Upcoming Events

- Daniil Leiderman
- 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
- 4130 Posvar Hall
The collapse of the USSR and the cultural revolution called "Perestroika" were reflected in numerous contemporaneous films, books and surprisingly even in video games. Games were just entering the mainstream, invisible to censorship and inaccessible to most of the public, and nevertheless multiple games trying to represent the historical moment appeared in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This talk looks at three video games made in different parts of the Soviet Union during the Perestroika as relics testifying to the confusion, anxiety and optimism of the Post-Soviet 1990s.

- Andrew Romanchik
- 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Global Hub

- Katherine Zubovich (SUNY Buffalo)
- 4:00 pm
- Baker Hall 246A, Carnegie Mellon University
After World War II, the USSR's leaders relied heavily on construction materials mined and produced in recently liberated territories to rebuild the country's ruined cities. This paper traces the material networks linking Soviet cities to forests, quarries, and factories supplying the wood, marble, brick, and cement integral to Soviet rebuilding. Focusing on the Aseri Brickworks and Kunda Cement Factory, both located along Estonia's northern coast, the paper examines the interplay between Soviet occupation and materials extraction. Part of the Socialist Studies Seminar series.

- 4:00 pm
- 4130 Posvar Hall
Victoria Harms, Associate Teaching Professor of History at Johns Hopkins University and author of the book The Making of Dissidents: Hungary’s Democratic Opposition and Its Western Friends, 1973-1998 (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2024) in conversation with Gregor Thum, Associate Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh. Introduction by Kati R. Csoman, Director of the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs. Co-sponsors to list are: Hungarian Room Committee of the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, the History Department, World History Center, European Studies Center, Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies. Where: 4130 Posvar Hall When: 4pm - 5pm October 6th What: Interview followed by a Q&A segment

- Brian Fairley (UCIS/REEES Postdoctoral Fellow)
- 4:00 pm
- Baker Hall 246A, Carnegie Mellon University Soviet Georgian cultural history

- 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- William Pitt Union and O'Hara Student Center, Pitt-Oakland Campus Model United Nations high school simulation

- Anna Shternshis (University of Toronto)
- 4:00 pm
- Baker Hall 246A, Carnegie Mellon University Soviet history

- 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- William Pitt Union simulation, European Union
The High School Model European Union is an annual event for area high school students. The goal of the Model EU is to give high school students a chance to learn about the workings of the European Union through a hands-on simulation. Playing the roles of presidents and prime ministers, students spend a day engaged in intense negotiations over conflicting issues about the EU. The objective is to simulate a specific European Council meeting that focuses on recent current events impacting the EU. Model EU enhances students’ understanding of classroom learning and gives them a real sense of the challenges involved in the decision-making process of the European Union.

- Molly McSweeney
- 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Global Hub
Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

- 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
- via Zoom
This professional development workshop series is designed for K-12 educators seeking to deepen their understanding of global issues through literature. This year, we will explore the theme of “The U.S. in the World.” Through global and regional perspectives, we will discuss narratives of a “Global United States,” where the U.S. role in the world and its relationship with other countries and regions is informed by transnational narratives and dialogues shaped by global trends such as migration, environmental issues, human rights, and human conditions. By exploring compelling stories from diverse cultural perspectives, educators will gain insights into the complexities of this theme, its impact on individuals and communities, and how to engage students in meaningful discussions around these topics. Each session features a carefully selected book, paired with historically contextualized presentations, interactive discussions, teaching strategies, and cross-disciplinary activities to inspire classroom implementation. The January 22, 2026 workshop will focus on the book, "Forty Autumns," by Nina Willner. Sessions this year will take place virtually on Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:30 p.m. (ET). Three Act 48 credit hours (for PA educators) and a copy of the book are provided for each session. For more information and to register, please go to: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/GILS .

- Varies
- 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- TBD