Berkeley Conversations

Across the UC Berkeley campus, researchers are rising to meet the complex challenges of the day. The online video series, Berkeley Conversations, is designed to connect our leading experts with the public they serve, and each other. Through Q&As, seminars, and panel discussions, faculty from a wide range of disciplines are sharing what they know, and what they are learning about the COVID pandemic, the economy, racial justice, electoral politics, and much more.
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SEP
21

Defending against the ravages of disinformation

12-1:30 p.m. (Pacific)

Disinformation the intentional dissemination of false information to shape political and social outcomes is an increasingly pernicious feature of the U.S. political landscape. In just the past 18 months, disinformation has had direct, harmful effects on efforts to check the spread of COVID-19, on initiatives for racial justice and on the 2020 election and its aftermath. Clearly, disinformation costs lives and erodes democracy.

The next Berkeley Conversation will convene eminent scholars to explore one of the most critical questions facing U.S. democracy: How can we counter disinformation to protect our communities without compromising Americas core principles?

This event is sponsored by the Goldman School of Public Policy, Berkeley Law and the Office of Communications and Public Affairs.

Past Events (recorded)
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MAY
07

Centenary of the Tulsa Race Massacre

1-2:30 p.m. (Pacific)

Please join us for a moderated panel discussion to commemorate the centenary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, which occurred in 1921 in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma in an area known as Black Wall Street. Although the massacre is not found in most American history books, it is widely regarded as one of the most terrifying events of racial violence to occur in the US. Armed, white mobs murdered hundreds of Blacks and set fire to a prosperous Black area, the Greenwood District, both displacing and economically devastating thousands of Black residents. While many of the exact details are unknown, recent excavations to locate mass burial sites and interviews with descendants of Black residents are shedding more light onto these events.

Othering and Belonging Institute, Department of African American Studies, Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, Center for the Study of Law and Society, Public Health, School of, Institute of Governmental Studies, Goldman School of Public Policy, Human Rights Center, Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice

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MAY
07

Centenary of the Tulsa Race Massacre

1-2:30 p.m. (Pacific)

The death of George Floyd, and the many black and brown people who have died at the hands of the police before and since, require careful examination of the long history of race and racism in policing in the United States. Is meaningful reform of policing possible? Is the answer abolition and what would that mean? Some of our leading experts on campus on this topic will discuss these important questions.
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APR
28

Mars was not always red: Berkeley experts discuss Mars exploration

5-6 p.m. (Pacific)

Please join us for a moderated conversation with experts from UC Berkeley to discuss the discoveries, challenges, and implications of exploring our solar system. The recent trio of spacecraft arriving at Mars from the US, China, and the UAE thrust the Red Planet into the public imagination once again. The landing of NASAs Perseverance rover reignited an exuberance for planetary exploration in millions around the world. Could life have existed on Mars? Whatve we learned from previous missions? How will this research impact science for generations to come?

Youre invited to hear our experts share experiences with space exploration and Mars science, providing us with insights into what lies ahead.

Speakers: Manar Al Asad, Graduate Student, Earth & Planetary Science; Bill Dietrich, Professor, Earth & Planetary Science; Rob Lillis, Associate Director, Space Sciences Lab; and David Shuster, Professor, Earth & Planetary Science

This event is sponsored by The College of Letters and Science.

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APR
12

Race and responsibility: a conversation on Black-Jewish relations and the fight for equal justice

5-7 p.m. (Pacific)

How are the historical experiences of the Black and Jewish communities at once distinct and interconnected? Should we see efforts to combat racism and antisemitism as separate struggles? What are African Americans and Jews responsibilities to one another in Americas current racial reckoning? In this conversation, Eric K. Ward, a leading expert on the relationship between racism, antisemitism, and authoritarian movements; and Michael Rothberg, an eminent scholar of historical exclusion and its legacies, will tackle these questions and other pressing matters in contemporary Black-Jewish relations. The discussion will be moderated by Professor Tina Sacks of the School of Social Welfare.

This event was sponsored by The College of Letters and Science, The Center for Jewish Studies, the Center for Democracy, Toleration, and Religion, the Department of African-American Studies, the Othering and Belonging Institute, Berkeley Hillel, the Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion, the Graduate Theological Union, Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies, The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, The History Department and HaMaqom|The Place.

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APR
01

The long history and present surge of anti-Asian violence

5-6 p.m. (Pacific)

Please join us for a panel discussion on rising Anti-Asian violence in America. This timely panel will consider both the long history of Anti-Asian racism and present-day patterns linked to the pandemic and to cultural anxieties about Asian ascendancy and Western decline.

