Browse Past Themed Common Rooms
Interested in participating in or hosting a Common Room? Browse past Common Room themes below.
Fall 2022
We discuss the most pressing issues when it comes to formally educating the next generation of our world – and we brainstorm ways to make a difference in education both in the U.S. and abroad.
We will examine and discuss the following to arrive at our own conclusions and hopefully calls for multilateral leadership involvement for deterrence and de-escalation of the threat of nuclear war:
How real the threat of nuclear war is today and in the current decade
Grasp of the real implication of nuclear war on human civilization
Analyze the root cause and the degree of public apathy toward such threat
Understand historical, geopolitical, cultural, and ideological context in which nuclear
proliferation, deterrence and current threats have been developed
Understand the individual components that make up the nuclear threat, such as: how
and why the nuclear weapons are deployed and intended to be used; loose nukes;
manufacture and use of nukes by terrorists; tactical nuclear weapons; human errors and
system glitches causing unintended launch of nuclear missiles; defense budget used for
nuclear arsenal upgrade; how the Doomsday Clock works and who monitors this Clock
and how far we are today from the “midnight” on that Clock.
Discuss how it may be possible to mitigate, delay, and ultimately prevent nuclear wars,
what means (including technical, political, diplomatic and civil means) are available and
may be devised to prevent such existential threat to humanity.
We will use authentic and rich materials researched and compiled by the William J. Perry Project at Stanford University to guide our conversation.
Observe, assess, discuss the bilateral relationship from multiple angles and perspectives, such as historical, economic/trade perspectives. This group will also talk about the impact of US-China relations on regional and global geopolitical outlook in the near future.
Participants are invited to a profoundly whimsical (or will it be a whimsically profound?) conversation of two of the more intriguing concepts of our time. They are asked to bring a dollop of curiosity and a smidgeon of insight in whatever proportions they please.
Participants would each present, very informally, some info on their favorite museum, whether from childhood or from the present; whether world-renowned or little known, whether in a foreign location or in their own town.
A space to collect one contemplate for another; to speak between dreams; to open truths with measure to merit our passions, restraints, methods toward resilience, openness, logic, and understanding; to conjure moments of mind with shared experience; to inquire what is and what can be in spirit with our active vulnerabilities; giving ground to good motion focusing aspects of thought in light of our lives
Over the past 25 years coaching has become a rapidly growing profession. This roundtable offers Yale alumni an opportunity to connect with colleagues around the world to exchange ideas on coaching. Through building a community and discussing current issues, we will be able to learn from each other and grow as coaches.
What do you consider strange? These days, what comes to mind is income inequality. Some lives are strangely enriched due to relatively small income disparity in society at large. I’m looking forward to hearing stories around the world where this might be true in large or small measure.
Let’s dive into art of any medium (visual, aural, performance, mixed media). Exploring works, practices, traditions, innovations (historical, contemporary) from around the world.
We’ve spent the last 60 years farming as if Natural systems were a sideshow to the main event of industrialized farming. It’s given us food lacking the key elements we need to sustain health and both poisoned and degraded lands worldwide. There’s another way and as young people rediscover the land older farmers are playing catch up – learning what it really means to farm with Nature. Neither corporations nor chemistry offer as much for producing nutrient-dense foods while healing the land and restoring resilience and relevance to our food supply.
This common room is for alumni who consider themselves third culture kids, who were born in a different part of the world than they were raised in or spent their educational or working years at. As a group, we will discuss what it is like embracing different cultures while identifying and staying true to your original culture. We look forward to getting to know alumni from all walks!
This common room explores the experiences of various Yale fellowship program graduates, such as the Yale World Fellows, about the memorable moments at Yale and the life after Yale. As a group, we will explore what happened after the fellowship experience, the evolution of our goals, and the challenges experienced in this journey.
This common room explores the various meanings texts from the Ancient Mediterranean take on today in locations worldwide. The common room is an open invitation for every participant to share their reading experiences with Ancient Texts and local modern adaptations of Ancient Texts with the group. It is an open-ended exploration of the question of how and why Ancient Texts still speak to us today. As a group, we will explore whether we see patterns, differences, or radical discontinuities in teaching, reading, contact and modes of adaptation. Introductory readings will be sent before the start of the CR.
The Bretton Woods order is on its last legs and there is something called the Rules Based Order that essentially lacks rules. What ideas do we have about how to build on the pieces of the old world order and create something better given the urgency of climate change, the hostile US-China relationship, Russia’s isolation after the invasion of Ukraine, the rise of Africa, economic dominance of Asia-Pacific, and all the many other factors that are reshaping our world.
Is the current systems of governance working-what are the gaps and challenges, do we need and how do we include new voices in decision making. Share new platforms and processes that can make this a reality. what new insights can happen, how will this impact current and future environmental processes re climate change, biodiversity, desertification, waste stream, plastics, pollution etc
The Music Common Room is open to anyone who is involved in or passionate about composed and improvised music (from any era). The hosts are (coincidentally) both cellists, with wide and varied interests.
How is it that my friend with a good head on her shoulders warns me about the dangers of 5G towers, without much to back that statement up? Good people, exhausted after a day of work and family responsibilities, have no energy to thoroughly research important topics. And they somehow get – and run with – the wrong information that they don’t seem to know how to verify. How do we get well-sourced and easily digestible information in front of this tired demographic?
Spring 2022
We discuss the most pressing issues when it comes to formally educating the next generation of our world – and we brainstorm ways to make a difference in education both in the U.S. and abroad.
