From the pandemic, online extremism, China, and LGBTQ+ rights, to the US Supreme Court, the US Census, and the US economy, this virtual series examines a few of the issues and questions at the forefront of today’s world of immediacy and ever-evolving change. Sessions include:

January 12: COVID-19 in Context: The Historical Background of a Pandemic
Jennifer Gunn is director of the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Advanced Study and an associate professor in the Program in History, Technology, and Medicine. 

January 19: The Legal Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Struggle to Replace Her  
Timothy R. Johnson is the Morse Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law at the University of Minnesota, and a nationally recognized expert on U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments and decision making.

January 26: Using Data Science to Understand Online Extremism
Megan Squire is a professor of computer science at Elon University.

February 2: The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in Minnesota
Joe Mahon is a regional outreach director for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

February 9: China Rising: Pros and Cons
Edward L. Farmer is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Minnesota. His expertise includes China and non-Eurocentric perspectives on world history.

February 16: LGBTQ+ History in Minnesota
Robert Frame is a professor of history at Normandale Community College. 

February 23: The 2020 Census: Taking Count amid Controversy
Susan Brower has been Minnesota’s State Demographer since 2012.   

Offered in cooperation with the Ramsey County Library with support from Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries. Moderated by Judy Woodward, history coordinator.