fellow and Mosbacher Director of CDDRL, with audience Q&A.

A roundtable discussion with CFGNY, a New York-based artist collective investigating racialization, subjectivity, and the concept of 'vaguely Asian' through image making, installation, sculpture, garment making, and performance. The collective, founded in 2016 and composed of Daniel Chew, Ten Izu, and Tin Nguyen, uses materials including porcelain, photography, and corrugated cardboard to explore mass production and fetishistic desire. The conversation is moderated by artist Vincent Chong, an MFA candidate at Stanford working in calligraphy, seal carving, and performance. CFGNY has recently exhibited at the Whitney Biennial, Hammer Museum, and Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.

Frish Brandt, a letter-writing teacher at Stanford Medical School, discusses her book *Unfinished Business: Writing the Five Essential Letters of Your Life* — a guide to crafting five essential letters: thank you, I'm sorry, I miss you, I love you, and goodbye. Drawing on her experience teaching at Stanford, Harvard Divinity School, and in workshops across the country, Brandt weaves practical writing prompts with reflections on grief, connection, forgiveness, and closure. In conversation with Roberta Katz, PhD in anthropology and former Associate Vice President for Strategic Planning at Stanford.

Participants translate handmade patterns into digital geometry and three-dimensional forms through computational design and digital fabrication. Led by computational designer Stepan Drunks, this workshop bridges traditional craft and emerging technology, exploring how new tools can transform cultural and personal patterns while preserving the stories behind them. Attendees will learn to move from 2D pattern to digital design to 3D printing, experiment with generative pattern-making, and investigate connections between craft, culture, and technology. New participants welcome; those from earlier sessions can continue developing their work.

An in-person tutorial on using WAVE, Santa Clara University's High Performance Computing Center. The session begins with an informational presentation followed by hands-on practice time and Q&A with the WAVE support staff. Bring a laptop to access the system.

Clinical Mind AI is a Stanford-developed international platform that uses AI-simulated patient encounters to strengthen clinical reasoning education across health professions. Marcos Santiago Rojas Pino and Thomas Caruso discuss the platform's design principles, its implementation across institutions and languages, and how it supports instructor-centered clinical simulation. The talk also explores Clinical Mind AI as research infrastructure for studying learning processes—examining how learner interactions generate evidence about reasoning, hypothesis formation, and feedback integration—and addresses broader questions about building AI systems that preserve educator agency, enable multilingual collaboration, and advance the evidence base for AI-supported health professions education.

Christopher Gardner, a Stanford nutrition scientist, presents three decades of rigorous research comparing popular diets to identify what actually works. Gardner's twin study became the basis for a Netflix docuseries. Part of the Stanford Department of Medicine's Grand Rounds series.

A workshop on integrating AI tools into academic work, career planning, and daily life. Designed for students navigating rapid AI development and seeking practical guidance on deploying these resources effectively.

A panel discussion on craft, materiality, and digital technology in the age of computation. MacArthur Fellows Katherine Behar, Nick Benson, Hideo Mabuchi, and Camille Utterback—artists and technologists working at the intersection of making, robotics, and digital systems—explore what traditional craft offers in a moment of paradigm-shifting technological change, and what is gained or lost when embodied creative practice meets machine intelligence. Moderated by Vanessa Chang. Part of the MacArthur Fellows at 45 series.

A screening of the documentary 'Jesus was a Migrant' examining the contradiction at the heart of American Christianity — how the same faith compels some to welcome migrants while others oppose immigration. The film follows NYT bestselling author and historian Dr. Jemar Tisby to the U.S.-Mexico border. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Dr. Roberto Mata and Dr. Jaime Wright from Santa Clara University's Department of Religious Studies.

A lecture on the paradox of Tunisia's democratic collapse following its post-Arab Spring success. Sharan Grewal, Associate Professor of Government at American University and author of *The Rise and Fall of Tunisian Democracy*, examines how an overemphasis on power-sharing and consensus institutions—designed to ensure inclusion—ultimately frustrated voters and enabled the rise of populists, leading to democratic breakdown in 2021. Drawing on interviews with senior Tunisian officials and nationally representative surveys, Grewal tests his theory against all democratic transitions from 1942–2020, revealing the dark side of compromise and offering new insights into the causes of populism and polarization.

Naomi Caffee of Reed College explores how Indigenous diplomacy functioned as cultural work during the Cold War and its aftermath, examining the politics of recognition and representation across this historical period.

A weekly seminar on AI and data-driven methods across the sciences. Ruijiang Li (Stanford University) presents this week as part of a series organized by Emmanuel Candès, Balasubramanian Narasimhan, Brian Wandell, and Gordon Wetzstein. Open to Stanford and non-Stanford attendees.

Celine Halioua, founder and CEO of Loyal, a clinical-stage veterinary medicine company developing drugs to extend healthspan and lifespan in dogs, discusses her path to founding and scaling a biotech startup. Part of Stanford's Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders series, which features founders, investors, and industry leaders on disruption and startup building.

A tribute to Milorad Drašković, the Hoover Institution's librarian and archivist for a decade who shaped its collections and strengthened connections between Serbian, Yugoslav, and international scholarly communities. The event marks the thirtieth anniversary of his passing and features remarks by Dennis Bark, Hoover emeritus senior fellow and historian of European-American relations, and Jasmina Bojić, lecturer in Stanford's International Relations program and founder of the UN Association Film Festival. Attendees will have exclusive access to the newly reopened Polich Library, renamed to honor Todor and Andja Polich and dedicated to the study of Yugoslav history.