Focus on the Asian economy, geopolitics, how both affect ethnic Asian communities worldwide, and Asian culture broadly, from food to antiquities
Observe, assess, discuss the bilateral relationship from multiple angles and perspectives, such as historical, economic/trade perspectives. This Modern spycraft involves technology beyond Q’s wildest dreams. As countries come to rely on tech to gather information, is there still a role for traditional spycraft? Or, paradoxically, is human connection more important than ever when almost any tech can be hacked? This group is for enthusiastic amateurs to discuss spycraft, share book and podcast recommendations, and offer their own hypotheses on the future of intelligence gathering.group will also talk about the impact of US-China relations on regional and global geopolitical outlook in the near future.
Interested in what is going on in the world and would like to connect the dots? Join the conversation, share perspectives with alumni from all over the world, and, if you like, suggest new topics for discussion! The last cycle included the role of different value systems in geopolitics, China in the international landscape, and energy transition. Materials will be shared in advance as a starting point for the conversation. Warning: enriching and inspiring meetings ahead!
Participants would each present, very informally, some info on their favorite museum, whether from childhood or from the present; whether world renowned or little known, whether in a foreign location or in their own town.
The trend towards globalization started in the 1940s, but caught its momentum in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The Millennium and Sustainable Development goals are two strong global agreements that have steered countries towards a common vision of the global health under the rubric of WHO. Ironically, however, most of the inquiry was not led by the LMICs and therefore their perspective seemed to have been lacking. These weaknesses in the WHO global leadership and governance did not come into focus until the Zika virus and recently during the COVID19 pandemic. Nearly 4 million deaths to date worldwide are attributable to the failure of the WHO in its surveillance role in spite of the fact that since July 2003, when SARS-CoV transmission was declared, an active global surveillance for SARS-CoV disease has been in place. The world response to the pandemic with reference to vaccine production and inequitable distribution has further unravelled these weaknesses in the global governance. Countries are no longer being led under one governance and are finding it difficult to impose strict measures recommended for COVID-19 Control. Hence, countries are forced to take their own measures to contain the spread. Alongside WHO guidance notes, CDC, USA, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and countries’ own CDCs are emerging as independent, powerful and reliable source of information and advice regarding the control measure. People in the middle and low income countries feel alienated as most of the recommendations are not relevant and feasible in their context, frequent hand washing where water is not available, use of sanitizers in countries where affordability and availability is an issue, use of telemedicine where technology and health literacy are key issues, and mandatory screening when availability of RDT and PCR is an issue. This forum is aimed at generating a discussion around experiences of various regions regarding global governance and to gauge their perceptions and to discuss underlying issues and challenges of global public health issues.
Over the past 25 years coaching has become a rapidly growing profession. This roundtable offers Yale alumni an opportunity to connect with colleagues around the world to exchange ideas on coaching. Through building a community and discussing current issues, we will be able to learn from each other and grow as coaches.
Opening up discussion topics about the Latin America region and its culture broadly. Recent discussions have been about the Panama Canal, origins of Mexican nationalism and the recent migration to the USA.
This common room explores the experiences of various Yale fellowship program graduates, such as the Yale World Fellows, about the memorable moments at Yale and the life after Yale. As a group, we will explore what happened after the fellowship experience, the evolution of our goals, and the challenges experienced in this journey.
Based on Emily Greenwood’s introduction of the term “omni-local classical receptions” this common room explores the various meanings texts from the Ancient Mediterranean take on today in locations worldwide. The common room is an open invitation for every participant to share their reading experiences with ancient texts and local modern adaptations of ancient texts with the group. It is an open-ended exploration of the question of how and why ancient texts still speak to us today. As a group, we will explore whether we see patterns, differences, or radical discontinuities in teaching, reading, contact and modes of adaptation. Introductory reading: Emily Greenwood, Afterword: Omni-Local Classical Receptions, Classical Receptions Journal, Volume 5, Issue 3, December 2013, Pages 354–361, https://doi.org/10.1093/crj/clt025
The Bretton Woods order is on its last legs and there is something called the Rules Based Order that essentially lacks rules. What ideas do we have about how to build on the pieces of the old world order and create something better given the urgency of climate change, the hostile US-China relationship, Russia’s isolation after the invasion of Ukraine, the rise of Africa, economic dominance of Asia-Pacific, and all the many other factors that are reshaping our world.
An opportunity to get together and discuss issues in music. This space is for people in the industry, professionals and music lovers of all genres.
Participants are invited to a profoundly whimsical (or will it be a whimsically profound?) conversation of two of the more intriguing concepts of our time. They are asked to bring a dollop of curiosity and a smidgeon of insight in whatever proportions they please.
Sustainable development issues for the energy sector, in a climate constrained world.
According to many reputed policymakers, experts, and institutions, including the Centre for Economics and Business Research, the Chinese economy will overtake the United States by the turn of this decade; notwithstanding, the US military capability would remain the dominant force globally. Historically, rising powers have tended to disrupt international orders, causing wars, for example: the rise of Dutch Republic, France, Germany, etc. In each situation, dominant status quo powers try to defend systems that are mostly built by them and which benefit them, while new rising powers try to change the system to benefit their interests. This observation led AFK Organski and Jacek Kugler to argue in The War Ledger (1980): Substantial shifts in economic power and therefore military capabilities cause international conflicts. “The faster the challenger overtakes the dominant nation, the greater the chances the two will fight.”
Fall 2021
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