Fall 2026 Events

Monday, September 14

6:30 p.m. | Monroe 130

Is the United States an unfriendly country when it comes to raising children? Tim Carney, a father of six, discusses how modern American culture makes raising children difficult and contributes to declining birth rates. The book critiques “helicopter parenting,” overscheduling, and the erosion of community.

Co-sponsored with The National Marriage Project

Wednesday, September 16

6:30 p.m. | Monroe 130

Environmental and conservation lawyers help shape the policies, agreements, and legal strategies that protect land, water, wildlife, and natural resources. Join George Barlow, senior attorney for The Nature Conservancy, for a discussion of careers in environmental and conservation law and learn how legal professionals work across sectors to address today's environmental challenges.

Co-sponsored with Phi Alpha Delta (the undergraduate pre-law fraternity), the Virginia Undergraduate Law Review, and Epsilon Eta (the environmental sciences fraternity)

Wednesday, September 23

6:30 p.m. | ROOM TBA

What should U.S. immigration policy look like? Cato Institute’s Bryan Caplan and Heritage Foundation’s Simon Hankinson debate whether America needs stronger borders, more immigration, or an entirely different approach. 

Co-sponsored with College Republicans

Monday, September 28

6:30 p.m. | ROOM TBA

What explains the dramatic rise in the cost of higher education? Join AEI scholar Tao Tan for a discussion of the economic forces driving college costs, the competing explanations for rising tuition, and what reforms might make higher education more affordable.

Co-sponsored with The Economics Club at UVA

Monday, October 12

6:30 p.m. | Monroe 130

Prediction markets allow us to bet on the outcomes of future events, from elections to sports and pop culture. Supporters say these markets can aggregate information and produce accurate forecasts. Critics argue that they are no different than ordinary gambling: inviting manipulation, and raising questions about what we should be allowed to wager on. Join the conversation with Kalshi senior executive Nicole Kagan.

Co-sponsored with The Economics Club at UVA and Women in Economics Club

Wednesday, October 14

6:30 p.m. | Room TBA

What does feminism look like today? Join writer Leah Libresco Sargeant and Heritage Foundation policy analyst Emma Waters for a conversation on modern feminism, family life, work, relationships, and whether the feminist movement has delivered on its promises for women. 

Co-sponsored with the Center for Christian Study

Monday, October 19

6:30 p.m. | ROOM TBA

Why is housing becoming so unaffordable in many American cities? Are zoning laws, regulations, and public policy making it harder for young people and families to afford a home? Come hear housing affordability expert Howard Husock on how we can fix these problems.

Co-sponsored with The Economics Club at UVA and Habitat for Humanity at UVA

Tuesday, October 20

6:30 p.m. | ROOM TBA

American student achievement has stagnated, learning gaps remain wide, and new technologies are rapidly reshaping the classroom. Meanwhile, debates over school choice, teacher quality, curriculum, and accountability have left many wondering which reforms actually improve student outcomes. Join AEI scholar Nat Malkus and Professor Emeritus of Education and Public Policy James Wyckoff to explore the future of American education.

Monday, October 26

6:30 p.m. | Nau 101

How should we think about the rapid pace of technological progress? What does the future of AI hold? Techno-optimists see a future in which new technologies cure cancer, extend the human lifespan, and improve our quality of life. Techno-skeptics question whether this vision underestimates the risks, costs, and unintended consequences. UVA Engineering Professors Peter Norton and Leidy Klotz will discuss.

Co-sponsored with the Civil Discourse Initiative, the Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers at UVA, Societal AI at UVA, Machine Learning at UVA, and the Engineering Student Council

Wednesday, October 28

6:30 p.m. | ROOM TBA

Neomi Rao is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. One of America's most prominent and influential judges sketches the likely biggest legal conflicts in the next few years.

Co-sponsored with Phi Alpha Delta (the undergraduate pre-law fraternity), Undergraduate Women in Law, and the Virginia Undergraduate Law Review

Wednesday, November 4

6:30 p.m. | Gibson 211

Katy Talento, a former White House health policy advisor and epidemiologist, and Ron Bailey, science editor for Reason magazine, will discuss the MAHA movement. What does it get right? What does it get wrong? And can we make Americans healthier?

Co-sponsored with Think Again

Monday, November 9

7 p.m. | Minor 125

Gen Z is dating less, marrying later, and reporting higher levels of loneliness than previous generations. Is social media changing how we form relationships? Has technology made finding connection easier—or more difficult? Are broader cultural and political shifts reshaping what young adults want from love, friendship, and family? Join AEI scholars Dan Cox and Christine Emba for a conversation about the changing landscape of relationships, the future of marriage, and what these trends mean for your generation.

Tuesday, November 10

6:30 p.m. | Monroe 134

Should terminally ill patients have the right to access experimental treatments that have not yet received full FDA approval? Supporters of “Right to Try” laws argue that patients facing life-threatening illnesses should be free to pursue potentially lifesaving treatments, but will weakening regulatory safeguards expose vulnerable patients to unsafe or ineffective drugs? Hear from Christina Sandefur on medical freedom, government regulation, and the “Right to Try” movement.

Co-sponsored with Phi Alpha Delta (the undergraduate pre-law fraternity) and the Virginia Undergraduate Law Review

Wednesday, November 11

6:30 p.m. | Minor 125

‘This is Not Financial Advice’ exposes the modern gold rush, where everyday people gamble their fortunes on speculative cryptocurrencies—driven by an online culture of hype, influencers, and FOMO. Join us for an in-person screening followed by Q&A with the director of the film.

Co-sponsored with The Economics Club at UVA

Monday, November 16

6:30 p.m. | ROOM TBA

From sports gambling and marijuana to pornography and psychedelics, Americans have become increasingly permissive toward activities once viewed as vices. Charles Fain Lehman of the Manhattan Institute challenges the assumption that government should remain neutral, arguing that addictive products can undermine both individual freedom and the conditions necessary for a flourishing society.

Co-sponsored with the Virginia Undergraduate Law Review

Tuesday, November 17

6:30 p.m. | ROOM TBA

Earl Swift is the author of a book on the rediscovery of the final Apollo moon landings. His book explains why these extraordinary yet overshadowed missions—distinguished by the use of the revolutionary lunar roving vehicle—deserve to be celebrated as the pinnacle of human adventure and exploration.

Co-sponsored with The Astronomy Club at UVA, the Engineering Student Council, and the Occultation Group at UVA