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Phelps Colloquium Registration







  • October 23, 2024, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

    Eisenberg Rotunda, Schlegel Hall, River Campus

    Twenty-first century American politics has been tumultuous, with common explanations for the divide including media changes, elite polarization, and tribalism. This project argues that the most concerning development is the polarization of trust in scientific institutions. Partisan realignment has resulted in both parties operating from fundamentally distinct epistemologies, complicating their ability to collaborate on collective goods.

    Presented by: James Druckman, Ph.D.



  • November 20, 2024, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

    Evarts Lounge, School of Nursing

    Optics plays a crucial role in advancing eye care, encompassing innovations in eye prescriptions, imaging diagnostics, intraocular lenses and contact lenses that address widespread vision conditions. This review will explore the latest advances in ophthalmic optics and envision the future of eye diagnostics and correction technologies.

    Presented by: Susana Marcos, Ph.D.



  • March 5, 2025, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

    Location: TBD

    Nearly all pediatric guidelines emphasize that parental decisions should prioritize the child’s best interest. This raises many questions: What is meant by best? Who defines what is best? And How is the best interest standard applied in particular cases? In this talk, I will 1) explore the concept of “best interest” in pediatric decision-making; and 2) compare and contrast the role of the best interest standard in the US and the UK using a case study.

    Presented by: Lainie Ross, M.D.



  • April 23, 2025, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

    Location: TBD

    Digital recording emerged in the mid-1970s alongside musicians’ experiments with digital synthesizers, drum machines, and sampling devices. This talk examines the disruption caused by these technologies through the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), developed from a US-Japan corporate exchange. The digitization of jazz culture highlights a conflict between the ideals of musical freedom practiced by musicians and the neoliberal concept of “freedom,” a tension that persists today.

    Presented by: Darren Mueller, Ph.D.