The Center for the Study of Ethics in Society at Western Michigan University offers programs each semester. All events are free and open to the public. See current event descriptions. Check back often for updates.
Current events
2023
September 21 – “From The Crown to All Quiet on the Western Front: The Notion of Adaptation as Violation,” Lucia Krämer, Professor, English Cultural and Media Studies, University of Passau, 4:30 p.m., Student Center, Meeting Room 2213. Co-Sponsors: Haenicke Institute for Global Education, English. Download flier.
October 24 – “ChatGPT’s Distortions of the Student-Teacher Relationship,” 12 p.m. online on Webex. Part of WMUx’s AI@WMU events series. Noah Smith, Philosophy and Religion, Northeastern University. Host: WMUx. Co-sponsor: Philosophy. Download flier. Watch the recording.
October 26 – “Between Violence and Resistance: The Challenges of Latin America in the 21st Century,” 2023 Winnie Veenstra Peace Lecture, 6 p.m., Putney Auditorium, Fetzer Center. Edgar Franco-Vivanco, assistant professor of political science, University of Michigan. Co-Sponsors: Haenicke Institute for Global Education, Department of Political Science, Department of Spanish, WMU Native American Affairs Council, Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War (KNOW). Rescheduled from Spring 2023. Download flier. Watch the recording.
November 3 – "Chatbots in Medicine: Helpful Nudge or Biased Manipulation?” Keynote for the Midwest Medical Humanities Conference, 12 p.m. on Teams. Dr. Matthew DeCamp, Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado Anschutz. Host: WMU Medical Humanities Workgroup. Co-sponsor: Department of Philosophy. Download flier. For more information, visit conference website.
November 14 – “Decolonizing Digital Hegemonies: Reframing, Disrupting and Occupying Online Spaces,” 6 p.m. Student Center, Meeting Room 2211. Lusike Mukhongo, associate professor, School of Communication. Co-sponsors: School of Communication, Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Download flier. Listen to the podcast.
December 7 - "Beyond the Algorithm: Exploring AI's Role in the Future of Healthcare," 6 p.m. (appetizers at 5:30 p.m.), Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine's W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus Auditorium (livestream available). Panelists: Ikhlas Abdel-Qader, professor of electrical and computer engineering, WMU; Dr. Ash Goel, senior vice president, chief information officer, Bronson Healthcare Group; Dr. Philip Kroth, associate dean for health services research, WMed; and Alessander Santos, professor of physical therapy, WMU. Panel moderator: Tyler S. Gibb, associate professor, medical ethics, humanities & law, WMed. Download flier. Host: WMed.
December 8 – “The Idea of Prison Abolition: Slavery and Its Legacy,” Tommie Shelby, Philosophy, Harvard University, 3 p.m., Rooms 2209/2211, WMU Student Center. Host: Philosophy. Co-Sponsors: Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies, Political Science, Sociology, University Center for the Humanities, WMU Minorities in Philosophy. Download flier.
Past events
2023
February 19 – "Special Exhibit Tour: Using Media Responsibly,” 1 p.m. February 19 at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Led by the creator of the Wonder Media: Ask the Questions! exhibit, Sue Ellen Christian, 2021-24 Presidential Innovation Professor in Communication. Meet at the front desk. Co-sponsor: School of Communication. Download flier.
February 21 – “The Ethical Considerations of Conducting Research with Forced Migrants,” 5 p.m. 208 Bernhard Center. Wa'ed Alshoubaki, assistant professor at the University of Jordan. Co-sponsors: Haenicke Institute for Global Education, School of Public Affairs and Administration, Office of Research and Innovation. Download flier.
March 1 – “Bioethics in the Era of COVID-19 … and Beyond,” 1 p.m. on Teams. Rebecca Weintraub Brendel, president of the American Psychiatric Association and associate director of the Center for Bioethics at Harvard Medical School. Hosted by the WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Download flier.
March 15 - "Grasslands, Garbage Islands, and Plastic Trees: Working Towards a Future Ecology," 6 p.m. 105 Bernhard. Alec Koppers, master’s student, Department of Philosophy. Part of the WMU Climate Change Working Group’s events for Climate Emergency Month: Creating a Just and Sustainable Future. Co-sponsors: Climate Change Working Group, Department of Philosophy. Download flier.
March 16 – “Navigating a Health Care System Response to Dobbs,” 12 p.m. March 16. In person in the auditorium of the WMed UpJohn Building, 300 Portage Street in downtown Kalamazoo, and online on Teams. Check back for Teams link. Kayte Spector-Bagdady, interim co-director at the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. Hosted by the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Download flier.
March 21 - “Is Ignoring Climate Change Akin to Mass Murder? Troubling Ethical Conclusions about Climate Change and its Effects,” 6 p.m. 208 Bernhard Center. Jonathan Milgrim, faculty specialist in the WMU Department of Philosophy. Part of the WMU Climate Change Working Group’s events for Climate Emergency Month: Creating a Just and Sustainable Future. Co-sponsors: Climate Change Working Group, Department of Philosophy. Download flier.
March 30 – "Between Violence and Resistance: The Challenges of Latin America in the 21st Century," 2023 Winnie Veenstra Peace Lecture, 6 p.m. 208 Bernhard Center. Edgar Franco-Vivanco, assistant professor of political science, University of Michigan. Co-sponsors: Haenicke Institute for Global Education, Department of Spanish, Department of Political Science, WMU Native American Affairs Council, Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War (KNOW). This event was canceled and moved to Fall 2023.
Click here for previous lectures and events.