The panel will feature presentations by Professors Russell Jeung (San Francisco State University), Catherine Choy (UC Berkeley), and Kimberly Hoang (University of Chicago). Michael Lu, Dean of the School of Public Health, will offer an introduction, and Raka Ray, Dean of the Division of Social Sciences in L&S, will moderate.

This event is presented as part of the Social Science Matrix On Point discussion series, which promotes focused, cross-disciplinary conversations on todays most pressing contemporary issues.

Co-sponsors include the UC Berkeley Social Sciences Division initiative Toward a Racially Just Social Science, APASD, AAPISC, the Sociology Department, the School of Public Health, Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies, the Department of Gender and Womens Studies, and Stop AAPI Hate.

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MAR
15

An update on COVID vaccines: experts weigh in

12:00-1 p.m. (Pacific)

The roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines has generated a wide range of reactions, concerns, and questions. Amidst the relief and protection vaccination has brought to current and prospective recipients, there has been a great deal of confusion surrounding the scheduling of appointments; dismay about the equity of the distribution processes; questions about vaccine efficacy as new variants of the virus emerge; and lingering vaccine hesitancy among some members of the population.

To discuss these issues we have assembled a panel of experts to help us understand the current state and prepare for what lies ahead. They include:

Dr. Erica Pan, State Epidemiologist, CA Department of Public Health

Dr. Arthur Reingold, UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Dr. Colette Auerswald, UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Prof. Osagie Obasogie, UC Berkeley Haas Distinguished Chair and Professor of Bioethics

This event is sponsored by Public Affairs and the School of Public Health.

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MAR
12

Trumpism and its Discontents

12-1 p.m. (Pacific)

Please join us for a moderated panel discussion with influential UC Berkeley scholars offering a deep and crucial examination of the political conditions that led to the rise of Donald Trump and the consequences of his presidency on US society and the world. This timely event follows the recent publication of a new book by the same name, available for download as a PDF (Trumpism and its Discontents book website). Book chapters examine Trumpism in the context of various issues, including speech and race relations, politics of resentment, foreign policy and the existing world order, demographic shifts, and immigration policy. Osagie K. Obasogie, Professor of Bioethics in the School of Public Health will moderate this panel featuring Ann C. Keller (School of Public Health), Zeus Leonardo (Graduate School of Education), john a. powell (Director, Othering and Belonging Institute), and KT Albiston (Berkeley Law).

This event is sponsored by the Othering & Belonging Institute, the Center for Right-Wing Studies, the Center for Race and Gender, and the Institute of Governmental Studies.

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MAR
10

Free and Fair Elections: Lessons from Battleground States

1-2:30 p.m. (Pacific)

Join the Center on Security in Politics for a Berkeley Conversation with elected officials in some of the key battleground states in the 2020 election. They discussed their experiences, lessons they learned, and how we can better prepare for 2024.

This event was sponsored by the Goldman School of Public Policy.

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FEB
19

IGS Poll Berkeley conversation: voter opinions on the Biden Administration, the vaccine rollout, and Governor Newsom

12-12:30 p.m. (Pacific)

There are fascinating results in a new poll of California voters that measured perspectives related to both the pandemic and politics.

This online event will feature the experts from UC Berkeleys Institute of Governmental Studies who helped compose and interpret the recently completed survey of close to 8,000 likely California voters. IGS Co-Directors Cristina Mora and Eric Schickler will delve into the significance and meaning of the data. regarding opinions and attitudes related to the Biden Administration, Covid-19, the vaccine rollout, and Governor Newsom, including efforts underway to recall him.

We invite one and all to join us for a discussion about what the polls findings might portend for California and the nation in the current context of political polarization and racial inequality.

This is the second installation of a series of Berkeley Conversations highlighting Poll findings from the Institute of Governmental Studies.

This event was sponsored by Institute of Governmental Studies.

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FEB
11

A discussion on reparations: California and beyond

12:50-2 p.m. (Pacific)

Governor Newsom signed California Assembly Bill 3121 in September 2020, establishing a first-in-the-nation task force to study and make recommendations on reparations for slavery. The passing of AB 3121 has prompted new discussion about reparations, including their role in the ongoing struggles for racial justice, policy implications and methods for implementation. Please join Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky for a panel discussion exploring the broader legal, historical, policy and socio-cultural contexts of this important topic.

This event was sponsored by Berkeley Law.

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FEB
04

Homeland security in a post-Trump era

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Pacific)

Join four former Secretaries of Homeland Security for a conversation about current issues in homeland security, the overlap between security and politics, and how our country can move forward by embracing the challengesand opportunitiesthe Biden-Harris administration will face in their first year. This is the inaugural event of the Center for Security in Politics.

