Morning with the Professors

CHALLENGES TO THE GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN: ABUNDANCE OR FUTURE SCARCITY?

October 3

Why does Illinois agriculture look the way it does? How do world events and other countries play a role in our Midwest food production system? What is the long-term outlook for food production? What affects supermarket food prices the most? Why are some foods so much cheaper than others? Are global food supplies becoming scarcer over time or are they more abundant? How is climate change affecting food availability and prices? How do Illinois farmers fit into this puzzle? Come ready to learn about the recent trends and studies.

Mike Doherty, Independent Consultant

TRANSFERS, NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS (NIL) AND THE NCAA: A NEW ERA OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

October 10

Welcome to the NCAA’s Transfer and NIL Era. Recent NCAA legislative decisions have provided college athletes the freedom to transfer institutions without penalty and unprecedented access to the seemingly endless flow of money in college athletics via NIL agreements. This presentation will provide insight into the legal and legislative pressures that led to radical changes to their amateurism rules over the past decade. Additionally, the presentation will provide updates on any changes to NIL and transfer regulations based upon the outcomes from House v. NCAA. Kramer will also discuss the sustainability of the current intercollegiate athletics model and the implications of proposed solutions.

Eric Kramer, Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology and Recreation, ISU

U.S. ELECTIONS AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

October 24

The development of the global economy has had far-reaching implications for all countries, as the proportion of global economic activity related to the global economy has surged over the past 50 years to more than 60%. For the United States, even as a dominant player in world markets, this shift has had implications for elections and, especially recently, U.S. elections have implications for the global economy as well. This session will focus on understanding the key characteristics of the global economy and examining the connections between it and U.S. elections. With both a “bright side” and a “dark side,” the global economy has played a role in US politics — and vice versa — for decades, but no more salient than in the last decade. The most recent presidential election underscores both parts of the symbiotic relationship; the implications for the global economy are more significant than ever.

James Scott, University Professor and Chair, Department of Politics and Government, ISU

PLACES, PEOPLE AND POLITICS: TRAVELING THE WORLD ON A TANDEM BICYCLE

October 31

In Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain wrote, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” This is amplified when traveling by bicycle. Bicycle touring is unhurried and immersive, which facilitates observations, interactions and conversations that would otherwise be missed. In this presentation Noha Shawki and Julian Westerhout will share their self-supported travels on a tandem bicycle in Cuba, Northern Ireland and Japan, reflecting upon conflicts past and present, people and landscapes. Learn how encounters during those trips have impacted their worldview and their teaching.

Noha Shawki, Professor, Department of Politics and Government, ISU

Julian Westerhout, Instructional Assistant Professor, Department of Politics and Government, ISU

AMTRAK: A BRIEF HISTORY AND THE FUTURE OF PASSENGER RAIL IN AMERICA

November 7

Since its creation in 1971, Amtrak has struggled to perform to expectations with inconsistent funding, aging infrastructure and outdated rolling stock. However, in 2021 with the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Amtrak is on track to be a high performing twenty-first century passenger rail system. Amtrak is striving to meet record demand while delivering mega construction projects, upgrading fleet and serving more places with assistance from state partners. Gain insight into the National Railroad Passenger Corporation board and plans for the future of Amtrak.

Chris Koos, Director, National Railroad Passenger Corporation Board of Directors, Mayor, Town of Normal