Data for AI meetup exploring open versus proprietary approaches to data infrastructure in the age of AI agents. Topics include open table formats (Iceberg, Delta, Hudi), semantic standards, catalog federation, and the trade-offs between interoperability and vendor lock-in. Practitioner talks and case studies from data engineers, AI/ML engineers, and platform architects on production experiences with open standards, agent deployment patterns, and when walled gardens make sense.

A book launch celebrating Stanford in Haus Cramer: A Berlin Microhistory, which documents the 50th anniversary of the Stanford Berlin Bing Overseas Studies Program. The book examines the history of Haus Cramer as a witness to Berlin modernity, Jewish-German life between the wars, and as a refuge for residents, faculty, and students. Featuring presentations from editors Karen Ruoff Kramer and Cheryce von Xylander, and Faculty Emeritus Larry Friedlander, with reception to follow.

A screening of The Eyes of Ghana, a documentary directed by Ben Proudfoot and executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, following Chris Hesse, the personal cinematographer to Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah. After the film, producer Nana Adwoa Frimpong discusses the archive of over 1,000 rolls of film Hesse preserved and the political power of cinema in Africa's liberation movement, facilitated by Stanford professor Aaron Van Jordan.

A daylong gathering from 10am to 4pm featuring visual displays, interactive exhibits, spiritual reflection, food, and advocacy opportunities for immigrant communities. Hosted by Santa Clara University's Office of Ignatian Spirituality, the event invites participants to drop in anytime to engage with resources and organize support for migrants. Contact Tony Cortese, Director of Ignatian Spirituality, for more information or to get involved.

An artist talk with Jess Sabogal, a queer Colombian-American muralist and printmaker from San Francisco, mapping two decades of creative evolution from large-scale public murals to intimate self-portraiture and sculpture. Sabogal examines lineage, radical representation, and the artist's responsibility to communities at risk of erasure, discussing how they have reinvented muralism as a medium for social change, empowerment, and action. Hosted by Chicana/o-Latina/o Studies and El Centro Chicano at Stanford University.

A geophysics seminar featuring Allan Rubin, Professor of Geosciences at Princeton University and Professor in Environmental Intelligence at the University of Exeter. Topic details to be announced.

Rachel Gabara, Nancy Gillespie Brinning Professor in French at the University of Georgia, discusses her new book *Documentary Objectives: Filming Africa from Colonialism to Independence*. Over a century of documentary filmmaking in West and Central Africa reveals how colonial-era European films gave way to African directors reclaiming their cinematic image after independence. Gabara traces how African documentarists challenged outsider narratives of authenticity and developed new models for nonfiction, demonstrating how this region's filmmakers remade a global art form rooted in oppression and exoticization.

A guided tour of California Current: Art and Histories from the Bay Area, led by Aleesa Pitchamarn Alexander, Robert M. and Ruth L. Halperin Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Stanford's Cantor Arts Center. The exhibition brings together over 60 works—paintings, sculptures, photographs, and time-based media—by Bay Area artists from the twentieth century to the present, exploring interconnected currents (ecological, infrastructural, technological, political, and creative) that have shaped Northern California. The show traces how communities and artistic practices take root and persist in a constantly changing region, pairing historical works with contemporary pieces to ask what draws people to the Bay Area and what keeps them connected despite its contradictions and pressures.

Semiconductors power the digital economy and AI, but their production demands complex supply chains and significant materials, water, and energy inputs. Dr. Sadasivan Shankar, Research Technology Manager at SLAC National Laboratory and adjunct professor in Stanford Materials Science and Engineering, will present research on circular approaches—recycling, reuse, and localized processing—to reduce supply chain dependencies, improve resource efficiency, and create economic and strategic opportunities for the US. Dr. Richard Dasher, Director of the US-ATMC, moderates.

How did postwar American social scientists use Japan to think through modern democracy's central problem: balancing individual freedom with social solidarity? Anthropologist Amy Borovoy (Princeton) examines three influential studies—Ruth Benedict's *The Chrysanthemum and the Sword* (1946), Ezra Vogel's *Japan's New Middle Class* (1963), and Thomas Rohlen's *For Harmony and Strength* (1974)—to show how Japan functioned as an archive for understanding social reproduction, welfare, and collective purpose in democratic life. Borovoy explores how these texts grappled with modernization theory's prediction that industrialization would dissolve kinship, community, and hierarchy—yet Japan's persistent village, family, and corporate structures challenged that narrative.

A screening of No Ideas But in Things, an art film directed by Lan A. Li and produced by Peter N. Miller, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. The film explores what can be learned through touch, making, and the body, drawing on footage from the Material Intelligence seminar at the American Academy in Rome where scientists, makers, and humanists investigated how to engage with materials in an age of words and algorithms. Using Rome as an object of inquiry and conversation as a research instrument, the film reimagines scholarly output beyond traditional formats.

What do we owe each other as AI reshapes work and wealth? Economist Betsey Stevenson argues that AI's productivity gains won't automatically improve human flourishing, drawing on economic history and research on happiness and meaning. She explores how policy can pace job transformation, distribute AI-generated wealth more broadly, and strengthen sources of meaning beyond employment — building a society where human worth doesn't depend on outperforming machines. Stevenson is a professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan, former member of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, and Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Labor. Discussed by Lukas Althoff, Assistant Professor of Economics at Stanford University.

