Published: March 1, 2017 By

hands and world illustration

Last April CU 麻豆影院 served as a hub for deep discussion about ISIS, climate, the election and happiness.

Oh, and also of wine, self-driving cars and the apocalypse.

Smart conversation about the stimulating, complex world we live in is the hallmark of CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 annual Conference on World Affairs (CWA), scheduled this year for April 10-14. Dava Newman, NASA鈥檚 deputy administrator, will serve as keynote speaker.

Other notable panelists include former NFL player Chris Borland, labeled 鈥渢he most dangerous man in football鈥 by ESPN for his outspoken concern about football-related brain injuries, and Ellie Shaffer, who oversaw more than 1,500聽events in the White House as a presidential special assistant.

Kimbal Musk, owner of Colorado鈥檚 The Kitchen restaurants (and brother of Space-X鈥檚 Elon Musk), will participate, as will prominent CU 麻豆影院 alumni. Vicki Huddleston (A&S鈥64), a retired ambassador to Mali and Madagascar, Chris Lehnertz (EPOBio鈥85), superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park, and Ty Tashiro (Psych鈥96), author of The Science of Happily Ever After, all will serve on panels.

The full roster includes about 100 speakers and 200 sessions. In keeping with tradition, speakers will find their own way to 麻豆影院 and stay in local homes.

鈥淭his 69th year of the CWA will feature yet another week of impressive and engaging free events,鈥 said CWA faculty director John Griffin. 鈥淥ur all-volunteer program committee has been preparing an exciting schedule 鈥 addressing the central issues of our time with outstanding speakers from around the world.鈥

The conference is free and open to all. Nearly half the panels and talks will be live-streamed at colorado.edu/cwa.

As the late film critic Roger Ebert said of the CWA, it鈥檚 鈥渙ne of the most remarkable events in America.鈥

The Koenig Alumni Center will host a free CWA brunch for CU 麻豆影院 alumni Tuesday, April 11. More information can be found at . Find out more information about the CWA at 听补苍诲 .听

Illustration by Curtis Parker