Events

In this charming play set as a stand-up comedy routine, the title character explores history, mythology, gender... and high school. Brahman/i – funny, cynical, inventive and intensely charismatic – takes on more than a dozen unforgettable characters in a fascinating life story that reveals observations of the world from adolescence to adulthood, and takes the audience on a voyage to answer the universal question, “Where do I fit in?” Brahman/i is a compelling and hilarious 90-minutes examining identity, curiosity, courage, and the assigned roles in which we often find ourselves trapped.

Staged in the heart of the Penn Avenue Corridor, a community center will be turned into a cheerfully raucous comedy club, complete with Kingfishers on the cabaret-style tables and Indian food hot from People's Indian Restaurant nearby.

Student tickets: $17

In light of Greece’s quickly approaching parliament elections on January 25th, Political Science Professor, Dr. Despina Alexiadou, will introduce the actors and issues involved, and will weigh in on what the results will mean for Greece, for other possible austerity programs, and for Europe’s changing landscape.

Saturday, February 7, 2015
Posvar Hall @ University of Pittsburgh, Room 1700
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
5:00 p.m. Reception with light refreshments (R.S.V.P. required 412-956-6000 or 412-531-2990)
6:00 p.m. The Final Mission (58 minutes)
During World War II, 46 American Bombers and 8 fighter planes crashed in Slovak
territory. 106 pilots died and approximately 370 were captured and taken to prisoner of
war camps. However, many succeeded in escaping thanks to the Slovaks who hid them.
They felt that they were risking their lives for us too, although many of them had no idea
that Slovakia even existed. The fate of these Americans in Slovakia is the story of the
fight for survival in the middle of an unknown country. The is the story of the will to not
give in to hopelessness, but to confront it without losing self respect.
7:15 p.m. November + 20 (26 minutes)
Events around November 1989 in Slovakia that brought about the collapse of
Communism in the country. A documentary for all who did not and will not forget, as
well as for those who did not have a chance to experience the drama.

Sunday February 8, 2015
Posvar Hall @ University of Pittsburgh, Room 1700
230 S. Bouquet St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
4:00 p.m. Nicky’s Family (96 minutes)
Nicky’s Family tells the nearly forgotten story of Nicholas Winton, an Englishman who
organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of the
World War II.
Nicky’s Family has earned rave reviews from audiences and critics around the world,
winning over 30 awards - including 14 audience awards from U.S. film festivals!

Saturday, February 14, 2015
Mt. Lebanon Public Library
16 Castle Shannon Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15227
2:00 p.m. In the Shadow of Time (45 Minutes)
The documentary describes the life story of Emil Svec, who was imprisoned by the
Communists for 18 years. When he managed to flee across the Iron Curtain to freedom
in Austria in the crop-duster airplane in 1959, he never expected to be back. But three
years later, he was abducted by Communist spies dispatched from Prague.

Sunday February 15, 2015
St. Gregory Church
2005 Mohawk Road
Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
3:00 p.m. Bratislava’s 1988 Good Friday: Candle Manifestation (26 minutes)
The memorable and daring open demonstration against Communism when Christians in
Bratislava gathered to call for religious freedom more than a year before Central
European regimes collapsed. The documentary includes interviews with participants and
footage from secret police cameras as they tried to disperse the crowd.
Following the movie, there will be a question and answer session conducted by
Rev. Valerian Michlek on the religious persecution of the Catholic Church in Slovakia
during the Communist regime.

Saturday, February 7, 2015
Posvar Hall @ University of Pittsburgh, Room 1700
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
5:00 p.m. Reception with light refreshments (R.S.V.P. required 412-956-6000 or 412-531-2990)
6:00 p.m. The Final Mission (58 minutes)
During World War II, 46 American Bombers and 8 fighter planes crashed in Slovak
territory. 106 pilots died and approximately 370 were captured and taken to prisoner of
war camps. However, many succeeded in escaping thanks to the Slovaks who hid them.
They felt that they were risking their lives for us too, although many of them had no idea
that Slovakia even existed. The fate of these Americans in Slovakia is the story of the
fight for survival in the middle of an unknown country. The is the story of the will to not
give in to hopelessness, but to confront it without losing self respect.
7:15 p.m. November + 20 (26 minutes)
Events around November 1989 in Slovakia that brought about the collapse of
Communism in the country. A documentary for all who did not and will not forget, as
well as for those who did not have a chance to experience the drama.

