The John Morton Center hosts "Current Issues" lectures, seminars, conferences, and workshops on the histories, societies, politics and cultures of North American nations.

The JMC strives to engage in dialogue with multiple academic, cultural, political, and ideological viewpoints. We welcome speakers from a range of different backgrounds and persuasions. The views of our guests do not represent those of the Center.

2026 Events

January 23, 2026: JMC Research Network Event: Emerging Scholars’ Workshop

JMC Research Network Event: Emerging Scholars’ Workshop

Date: January 23, 2026

Time: 14-18

Place: Educarium 441

Program

14:00 Benita Heiskanen, “Thinking about the Long Game”

14:15–14:45 Olli Saukko, "Tikkun, Commentary, and American Jewish Perspectives on the Obama-era Culture Wars in 2012–2016,” University of Helsinki

14:45–15:15 Nadia Nava Contreras, “The Making of Finnish-Mexican Relations in the Twentieth Century: Mutual Gazes, Diplomacy, and Cooperation,” University of Helsinki

15:15–15:30 Break

15:30–16:00 Marco Ghisetti, “The United States as a ‘Continental Island’ and its Arctic Posture,” University of Lapland

16:00–16:30 Mila Seppälä, “Notes from the Field: An American Studies Approach to Researching Gun Violence Prevention,” University of Turku

16:30-16:45 Break

16:45–17:15 Oskari Ropponen, “‘Here we were born, and here we will die’ – Black Abolitionists against Colonization Plans in Antebellum America,” University of Eastern Finland

17:15–18:00 Discussion