This event is sponsored by Goldman School of Public Policy.

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DEC
08

COVID-19 misinformation: understanding and seeking truth during a pandemic

10:30-11:30 a.m. (Pacific)

Misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic continues to create confusion and contention along scientific and political lines. In this conversation, Berkeley faculty will help us understand the nature of misinformation in order to assess, evaluate and engage more effectively with the information resources we consult. They will discuss some of the reasons for the rapid spread of misinformation, how predictive algorithms often reinforce existing beliefs and stereotypes, and how current legislation is addressing issues such as partisanship, accountability, and human rights. They will also present some new online tools for determining the trustworthiness of news sources, and for recognizing multiple vantage points of different issues.

This event was sponsored by Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS) and the Berkeley Institute for Data Science (BIDS).

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DEC
02

Our food system during a pandemic: California farmworkers COVID-19 rates and risks

12-1 p.m. (Pacific)

United States farmworkers ensure the continuity of the nations food supply and have been deemed essential workers in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Latinos, including those in farmworker communities, have accounted for a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases.

On December 1, 2020, the Center for Environmental Research and Childrens Health will disseminate the first major study to reveal the extent to which farmworkers have been excessively burdened by COVID-19.

The study, led by UC Berkeley epidemiologists Brenda Eskenazi, PhD, Joseph Lewnard, PhD, Ana Maria Mora, MD, PhD, and Maximiliano Cuevas MD surveyed and tested over 1000 farmworkers95% of whom were Latino in Californias Monterey County, and determined COVID-19 infection rates and risks for this population as well as the impact of the pandemic on their lives.

On December 2, Berkeley Conversations featured a discussion between the studys researchers, discussing what their research shows and how we may work to safeguard the health of this vulnerable population.

This event was sponsored by Center for Environmental Research and Childrens Health, Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley Food Institute

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NOV
18

The Future of Freedom: Reparations after 400 Years

1-2:30 p.m. (Pacific)

The year 2019 represented the 400th anniversary of the forced arrival of enslaved Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia in 1619. In the history of the African-American experience throughout this period there have been many gains in the liberation of the formerly enslaved. However, with the continuation of the conditions of structural impoverishment and systemic and violent racism, the ultimate liberation for African-Americans remains to be realized. In the event, The Future of Freedom: Reparations after 400, a distinguished panel of scholars considered what the question of reparations means for this freedoms fulfillment and what kind of future could follow for African-Americans beyond 400.

Speakers: Katherine Franke, James L. Dohr Professor of Law, Columbia University; Jovan Scott Lewis, Assistant Professor of African American Studies & Geography, UC Berkeley; Michael Ralph, Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, New York University

Moderator: Bertrall Ross, Chancellors Professor of Law, UC Berkeley

This event was sponsored by Othering & Belonging Institute.


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OCT
30

Critical race theory and the 2020 election

3-4:30 p.m. (Pacific)

This roundtable discussion considered how the racial uprising in the aftermath of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, on-going police violence and social unrest, a possible shift in race-consciousness among White voters, the selection of Kamala Harris as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate and the battle to replace Justice Ginsburg may impact the election and our democracy more broadly. In addition, the panelists engaged President Trumps attempt to cancel Critical Race Theory and anti-racism initiatives.

This event was sponsored by Berkeley Law.

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OCT
26

Berkeley Conversations: Election integrity and security

2-3 p.m. (Pacific)

The integrity and security of the upcoming November 3rd elections are under unprecedented threats for reasons that include the pandemic, the increasing reliance on electronic (software and hardware) voting equipment, the current Administrations handling of the contest, and foreign interference. How can we then conduct elections and verify their results to ensure their accuracy (i.e., that the reported winners really won), despite these threats? This panel brings together experts on various aspects of election integrity and security to reflect on these challenges and make concrete proposals to address them.

Panelist/Discussants: Henry Brady, Dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy; Susan Hyde, Professor of Political Science and interim co-director of the Institute of International Studies at UC Berkeley; Philip Stark, Professor of Statistics and Associate Dean of the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences; David Wagner, Professor of Computer Science; Steven Weber, Associate Dean and Head of UC Berkeleys School of Information, and the Faculty Director of Berkeleys Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity

Moderator: Jennifer Chayes, Associate Provost of the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society, and the Dean of the School of Information

This event was sponsored by Division of Computing, Data Science and Society (CDSS), the Berkeley Institute for Data Science (BIDS) and the Department of Statistics.

