Welcome to our centralized calendar where you can learn about civic health-related events taking place across all three University of Washington campuses.
From Franklin’s Key to ChatGPT: 250 Years of American Technology with Margaret O’Mara
6:30 p.m.
Over the past 250 years, waves of technological change—from the steam engine to Silicon Valley—have continually remade American society. They’ve sparked new industries, created new kinds of work, and raised profound questions about power, inequality, and human impact.
This lecture traces that long arc of innovation, examining who gets the opportunity to invent, and why? What drives technological revolutions and how people have lived through them.
Now What? Making Sense of the Midterms with Megan Ming Francis
6:30 p.m.
The environment surrounding the Republican and Democrat parties in the 2026 midterm election cycle revealed that we are living in an anxious and confusing time in politics. The past year of political upheaval has thrust into the spotlight long simmering debates about the vulnerable nature of democracy, the perils of money, and the deep frustration of many people. How should we make sense of the midterms? Is corruption increasing? Are young people with new ideas taking over? Who are the winners and losers?
Behind the Feed: Camille Zapata on How Digital Storytelling Shapes Power, Politics, and Public Opinion
6:30 p.m.
Join Camille Zapata, Digital Director for Governor Gavin Newsom, for a conversation with University of Washington professor Jevin West exploring how digital storytelling has become one of the most powerful forces shaping politics, public opinion, and culture.
Walking on Eggshells: The Plight of Conservatives in Higher Education and the Implications for the Future of America’s Public Square with Pete Peterson
6:30 p.m.
Like no time since the 1960’s, American higher education has been roiled by protests and polarization from within, and policy challenges – from student loan program changes to federal grant withholdings to the creation of new, competing academic institutions – from without. Related to these dynamics, our country’s colleges and universities are experiencing historic levels of distrust by the American public.
Respected globally, American opinion surveys reveal a growing uneasiness with what they perceive to be a radical shift away from high education’s historic mission: the search for truth across all academic disciplines through spirited and civil debate and deliberation. In campus protests, speaker shout-downs, and personal stories, many have come to view our colleges and universities as ideologically narrow, where students and faculty – especially conservative ones – have to walk on eggshells in discussions about political and social issues.