It is existentially important (I would argue) for academia to bridge its immense (I would argue) divide with the general public. Many long‑standing institutional norms and processes—including promotion and tenure criteria—effectively discourage research that prioritizes meaningful societal impacts ahead of traditional scholarly outputs. Let’s discuss concrete, responsive + proactive steps that can be taken to help shape an academic culture that remains rigorous while becoming more deeply engaged with the broader world it serves.
The Millennium Café runs from 10-11 am in the 3rd-floor Café Commons of the Millennium Science Complex building. Join researchers from across campus for a stellar cup of coffee and two < 10-minute interdisciplinary talks.