Sunday February 8, 2015
Posvar Hall @ University of Pittsburgh, Room 1700
230 S. Bouquet St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
4:00 p.m. Nicky’s Family (96 minutes)
Nicky’s Family tells the nearly forgotten story of Nicholas Winton, an Englishman who
organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of the
World War II.
Nicky’s Family has earned rave reviews from audiences and critics around the world,
winning over 30 awards - including 14 audience awards from U.S. film festivals!

Saturday, February 14, 2015
Mt. Lebanon Public Library
16 Castle Shannon Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15227
2:00 p.m. In the Shadow of Time (45 Minutes)
The documentary describes the life story of Emil Svec, who was imprisoned by the
Communists for 18 years. When he managed to flee across the Iron Curtain to freedom
in Austria in the crop-duster airplane in 1959, he never expected to be back. But three
years later, he was abducted by Communist spies dispatched from Prague.

Sunday February 15, 2015
St. Gregory Church
2005 Mohawk Road
Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
3:00 p.m. Bratislava’s 1988 Good Friday: Candle Manifestation (26 minutes)
The memorable and daring open demonstration against Communism when Christians in
Bratislava gathered to call for religious freedom more than a year before Central
European regimes collapsed. The documentary includes interviews with participants and
footage from secret police cameras as they tried to disperse the crowd.
Following the movie, there will be a question and answer session conducted by
Rev. Valerian Michlek on the religious persecution of the Catholic Church in Slovakia
during the Communist regime.

Saturday, February 7, 2015
Posvar Hall @ University of Pittsburgh, Room 1700
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
5:00 p.m. Reception with light refreshments (R.S.V.P. required 412-956-6000 or 412-531-2990)
6:00 p.m. The Final Mission (58 minutes)
During World War II, 46 American Bombers and 8 fighter planes crashed in Slovak
territory. 106 pilots died and approximately 370 were captured and taken to prisoner of
war camps. However, many succeeded in escaping thanks to the Slovaks who hid them.
They felt that they were risking their lives for us too, although many of them had no idea
that Slovakia even existed. The fate of these Americans in Slovakia is the story of the
fight for survival in the middle of an unknown country. The is the story of the will to not
give in to hopelessness, but to confront it without losing self respect.
7:15 p.m. November + 20 (26 minutes)
Events around November 1989 in Slovakia that brought about the collapse of
Communism in the country. A documentary for all who did not and will not forget, as
well as for those who did not have a chance to experience the drama.

Sunday February 8, 2015
Posvar Hall @ University of Pittsburgh, Room 1700
230 S. Bouquet St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
4:00 p.m. Nicky’s Family (96 minutes)
Nicky’s Family tells the nearly forgotten story of Nicholas Winton, an Englishman who
organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of the
World War II.
Nicky’s Family has earned rave reviews from audiences and critics around the world,
winning over 30 awards - including 14 audience awards from U.S. film festivals!

Saturday, February 14, 2015
Mt. Lebanon Public Library
16 Castle Shannon Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15227
2:00 p.m. In the Shadow of Time (45 Minutes)
The documentary describes the life story of Emil Svec, who was imprisoned by the
Communists for 18 years. When he managed to flee across the Iron Curtain to freedom
in Austria in the crop-duster airplane in 1959, he never expected to be back. But three
years later, he was abducted by Communist spies dispatched from Prague.

Sunday February 15, 2015
St. Gregory Church
2005 Mohawk Road
Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
3:00 p.m. Bratislava’s 1988 Good Friday: Candle Manifestation (26 minutes)
The memorable and daring open demonstration against Communism when Christians in
Bratislava gathered to call for religious freedom more than a year before Central
European regimes collapsed. The documentary includes interviews with participants and
footage from secret police cameras as they tried to disperse the crowd.
Following the movie, there will be a question and answer session conducted by
Rev. Valerian Michlek on the religious persecution of the Catholic Church in Slovakia
during the Communist regime.