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OCT
20

COVID-19 and forced displacement in the global south

8-9:20 a.m. (Pacific)

This 80-minute webinar featured talks by UC Berkeley researchers and colleagues on the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic is having on forced migrants in the Global South, and efforts by NGOs and governments to soften the blow. The talks are based on a set of rapid phone surveys being carried out with partners in Kenya, Uganda, and Bangladesh. The panel was moderated by the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) and included 30 minutes of Question and Answer.

This event was sponsored by Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA).

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OCT
12

Berkeley Conversations: Reopening and reimagining after COVID-19

4-5:30 p.m. (Pacific)

What measures can be put into place to make sure its safe for all Americans to get back to school, work, and public spaces? Will there really be a vaccine ready by November? When there is a vaccine, wholl get it first and how long will it take to achieve herd immunity? How can cutting-edge tools like machine learning and artificial intelligence be used to speed the discovery of new drugs? What will it take to create a global early warning system that allows early curtailment of the next pandemic?

As part of the Berkeley Conversations: COVID-19 series of live webcasts, Berkeley School of Public Health Dean Michael C. Lu will moderate a panel of experts in epidemiology, infectious diseases, vaccinology, biostatistics, and genome research to answer the questions on all of our minds about how we can re-open safely and reimagine how we will tackle future pandemics.

This event was sponsored by the School of Public Health.

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OCT
9

Race, The Power of an Illusion: The House We Live In (Part 3)

12:00-1 p.m. (Pacific)

Screening of Race, The Power of an Illusion: The House We Live In (Part 3) followed by a live-screened panel discussion on the development of whiteness and structural racism in America. The video and panel will explore issues of racial formation and citizenship as they unfolded in the early 20th century in the US. They will describe the creation of whiteness as a new racial category which replaced the focus on ranked racial differences among white ethnics and the importance of whiteness as the legal standard for full American citizenship which excluded all people of color in the US including the Japanese and South Asian populations. The video and panelists will also consider the implications of whiteness and racial discrimination in the construction of legalized housing segregation in post War World II America. Housing discrimination helped create the great wealth differentials among African Americans and whites that persist today as well as the concentrated poverty, continuing neighborhood and institutional segregation that constitute contemporary racial injustice.

This event was sponsored by Othering & Belonging.

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SEP
30

American democracy: needed reforms

12-1:30 p.m. (Pacific)

To move our Democracy forward, many observers believe we need to grapple with challenges arising from the many well-established laws, regulations and policies which have been ignored, violated or found lacking over the past four years. This event will feature expert panelists Secretary Leon E. Panetta, L. Song Richardson, Dean and Chancellors Professor of Law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, and Congressman Eric Swalwell, led by GSPP faculty and former UC President and former Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, in discussion about the norms, assumptions, and governmental practices that have changed during the Trump presidency and the ensuing impact on American society and democracy. Can we make our democracy stronger and better? What would a practical, yet ambitious, roadmap for reform look like?

This event was sponsored by Goldman School of Public Policy.

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SEP
25

Race: the power of an illusion, biological or social determinants of race

1-3 p.m. (Pacific)

Screening of Race: The Power of an Illusion: (Part2) The Story We Tell followed by a live-streamed panel discussion on origins of the concept of race in the United States, how it was used by pseudo scientists and the elite to justify enslavement of Africans, and how the countrys laws and institutions were designed around race to privilege whites. The video examines the contradictions between the founding of the country as a democracy in which All men are created equal and the heavy reliance on the system of slavery and displacement of indigenous Americans to acquire land for white settlers. Panel experts will explore at how ideas of race evolved over the history of the country, and how scientific racism was embraced to justify slavery and the subordination of African Americans, Native Americans and other people of color.

This event was sponsored by Othering & Belonging.

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SEP
14

Race, law and education

12:50-2 p.m. (Pacific)

Join Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky as he hosts a panel focused on issues of race and the law concerning K-12 education in the United States. Speakers include:

Prudence Carter, Dean, Graduate School of Education, UC Berkeley
Chris Edley, Honorable William H. Orrick, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law
Maria Echaveste, President & CEO, Opportunity Institute
Mark Rosenbaum, Attorney, Public Counsel

This event was livesteamed here on Monday, September 14 at 12:50 p.m.

This event was sponsored by Berkeley Law.

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SEP
11

Race, the power of an illusion: the difference between us, biological or social determinants

2-4 p.m. (Pacific)

This event consisted of a one-hour screening of the award-winning docuseries Race, The Power of an Illusion: The Difference Between Us (Part 1), followed by a one-hour live-streamed panel discussion on the biological versus social determinants of race. The first event in this three-part series organized by the Othering and Belonging Institute considered: What do we mean when we say race? Is this concept a biological one rooted in genomic sciences? Is it merely a phenotypic categorization? Is it culturally based? Is it a social construct used by elites to organize societies? Part I illustrates that racial differences as commonly understood have little biological meaning. Biological differences between those in the same race are far greater than those of different races. Expert panelists explored the contradictions between the biological reality of fundamental similarity across different racialized populations with the stark social differences ascribed to different races.

