University of Pittsburgh, May 8-10, 2026 | Format: Hybrid 

 The University of Pittsburgh’s University Center for International Studies (UCIS) invites you to join us for a conference exploring the Future(s) of International and Area Studies, May 8-10, 2026. We will be convening a series of timely conversations aimed at reimagining area and global studies for the next generations. Join us to think beyond enduring paradigms, inherited structures, and established practices as we create new horizons for interdisciplinary research & learning, engagement, coalition-building, and more. 

The conference organizers are pleased to announce that the registration portal is now live. Please follow this link (https://www.global.pitt.edu/future-international-area-studies-conference...) to register. The conference will be hybrid; individuals can register as a virtual participant or an in-person participant. 

Part of the 2026 New East Film Symposium, Playscapes of the State: Childhood in Today's Cinema of Displacement

A Russian teacher secretly documents his small town school's transformation into a war recruitment center during the Ukraine invasion, revealing the ethical dilemmas educators face amid propaganda and militarization. (IMDB)

dir. Pavel Talankin, David Borenstein, 2025

Part of the 2026 New East Film Symposium, Playscapes of the State: Childhood in Today's Cinema of Displacement

Paleontology Lesson: 

June 2023. Ukraine is fighting against Russian invasion. In Kyiv, a group of schoolchildren visits the Natural History Museum, guided by a teacher, who, as if by magic, transports the kids into a faraway world, where there is no war. (IMDB)

dir. Sergei Loznitsa, 2025

Timestamp:

Despite the war, school life continues in Ukraine, with students and teachers striving to continue learning even under constant threat. (IMDB)

dir. Kateryna Gornostai

Part of the 2026 New East Film Symposium, Playscapes of the State: Childhood in Today's Cinema of Displacement

Nina, an OB-GYN, faces accusations after a newborn's death. Her life undergoes scrutiny during the investigation. She persists in her medical duties, determined to provide care others hesitate to offer, despite risks. (IMDB)

dir. Dea Kulumbegashvili, 2024

Part of the 2026 New East Film Symposium, Playscapes of the State: Childhood in Today's Cinema of Displacement

How can the cycle of violence that shapes children and is passed through generations be broken? (IMDB)

dir. Vladlena Sandu, 2025

Part of the 2026 New East Film Symposium, Playscapes of the State: Childhood in Today's Cinema of Displacement

In Spring 2022 Masha prepares to leave Russia - her homeland that has changed. It turns into chain of unexpected farewells: her mom dies of cancer, her lover flees army conscription, everything including her own old self is falling apart. Her way to cope with the grief is to fixate everything with her camera. Her anger guides her to inner emigration to the local underground scene, which became an escape for young Russians. This kaleidoscope of shards chronicles not only spirit of the time, but the director's personality crumbling against the backdrop of global turmoil. (IMDB)

dir. Masha Chernaya, 2024

Join the Asian Studies Center for informal language practice for Mandarin learners. All levels are welcome to attend. 

Join the Center for African Studies on Thursdays to practice conversational Swahili in a social environment.

Event information
May 14, 2026
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Location
The Frick Art Museum and the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning
Cost:
$35 Member
$45 Adult
$45 Senior (65+)
$20 Youth (3-17)
$20 College Student (w/ ID)

Members of The Frick Societies receive complimentary admission
Description:
Co-presented by The Frick Pittsburgh and the Nationality and Heritage Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh, this special program studies immigration, culture and labor in Pittsburgh through time. Beginning with a visit to the Nationality and Heritage Rooms, classrooms gifted from the ethnic communities who helped build Pittsburgh, and ending with a tour of the Lewis Hine Pictures America exhibition, this program will take attendees back in time to discuss the rich cultural fabric of Pittsburgh.

Advanced registration and pre-payment required. Program begins at University of Pittsburgh, Cathedral of Learning; participants are responsible for their own transportation. Click here to find additional information including directions and parking at the University of Pittsburgh.

This event is also being offered on March 28 and April 10.

https://www.thefrickpittsburgh.org/Event-Guided-Tours-of-the-Nationality...

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 May 14, 2026 workshop will focus on the book, "Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings" by Margarita Engle.

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 .

Established in 2014, the goal of the Central Asian Studies Institute (CASI) Literature and History workshop is to help build literature as a legitimate field in Central Asian scholarship and to create a network of scholars committed to illuminating the region’s literary art. Undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students at Pitt who study the literature and history of the region, or of Eurasia more broadly, are welcome to attend.

Those interested in joining will need to commit to reading submitted papers (participants circulate texts in advance to solicit feedback and exchange ideas) so they can meaningfully participate in the discussions. Students wishing to attend should thus reach out to the event’s organizers, Christopher Baker (baker_ch@auca.kg) and James Pickett (pickettj@gmail.com) ahead of time.