Dr. Bryant Lin, a primary care physician and cancer researcher living with terminal cancer, shares a personal reflection on serious illness, hope, and living fully amid uncertainty in 'My Cancer Journey: Happiness and Sadness, Hope and Fear.' In conversation with Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, a physician, journalist, and leading voice in patient-centered care, they explore the emotional and practical dimensions of cancer diagnosis—fear, purpose, relationships, and navigating life-limiting illness with honesty. Dr. Lin's new book, *Sunshine: An Exploration of Living When You Are Dying*, launches November 10; signed copies available for purchase to in-person attendees. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments served after the talk.

Harry Tanner, Classics PhD from the University of Galway, discusses his book *The Queer Thing About Sin* (Bloomsbury 2025), which traces the ancient origins of homophobia from Greek and Roman legal systems through biblical law. Tanner explores why homosexuality became condemned by the 5th century BCE and what those historical patterns reveal today. He will also discuss his path from PhD research to trade publishing, the role of AI in adapting scholarly work for general audiences, and how his own experience with conversion therapy shaped his research in Classics. His book was shortlisted for Book of the Year by Foyles UK.

Electric Contrasts Study Evening explores how photography revolutionized art history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, using Kenneth Clark's landmark 1938 book 'One Hundred Details from Pictures in the National Gallery' as a lens. The event features speakers Geraldine Johnson (University of Oxford) discussing Italian sculptor-photographer Medardo Rosso and his innovative use of photographic details, and Alexander Nemerov on André Malraux's 'The Voices of Silence,' moderated by curator Altair Brandon-Salmon. The evening includes a tour of the Electric Contrasts exhibition at Bowes Art and Architecture Library, followed by talks and audience Q&A.

Kanaka Maoli scholar, poet, and organizer Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio reflects on Indigeneity, political struggle, and collective well-being in a world structured by colonialism, militarism, and racial capitalism. Drawing from indigenous epistemologies, abolitionist traditions, and Kanaka Maoli moʻolelo, she challenges liberal democracy's political horizons. Moving between lecture, poetry, and storytelling, Osorio considers narrative as a practice of political survival and collective possibility—recovering radical traditions and knowledges through which her people have imagined and built otherwise. Osorio is an Associate Professor of Indigenous and Native Hawaiian Politics at the University of Hawaiʻi, internationally recognized poet, and author of *Remembering our Intimacies: Moʻolelo, Aloha ʻĀina, and Ea*.

Where does the data shaping our democracy actually come from? Danah boyd, author of *Data Are Made, Not Found*, discusses her investigation into the U.S. Census Bureau during the 2020 Census—one of the nation's most challenging periods. Drawing on rare access to the agency and hundreds of interviews, boyd reveals the people, decisions, and effort required to produce trustworthy public datasets and what was at stake when that process came under pressure. The conversation explores the forces that shape public data and why protecting institutions that produce reliable information matters to democracy.

The Startup World Cup Grand Finale brings together founders, investors, and industry leaders for a day of startup pitches competing for $1M in investment. The event features keynote speakers, networking, and a live pitch competition modeled on a venture-capital tournament. Special guest Daymond John from ABC's Shark Tank will participate. Hosted by Santa Clara University at the Hilton Union Square in San Francisco on November 6, with transportation provided from the SCU campus.

A one-day conference examining how major technology platforms shape public life for billions in the Global Majority—Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia and Oceania—and why rights and safety protections remain concentrated in wealthy nations. Three panels explore the ideological foundations of tech power (the tech right), geopolitical dimensions of AI governance, online harms and accountability mechanisms, and the labor and financial systems sustaining counter-power. Hosted by Stanford's Center for South Asia in partnership with the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, We Are Noor, and DRF USA.

A practical workshop for small-business owners to learn how to use AI tools to grow their businesses online. Hosted by Grow with Google in partnership with San José's Mayor's Office, San José Public Library, and the Bay Area Council as part of the AI For All Initiative. No prior AI experience required; light refreshments provided.

This talk examines the 2019 assassination of Paweł Adamowicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, as a turning point in Poland's political trajectory—revealing how anti-immigrant rhetoric can harden into violence. The speaker explores Adamowicz's vision of urban democracy rooted in civic openness rather than ethnonationalism, grounded in Christian social teaching and aligned with Benjamin Barber's argument that cities function as democratic bulwarks dependent on newcomer vitality. The talk also addresses Adamowicz's championing of LGBTQ+ inclusion through initiatives like the Model for Equal Treatment and his public support for Gdańsk's Equality March, set against rising illiberal currents in Poland and attacks from figures like Karol Nawrocki.

A pitch competition and conference showcasing deep-tech ventures at the intersection of health, AI, brain-machine interfaces, longevity, precision health, wearables, and robotics. Five finalist teams present to compete for a $25K prize. Keynote by John L. Hennessy, President Emeritus of Stanford and Chairman of Alphabet, in conversation with Prof. Zhenan Bao, eWEAR Faculty Director. The day includes pitches from teams including AlignSight Medical, Lume Health, CircuCare, and others, followed by a startup demo showcase and networking reception. Hosted by Stanford University's eWEAR initiative.