This event was sponsored by Othering & Belonging, School of Public Health and Center for Research on Social Change.

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AUG
10

Race & the environment

12:50-2 p.m. (Pacific)

Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky hosted a discussion on race and the environment, examining issues of environmental racism and how pollution and other environmental problems disproportionately affect people of color. Speakers included:

Charisma Acey, Associate Professor, UC Berkeley Department of City & Regional Planning
Claudia Polsky, Director, Environmental Law Clinic & Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law
john a. powell, Director, Othering & Belonging Institute & Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law

This event was sponsored by Berkeley Law.

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JUL
27

Race & the criminal justice system

12:50-2 p.m. (Pacific)

Racism infects every aspect of the criminal justice system. A panel of UC Berkeley professors looked at issues concerning race and criminal justice.

This event was sponsored by Berkeley Law.


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JUL
13

Race, voting & elections

12:50-2 p.m. (Pacific)

Join Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky with Professors Kathy Abrams, Abhay Aneja, Taeku Lee, Ian Haney Lpez, and Bertrall Ross for a discussion of how race affects our electoral system, especially in an election amidst a pandemic.

This event was sponsored by Berkeley Law.

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JUN
29

Race, Law, and Health Policy

12:50-2 p.m. (Pacific)

COVID-19 has had a dramatically different effect on African-American and Latinx communities. This reflects enormous racial inequalities in health and health care in the United States. A panel of Berkeley professors will discuss race, law, and health policy.
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JUN
26

Structural Racism and COVID19: The Political Divide, Re-Opening the Society and Health Impacts on People of Color

12 -1 p.m. (Pacific)

Recent California data show that citizen perspectives on rolling back shelter in place and other public health provisions related to COVID-19 are highly politicized and racialized. This conversation featured experts john powell, Director of the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley, Cristina Mora, Co-Director of the Institute of Governmental Studies, and Mahasin Mujahid, Epidemiologist, School of Public Health who explored the impact of a polarized society on COVID-19, especially for vulnerable populations. Panelists also discussed public health and social equity measures needed to safely re-open the society to address COVID-19 as well as the underlying pandemic of structural racism. In addition, they examined bridging policies that can help overcome societal divisions and promote health justice for all.
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JUN
12

Of Virulent Viruses and Reservoir Hosts

12-1 p.m. (Pacific)

Bats are thought to harbor hundreds of coronaviruses, as well as many other types of viruses that are highly pathogenic in humans. Dr. Cara Brook and Professor Britt Glaunsinger provide insight into what allows bats to exist with such an array of potentially lethal viruses, how pathogens like the coronavirus jump into the human population and how the coronavirus is able to hijack a human cell to amplify itself and evade the immune system. They also discuss the coordinated efforts across UC Berkeley to track the virus, discover exactly how it works and develop new therapies.

Speakers are: Britt Glaunsinger, Professor, Department of Plant & Microbial Biology & Class of 1963 Endowed Chair, HHMI Investigator Cara Brook, Miller Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Integrative Biology

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JUN
10

COVID-19 in the global south: economic impacts and recovery

9-10:15 a.m. (Pacific)

COVID-19 is threatening the health and economic security of communities around the world, with dire implications for those living in poverty. As the pandemic unfolds, the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) is committed to sharing practical insights that can support evidence-based responses in the Global South. This panel featured four experts from the CEGA research community: faculty co-Directors Ted Miguel and Josh Blumenstock, along with affiliates Supreet Kaur and Paul Niehaus. Panelists discussed ongoing and completed research that sheds light on the economic toll of the pandemic, as well as the optimal design and targeting of cash transfer programs. We hope these insights will help to inform government and NGO decision-making in the face of what could quickly become a protracted crisis.

This event was sponsored by Center for Effective Global Action.

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MAY
27

COVID-19: California poll findings and what they mean for our future

2-2:30 p.m. (Pacific)

UC Berkeleys Institute of Governmental Studies and the California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) recently completed the largest survey of Californians to date regarding opinions and attitudes related to COVID-19. The results are fascinating and point to a wide range of potential political and societal impacts arising from our still-unfolding responses to the pandemic.

