Lectures and Outside Learning Opportunities

Oregon Nobel Laureate Symposium

The Oregon Nobel Laureate Symposium is one of only five such convocations held worldwide. Since 1985 Linfield has hosted the only West Coast Symposium. The centerpiece of each symposium is a free public lecture. Informal exchanges and discussions in small groups of scholars, citizens and students add to the atmosphere of intellectual excitement and discovery. While the public is welcome at most symposium activities, a special bond typically develops between speakers and Linfield faculty and students.

The most recent Nobel Laureates to participate in the symposium include Carl E. Wieman, 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics (co-recipient); F. Sherwood Rowland, 1995 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (co-recipient); Jose Ramos-Horta, 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate, Human Rights Diplomat from East Timor; Oscar Arias, 1987 Nobel Peace Prize; Mairead Corrigan Maguire, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize.

Other endowed lectureships and/or regular lectures

• Amsden Endowed Lectureship: Outstanding American thinkers in business and public affairs.
• Jane Claire Dirks-Edmunds Endowed Ecology Lectureship: Experts in critical environmental concerns and/or biological concerns.
• Graf/Edelfsen Memorial Lecture: Outstanding lecturers in any field of endeavor of Linfield College.
• Frank Larsell Lectureship: Brings a lecturer who has achieved recognition for scholarship in his or her field to present the results of those studies to faculty, students and the public.
• Ken and Donna Erickson Endowed English Department Fund: Allows the English Department of bring speakers to campus for several days to work with faculty and students and to present a public lecture.
• Walter Powell Philosophy Endowed Lectureship: Brings distinguished philosophers to campus twice each year to discuss important contemporary philosophical issues.
• Jonas A “Steine” Jonasson Endowed Lecture: Brings distinguished historians to campus.
• J. Hybert Pollard Symposium in Religion and Society: Deals primarily with contemporary issues that relate to religion and society.
• Gordon G. Frazee Lecture in Bible and Religion: Underwrites an annual lecture under the auspices of the Linfield Religious Studies Department.
• Edith Green Distinguished Lecture: Brings in distinguished lecturer in government or education.
• Ray and Marion Vestor Lectureship: Brings outstanding American thinkers to campus for public lectures and discussions in the area of business and public affairs.
• Walter P. Dyke Endowment: Supports collaborative research between students and faculty in the sciences and provides opportunities for enrichment of the academic life of the college and the community through lectures in fields of scientific endeavor.

Other speakers who have visited Linfield College

Authors Ursula LeGuin and Barry Lopez; law professor Anita Hill; former hostage Terry Waite; physicist and author Brian Green; and science historian and author James Burke.

McMinnville Reads (MacReads)

MacReads is a series of community readings by book clubs, reading groups and classes throughout Yamhill County. The reading culminates in an appearance by the author as part of the "Readings at the Nick," the annual series which brings local, regional and nationally known authors to Linfield College. Past authors who have been featured through MacReads include David James Duncan, author of "The Brothers K"; David Quammen, author of "The Song of the Dodo"; and Tracy Kidder, author of "Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, the Man Who Would Cure the World."

For this year's Readings at the Nick schedule, go to: http://www.linfield.edu/library/nicholson/Fall_Readings07.pdf