Saturday, February 7, 2015
Posvar Hall @ University of Pittsburgh, Room 1700
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
5:00 p.m. Reception with light refreshments (R.S.V.P. required 412-956-6000 or 412-531-2990)
6:00 p.m. The Final Mission (58 minutes)
During World War II, 46 American Bombers and 8 fighter planes crashed in Slovak
territory. 106 pilots died and approximately 370 were captured and taken to prisoner of
war camps. However, many succeeded in escaping thanks to the Slovaks who hid them.
They felt that they were risking their lives for us too, although many of them had no idea
that Slovakia even existed. The fate of these Americans in Slovakia is the story of the
fight for survival in the middle of an unknown country. The is the story of the will to not
give in to hopelessness, but to confront it without losing self respect.
7:15 p.m. November + 20 (26 minutes)
Events around November 1989 in Slovakia that brought about the collapse of
Communism in the country. A documentary for all who did not and will not forget, as
well as for those who did not have a chance to experience the drama.

Sunday February 8, 2015
Posvar Hall @ University of Pittsburgh, Room 1700
230 S. Bouquet St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
4:00 p.m. Nicky’s Family (96 minutes)
Nicky’s Family tells the nearly forgotten story of Nicholas Winton, an Englishman who
organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of the
World War II.
Nicky’s Family has earned rave reviews from audiences and critics around the world,
winning over 30 awards - including 14 audience awards from U.S. film festivals!

Saturday, February 14, 2015
Mt. Lebanon Public Library
16 Castle Shannon Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15227
2:00 p.m. In the Shadow of Time (45 Minutes)
The documentary describes the life story of Emil Svec, who was imprisoned by the
Communists for 18 years. When he managed to flee across the Iron Curtain to freedom
in Austria in the crop-duster airplane in 1959, he never expected to be back. But three
years later, he was abducted by Communist spies dispatched from Prague.

Sunday February 15, 2015
St. Gregory Church
2005 Mohawk Road
Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
3:00 p.m. Bratislava’s 1988 Good Friday: Candle Manifestation (26 minutes)
The memorable and daring open demonstration against Communism when Christians in
Bratislava gathered to call for religious freedom more than a year before Central
European regimes collapsed. The documentary includes interviews with participants and
footage from secret police cameras as they tried to disperse the crowd.
Following the movie, there will be a question and answer session conducted by
Rev. Valerian Michlek on the religious persecution of the Catholic Church in Slovakia
during the Communist regime.

A three-part lecture series that exposes biases that underlie the study of our evolutionary past. All lectures are free and open to the public.

Centuries before fossils were accepted as being extinct human relatives, the conception of human history was based on a Great Chain of Being that not only identified numerous human races, but arranged them and males and females within them hierarchically, from the “lowest” to the “highest”. The discovery in 1857 of the first Neanderthal was seen as providing evolutionary evidence of a racial and sexual hierarchy.

Indeed, in The Descent of Man (1871), Charles Darwin wrote at length about the evolution of “civilized” from “primitive, barbaric” humans, a notion that, in various incarnations, still informs interpretations of human evolution. This lecture series will challenge preconceived notions of race and sex from the perspectives of an artist who will discuss how, with an unbiased eye, extinct humans – male and female – would have looked, an historian of science who will deconstruct the traditional concepts of “female” and “male”, and an evolutionary biologist who will bring biology into the discussion of “race”.

The last few years have witnessed a transformation of the global energy market. The United States is now leading the world in the production of oil and natural gas. Western Pennsylvania has assumed an increas-ingly prominent role in the energy sector with the exploration and development of Marcellus Shale. Japan, in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, has had to reassess its strategic priority on nuclear energy. The precipitous decline of oil prices that began in the latter half of 2014 has further trans-formed the worldwide energy market, with ramifi-cations that extend well beyond the energy sector.

