Freedom of Expression, Intellectual Freedom, and Constructive Dialogue Speaker Series
2025-2026 Speakers
Past Speakers
Past Speakers
Simon Cullen
"How to Talk to Anyone About Anything (And Why You Should Do It)"
Simon Cullen, Visiting Research Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Civil Discourse at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, delivered his presentation “How to Talk to Anyone About Anything (And Why You Should Do It!)” on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m. in the Student Union Family Room. Cullen introduced Sway, the AI platform he developed to promote constructive disagreement, and shared research on how technology can enhance reasoning and dialogue.
The event was organized by the Office of the President, with support from the Honors College, College of Arts & Sciences, and the School of Computing, and was free and open to the public.
Alice Dreger
"Gender and Biological Sex in a Context of Free Expression and Self-Censorship"
Alice Dreger, Managing Editor at Heterodox Academy, delivered her presentation “Gender and Biological Sex in a Context of Free Expression and Self-Censorship” on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. in COE Library 506. Dreger, who holds a Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science from Indiana University and is the author of Galileo’s Middle Finger and Hermaphrodites and the Medical Invention of Sex, led a lively discussion with students from BridgeUWYO, College Democrats, and Turning Point USA, as well as with members of the public.
The event was organized by the Heterodox Academy Campus Community at UW with support from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and was free and open to the public.
Nadine Strossen
“Does Free Speech Help or Hurt Civil Rights Movements?”
Nadine Strossen gave a talk entitled “Does Free Speech Help or Hurt Civil Rights Movements?” on Tues, Feb. 25 at 5:30pm in the Agriculture Auditorium. Strossen is John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law, Emerita, New York Law School, former president of the ACLU, and the author of HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship (2018) and Free Speech: What Everyone Needs to Know® (2023). Strossen’s visit is brought to us by the UW chapter of Heterodox Academy, with additional support from the Office of the President, and was free and open to the public. Strossen's books will be available for sale at the University Store and at the reception.
Martín Carcasson
"Tackling Wicked Problems through Deliberative Engagement: How to Engage Diverse Perspectives and Elevate our Conversations in Hyper-Partisan Times"
Martín Carcasson presented his work on dialogue and deliberation to tackle wicked problems on Monday, March 10, and Tuesday, March 11, 2025. His presentation, "Tackling Wicked Problems through Deliberative Engagement: How to Engage Diverse Perspectives and Elevate our Conversations in Hyper-Partisan Times," took place in the Student Union West Ballroom on March 10 at 5:30 p.m. Carcasson, a Professor of Communication Studies at Colorado State University and the founding director of the CSU Center for Public Deliberation, shared insights from his research, which focuses on helping local communities address “wicked problems” more productively through improved public communication, community problem-solving, and collaborative decision-making.
The day after his presentation, on March 11, Carcasson offered three participatory workshops for faculty, staff, and students to practice collaborative dialogue techniques. All of these sessions took place in the Student Union West Ballroom.
Carcasson’s visit was sponsored by the student organization BridgeUWYO, the Service, Leadership, and Community Engagement (SLCE) Office, the Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program, and the Office of the President.
Paul Steinhardt
“The Great Debate 2025: How the Universe Came to Be”
Paul Steinhardt, Albert Einstein Professor in Science at Princeton University, delivered his presentation “The Great Debate 2025: How the Universe Came to Be” on Friday, April 25, at 4 p.m. in Classroom Building 129. A reception with food and drinks followed the talk. Both events were free and open to the public.
Guests or members of the public who attended university-sponsored events and programs and required disability accommodations were encouraged to reach out to principles@uwyo.ed. Note: The linked video is an interview with Steinhardt rather than a recording of the actual talk given.
