Harvard Dialogues
Harvard University is dedicated to fostering a culture of constructive dialogue and building bridges across differences. Learn more about recent efforts below.
harvard’s commitment
Report on Open Inquiry and Constructive Dialogue
In spring 2024, the Open Inquiry and Constructive Dialogue Working Group was convened to explore the question of how best to reinforce and nurture a culture of open inquiry and constructive dialogue at Harvard. In October 2024, the group released its report and recommendations to reinforce the free exchange of ideas, rigorous discourse, and empathy for all members of our learning communities.
News
Ongoing initiatives in constructive dialogue
Centers and initiatives
Harvard College: Intellectual Vitality
Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences: Commitment to Civil Discourse
Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences: FAS Classroom Social Compact Committee
Harvard Graduate School of Education: Dialogue Across Differences
Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences: Dean's Dialogues
Harvard Kennedy School: Candid and Constructive Conversations
Harvard Law School: Rappaport Forum
Harvard Medical School: Working Group on Open Inquiry
Harvard Radcliffe Institute: Academic Freedom and Connecting Across Difference
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Open Inquiry and Constructive Engagement
Grant and fellowship programs
Resources
Other recent events
A look back at events and discussions designed to foster a climate of constructive dialogue
2024 HILT Conference, “Open Minds in Dialogue”
HILT’s thirteenth annual HILT Conference, held on September 20, 2024, at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, explored open inquiry and demonstrated the ways in which engaging in constructive dialogues are essential to teaching, learning, and research.
Askwith Education Forum Explores How to Bridge Differences with Universal Dignity
U.S. Special Olympics chair and UNITE co-founder Tim Shriver highlighted ways to improve communication and rhetoric by choosing dignity over contempt
Dialogue & Action Series
This spring 2024 series featured conversations among colleagues from across nine Massachusetts universities in the spirit of tackling difficult issues and modeling constructive dialogue.
Spring series at HDS explores ‘love’ across difference
In spring 2024, the Harvard Divinity School community explored the ways love is understood and practiced across different faith traditions.
Safra Center: Civil Disagreements Series
‘Harvard Dialogues’ taps power of respectful debate
Held in January 2024, this week of programming was designed to help students, faculty, and others engage in candid conversations on tough topics
Free Speech, Political Speech, and Hate Speech on Campus
Harvard Radcliffe Institute’s interdisciplinary panel to discuss the purposes and scope of academic freedom and the legal norms that govern how universities respond to conflict and protest
Stepping into the hot center
Tarek Masoud’s ‘Middle East Dialogues’ sparked many conversations — including about importance of having them
The Summit on Intellectual Vitality and Free Expression
In January 2024, Harvard Dialogues kicked off with a the two-day gathering co-hosted by the Harvard College and PEN America featured scholars of law, history, and politics, and workshops for undergraduate students.
Hard Questions: Ethics in the Age of AI
In winter 2024, Michael Sandel, the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government, challenged students to question their assumptions, like whether technology will change what it means to be human? And if that matter?
Dissent, Disagreement, and Democracy
As part of Harvard Dialogues, a Harvard Kennedy School panel wrestled with how to repair divides and explored creating a culture of candid, constructive conversations.
‘Human dignity front and center’
Finding common ground in an era of intense political and personal division begins with mutual respect was the message of “Coming Together Across Difference,” an online discussion in winter 2024 featuring Danielle Allen, David Lazer and Alexandra Pineros-Shields.