UNYP professor Bill Cohn, one organizer of the symposium. Courtesy photo.

by Nancy Ryerson

On October 8, NYU students will have the opportunity to discuss global issues with prominent intellectuals from both Prague and the United States at a symposium sponsored by the University of New York in Prague (UNYP) and NYU.

The theme of this event is Meeting Crisis with Wisdom: Charting our way forward in politics, business, finance, law and education. The all-day event features four panel discussions, held in English, with university professors and other local figures. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the event closes at 5:15 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception. Lunch will also be served.

Each portion of the symposium will include presentations from the panel as well as a question-and-answer session.

“The whole idea is to create a discussion. We don’t want it to be the so-called experts saying what should be done,” said UNYP professor Bill Cohn, who led the organization of the symposium. “Obviously, there is a lot experts don’t know because problems haven’t been solved.”

The symposium was put together as a way for UNYP and NYU students, faculty, and staff as well as participants from other universities to discuss global issues.

These issues are divided into four panel discussions: law, business and finance, politics, and education. Panel participants include professors from NYU, UNYP, Charles University, and Empire State College, as well as local journalists and leaders from non-profit organizations.

“The symposium deals with international issues: climate change, nuclear weapons, global poverty,” said Cohn. “Since these challenges transcend national borders, it is necessary to address the great challenges of the 21st century at the international level.”

NYU students will also have the chance to interact with students from UNYP, most of whom are Czech and Slovak.

“NYU-in-Prague students can come and meet other students and other faculty, especially at the lunch and at the wine and cheese reception at the end,” said Martina Faltova, NYU student affairs coordinator and one organizer of the symposium. “It’s also a good way to find out more about issues in a European context.”

Students planning to attend should RSVP at unyp.symposium@gmail.com.