This discussion with IGS Co-Directors Cristina Mora and Eric Schickler and Cal-IHEA Director Hector Rodriguez, who together devised and ran the poll, delved into the significance and meaning of the data, and what it all might portend for California and the nation in the current context of political polarization and racial inequality.

This event was sponsored by Institute of Governmental Studies.

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MAY
18

Berkeley Conversations: COVID-19: Digital and Telehealth Implications of COVID-19 and Social Distancing

11 a.m. -12 p.m. (Pacific)

A discussion of the role of digital technology and telehealth amidst the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of public health, medicine, and mental health. Panelists will discuss how we can leverage technology to reach people in need during social distancing as well as the challenges of reaching low-resourced communities with lower digital literacy.

Adrian Aguilera, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Welfare at UC Berkeley and the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Francisco.

Courtney Lyles, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the UCSF Division of General Internal Medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She is also Adjunct Associate Professor at Berkeley Public Health.

Elaine Khoong, MD, is a general internist and assistant professor of medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

Heather Ladov, LCSW, is a Mental Health Supervisor at La Clinica de la Raza, Casa del Sol in Oakland.

David Lindeman, (moderator) PhD, is Director Health, Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS), UC Berkeley, and Director, Center for Technology and Aging (CTA).

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MAY
13

COVID-19 - Tracking, data privacy and getting the numbers right

10-11 a.m. (Pacific)

As plans for re-opening businesses, communities, and schools emerge, mechanisms to track the SARS-COV-2 virus become increasingly critical to consider. In this conversation led by Nobel Laureate Saul Perlmutter, Director of the Berkeley Institute for Data Science and Professor of Physics, Berkeley faculty presented their recent research findings and data on COVID-19 infection and death rates. They discussed how they are using data to better understand how many people are infected and actually dying from COVID-19, whether infections and deaths are going up or down, and how much we can afford to increase mobility. They also addressed broader questions about what data we need, how to protect it using encryption, and how to improve the ways we track and limit the pandemic.

This event was sponsored by the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society and the Berkeley Institute for Data Science.

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MAY
11

Nordics and COVID-19: Public Health, Economic and Public Policy Responses

2-3 p.m. (Pacific)

Nordic countries are regularly cited as exemplars of healthy and resilient societies. Join us for a virtual conversation comparing and contrasting the Nordic public health, economic, and public policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the responses by Denmark and Sweden, and consider learnings that may be drawn by the U.S. Hosted by Dr. Laura Tyson, Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley, the event featured Dr. Robert Strand, Executive Director of the Center for Responsible Business and leading expert on Nordic sustainable business and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Dr. Ann Keller, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management and leading expert on pandemic responses.

This event was sponsored by the UC Berkeley Haas Center for Responsible Business, the UC Berkeley Department of Scandinavian, the Institute of European Studies, the Peder Sather Center, and Nordic Talks at Berkeley.

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MAY
08

How COVID-19 will shape the 2020 election

12-1 p.m. (Pacific)

The COVID-19 pandemic has already had a deep impact on the 2020 presidential election, from a battle over when to hold the Wisconsin primary to the postponement of other primaries and even the Democratic convention. In the months ahead, it will shape every facet of the contest: the issues, the mechanics of campaigns, how candidates engage the voters, and ultimately, how we cast our ballots. A panel of Berkeley political scientists and election experts discuss election law and security, voter participation, and how COVID-19 may permanently change how America votes.

This event was sponsored by Goldman School of Public Policy.

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MAY
07

COVID-19: The end or revival of international higher education?

9-10:30 a.m. (Pacific)

Recent years have witnessed a rise in the level of nationalism in many countries, with tightened immigration policies and stronger governmental oversight of multinational research collaborations. At the same time, competition among countries and universities for international students has increased significantly, while the demographics of young populations in many countries are shifting. Now, the onset of an historic global pandemic, with its serious travel challenges and dramatic economic effects, raises yet another threat to the future of internationalization on U.S. campuses.

How can universities develop new policies and practices that respond to both problems and opportunities resulting from this unprecedented crisis?

Three outstandingly expert and highly experienced figures in the field of international higher education presented their thoughts and discussed these important topics.

This event was sponsored by Center for Studies in Higher Education and the Berkeley International Group.

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MAY
06

COVID-19 and the media: the role of journalism in a global pandemic

9-10:15 a.m. (Pacific)

Berkeley Global was pleased to present this unique discussion with two global thought-leaders in Public Health and Journalism which explored the challenges reporters and researchers alike face when it comes to providing accurate information about a new virus and a pandemic of historic proportions. This look behind the scenes shed light on the collaborative efforts of scientists and journalists to support policy makers and the public in navigating the crisis. We hope to have challenged your current understanding of the pandemic, provided criteria you can use when choosing sources of information and to have explored possible scenarios of an eventual return to normalcy.