Join The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh for a briefing and moderated panel discussion on how the global energy market is likely to evolve in 2015. What are the opportunities that lie ahead for the Pittsburgh region and Japan, and what challenges will they have to overcome? Is the exploitation of Marcellus Shale sustainable? How can Japan reduce its dependence on imported sources of energy? Are there areas in which American and Japanese businesses can work together to take advantage of changes in the global energy sector?

Register by February 13th, 2015 at www.us-japan.org/jasp/events.html

2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Join the JASP for an evening of reflection on the Japanese-German alliance. Dr. Ricky Law, Assistant Professor of History at Carnegie Mellon University, will speak.

His lecture will provide an overview of the origins, formation, development, and fall of the Axis alliance between Japan and Germany before and during World War II. It will discuss major events such as the Anti-Comintern Pact of 1936, the Tripartite Pact of 1940, and the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Join the JASP for this free evening at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., February 19, 2014. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided. Space is limited so please register by February 13 at http://www.us-japan.org/jasp/events.html.

The Pittsburgh Asia Consortium [PAC] Undergraduate Research Conference is a one-day, interdisciplinary event for students from PA, WV, OH, MD, NY, NJ and DE with an interest in any geographical region of Asia, including the Middle East. Students will give 15-minute presentations on Asia-related research topics from any discipline, with faculty from PAC overseeing each student panel. The keynote speaker will be Michael Meyer, author of Last Days of Old Beijing: Life in the Vanishing Backstreets of a City Transformed and In Manchuria: A Village Called Wasteland and the Transformation of Rural China and Assistant Professor of English, University of Pittsburgh.

As the world becomes more accessible through technology and networking, international research activities are increasing in the academic arena. This program will provide specific information for faculty and students who are planning to conduct international research now or in the future. It is highly recommended that all faculty mentors who will be advising students going abroad attend this session. All are welcome to attend and no registration is required. For more information or advance questions, contact Patty Orndoff at pao100@pitt.edu.

A 5-part video dialogue series with international and local leaders of NGOs highlighting effective mobilization efforts to protect themselves from the effects of global warming and to promote climate justice. The series will identify how climate change and environmental problems disproportionately affect already-vulnerable communities, the limitations of government, UN-based, "free-market," or technological attempts to address climate change, and the resulting rise of pupular movements that promote more sustainable futures and all forms of climate and environmental justice.

Presenter: Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr, Hip Hop Caucus

Suggested readings:
Kozlowska, Hanna (2014) “The Climate Movement Is About Much More Than Just Climate” New York Times. 23 September. Online: http://op-talk.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/the-climate-movement-is-abou...

“People’s Climate Music” (2014) Hip Hop Caucus. Online: peoplesclimatemusic.com/about/

Podesta, P.J. and Laura Smith (2014) “The Changing Face of Climate Change” Slate. 22 September. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/09/people_...

“The Fossil Fuel Resistance: The New Green Heroes” (2013) Rolling Stone. 11 April. Online: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/lists/the-fossil-fuel-resistance-me...

More information may be found on the Global Studies website: http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/node/484

A three-part lecture series that exposes biases that underlie the study of our evolutionary past. All lectures are free and open to the public.

Centuries before fossils were accepted as being extinct human relatives, the conception of human history was based on a Great Chain of Being that not only identified numerous human races, but arranged them and males and females within them hierarchically, from the “lowest” to the “highest”. The discovery in 1857 of the first Neanderthal was seen as providing evolutionary evidence of a racial and sexual hierarchy.

Indeed, in The Descent of Man (1871), Charles Darwin wrote at length about the evolution of “civilized” from “primitive, barbaric” humans, a notion that, in various incarnations, still informs interpretations of human evolution. This lecture series will challenge preconceived notions of race and sex from the perspectives of an artist who will discuss how, with an unbiased eye, extinct humans – male and female – would have looked, an historian of science who will deconstruct the traditional concepts of “female” and “male”, and an evolutionary biologist who will bring biology into the discussion of “race”.