Join the San Jose Astronomical Association for an evening of telescope viewing at Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve, a dark-sky site south of San Jose ideal for observing the Milky Way and celestial objects. SJAA members and experienced amateur astronomers will guide participants through the night sky, explaining constellations, planets, and deep-sky objects visible through the telescopes. The event welcomes beginners and experienced stargazers alike, with scopes set up for shared viewing — participants observe through provided equipment rather than bringing their own. Family-friendly and best suited for ages 5+. Registration required (limit ~95 cars); arrive within one hour of the session end time.

A story showcase where San Jose State students and faculty share personal narratives about how AI has shaped their academic and campus experiences. Attendees participate in a story wall, vote for the Audience Choice award, and engage in conversations about AI's role on campus. Facilitated by Vishnu S. Pendyala, Associate Professor at the College of Information, Data and Society. Hosted by the SJSU AI Faculty Fellows and the Center for Faculty Excellence and Teaching Innovation.

Joel Goh of the National University of Singapore presents research in operations analytics across healthcare, supply chain, and service platforms. His work spans healthcare delivery and hospital operations, supply chain efficiency enabled by digital technology, and service-platform optimization through policy and information design. Goh is an Associate Editor at Management Science, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, Service Science, and Health Care Management Science, and Senior Editor at Production and Operations Management.

Stefan Feske, MD, presents on ion channels and transporters regulating lymphocyte function. Part of Stanford's Biology Seminar Series.

A talk by Tiziana Vanorio, Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Stanford University, as part of the Stanford Energy Seminar — a flagship program of the Precourt Institute for Energy bringing diverse perspectives on energy challenges and solutions to the Stanford community and beyond. The seminar series has run for nearly 20 years and features academics, entrepreneurs, utilities, nonprofits, and other voices working across the energy landscape.

A panel conversation on war, sanctions, and intimacy in the Iranian diaspora. Negar Mottahedeh, Professor of Literature and Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University, reads from 'How My Instagram Hacker Changed My Life,' tracing an unlikely friendship born from digital theft and shaped by revolution, state power, and censorship. Salar Mameni reads from daily notes written since February 28, 2026, reflecting on witnessing war from exile, diaspora divisions, and connectivity amid internet blackouts. The conversation explores how revolution, loss, and aggression reshape intimacy and community across geographies.

Will generative AI and automated text summaries transform how we read, write, and think? Dr. Maryanne Wolf, director of the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at UCLA and author of *Proust and the Squid* and *Reader, Come Home*, explores whether outsourcing language tasks to AI agents risks diminishing the deep cognitive processes that enable critical thought. In conversation with Kirsten Read, Associate Professor of Psychology at Santa Clara University and director of the Language Learning Lab, which studies how children develop language fluency through early literacy experiences.

A hands-on workshop where participants bring a small object, scan it into a 3D digital model using 3D scanning technology, and then place it back into the real world using augmented reality. No previous 3D or technical experience required. Learn the fundamentals of 3D scanning, 3D modeling, augmented reality, and spatial computing while creating your own digital clone. Hosted by the KLEVR Lab at San José State University's King Library, a resource for exploring emerging technologies in digital creativity and learning.

Dr. Anurima Pannu, Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Director of Frontier Safety at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, discusses recent advancements in AI for biology alongside security and oversight considerations. She will explore how policy can incentivize and shape technology development for defensive purposes, connecting the colloquial "defensive acceleration" concept in AI circles to formal offense-defense balance frameworks. Drawing on her work in biosecurity, pandemic preparedness, and emerging technology governance, Pannu brings expertise from advisory roles at the National Academies of Sciences, the EU AI Office, and the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense.

A lecture by Fr. Andrew Laguna, SJ, exploring meaning, purpose, and values in contemporary life from a Jesuit philosophical perspective.

Selin Bengi Gümrükçü, political scientist at Rutgers University, discusses her book *Protest and Politics in Turkey in the 1970s: Echoes of Dissent*, the first comprehensive study of Turkey's protest cycle during the decade. Drawing on original data, the work examines how leftist, nationalist, and Islamist movements developed amid state repression, and how the 1980 military coup suppressed organized political activity and reshaped the political arena, contributing to the rise of political Islam and rightward political shift. The book connects 1970s struggles to contemporary debates on authoritarianism, democracy, and protest.

L. Maria Bo examines Cold War-era literary translations as sites of ideological struggle and diaspora formation. Drawing on her book *Writing on Water*, Bo argues that English-Chinese literary translations mobilized by U.S. and Chinese governments to win over ethnic Chinese communities worldwide became fluid exchanges that undid strict ideological equivalence. By tracing how these texts traveled through multiple languages—English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and local patois—across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the U.S., she uncovers how translation created ideologically diverse diasporic reading publics. Bo teaches Asian, American, and Asian American literature at Stanford and specializes in 20th/21st-century transpacific literature and multilingual diaspora.

A Hearst Award ceremony honoring Camille Zapata, Governor Gavin Newsom's Director of Digital Strategy, for her achievements in First Amendment advocacy and her influential role in reshaping the media landscape. Zapata will deliver an award address reflecting on digital strategy, cultural voice, and the responsibilities of communicating in public — examining how communication shapes democratic dialogue and holds power accountable. Food available at 4:00 p.m.; ceremony begins at 4:30 p.m.

