Purdue Policy Research Institute symposium to focus on 'Violence, Security and Democracy'

Discovery Park's Purdue Policy Research Institute will bring together industry leaders, policymakers and Purdue researchers for a symposium on "Violence, Security and Democracy" on April 20.

The symposium, which is free and open to the public, will be held 1-5 p.m. at Dauch Alumni Center, Rudolph and Prusiecki rooms. A reception will follow. 

Keynote presentations will be made by Bill Scheuerman, professor of political science at Indiana University, and Mia Bloom, professor of communication at Georgia State University. Scheuerman will speak on "Emergency Powers Beyond the Nation State?" and Bloom will address "Women and Jihad: From Al Qaeda to ISIS."

Panel discussions and a PPRI Policy Lab presentation also will be held. Topics and participants are:

* Panel: "Freedom and Fear" with Jean Beaman, assistant professor of sociology, Purdue; Aaron Hoffman, associate professor of political science, Purdue; and Ben Lawton, associate professor of Italian, interim director of Film and Video Studies and chair of Italian Studies, Purdue.

* Panel: "The National Security Apparatus in the United States: Perspectives from (and on) Different Agencies" with Mark Loepker, chief, Cryptologic Partner Field Support and Engagement & Policy, National Security Agency; Eugene Spafford, professor of computer science, Purdue; and Melissa Will, limited term lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Purdue.

* PPRI Policy Lab student presentation on "Government Vetting of Refugees in Established Democracies" with students from the Leading Indicators class held in the PPRI Policy Lab and the Honors College. Students: Alabi-Michael Akande, Baylee Bunce, Sherin Khawaja, Prateek Malik, Bianca Oprea, and Noah Rouleau. Chair: Laurel Weldon, director of PPRI and Distinguished Professor of Political Science. Discussant: Rebekah Klein-Pejšová, associate professor of history and Jewish studies.

For more information, contact L. Allison Roberts at allisonroberts@purdue.edu.