Political, Social Sciences & Society   

What makes a country, region, or city innovative and able to compete in the global economy? This course provides a comprehensive overview of how and why innovation takes place and the policies that support or hinder innovation. This course introduces broad theories of innovation policy while also going in-depth into various case studies, including the United States, China, Canada, Israel, Taiwan, and Germany, among others. The focus will be on politics and the role of the government. By the end of the course, members will have knowledge of innovation policy, major changes therein, as well as knowledge of concepts and some theories that frame innovation-related questions.

NOTE: This course is being offered twice: once in session 1 and once in session 2. Please only register for ONE of these courses, as there will be limited enrollment.

This course will review the most important decisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court this year, including decisions addressing the use of race as a factor in university admissions, the president's  authority to forgive student loans, and an employer's obligation to accommodate the religious practices of its employees. The course will also look at the ongoing effects of the Supreme Court's landmark 2022 decisions involving abortion rights and gun rights. No prior knowledge about the Supreme Court is needed for this course.

NOTE: This course is being offered twice: Zoom-Online during session 1 and In-Person during session 2. It is the same course; please register for the modality and session that you prefer.

Technology, Entertainment, and Design (TED), a nonprofit organization that promotes “ideas worth spreading,” features talks by some of the world’s most engaging speakers on a wide variety of subjects. The TED website features more than 3,900 talks on video. In this class be prepared for discussion! We will discuss, debate, and reflect on a few of these talks each week. Some talks are informational, and some are just plain fun. Group members are encouraged to select talks that inspire or intrigue them to kick off the discussion.