Dr. Frederick Wehrle, Assistant Dean for Academic Design and Innovation, moderated a discussion with John Swartzberg, M.D., clinical professor emeritus at the School of Public Health and Ed Wasserman, Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism.

This event was sponsored by UC Berkeley Extension.

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MAY
04

Financial impacts of COVID-19 on higher education in California

10-11 a.m. (Pacific)

The panel provided multiple perspectives on the potential financial impact of COVID-19 on Californias public colleges and universities. Panel members included campus CEOs from the University of California and California State University system as well as from a UC Berkeley higher education researcher with experience as a CFO at multiple UC and CSU campuses.

Specific topics addressed by the panelists included the financial impact of current responses to the COVID-19 crisis including on-line instruction and the curtailment of on campus activities. Panelists also provided their perspectives on how individual campuses are preparing for future operations.

The panel reviewed the differences between the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009 with the current and future financial impact of COVID-19. This included a review of current action by the federal government such as Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and its impact on UC and CSU campuses.

This event was sponsored by the Center for Studies in Higher Education.

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MAY
04

The lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our healthcare delivery system

12-1 p.m. (Pacific)

In a continuation of our live town hall series, Berkeley faculty and healthcare leaders on the frontline explored the challenges and opportunities that the global COVID-19 pandemic is creating for hospitals, integrated delivery systems and clinics, especially those serving rural Americans and diverse populations.

The panel featured Jane Garcia (CEO of La Clnica de la Raza), Lynn Barr (CEO of Caravan Health), Richard Levy (Chair of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health Advisory Council and former Chair of the Board of Sutter Health), Stephen Lockhart (Chief Medical Officer of Sutter Health) and Stephen Shortell (Professor Emeritus in Health Policy and Management). The panel was moderated by Kimberly MacPherson, Faculty Program Director for Health Policy and Management at the School of Public Health and the Executive Director of Health Management and Distinguished Teaching Fellow at the Haas School of Business.

This event was sponsored by UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

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MAY
01

Looking forward: How can we safely reopen the economy?

12:30-1:30 p.m. (Pacific)

Pressure was mounting to reopen the economy, and some locales are rushing to do so. Deciding how and when it was safe for people to return to work, school, and public life was a complex topic that involves implementing widespread testing; accurate assessment of exposure risks; ensuring health care system capacity; putting in place procedures and routines to protect workers; setting guidelines for mass behavior changes; and restoring public trust. How can we go about making these decisions and getting plans in place? A panel of experts from the Haas School of Business and the School of Public Health will engage in an interactive discussion on what needs to happen to reopen businesses and get people back to work while protecting public health and preventing a second wave of coronavirus infections.

This event was sponsored by the Haas School of Business and the School of Public Health.

Berkeley-sather-blue-bar

APR
29

Literature and the arts in times of crisis

12-1 p.m. (Pacific)

Literature and the arts have always had a prominent place in defining who we are as human beings and in making life worth living. This is all the more apparent in times of crisis, such as the one we have been living in. Join prominent Berkeley faculty members from Music, Art History, and English as they shared their insights into what makes literature and the arts so critically important to us now.

The panelists were Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby, the Goldman Distinguished Professor in the Arts and Humanities; Mark Danner, who holds the Class of 1961 Endowed Chair in Journalism and English; and Nicholas Mathew, a professor in the Department of Music.

This event was sponsored by Berkeley Conversations.

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APR
28

Trauma-informed approaches for individual and organizational resilience during the COVID-19 crisiss

12 - 1 p.m. (Pacific)

Dr. Joyce Dorado and Dr. Susan Stone discussed practical strategies for addressing pandemic-related trauma and stress in individuals and systems (e.g. educational, child welfare, public health) through the lens of trauma-informed principles based in the science of trauma, stress, resilience, and healing. How might the disruptions of the COVID-19 crisis affect individuals and organizations in the short term, and how can we prevent a second epidemic of acute and chronic trauma-related difficulties? What science-based tools can we use to navigate this challenging time?

This event was sponsored by Berkeley Social Welfare.

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APR
27

Climate change and COVID-19: Can this crisis shift the paradigm?

12-1 p.m. (Pacific)

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global economy is skidding into recession. Reduced consumption and transportation also mean reduced CO2 emissions. From India to China to the United States, skies are blue and the air is cleaner and healthier in cities than it has been for years. The pandemic has caused seismic shifts in how we produce and consume goods and could open a path to a more sustainable future. Or, government bailouts and investments could double down on the fossil fuel economy, and set back efforts to avoid catastrophic climate change. This conversation featured Berkeley researchers discussing the science and policy behind CO2 emissions and opportunities for a different path forward.

