Pop-up Discussions

Online opportunities to explore timely topics. 

Many Academy projects take place over many months, involve many members, and issue multiple products. The Academy also convenes experts to illuminate complex, fast-moving, and timely issues; as exemplified by this series of pop-up discussions. Some pop-ups are only for members, some for the public. Some are recorded and some are not. All are dedicated to increasing understanding of current issues.

Learn more about future events and register here

How Can We Assess Recent Changes to Vaccine Policy?

with 

Penny Heaton (Johnson & Johnson)

Norman Baylor (FDA)

Paul Offit (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)

introduced by Academy President Laurie L. Patton

Is there a path forward for inclusion in Higher Education’s shifting landscape? 

with

Joanne Berger-Sweeney (formerly Trinity College)

Tyrone Howard (UCLA)

Laura Perna (University of Pennsylvania)

Regina Petty (Fisher and Phillips)

introduced by Academy President Laurie Patton

Can congress better represent Americans? 

with

Andy Craig (Joseph H. Rainey Center)

Michel Li (Brennan Center for Justice)

Norman Ornstein (American Enterprise Institute)

Maria Perez (Democracy Rising)

moderated by John Carey (Dartmouth College)

introduced by Academy President Laurie Patton

Recording: https://www.amacad.org/events/can-congress-better-represent-americans 

We the People: A Conversation on the Fate of the Constitution with Jill Lepore

with

Jill Lepore (Harvard University)

in conversation with Academy President Laurie Patton

Recording live: https://www.amacad.org/events/conversation-on-our-constitution-jill-lepore 

What are the limits of executive power — and citizen power — in America?

with 

Akhil Amar (Yale)

Eric Liu (Citizen University)

introduced by Academy President Laurie Patton

What can be learned from international perspectives on autocracy and democracy?

with

Stephen B. Heintz (Rockefeller Brothers Fund)

Miguel Angel Lara Otaola (Electoral Integrity Project)

Kim Lane Scheppele (Princeton University)

Timothy Snyder (University of Toronto)

introduced by Academy President Laurie L. Patton

Recording live: https://www.amacad.org/events/international-perspectives-democracy-and-autocracy 

Why do tariffs matter for Americans?

with

Judith L. Goldstein (Stanford University)

Ronald Kirk (Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher)

David A. Lake (UCSD)

Michael R. Strain (AEI)

introduced by Academy President Laurie L. Patton

Recording: https://www.amacad.org/events/tariffs-matter-discussion 

What Is a constitutional crisis?  A conversation on courts and executive power

with

Eric Posner (University of Chicago Law)

Judge Tom Griffith (BYU)

Janet Napolitano (University of California, Berkeley)

Vanita Gupta (NYU)

moderated by Academy Board Chair Goodwin Liu

introduced by Academy President Laurie L. Patton

Recording: https://www.amacad.org/events/constitutional-crisis-courts-law 

Conversation on the potential impact of proposed funding cuts to science.

with 

Nancy Andrews (Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School),

Maria Zuber (MIT)

William Tate (LSU)

and Paul Clement (Clement & Murphy PLLC)

moderated by Academy President Laurie Patton 

This series began in February 2025. 

The Academy holds events throughout the year, including these discussions, as well as lectures, listening sessions, publication launches, roundtables, award ceremonies, webinars, and receptions.