When asked for their thoughts on free speech, most Americans embrace it and believe it is fundamental in a democracy. Survey after survey reveals that people across time and demographics overwhelmingly support First Amendment rights. Dig a layer deeper though, and the feelings are more complex. This phenomenon isn’t unique to free speech. In practice, … Continued
In a new report, national free speech organization PEN America highlights the Charles Koch Foundation’s (CKF) work to protect academic freedom. The analysis received extensive coverage, including a story in The New York Times. Readers of the report will have different perspectives about the state-level trends detailed by the authors, — but the report itself is a reminder of the diverse … Continued
This essay by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks was first published in January 2018 and is extracted from Judaism’s Life-Changing Ideas: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (Jerusalem: Maggid Books, 2020). I have become increasingly concerned about the assault on free speech taking place throughout the West, particularly in university campuses. This … Continued
American higher education has long been marked by its openness — openness to people of different backgrounds bringing forward different ideas, backed by evidence. This openness inevitably yields a natural tension between new ideas and established orthodoxies. Healthy societies harness this tension because doing so can drive learning, creativity, and innovation not just for students, … Continued
How can society prepare more people to find fulfilling work in a rapidly changing economy? That is the broad question Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) Executive Director Ryan Stowers tackled on two recent podcasts. The current system is not working for most people, Stowers said. With Ramona Schindelheim on Work in Progress, a WorkingNation podcast, Stowers noted that, … Continued
Nicholas A. Christakis, MD, PhD, MPH, is a social scientist and physician at Yale University who conducts research in the fields of network science, biosocial science, and behavior genetics. His current work focuses on how human biology and health are affected by social interactions and social networks. He directs the Human Nature Lab and is the co-director … Continued
On October 27, the Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) sponsored an Axios “New Era of Learning” conversation. During the half hour event, business reporter Erica Pandey, Guild Education CEO Rachel Carlson and Education Design Lab CEO Kathleen deLaski unpacked the future of learning, postsecondary education innovation, and career readiness after COVID-19. Pandey asked speakers how the concept of the traditional … Continued
The polarization of religious freedom and its manifestation in religious divides between conservative white Protestants and Muslims offers important lessons about the benefits of openness to progress. My experiences have shown me that change is possible if we simply take the time to acknowledge the other side’s hurt as real and maybe even legitimate. Importantly, we … Continued