How do social media algorithms shape family life, food choices, and teenage identity? This Kraw Lecture explores research with teens, parents, grandparents, and people with food allergies, revealing how young people actively interpret and navigate online content to spark meaningful family conversations. Rather than passive consumption, the talk examines how families use technology together—and when to disconnect. Speaker Christina Chung, Associate Professor at UC Santa Cruz, offers practical insights for parents, teens, and technology designers about living with algorithms and designing tools that support rather than replace family decision-making and traditions.

Filmmaker and artist Kahlil Joseph discusses the representation of space in his work, particularly the construction of Black space in his feature film BLKNWS: Terms and Conditions. The conversation explores how these cinematic ideas extend beyond the screen through the Underground Museum, the Los Angeles cultural institution Joseph co-founded in 2012 with Noah Davis and sculptor Karon Davis, dedicated to Black art, thought, and creative expression. Part of Stanford's Art and Art History course "An Architectural Imagination" taught by Christian Ho.

Scott Lambridis reads from and discusses his debut novel *St. Ulphia's Dead*, a psychological mystery about a disgraced medical researcher and his supervisor investigating an outbreak of mass psychosis on a remote island where villagers claim to be possessed by a cannibalistic demon. The novel explores how trauma warps truth, how isolation breeds belief, and the line between fact and folklore. Lambridis holds a degree in neurobiology from the University of Virginia and an MFA from San Francisco State University.

Why does the Moon need an international lunar resource prospecting campaign? Clive Neal, Professor of Planetary Geology at the University of Notre Dame and leading lunar scientist with 40 years of experience, explores how defining the Moon's resource potential could sustain human exploration, enable a cislunar economy, and benefit Earth. He examines the scientific and logistical issues such a coordinated international effort must address, why international coordination is essential, and how prospecting could unlock both scientific discovery and commercial opportunity.

The Bronco Battalion ROTC honors Veterans Day with a formal ceremony featuring Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and Santa Clara University alumnus, delivering a keynote address on military service and national defense.

Part of a weekly Stanford seminar on AI and data-driven methods across the sciences, this session features Alex Pentland of Stanford University. Organized by Emmanuel Candès, Balasubramanian Narasimhan, Brian Wandell, and Gordon Wetzstein, the seminar brings together researchers exploring how artificial intelligence and data science are reshaping scientific discovery and research methodology across disciplines.

An interactive exchange connecting youth community organizers working at the intersection of environmental justice and climate action. Learn organizing strategies from representatives of HOPE Collaborative, Oakland Climate Resilient Communities, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, and the Indigenous Justice Coalition. Designed for SCU students, faculty, staff, and community members to explore collaboration opportunities and support transformative change. Faculty and community partners interested in community-engaged research and community-based learning are especially welcome.

Santa Clara University's celebration of World Philosophy Day features a full day of talks, panels, and performances exploring philosophical questions. The schedule includes keynote addresses from philosophy faculty and alumni, including Dr. Meilin Chinn on 'Singing in a Thicket of Questions,' panels with SCU alumni and department faculty (Drs. Justin Clardy and Scott LaBarge), student lightning talks, and the university's Ethics Bowl Team. The event combines formal presentations with social time, meals, and community engagement.

A showcase of practical ethics projects from Stanford's 2026 Ethics and Technology Practitioner Fellows, exploring critical intersections of technology and ethics through inquiry, stakeholder engagement, and organizational reform. Projects span community deliberation on data centers, AI-accelerated carbon emissions, and AI regulation. The event welcomes civil society actors, policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to discuss exercising ethical leadership amid barriers to change.

Susan Stryker, professor emerita of gender and women's studies at the University of Arizona and distinguished visitor at Stanford's Clayman Institute for Gender Research, discusses her latest book Changing Gender. Stryker traces the gender concept from its grammatical roots through the culture wars, exploring surprising historical moments—from "Yankee Doodle" to 19th-century phrenology to present-day anti-trans conspiracy theories. Drawing on her lifetime as a historian, filmmaker, activist, and founding figure of transgender studies, Stryker argues that to change gender is to change what it means to be human. The book exposes limiting assumptions about gender across the political spectrum and imagines possibilities beyond them.

A geophysics seminar on the mechanisms driving the 2026 super El Niño, examining how springtime atmospheric and oceanic dynamics amplified the event to break century-long temperature records. Shang-Ping Xie, Distinguished Professor of Climate Science at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, discusses real-time observations, key El Niño precursors, and the distinctive two-part evolution shared by extreme El Niño events of 1982, 1997, 2015, and 2026.

A conversation on how sacred spaces, art, and spirituality shape the experience of living with cancer. David S. Zucker, M.D., PhD, Emeritus Founding Medical Director of Cancer Rehabilitation Services at Providence-Swedish Cancer Institute, discusses the body's capacity to heal while living with serious illness. Kathryn Barush, founding director of the Berkeley Art and Interreligious Pilgrimage Project and author of *Imaging Pilgrimage: Art as Embodied Experience*, explores how the arts shape belief and ritual. Of particular interest to pre-health students and those in the Medical and Health Humanities Program.

Learn to build a personalized AI assistant that synthesizes email, calendar, and personal context into a daily briefing to help you identify priorities and organize your day. Patricia Rodriguez, Director of Resources and Operations at SJSU King Library, will demonstrate a real-world example and discuss how to adapt the approach to different roles and work styles. This hands-on workshop includes time to experiment with your own workflow, ask questions, and begin designing a morning briefing tailored to you. Bring your laptop.

