Grawemeyer Awards 30th Anniversary

Political Science and Psychology lead lectures with former award winners

The Grawemeyer Awards this fall commemorates three decades of honoring ideas that inspire humanity. As part of the 30th Anniversary Celebration, former Grawemeyer Award in Psychology and Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order winners will present short lectures, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions.

In the College of Arts & Sciences, Prof. Woody Petry (Psychological & Brian Sciences) chairs the committee that administers the Grawemeyer Award in Psychology, which is given to those who are responsible for works that present new and creative ideas with clarity and power—ideas that substantially impact the field of psychology. These ideas help us understand one another and the world around us, providing insights into the human mind.

On Oct. 27, 2015, “Mysteries of the Human Memory” will feature three short lectures led by former Grawemeyer Award in Psychology winners. Elizabeth Loftus will present how misinformation can be implanted into our memories to create very believable false memories; James McGaugh will discuss the importance of memory, why we forget, why others find it difficult to forget and how memories can be strengthened; and Lynn Nadel who will discuss memory reconsolidation, cognitive maps, and brain mechanisms involved in both spatial and episodic memory.

Prof. Chuck Ziegler (Political Science) chairs the committee that administers the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order, which is given to those who have taken on issues of world importance and presented viewpoints that could lead to a more just and peaceful world. Each idea supports one noble cause: to inspire us all to work together for the common good.

On Oct. 29, 2015, Prof. David Buckley (Political Science) will moderate a discussion, “Why Civil Resistance Works,” with former Grawemeyer Award winners Erica Chenoweth and Maria Stephan about their seminal work, "Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Non-Violent Conflict.” Their analysis of civil uprisings between 1900 and 2006 teaches that non-violent campaigns succeed twice as often as violent ones, even in the face of brutal repression.

Also on Oct. 29, 2015, Dr. Trita Parsi, co-founder and president of the largest Iranian-American grassroots organization in the U.S. and winner of the 2010 Grawemeyer for Ideas Improving World Order, will discuss his ideas set forth in "Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran and the U.S." with Prof. Rodger Payne (Political Science) for the talk, “Peace in the Mideast.”

On Oct. 30, 2015, Prof. Julie Bunck (Political Science) will moderate a discussion, “Insights into Corruption,” with Michael Johnston, winner of the 2009 Grawemeyer Award for ideas Improving World Order, will discuss the ideas set forth in his 2005 book, "Syndromes of Corruption: Wealth, Power and Democracy.” He will look at how corruption can take different forms depending on a country's political and economic patterns.

The Grawemeyer Awards are five annual prizes given in the fields of music, political science, psychology, education and religion. They were founded by H. Charles Grawemeyer to help make the world a better place. Grawemeyer distinguished the awards by honoring ideas rather than life-long or publicized personal achievement. He also insisted that the selection process for each of the five awards include a step that involves a committee of lay people knowledgeable in each field. As Grawemeyer saw it, great ideas should be understandable to someone with general knowledge and not be the private treasure of academicians.

For more information, visit Grawemeyer Awards.

See also: Past Grawemeyer Award winners to discuss how their ideas can reshape the global order on courier-journal.com