Office of Public Lectures @ UW

Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), interview on KUOW's Weekday, ahead of his University of Washington public lecture in 2008.

Naomi Wolf, feminist author, and journalist interview on KUOW's Weekday, ahead of his University of Washington public lecture in 2007.\ 

In the shadow of an empire, in a world on fire, what if we could imagine — and build — otherwise? Crip feminist technoscience teaches us how to wield disabled, mad, neuroexpansive, crip, sick people’s wisdom as a vital tool for surviving now and thriving then. Disabled people know intimately how to strategically leverage legal and policy tools and know precisely the limitations of these tools and frameworks. 

In a polycrisis of pandemic, late-stage capitalism, genocide, climate catastrophe, human rights atrocity, and failure of democratic institutions, we find ourselves confronted with headlines about declining productivity, increased rates of depression, AI plagiarism, and the cost of eggs. We debate about the meaning of international norms and rule of law while the settler empire is crumbling and fascism and white supremacy are growing in fertile ground. Universities are adjunctifying the professoriate, union busting grad students and dining hall workers, repressing student activism, and refusing to address the near ubiquitous use of generative AI to write papers and solve equations. Meanwhile, AI is driving innovation and acceleration of state violence from immigration enforcement to criminalization of protest to genocide. This talk will explore the promises and failures of regulating automation, algorithmic assessment, and generative AI through a framework of disability justice and crip feminist technoscience.  

Five Ways to Watch the World Cup with Ron Krabill on May 19, 2026.

As Seattle gears up to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the city finds itself at the center of a heated debate: Is the tournament an economic catalyst or a misuse of public funds? A celebration of Seattle’s cultural vibrancy or a distraction from pressing regional challenges? A thrilling chance to witness the world’s greatest athletes—or a calculated profit grab by global elites? 

This talk invites audiences to explore five distinct perspectives on the political and cultural impact of the tournament—offering a more nuanced, thought-provoking look at what the World Cup means for Seattle and the world. 

N. Scott Momaday, American novelist and short story writer, interview on KUOW's Weekday, ahead of his University of Washington public lecture in 2006.

Steven Squyres, American geologist and planetary scientist, was interviewed by KUOW's weekday ahead of his University of Washington public lecture in 2006.

Patricia Williams, American legal scholar, was interviewed by KUOW's weekday ahead of her University of Washington public lecture in 2006.

Gloria Steinem, feminist icon, journalist, lecturer, and political activist,was interviewed on KUOW's Weekday ahead of her University of Washington's public lecture in 2006.

Noam Chomsky, American linguist, philosopher, political activist, and social critic, was interviewed on KUOW's Weekday ahead of his University of Washington's public lecture in 2005.

bell hooks, American author, theorist, educator, and social critic, was interviewed on KUOW's Weekday ahead of her University of Washington's public lecture in 2005.