Tag: IRIS

LACIS Partnership Brings the Wisconsin Idea to Communities in Guatemala

For the past several years, an ongoing partnership spearheaded by the Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program (LACIS) has proven that high school classrooms can have a global footprint. Through LACIS, a center within the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) at UW–Madison, advanced Spanish students at Oconomowoc High School undertake a creative …

LACIS Hosts Cuban American Author for Wisconsin Residency

As the author of acclaimed novels like The Only Road and Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla, Alexandra Diaz has dedicated her career to telling stories of resilience and empowerment. The Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program (LACIS) recently hosted Diaz for a week-long residency centered on writing and community engagement. Throughout the week of April …

A Look Inside the 2026 Middle East Studies Conference

On April 17, the Middle East Studies Program (MESP) convened its annual conference at the UW–Madison Memorial Library. Free and open to the public, this day-long event served as a forum for scholars, students, and community members to navigate the political, ecological, and cultural currents defining the Middle East and its global diasporas. The conference …

2026 World Cinema Day: Connecting K-12 Students to Global Narratives

For over two decades, a collaboration between the Wisconsin Film Festival and UW–Madison’s Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) has connected Wisconsin students with global cultures through the big screen. This year, World Cinema Day saw its reach expand even further. While last year’s screening brought 250 students to the theater, the event on …

IRIS Welcomes New Cohort of Incoming Graduate Student Award Recipients

The Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) is proud to announce the six scholars receiving an IRIS Area and International Studies Award for Incoming Graduate Students. The selected scholars will receive $5,000 each to support international fieldwork, language immersion, or the development of cultural competence away from the UW–Madison campus. Since its inception, this …

Over 1,000 Scholars Gather for the 53rd Annual Conference on South Asia

The Center for South Asia at UW–Madison recently hosted the 53rd Annual Conference on South Asia, the largest and most preeminent annual academic forum for South Asian studies worldwide. With over 1,000 registered participants, the four-day conference offered a massive platform for discussion, spanning 15 symposia, 141 panels, and 32 roundtables. Faculty and graduate students …

Center for East Asian Studies ‘East Asia Now’ Series Brings AI Pioneer Corey Jaskolski to Campus

The Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) kicked off a new installment of their popular “East Asia Now” series earlier this month with a talk about the global surveillance implications of the 2023 Chinese spy balloon and how a Wisconsin-based AI company successfully tracked its movements. Held in the Orchard View Room at the Wisconsin …

Design, Consumption, and Connection at the Latest Wisconsin International Resource Consortium Workshop

The Wisconsin International Resource Consortium (WIRC), a collaboration among the nine UW–Madison area studies centers, recently hosted a workshop titled “Design and Consumption: Mechanisms of Conveying Information.” This interdisciplinary workshop for K-12 and community college educators explored the historical roots of artistic expression and its influence on today’s digital information landscape. The workshop featured speakers …

CSEAS Announces Large-Scale Initiative for Sustainable Southeast Asian Language Education

The Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), part of the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) at UW–Madison, is launching the next phase of its significant, long-standing efforts in sustainable Southeast Asian language education. This four-year project, led by Principal Investigator Erlin Barnard in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, is generously supported …

IRIS Workshop Explores AI’s Future in Education, Business, and Beyond

A collaboration of UW–Madison’s IRIS centers hosted a workshop at the Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club last week. Titled “AI and Society: Community Impacts and New Directions,” the event drew over 55 educators, business leaders, and community partners from across the state. Supported by the International Division and co-sponsored by the Latin American, Caribbean, …