Past Events

In a highly publicized seven-part series published in 2017, _The Boston Globe’s_ Spotlight team dug into one of the city’s most pervasive and troubling issues: the marginalization of the black community. The series exposed the insidious impact of racism on all levels of city life from housing to healthcare to education. In this discussion , the Boston Literary District and GrubStreet invite the story’s writers to the stage where they will share their reporting, what didn’t make it into print, and engage with the audience on these pressing issues that strike at the core of the city’s identity. The panel is moderated by Latoyia Edwards, morning anchor and host of _This Is New England_, NBC10 Boston.

Talia Buford, reporter for ProPublica, discusses environmental justice, the complexities of covering the environment, how environmental policy is changing in the Trump administration, and more during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. **SEE ALSO:** [Talia Buford's interview with WGBH News.](https://www.wgbh.org/news/national-news/2018/06/15/talia-buford-on-pruitts-epa-and-environmental-inequities "Talia Buford's interview with WGBH News. ")

The Reverend Traci Blackmon visisted Boston from The King United Church of Christ in Florissant, MO. To mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, Reverend Blackmon led a reflection on his legacy. Photo credit: [Revolutionary Love Conference 2018](http://revolutionaryloveconference.com/videos/ "Revolutionary Love Conference 2018")

Rocky Hill School, Mass Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC), and MassRobotics convened in Boston to spark important conversations about how artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are influencing the work of the future, which in turn will dramatically impact the current as well as the future workforce (students currently in grades K-12). Rocky Hill School initiated this collaboration to bring high-level business, tech, and education thought leaders together to discuss industry trends, technological innovations, and the intersection of artificial and collective human intelligence in organizations today, all with an eye on the future. Hosted by the Bostonian Society at the Old State House in Boston, MA.

Dr. Alan P. Jasanoff, Ph.D., discusses his book, _The Biological Mind: How Brain, Body, and Environment Collaborate to Make Us Who We Are_. Dr. Jasanoff explains why the brain must be considered within its biological, natural and social environment. The tendency to see the mind as completely autonomous, a view he calls the “cerebral mystique,” doesn't hold up. Jasanoff’s discussion includes brain dysfunctions as well as recent trends such as brain hacking –and the transhumanist aspiration that our brains can someday be preserved and then revived much later.

Adam Serwer discusses the politics of racism in America under the Trump administration.

For two decades Virginia Eubanks has worked in community technology and economic justice movements. In this talk she discusses her book, _Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish the Poor_. It's a hard look at how we've turned over decision-making to algorithms and statistical models, leaving the disadvantaged and less-connected behind. Eubanks is joined in conversation by Ethan Zuckerman, director of the Center for Civic Media at MIT. Presented by the Harvard Book Store, Harvard Kennedy School's digitalHKS, the MIT Center for Civic Media, and Mass Humanities. Photo: By United States Department of Agriculture [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Listen as Hip Hop artist Brandie Blaze, archaeologist Jade Luiz, and funeral director Sarah Young-Stopyra share insights and stories about the underground — both literally and figuratively. Photo: NPS.gov

Water pollution and subsequent water shortages are popular motifs in many dystopian science fiction stories and have now become a reality in many places around the world. As these issues become more prevalent, the sustainability of the ways we purify our water also present a daunting challenge. Using electricity from clean power sources is a promising approach to purify polluted water; however, in addition to a power source, this technology also requires use of electrodes—conductors that allow electrons to assist in removing toxins. Although many materials have been found to be efficient as electrodes, scientists are still seeking affordable and environmentally-friendly alternatives. In this talk, Dr. Ljiljana Rajic will discuss the ways in which water pollution is currently impacting our world and innovative approaches to using cost-effective materials to clean heavily polluted waters. Photo by Watersanitationandsupply - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

"Disruptor on the Podium: Politics, Race and Sexuality in the Career of Leonard Bernstein" Beginning with his time at Harvard (and his participation in a production of Marc Blitztein’s The Cradle Will Rock), politics were to have an outsize influence on Bernstein’s musical persona. This panel will explore the ways Bernstein’s forward-thinking political positions shaped his music and career, and the world of classical music. This is the second of two panel discussions presented by the BSO as part of the Bernstein centennial celebration.