MICDE State of AI & the Future of Institutions Event Series
A twice-yearly forum hosted by MICDE that brings together scholars, students, and institutional leaders to examine how AI is reshaping knowledge, research, education, work, and governance, and the ways universities can respond with clarity and foresight.
Current Event
Fall 2026
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Time: 3 – 5 PM
Venue: Forum Hall, Palmer Commons
Speakers & panelists:
Henriette Elvang · Michael Wellman · Karen E. Smith · Richard Lewis · Kathleen Cagney · Venkat Raman · Jason Owen-Smith
About the series
The series creates a forum for timely, cross-disciplinary conversation about AI’s emerging capabilities, its limits, and its consequences. Rather than rehearse familiar arguments, each event focuses on a practical question: as AI becomes central to how knowledge is created, shared, and applied, how should universities and other institutions respond?
Recurring themes span knowledge and research, education, work, governance, and society. The series returns every semester so the conversation can keep pace with the field.
Past Events
Spring 2026
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Time: 3 – 5 PM
Venue: Forum Hall, Palmer Commons
Speakers & panelists:
Chandra Sripada · Rada Mihalcea · Karthik Duraisamy · Richard Lewis · Jason Owen-Smith · Jerry Davis · Scott Page
Student bightning talks by Timothy Welch and Graham Hardig
What to Expect
2. A moderated panel. Speakers debate where AI leaves institutions and what to do about it.
3. Reception. An hour to continue the conversation across disciplines.