Academic Discussions

'A New Birth of Freedom'? What Will It Take to End the Global Democratic Recession?

For the past two decades, freedom and democracy have been sliding back in the world. After coming to power through elections, authoritarian populists have been attacking democratic norms and institutions and even dismantling democracy. Many popular movements for freedom and democracy have been brutally repressed. Globally, public faith in democracy has declined. But most people still prefer to live in a democracy with a rule of law, and in some recent instances, autocrats have been overthrown or defeated at the ballot box. This lecture will identify strategies and tools that can turn back the authoritarian tide and renew democracy around the world.
 

Speaker

Larry Diamond, MA, PhD, is Mosbacher Senior Fellow in Global Democracy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; William L. Clayton Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution; Professor, by courtesy, of Political Science and Sociology; Former Director of the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law; and Faculty Chair, Jan Koum Israel Studies Program

HAI+Data Science: from technical innovations to societal implications and applications

This panel discussion will explore both the technical innovations driving AI forward and the broader societal impacts, ethical considerations, and practical applications of the technologies across different domains. Join us for a dynamic conversation on how we can ensure these technologies are not only technically robust but also aligned with human values and societal needs. 
 

Panelists

• Vanessa Parli, Managing Director of Programs and External Engagement, Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) - (Moderator)
• Ramesh Johari, Professor of Management Science and Engineering and Electrical Engineering (by courtesy)
• Roxana Daneshjou, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Data Science and of Dermatology
• Guido Imbens, Denning Co-Director of Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI and Data Science, Applied Econometrics Professor, Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and Professor of Economics

Improving Your Health Using Wearables and Remote Monitoring

We use deep data and longitudinal measurements to monitor health which enable both early detection of disease and personal aging patterns (ageotypes). Remote monitoring using devices (e.g smartwatches) and microsampling enables frequent measurements and high resolution health tracking. Using (Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) we demonstrate that individuals have personalized glucose responses to different carbohydrates. We further show that individuals have different subtypes of glucose dysregulation (e.g. muscle insulin resistance, beta cell defect, incretin effects) and that the response and mitigation of the postprandial response depends upon the dysregulation subtype. Association of lifestyle including food, activity and timing are correlated with glucose levels. This information enables personalized management of glucose dysregulation.
 

Speaker

Michael Snyder is the Stanford Ascherman Professor and Chair of Genetics and the Director of the Center of Genomics and Personalized Medicine

Ocean Health and Sustainability for a Thriving Blue Planet

The ocean is Earth’s last frontier. It comprises most of its habitable volume, is home to a unique and extraordinary diversity of plants, animals, and microbes; regulates its climate; and provides food and livelihood for billions of people. Our future is inextricably linked to the ocean, and to maintaining the flow of critical and irreplaceable benefits healthy oceans provide. While much investigation and discussion are focused on risks and impacts, there is a critical need to develop solutions. Fiorenza Micheli will present insights and ocean-based solutions to three interconnected grand challenges, biodiversity loss, climate change and food security.
 

Speaker

Fiorenza Micheli is the David and Lucile Packard Professor of Marine Science at Stanford University, chair of the Oceans Department in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, co-director of Stanford’s Center for Ocean Solutions, senior fellow at Woods Institute for the Environment, and Professor, by courtesy, in Biology. 

The Power of Design: Abilities to Navigate an Uncertain World

Join Dr. Leticia Britos Cavagnaro from Stanford's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (a.k.a. d.school) for an interactive session exploring how design equips people to thrive amid complexity and change. Through hands-on activities, discover the abilities that students develop at the d.school, and explore how they apply to challenges in any field or phase of life. 
 

Speaker

Leticia Britos Cavagnaro is an Adjunct Professor at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school), and the author of Experiments in Reflection: How to See the Present, Reconsider the Past, and Shape the Future

Building the Athletics Department of the Future the Stanford Way

Stanford Athletics is evolving to meet the needs of today’s scholar-athletes. Join Athletics leadership, including John Donahoe, Andrew Luck, and Kate Paye, for a discussion on the department’s vision for the future. Topics include Stanford’s move to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), updates across teams, and initiatives to support student-athlete development and success on and off the field. 
 

Panelists

• Angie Jabir, Director of Sports Administration, Stanford University - (Moderator)
• John Donahoe, MBA '86, Jaquish & Kenninger Director and Chair of Athletics. Previous CEO of Nike
• Andrew Luck, BS '12, General Manager of Stanford Football and a former Stanford quarterback
• Kate Paye, BA '95, JD '03, MBA '03, The Harry K. and Ida S. Berland Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach