The Symposium is our highly successful, free seminar for community members interested in discussing intellectual issues in depth. Since 1995 Symposium members have met twice a quarter with UCSB faculty to engage in a lively exchange regarding social, political, and cultural issues of vital importance in the contemporary world.The Symposium is structured as a dialogue involving 35 to 40 participants who read a short article pertinent to the theme in advance. It begins with brief, informal remarks by the faculty convener lasting no more than 20 minutes. They are followed by what might be described as a "democratic dialogue" or a spirited exchange of views among all the participants. At its best, The Symposium operates like a seminar of peers: the convener and the participants engage in a provocative interrogation of the issues raised in the readings and presentation as well as of the viewpoints expressed by each other.The Symposium takes place from 5:00 to 7:00 on weekday afternoons at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 21 West Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara. It is organized by the UCSB Interdisciplinary Humanities Center and co-sponsored by UCSB Affiliates and the UCSB Office of Community Relations.

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