Renowned sculptor Charles Ray discusses his five-decade practice exploring how spatial transformation shapes perception of objects, reflecting on works including his 1996 film Fashions, currently exhibited in Solid Pictures. Ray appears in conversation with Patrick R. Crowley, Associate Curator of European Art at the Cantor, to explore connections between Ray's work and the exhibition's investigation of three-dimensionality, consumerism, and the perceptual role of clothing and fashion. The Solid Pictures exhibition, curated by Crowley, is the first major show of François Willème's 1859 photosculptures—pioneering experiments translating photographs into three-dimensional figures that laid the foundation for modern 3D scanning and printing.

SRI International celebrates 80 years of technological innovation with a public event at the Computer History Museum. Speakers will reflect on SRI's foundational contributions to computing, robotics, weather satellites, artificial intelligence, medicine, and personal computing — technologies that shaped the modern world. The evening features current SRI researchers and leaders discussing the institute's past achievements and ongoing work, with additional speakers to be announced.

Journalist Alexis Madrigal discusses his work in craft, career, and culture in conversation with Adrian Daub, J.E. Wallace Sterling Professor in the Humanities at Stanford. Madrigal is co-host of KQED's Forum, creator of the podcast Containers, author of The Oakland Garden Club newsletter, and co-founder of The COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic. His book The Pacific Circuit explores how Oakland's logistical revolution reshaped American cities. He also runs Local Economy, a community space in Oakland. Book signing and selling to follow.

A daylong celebration of aviation careers and innovation featuring aviators and industry professionals from Northern California. Students will engage with practitioners, learn about career pathways, and explore trends shaping the aviation industry. Organized by NorCalBAA in collaboration with San Jose State University's Career Center and Department of Aviation and Technology.

Candace Yano, Distinguished Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, discusses her research in supply chain management and operations-marketing interdisciplinary problems. Yano is a Fellow of INFORMS and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, and has held numerous journal editorial positions. Hosted by Santa Clara University.

San Jose Astronomical Association offers free introductions to astronomy covering topics including observing the night sky, the solar system, galaxies, astrophotography, and binoculars. The specific topic for this session has not yet been announced. After the talk, attendees can view telescopes set up for the In-Town Star Party. SJAA is a community organization welcoming curious members of the public; membership is optional at $20 per year.

An evening of stargazing at Houge Park hosted by the San Jose Astronomical Association, an all-volunteer nonprofit. SJAA members will share night sky views through telescopes. Binoculars welcome; personal telescopes discouraged. An optional intro-to-astronomy talk for beginners may precede the 2-hour event. Registration required for facility use tracking.

Israel's Declaration of Independence explores the Jewish state's founding political text and its foundational questions of sovereignty, religion and state, and citizenship rights. Neil Rogachevsky, Assistant Professor at Stanford's Hamilton School, examines the drafting history of the 1948 Declaration, focusing on David Ben-Gurion's transformative role in reshaping the proposed text before its May 14 adoption. Rogachevsky considers whether the Declaration might serve as a text of "civil religion" for Israel today. He is co-author of *Israel's Declaration of Independence: The History and Political Theory of the Nation's Founding Moment* (Cambridge University Press, 2023), winner of that year's Concordia-Azrieli Prize for Best Book in Israel Studies.

A cross-disciplinary faculty conversation about norms and practices for disclosing AI use in teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. Participants will share perspectives on ethical and practical concerns, explore common ground, and develop institutional guidance. Facilitated by Jason Aleksander, Professor of Humanities and the Arts, and Kerri Malloy, Associate Professor of Social Sciences, and hosted by the SJSU AI Faculty Fellows and the Center for Faculty Excellence and Teaching Innovation.

Cecilia Leal presents research on non-lamellar lipid membranes and their role in regulating biological function. Part of Stanford's Biology Seminar Series.

A talk by Jonathan Fan, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at Stanford, as part of the Stanford Energy Seminar, a nearly 20-year-old flagship program of the Precourt Institute for Energy. The seminar series brings diverse perspectives on energy from academics, entrepreneurs, utilities, nonprofits, and other stakeholders to the Stanford community.

The 3rd Annual Silicon Valley IP Forum convenes judges, law firm and in-house counsel, and IP law academics for substantive discussion on intellectual property practice and policy. Hosted by Stanford University at Munger Complex.

A hands-on workshop exploring motion capture technology at San José State University's KLEVR Lab. Using just a laptop and webcam, participants will capture their own movements and animate a digital avatar in real time—no prior animation or technical experience required. The workshop covers how MoCap is applied across video games, film, animation, virtual production, sports, and research, and introduces creative and technical careers in animation, game development, 3D art, and virtual production. Attendees will leave with their own short character animation and a practical understanding of how human movement translates to digital media.

Mark Bell, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota and author of *Nuclear Reactions: How Nuclear-Armed States Behave*, examines the concept of the 'new nuclear age' that scholars and policymakers have increasingly invoked since the mid-2010s. Bell challenges whether this era—characterized by technological change, nuclear multipolarity, and eroding constraints on state behavior—is truly novel or merely echoes historical patterns. He connects debates about the new nuclear age to nuclear history and the Theory of the Nuclear Revolution, arguing that emerging features often have precedent and may not require new theoretical frameworks. The result: a more complex understanding of continuities between past and present nuclear competition.

