United States
2026 marks the 250th year since the United States of America became a nation -- and if you pay attention to the news even a little bit, you know it's a complicated time to be an American.
The Beyond 250 Conversation Project by Oregon Humanities aims to untangle the complex stories of who we are as a nation or as a community. The downtown Klamath County Library is hosting one of them on Saturday, May 16th at 2pm: "Science, Religion, and Public Policy," facilitated by professor Prakash Chenjeri.
This conversation will examine the issues that spark conflicts between scientific findings, religious beliefs, and public policies -- such as climate change, medical ethics, and public health. The Beyond 250 Conversation Project asks us to share our perspectives in small groups to take the issues beyond inflammatory headlines to get at what's important.
Chenjeri is a professor and chair of the philosophy program at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. His research focuses on citizenship, scientific literacy's role in democracy, and debates over science and religion.
There are Beyond 250 conversations happening all over the state, including several that can be joined via video conferencing. Head here for a list of available virtual and in-person events, and check out more from Oregon Humanities at their website.
For more information about the event at the library, call 541-882-8894.