Students Teach and Learn at Chautauqua Institution

Each summer, the Lincoln Center has the honor of upholding our partnership with the Chautauqua Institution by sending students, faculty, and staff to the summer lecture series. This annual tradition offers a unique opportunity to foster new ideas while engaging with the principles that the Center was founded on.

The Chautauqua Institution is a cultural and educational center that serves to support the four pillars of arts, education, religion, and recreation. Their nine-week summer program hosts upwards of 100,000 people attending lectures and events at the public grounds. Each week during the program provides a unique theme for attendees to explore.

The Lincoln-Chautauqua partnership dates back to David Lincoln’s childhood, when he would attend the Institution with his family. Today, we honor him and his family’s legacy by continuing to uphold the connection. Lincoln Center Director Joan McGregor comments, “The partnership between Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics and Chautauqua Institute grows out of the Lincoln family’s history with the Chautauqua Institute. Joan and David Lincoln spent their summers attending the Institute and believed in the ideals of Chautauqua.”

Earlier this spring semester, the Lincoln Center hosted Dr. Amen Ra Mashariki for his lecture, ‘Modern AI: Accelerating Impact for Climate and Nature.’ The event was in partnership with the Chautauqua Institution. Mashariki is the Director of AI and Data Strategies at the Bezos Earth Fund, where he works to identify funding opportunities and initiatives that will help ensure climate and nature organizations can use AI effectively for on-the-ground impact.

The week of June 22nd, our cohort of student scholars traveled to the countryside of Southwestern New York to attend the first week of the lecture series called ‘Themes of Transformation: Forces Shaping Our Tomorrow.’ Angela Barnes, Lincoln Center’s new Assistant Director, accompanied students on their experience. She observes, “In a time of polarization and rapid technological change, connections like the Lincoln-Chautauqua partnership are more important than ever. This connection allows us to pursue new perspectives when looking for solutions to pressing ethical and social problems.”

The students – Shravya Aragam, Bailey Iannone, and Caleb Lieberman – gave presentations on topics of sustainability and the impact of AI on these areas, specifically environmental, economic, and ethical. They also had the opportunity to attend engaging lectures and roundtable discussions. One notable lecture was hosted by ASU professor and Lincoln Faculty member Dr. Brad Allenby, titled “AI and the Rise of the Cognitive Ecosystem.”

The opportunity for students to lead a class is one that can be impactful for not only them, but the Institution as a whole. Barnes observes, “Our students bring a fresh generational perspective to Chautauqua – teaching long-time Chautauquans about what young people see – what they are worried about and what opportunities they see on the horizon. Being in relationship with one another gives us all space to grow personally and with each other.”

We spoke with rising senior Shravya Aragam, who recalls her presentation as, “an insightful experience that highlighted the importance of community dialogue in shaping our shared futures. It gave me the chance to facilitate meaningful conversations about individual and collective responsibility, as I presented on artificial intelligence's impact on the environment. I'm grateful for this opportunity through Chautauqua that allowed me to encourage diverse perspectives and guide dialogue towards a shared understanding.”

As we begin to look towards the upcoming semester, we are excited to see how this major connection will continue to grow and strengthen. McGregor adds, “We aim to continue the legacy by partnering with CHQ on speakers at ASU and sending faculty and students to participate in the Chautauqua Institute summer programs.”