What's going on with Russia & Ukraine? Why is it happening? What's the international response, and what are the consequences of intervening? Get all your questions answered about this important issue, and discuss with other people curious about what's going on. The evening will be a combination of presentation, Q&A and open discussion. The overview will be given by Dr.Taras […]
What’s happening now in the Gaza Strip? Why is there so much conflict in this area? Who is involved? What now? Get all your questions answered about this important issue, and discuss with other people curious about what's going on. The evening will be a combination of presentation, Q&A and open discussion. The overview will be given by: […]
The percentage of Americans in prison or jail has grown five-fold in the last forty years and is now the highest in the world. In fact, the United States has 5% of the world's population, yet 25% of the incarcerated population. And yet many question whether or not the U.S. is really a safer place to live. A majority […]
Why is this such a complicated and divisive issue? Join us for a review of the science & politics of climate change. Get a chance to ask questions from an MIT professor who deeply studies climate data, and writes and speaks about the interactions between science and policy in international environmental negotiations. Overview given by: Noelle Selin Assistant Professor of […]
What's the deal with North Korea? How does the country operate? Why is it so isolated from the rest of the world? What is it like to live there? Join us for a conversation about this (seemingly) mysterious country. Prof. Sung-Yoon Lee will give an overview of the current situation and how it got to be that way, followed by Q&A […]
Cuba is the only Communist country in the Western Hemisphere. It lies less than 100 miles from Florida, but seems like a world apart for many of us in the U.S. Now, after decades of diplomatic and cultural isolation, change is on the way. The Obama administration has recently announced an effort to normalize relations between Cuba and the U.S., […]
The United States has had an uneasy relationship with Iran ever since the Iranian Revolution over 30 years ago. In the past two decades, the country has developed nuclear technology, which has many countries -- including the U.S. -- concerned that it could develop nuclear weapons. After many months of difficult negotiations, an international agreement on Iran's nuclear program was […]
According to the International Organization for Migration, almost 600,000 migrants have arrived in Europe via the Mediterranean Sea this year alone, which is only one of the paths that migrants travel to Europe. Resettlement of these migrants has sparked tension in many European countries, causing the urgent need to evaluate current policies in order to accommodate these large numbers of […]
The public debate about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is fierce. Supporters say that GMOs hold great promise for a fast-changing world: food can be made more bountiful and easier to grow and transport. GMOs could be a vital part of the solution to an ever-increasing global population, world hunger, and climate change. However, critics say that the unintended risks of GMOs could outweigh these benefits: GMOs pose unknown […]
President Obama has called for the United States to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees. There has been vigorous discussion from politicians and pundits alike as to whether or not we should accept these refugees. Some governors have even said they will ignore orders from the federal government and turn refugees away. In this event, we’ll explore what you need to know […]
The Black Lives Matter Movement campaigns against violence towards black people in the United States. It started in 2012, after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of black teen Trayvon Martin. Since then, a national organization was formed to "(re)build the Black liberation movement". Protests are regularly organized in its name in response to deaths of black people by law enforcement officers, as well as broader […]
It's that very special time in the United States: presidential election season. You learned in middle and high school all about delegates and the electoral college, but that was a long time ago. Now that you're a smart, voting-seasoned adult, it doesn't hurt to get a refresher. - Why do we have delegates and super-delegates? - What exactly are caucuses […]
Brexit happened: on June 23, 2016, the British people voted to leave the European Union. Many Brits celebrated what they called their Independence Day — freedom from EU rules, fees, and, perhaps most controversially, immigration laws. While others fear that Brexit will severely damage the British economy and their status as a world powerhouse. What does this mean for the […]
Based in Syria & Iraq, the group that calls itself the Islamic State has shocked the world with its violence, modern recruitment techniques, and growth across the Middle East. – Who is ISIS and where did it come from? – What are its goals? How does ISIS relate to Islam? – What is it like to live in the Middle […]
Ever wondered how Facebook guesses the friends in your photos? Have you purchased a suggested item from Amazon? Did you know Uber is already using self-driving cars in Pittsburgh? Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and Machine Learning, vaguely understood or noticed by most, is already amongst us in many forms. From cellphone assistants like Siri, to news articles written by software – […]