A discussion with Kristen Michal, Prime Minister of Estonia, on security, resilience, and digital innovation at a time of profound geopolitical change. Moderated by Michael McFaul, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Freeman Spogli Professor of International Studies at Stanford, the conversation will explore Estonia's position on NATO's eastern flank, lessons from Russia's war in Ukraine, Europe's security responsibilities, and Estonia's emergence as one of the world's most digitally advanced societies with ambitious AI development. The event covers how smaller nations adapt to technological disruption and what Estonia's digital-state model offers as a case study for innovation in governance and the economy.

Historian Matt O'Hara discusses his book *The Flying Death*, a narrative nonfiction account of 1930s explorers racing to harvest curare from the Amazon—a poisonous vine used by Indigenous tribes that became a revolutionary surgical anesthetic and led to a Nobel Prize. The book traces American explorer Richard Gill's obsessive quest to connect Indigenous poison masters with pharmaceutical companies, alongside rival Boris Krukoff, examining how their success created a curare-industrial complex while raising urgent questions about who pays the price of scientific progress and who receives credit. O'Hara, a history professor at UC Santa Cruz and award-winning author, explores themes of Indigenous knowledge, exploitation, and the ethics of discovery.

A talk on evidence law and philosophical justification. Leah Faibisoff (Santa Clara University Law School) explores whether propensity evidence at trial—evidence of past conduct used to infer future behavior—can be justified within a rational system of legal proof. The talk examines contemporary American evidence rules prohibiting character evidence to prove conduct, their exceptions, and the philosophical tensions they create, using David Hume's skeptical argument concerning induction as a framework.

A panel discussion on solidarity and social justice hosted by Santa Clara University's Social Justice Incubator. The event brings together speakers and community members to examine contemporary issues and strategies for equitable social change.

Dana Ragouzeos, Assistant Professor of Design at SJSU, discusses how 15 years designing in health care settings shaped her mission to demystify complex medical information through visual design. Drawing on her recent work visualizing reproductive health and abortion rights data, she explores how information design can empower rather than persuade—connecting sleep testing, museum design, liver enzymes, maxi pads, and AI policy as case studies in making intimidating health topics accessible and legible. A presentation on the intersection of design, health literacy, and equity.

Maria Mavroudi, UC Berkeley Professor of Byzantine History, challenges the narrative of a 'dark' period between late antiquity and the Arab scientific renaissance by tracing the Greek and Arabic reception of Ptolemy's Almagest from the 7th to 9th centuries. Drawing on her MacArthur-recognized scholarship on cross-cultural transmission of texts between Byzantine, Arabic, and Latin intellectual traditions, Mavroudi shows how this pivotal astronomical work circulated and was transformed across religious and linguistic boundaries, revealing a far more intellectually vibrant medieval world than conventional histories suggest.

Ami Bhatt of Stanford University discusses her research bridging microbial genomics and precision medicine. Hosted by Noah Rosenberg.

The 2026 AI 100 report launch featuring Mike Wooldridge, Chair of Computer Science at Oxford University and study panel chair. The One Hundred Year Study on Artificial Intelligence is a longitudinal assessment of AI across technical, ethical, economic, and societal domains, returning every five years to track how the field evolves. Wooldridge will present key insights from the third report, released in October 2026.

A lunch workshop with French novelist Marie Darrieussecq, author of Pig Tales, Being Here Is Everything, Men, and How to Make a Woman, moderated by Cécile Alduy, professor of French at Stanford. Darrieussecq's debut became an international bestseller translated into more than thirty languages; her novel Men won the Prix Médicis and Prix des Prix. She is recognized as one of the leading voices of contemporary French literature.

Andreas Tolias of Stanford University presents on AI and data-driven methods in science. Part of a weekly seminar series organized by Emmanuel Candès, Balasubramanian Narasimhan, Brian Wandell, and Gordon Wetzstein, featuring a different Stanford speaker each week exploring how AI and data science are reshaping research across disciplines. Open to Stanford and non-Stanford attendees.

A panel exploring how authors locate, interpret, and use archival materials in writing books and articles. The discussion will offer an accessible introduction to archival research methods and highlight Special Collections and Archives at SJSU King Library as a resource for future projects.

A masterclass on negotiation fundamentals for early and mid-career professionals. Scott McCreary, a UCSC alumnus whose 35-year practice spans high-stakes environmental disputes, shares core principles of his 'Mutual Gains' approach through real-world examples applicable to job negotiations, promotion advocacy, workplace dynamics, and resource allocation. McCreary joins UCSC Alumni Engagement Executive Director Shayna Kent in conversation, with extended Q&A and interactive discussion.

A lecture on enforced disappearances in Kashmir, militarization, mourning practices, and the normalization of state violence in occupied territories. Ather Zia, a political anthropologist and author of *Resisting Disappearances: Military Occupation and Women's Activism in Kashmir*, draws on her research into how communities resist and process systematic state violence. Zia is a professor at the University of Northern Colorado, poet, and founder-editor of Kashmir Lit and the Critical Kashmir Studies Collective.

Between 1890 and 1914, tens of thousands of Jews from Galicia—the easternmost crownland of the Habsburg Empire—migrated to New York City, yet their distinct experience has often been overshadowed by narratives centered on migration from the Russian Empire. Historian Oskar Czendze of the University of Toronto explores how Galician Jews carried forms of regional and supranational belonging shaped in East Central Europe into their new American home, challenging dominant immigration narratives.

