Academy holds Middle East series

The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters will hold the weekly lecture series “Understanding the Middle East” this fall, intended to shed light on the problems of the Middle East and examine possible solutions.

The series begins with a lecture titled “The Roots of Conflict” by Joe Elder, a sociology professor. Elder will provide an overview of the region’s history and the root sources of conflict. The lecture will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 13, in the Capitol Theater at the Overture Center for the Arts.

Other lectures include:

• “Rx for ‘Oil Addiction’: The Middle East and Energy Security,” by Jan Kalicki, counselor for international strategy with the Chevron Corp., senior scholar with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and co-editor of “Energy and Security: Toward a New Foreign Policy Strategy,” on Wednesday, Sept. 20, in the Capitol Theater at the Overture Center.
• “The Dilemma of Fundamentalism” by Martin Marty, professor emeritus from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School, to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the Capitol Theater at the Overture Center.
• “Beyond the U.S. Veil: Women in the Middle East,” by Mary Layoun, a UW–Madison professor of comparative literature, to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 4, in the Promenade Hall at the Overture Center.
• “Paths to Peace,” by Nadav Shelef, a UW–Madison professor of Israel studies, and Ali Abootalebi, a UW–Eau Claire professor of political science, to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 11, in the Overture Lobby at the Overture Center.

All of the lectures will be held from 7–8:30 p.m., and admission is free. Free tickets are recommended to ensure seating and are available on the third floor of the James Watrous Gallery at the Overture Center.

To learn more, visit http://www.wisconsinacademy.org/.