This event was sponsored by Rausser College of Natural Resources.

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APR
24

Straight talk: a conversation about racism, health inequities and COVID-19

12-1 p.m. (Pacific)

Emerging data show that African Americans and other U.S. ethnic minorities are being stricken by COVID-19 at a higher rate, and experiencing greater sickness and a higher death toll than other Americans. Some have said that COVID-19 is ravaging black communities. In this interactive conversation, five faculty members from the School of Public Health will discuss how racism shapes vulnerability to COVID19, why African Americans are being so heavily impacted, and why these disparities matter.

This event is sponsored by the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley and the School of Public Health.

Berkeley-sather-blue-bar

APR
21

Understanding and seeking equity amid COVID-19

10-11 a.m. (Pacific)

Emerging data show the COVID-19 pandemic is amplifying socioeconomic disparities as the coronavirus advances across the country and the world. In this interactive conversation, three faculty researchers discussed how they are making choices about data sources, research methods, and technologies to identify and address social disparities. They considered how these choices as well as approaches to building relationships with marginalized and at-risk communities can shape research directed at addressing the impacts of COVID-19 across different populations.

This event was sponsored by the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society, and the Berkeley Institute for Data Science.

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APR
17

COVID-19: mental health and well being for ourselves and our children

12-12:30 p.m. (Pacific)

Three leading Berkeley psychologists discussed effective approaches and strategies for dealing with the anxiety, stress and uncertainty that are inherent parts of the COVID-19 crisis.

Prof. Frank Worrell is a faculty member at Berkeleys Graduate School of Education. He is an expert on the challenges of learning at home, the benefits of structure and the sort of online resources that best support learning and wellbeing.

Sonia Bishop is an associate professor within the Department of Psychology and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute. Among her areas of expertise are anxiety and decision-making under uncertainty

Dacher Keltner is a professor of Psychology and Co-Director of the Greater Good Science Center. He will share ideas and practices for cultivating resilience and connection as we face the challenges of the coming months.

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APR
15

COVID-19: campus impacts and responses

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (Pacific)

At this time of unprecedented challenge, Chancellor Carol Christ and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Paul Alivisatos discussed and took questions about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on campus operations and activities; how the campus has responded and adopted innovative approaches; and planning underway for a variety of possible scenarios.

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APR
13

Coronavirus: science and solutions

4:306 p.m. (Pacific)

Berkeleys School of Public Health hosted a follow-up to its initial town hall, Coronavirus: Facts & Fears that focused on illuminating the facts and dispelling fears around this public health crisis. Part 2 of this series, Coronavirus: Science and Solutions focused on addressing unanswered questions from the last town hall and highlighting emerging science that will drive solutions to this and future pandemic outbreaks.

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APR
10

COVID-19: economic impact, human solutions

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (Pacific)

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis threatening to become an economic catastrophe that affects tens of millions of Americans. Is the $2 trillion aid package recently passed by Congress and signed by the president enough to keep the economy from freefall? What more is needed?

A panel of UC Berkeleys leading economists and public policy experts discussed the economic consequences of sheltering-in-place, evaluated the Congressional response and discussed strategies that could help to stabilize the economy, safeguard jobs and protect societys most vulnerable people.

This event was sponsored by the Goldman School of Public Policy and UC Berkeleys Opportunity Lab.

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APR
07

Creating informed responses: Berkeley's computing and data science In action

10:0011:30 a.m. (Pacific)

Nobel Laureate Saul Perlmutter, Director of the Berkeley Institute for Data Science, and Michael Lu, Dean of the Berkeley School of Public Health, hosted and moderated a roundtable discussion with Berkeley researchers who are mobilizing computing and data science for COVID-19 response and recovery, from helping local public health officials track the pandemic to predicting and addressing its impacts on employment and elections.

This event was sponsored by the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society.

Berkeley-seal-blue-bar

APR
03

Making sense of data, social distancing and what lies ahead

12:301 p.m. (Pacific)

This Q&A with Professor Art Reingold and Associate Provost Jennifer Chayes focused on helping the public make sense of data and information about the viruss spread, the impact and efficacy of social distancing, and the implications for our short- and long-term future.

Art Reingold, M.D., is the Division Head of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Berkeley School of Public Health. He has more than 40 years of experience on prevention and control of infectious diseases at the national and global level.

Jennifer Chayes is the Associate Provost who leads the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society, and the Dean of the School of Information. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her research areas include biomedicine applications and epidemiological modeling.