Ishan Nath, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and Faculty Associate of the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, presents research on how trade openness affects food price stability in the face of climate shocks and geopolitical disruption. The paper examines trade integration's protective effect against extreme heat shocks while revealing how importing countries face vulnerability to weather and policy shocks in source nations—illustrated by the 2022 Ukrainian wheat export disruption. Nath uses quantitative trade modeling to compare food price stability under varying trade scenarios and evaluate policies that diversify import sources. His research bridges climate change, international trade, and development macroeconomics.

How does colonialism continue to shape our world, and where are we finding pathways to more just societies? This conversation explores justice through law, archaeology, and art, inspired by Pedro Lasch's installation *Coatlicue & Las Meninas: The Stanford Edition*. Artist and Duke professor Pedro Lasch joins international legal scholar Tendayi Achiume (Stanford Law School), archaeology professor Krish Seetah (Doerr School of Sustainability), and moderator Tomás Jiménez (Stanford Sociology). Part of the Institute for Advancing Just Societies' quarterly Ideas Mosaic series.

Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, artists working at the intersection of sound, technology, and social practice, deliver an evening public lecture as part of Stanford's Millicent Greenwell Clapp Studio Art Series. The series brings prominent artists to campus for studio critiques with MFA students and a public evening talk fostering critical dialogue and creative exploration. Free and open to the Stanford community and general public; advance registration recommended.

A reading and discussion of *Murder on the Hatchie*, retired Tennessee trial attorney Jim Emison's narrative nonfiction account of the 1940 murder of NAACP organizer Elbert Williams in Brownsville, Tennessee—the first voting-rights martyr in the Civil Rights Movement. Drawing on FBI files, DOJ correspondence, and eyewitness testimony, Emison reconstructs how federal and local officials conspired to suppress Black voter registration and evade justice for Williams's lynching, decades before Emmett Till and Medgar Evers. The book reorients civil-rights chronology and exposes the embedded character of government complicity in racial terror. Featured by NPR and the Associated Press; led to renewed DOJ review under the Emmett Till Act.

A guided exploration of the Palo Alto Baylands led by Environmental Volunteers docents, investigating the science and ecology of this unique saltwater habitat. Participants will learn how plants and animals survive saline conditions, why the environment changes seasonally and throughout the day, and how to protect this fragile ecosystem. Suitable for ages 6 and up; children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Low-impact hike.

Kimberly Bea discusses her fantasy novel *The Curse of the Feathers*, a feminist retelling of the Brothers Grimm tale "The Wild Swans." The story follows Elisa von Ahlefeldt, who must weave magical garments from stinging nettles to break a curse transforming her six brothers into swans, all while maintaining a vow of silence. Bea is a social historian and author of mythology and fable-inspired fiction, with degrees in ancient and medieval history.

Geophysics seminar featuring Tapan Mukerji, Professor of Energy Science Engineering, Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Geophysics at Stanford University. Topic details to be confirmed.

Peter Walter, PhD, discusses therapeutic approaches targeting cellular stress pathways. Walter is a renowned cell biologist and UCSF professor whose research on the unfolded protein response and cellular stress mechanisms has shaped modern understanding of how cells respond to dysfunction—work with direct implications for neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and metabolic disorders.

Water scarcity, rising energy demand, and global emissions are major sustainability challenges of the 21st century. Carlos Diaz-Marin, Assistant Professor of Energy Science & Engineering at Stanford University, will present three soft matter-enabled technologies his lab is developing: hydrogel-salt composites for water production from air, low-temperature carbon capture sorbents to enable data center heat reuse for carbon removal, and dry biomass combustion systems for high-temperature industrial decarbonization. The talk explores how fundamental studies of soft materials can address pressing water, energy, and emissions challenges.

What makes a downtown feel vibrant and welcoming? Join SPUR for a member outing to San José Holiday Lights, an immersive public art and light experience featuring six themed worlds of illuminated installations and seasonal festivities. The tour explores how creative lighting and local artists can transform public spaces, attract visitors, and bring downtown to life—a tangible case study in urban placemaking and cultural revitalization.

A lecture on how U.S. geopolitical decisions—including USAID's dismantling and military actions affecting the Strait of Hormuz—are shaping child health and survival in Africa. Dr. Ruth Gibson, Founding Executive Director of Stanford's Geopolitical Human Impact Research Lab, presents research modeling the cascading effects of these decisions on food security and nutrition in the Sahel during the 2027 growing season, and outlines policy options to avert humanitarian catastrophe. The talk draws on health modeling, open-source intelligence, and international law to connect geopolitical crises to human outcomes.

Leonidas Guibas of Stanford University speaks on AI and data-driven methods in science. Part of a weekly seminar series examining how artificial intelligence and computational approaches are reshaping scientific discovery and research across disciplines. Organized by Emmanuel Candès, Balasubramanian Narasimhan, Brian Wandell, and Gordon Wetzstein.

A geophysics seminar on RIME and the JUICE mission featuring Lorenzo Bruzzone, full professor of information engineering and computer science at the University of Trento. The JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) mission, supported by RIME (Radar for Icy Moon Exploration), uses advanced radar imaging to study Jupiter's icy moons.