The Low Down

We’re mixing things up a little bit here at The Low Down. We decided to feature a discussion from Past Present, a podcast that’s produced by three Columbia alumni: Nicole Hemmer '05GSAS, '06GSAS, '10GSAS (a research associate at the Miller Center for Public Affairs in Charlottesville, Virginia), Natalia Mehlman Petrzela '00CC (an assistant professor of history at The New School), and Neil Young '04GSAS, '05GSAS, '08GSAS (a historian and author of We Gather Together: The Religious Right and the Problem of Interfaith Politics).

Each week, these three historians take an hour to debate and rehash the latest political and cultural developments in the US and beyond. And we wanted to give you a little taste of it.

This episode grabbed us, not only because the conversations were fascinating and insightful, but also because the discussions focused heavily on alumni from Columbia and Barnard: Ruth Bader Ginsberg '59LAW, in a segment about the passing of Antonin Scalia, and Joan Rivers '54BC, in a segment about women in comedy. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Check out Past Present: http://www.pastpresentpodcast.com

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As climate continues to dominate the national conversation, Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) is a powerful player in the fight to conserve our planet. LDEO scientists are at the forefront in understanding the risks to human life and property from extreme weather events, both in the present and future climates, and on developing solutions to mitigate those risks. Hear directly from Dr. Arthur Lerner-Lam, deputy director of LDEO, as he discusses why climate research is more pressing now than ever before, and how Columbia, like no other university, is tackling the big challenges of today's climate landscape.

Learn about Lamont at ldeo.columbia.edu

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On July 30, 2015 the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that targets the global problem of wildlife trafficking, calling on all 193 UN member states to take on a series of actions to quote “prevent, combat, and eradicate the illegal trade in wildlife.”

Adopted by consensus, the resolution recognizes growing global concern over widespread poaching and trafficking – particularly of elephants and rhinos.

In this episode, three ambassadors to the UN from Botswana, Germany and Vietnam address the problem facing wildlife today.

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Richard Bulliet, Professor of History and Middle East Studies at Columbia, and Dr. Nina Ansary, the author of the book, Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iran, discuss the women’s movement in Iran and how Ansary’s book breaks down stereotypical assumptions and the often misunderstood story of women in Iran today.

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If you tried to define television today, odds are that your definition would be very different from what it might have been just 10 years ago. Thanks to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, more and more people are using their computers as their TVs. And it’s not just serial programming that’s moved online. Television news outlets have also made the move, producing content specifically for the web.

In this episode, CNN’s Meredith Artley addresses this digital shift head-on, discussing how the old barriers between “digital” and “traditional” journalism are crumbling faster than ever.

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Injuries in youth sports have become all too common. And the injuries aren't minor. Torn ACLs and concussions make regular appearances on high school fields and courts. So, what exactly is the problem that we’re facing? And when did it become apparent to coaches that there was this huge problem with sports injury on a youth level in this country? An expert panel offers answers.

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Each year, global leaders convene at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, to address topics at the forefront of the world agenda. Among those in attendance are prominent Columbia alumni and faculty.

This year's conference will take place January 20-23.

Ahead of the forum, hear directly from some of these Columbians, who provide insight on its significance and why you should pay attention.

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Columbia Professor James Shapiro is no stranger to Shakespeare. He has lead lectures and seminars at Columbia about the bard since 1985 and has written several books on the subject. The talk we recorded specifically references his newest book, "The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606."

In this talk, Shapiro discusses the significance of that year, the events that influenced Shakespeare’s writing, why he chose to focus so intensely on Lear in this new book, and when his fascination with Shakespeare first began. So, curl up in a cozy armchair with a nice cup of tea and enjoy.

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A major career change can happen by either being "pushed" by problems with a current situation or "pulled" by the promise of greater opportunities. Either way, this choice is never an easy decision and is often accompanied by fear and stress. To better understand how decision making can impact a career, hear a psychological explanation from Professor Elke Weber (Columbia Business School), expert on behavioral and neural models of judgment and choice under uncertainty and time delays. Understand how to differentiate between different decision modes to help resolve your own internal conflicts as you continue on down your own career path.

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A change can only happen when you decide to take a chance. Career coach Eric Horwitz '90 CC will share stories about his several career shifts and provide ten takeaway tips on the necessary steps you need to really embrace a career transition. Transitioning to a new career requires a mixture of faith, courage, inspiration and support. The end results are exciting and unpredictable. And like the quote from the The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, "Everything will be alright in the end if it isn't alright it's not the end."

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