Speaker Series

When Ambassador Michael Oren agreed to speak in Jacksonville, little did anyone know the backdrop of his visit would coincide with the current war between Israel and Hamas. The timing of his presentation, therefore, could not have been more palpable. During Tuesday's Global Issues Evening lecture, Ambassador Oren presented on the topic of "Israel and the Middle East: Navigating Complexities." Oren offered a unique perspective on the current conflict between Israel and Hamas and what the future might hold for both Israel and Gaza. Amb. Oren focused his comments on the Israel-Hamas warfare currently playing out around Israel’s

Are the demons that drive Elon Musk also what it takes to drive innovation and progress? This question was posed prior to Walter Isaacson's lecture at the University of North Florida on October 23. Following Mr. Isaacson's visit, it is safe to say the answer is complicated. Isaacson's visit to Jacksonville came on the heels of the release of his latest biography, Elon Musk.  Mr. Isaacson, who has written biographies of Leonardo Da Vinci, Jennifer Doudna, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, and Steve Jobs, paints a fascinating portrait of Elon Musk’s complex personality and achievements, calling him at times both

Complicated relationships have demanded our attention since the advent of media. Beauty and the Beast, Romeo and Juliet, Ross and Rachel on Friends. But none may be as complicated as the U.S.-Saudi relationship. If a relationship counselor were to sit down with the Saudi Arabia and the United States, there would likely be the usual run of difficulties: communication issues, a breakdown of trust, an inherent distance. Luckily for the World Affairs Council, Atlantic Staff Writer Graeme Wood understands the complicated U.S.-Saudi relationship in detail—and he made clear that the rift between the countries is anything but run