Programming
While Americans have access to more information than ever before, the expansion of disinformation and deep fakes has resulted in an American electorate divided by how they consume information. The consequences are dire: citizens are addicted to social media and lack the education needed for a productive civic participation, ultimately allowing polarization and animosity to proliferate. How do we fix our broken information landscape and the threats it poses to an informed citizenry? What tools do we need to find accurate information in the age of AI and algorithms?
Globally known as a leader in technological development, Purdue University is also home to scholars pursuing cutting-edge research in the democratic use and abuse of technological innovations and information technologies, from AI computing to the internet and social media. This summit will bring thought leaders and policymakers into conversation with scholars to discuss how AI and algorithms have upended our current media ecosystems and what we can do about it.
The first annual Summit on Information, Technology, and American Democracy will take place on April 30, 2026, at Purdue University's Indianapolis campus. More information about registration will be avaliable soon!
This fall, the Center for American Political History and Technology (CAPT) will host a seminar series featuring new research from scholars at Purdue and across the country. Faculty and graduate students from the College of Liberal Arts and across campus are invited to join these interdisciplinary conversations that examine the historical intersections of politics, media, and technology. Each seminar will take place on Mondays between 11:30am and 1:00pm in Beering Hall Room 6138. Lunch will be provided. Contact Dr. Kathryn Cramer Brownell (brownell@purdue.edu) for more details.
Seminar Schedule for Spring 2026
- January 26, 2026
- Bruce Schulman, Boston University, "The Science of Citizenship: Ralph Nader and the Mugwump Tradition in Modern American History"
- February 16, 2026
- Lily Geismer, Claremont McKenna College, "Democrats and Big Tech: Past, Present, and Future"
- March 9, 2026
- Josh Pasek, University of Michigan, TBD
CAPT will co-sponsor the American Political History Conference, with CAPT director Dr. Kathryn Cramer Brownell serving as co-chair of the program committee. This conference will take place on June 4-6, 2026, at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington D.C. It will offer a supportive and collaborative opportunity for historians and historically minded scholars to build networks, share new research, debate ideas, and discuss strategies for public engagement.
Those interested in participating can direct any questions or panel, roundtable, and workshop proposals to Dr. Kathryn Cramer Brownell at brownell@purdue.edu.
To learn more about this conference, please view the following link for the Call for Proposals.