The organizers invite students of any field to submit papers related to the topics of social and public policy in Latin America. You may also propose to form a panel for presentation and discussion. Example topics include but are not limited to: human security, immigration, governance, social conflict, voting, fiscal policy.
• Please submit your topic with a brief description (approximately 75 to 100 words), using the Abstract Form below, by January 23, 2015.
• You will be notified of the committee’s decision by January 30, 2015.
• The deadline for submission of final papers will be due March 1, 2015.
To submit an abstract please go to: http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/laspp_call

The Muslims in the Global Context series offers the opportunity to examine the factors and trends that are having major impacts on these diverse regions and their relationships with other world regions and countries. The mini-courses consist of presentations on topics of critical importance to the understanding of Muslims in diverse regions of the world. In addition to attendance at all lectures, students enrolled for credit are required to develop and write a research paper on one of the themes of the mini-course and answer reflection prompts during the course. One- credit/ 3 units for CMU students is provided for the completion of each mini-course.

This one credit mini-course is part of a series organized by regions around the world based on their role on the world stage, their importance within the Muslim world, and the critical influence they play in the global community. The series and course seeks to illuminate the various perspectives of the Muslim community around the world. Drawing upon the expertise and research of participating faculty from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh and our partners at institutions around the world, the mini course series seeks to have students gain understanding of the religious, cultural, economical and political influences of Muslims in a global context.

5pm Friday March 20, 2015 to 1pm Sunday, March 22, 2015 (Room 2200 Sennott Square, University of Pittsburgh)

All course information, including the speakers, schedule, and readings, may be found on the Global Studies website: http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/mini-course/europe

The Festival will feature food and craft vendors as well as community organization tables and music and dance performances from Noon to 10:00 p.m.

Do you enjoy Japanese cuisine?

Do you want to learn how to make your favorite dishes at home?

Ms. Debra Samuels, food writer, cooking instructor, and best-selling author of My Japanese Table, will demonstrate the elements of a healthy and beautiful Japanese bento, including foods with the “Five Colors:” red, green, yellow, white, and black. She will also give attendees a primer on how to create a bento that will be a delight for your child – or you!

Join the JASP in welcoming Ms. Debra Samuels to Pittsburgh at a Wexford-area venue (to be announced) on March 26th. Please register by March 19th for a delicious and educational night!

In 2005 Mark Leonard postulated, "Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century.” Ten years later, the EU has seen the rejection of European Treaty, stalled enlargement, the inability of European soft power to affect the Arab spring, a weak response to Russian dismantling of Georgia and Ukraine, and the Eurozone crisis. The rise of nationalist parties threatens the very integrity of the Union. In contrast, the ECB has responded to the crisis with concerted action, Croatia joined the Union as the 28th member, and the final institutional changes of the Lisbon Treaty are taking effect. After such a tumultuous decade, is there still cause for optimism regarding the European project? The Organizing Committee of the Tenth Annual Graduate Student Conference on the European Union welcomes submissions from all disciplines and topics including, but not limited to, EU politics, governance, economics, history, security studies, institutions and behavior studies, as well as policy, enlargement, immigration, development, trade, and foreign policy. Papers addressing the theme of the conference will receive special consideration.

The University Library System at the University of Pittsburgh houses one of the largest and most complete archives of primary and secondary documents on the European Union, dating back to the beginnings of the European Coal and Steel Community. Conference presenters are given access to the archive for research during their stay.

This placeholder event is created to demonstrate how it would look to display only INPAC events on a page within the Asian Studies Center website.

Peter Hessler has received the 2008 National Magazine Award for Excellence in Reporting, a 2011 Macarthur Fellowship, and the 2001 Kiriyama Prize. He is the author of River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze; Country Driving: A Chinese Road Trip; Strange Stones: Dispatches from East and West; and Oracle Bones: A Journey through Time in China, a finalist for the 2006 National Book Award. He is a contributing writer for National Geographic and a staff writer at The New Yorker, for which he has served as the Beijing, China correspondent from 2000 to 2007 and currently covers Egypt.

Are you interested in teaching 7-8 grade students about Africa? Please join us for our annual visit to Harrold Middle School as part of Cultures Day! This is an excellent volunteer opportunity and a great way to use your knowledge of Africa in a uniquely enriching way! The date is still TBD and will be updated when it is announced. Interested participants should email AfricanStudies@pitt.edu.

Date: Mid to late April 2015, To Be Determined