We’ve all heard of the United Nations: it’s an intergovernmental organization that works on issues like world peace, human rights, and food security… but how does it work? What, exactly, is the United Nations? Is it a world government? What kind of power does it have? Why are some countries a part of the UN and some countries aren’t? Is […]
Digital currencies, blockchain, bitcoin… is this the future of money? Bitcoin has taken the world by storm. It is the most successful digital currency, where all transactions happen online in a public ledger powered by its users, with no central authority. This means it isn't regulated by any government, bank, or corporation. Even though it's a digital currency, you can use […]
Join us for an update and discussion about the United States and its role in addressing climate change. In 2016, 125 countries ratified the Paris Agreement, an international commitment to take action on climate change. President Barack Obama was a huge proponent of the plan, but it's unclear what will happen under President Donald Trump: he has stated that he may […]
We know... healthcare reform is complicated. This is why we've brought together two American healthcare policy experts to help us understand it. We'll unpack the major issues regarding health reform and insurance, and discuss existing and proposed approaches to creating affordable access to healthcare in the U.S. In this session, we'll: Break down the top health policy dilemmas and major health […]
Relationships are central to how society works. Researchers are increasingly coming to understand how social connection is woven deeply into the fabric of the human experience. Recently more attention has been paid to modern relationships, changing dating landscapes thanks to technology, and even to the phenomenon of singlehood-driven anxiety. Many people from Aziz Ansari to Helen Fisher and Esther Perel […]
North Korea is a global anomaly -- it is the world’s only Communist dynasty; the world’s only industrialized economy to have suffered a famine during a time of peace; and the world’s largest military (in terms of manpower and defense spending proportional to population and national income). The country has been making headlines for years for its bold displays of […]
Come get your questions answered about net neutrality! Seats are limited, so sign up ASAP on Eventbrite, and enjoy both **FREE ICE CREAM** and the answers to questions like... - What is net neutrality...really? - Who are the major players and what are their agendas? What's at stake for corporations, the federal government, and individual users? - What are […]
What’s this Bank of Canada rate hike about? How does it affect me? The Fed? What’s the Fed? Why is everyone in the finance world always talking about the Fed? I want me a house. Fixed vs. Variable interest rates? What’s the difference? Credit Card interest rates be crazy? Why they be so crazy? Credit Investing: lending money to governments […]
Think about the last time you tried to talk with someone about politics or social issues who didn’t already agree with you. How well did it go? It’s getting harder and harder for us to have productive conversations about social issues that matter the most to us, which is widening the gap between Americans and ruining Thanksgiving dinners. (Unfortunately, Adele can’t […]
ISIS is one of the most high-profile terrorist organizations worldwide. But what exactly is ISIS? The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has been an important part of US and international political discourse -- especially in the last five years. ISIS has claimed responsibility for several terrorist […]
Everyone has experienced the strains of our current housing landscape in Boston. Talking about the cost of housing or observing how the neighborhood has changed is practically the Bostonian version of small talk about the weather. But how did we get here? And how can the city move forward to best serve current and future residents? With expert panelists Shelly […]
Sex, consent, sexual assault and harassment. Not the easiest topics to discuss even in private conversation, let alone in broader public discourse. We wouldn't be Civic Series, though, if we didn't broach the topics that we're seeing debated - sometimes problematically - in the news, and perhaps also finding difficult to discuss in our own lives. So after a troubling […]
What's up for discussion at Toronto's first 2018 event? Society’s bizarre relationship with facts What do you mean? In case you missed it, this happened in the last two years: We came up with a term for made up stuff: Alternative Facts Countries meddled with each other's elections through: Fake News The combination of the two are said to have […]
The tax bill was a big deal. But how much do you know about it? As an issue that effects our work, our nonprofits, and our paychecks, this is a terrific opportunity to get your questions answered. What will tax reform mean in the future, especially given long-term considerations like environmental and social impacts? How can we as informed and […]
Did you know that... Languages are disappearing every day in the world and Canada is no exception? Civic Series takes a closer look We invite you to think about: What is Canada's history and present situation with respect to Indigenous languages? What advantages and disadvantages come with being an Indigenous language speaker in Canada? What is language erosion and does […]