CU Students

4 Days

100 Speakers & Performers

125 Events

Free Admission

CWA Student Track

Handpicked for CU Boulder students, the CWA Student Track is a curated series of programs focused on today’s top world issues. Connect with friends and thought leaders, and engage with the subjects that matter most to you. Free and open to all students.

April 6

The Life of a Whistleblower: The Personal Risks of Reporting the Truth
10:30-11:40 am—UMC 235
The Magic of Creativity: What is it, who has it, why we need it.
10:30-11:40 am—CASE Chancellor’s Auditorium
Feeding the World Without Killing the Planet
1:30-2:40 pm—Macky Auditorium
OMG...How did I Get Here? Stories of entrepreneurial highs and wild rides.
1:30-2:40 pm—UMC West Ballroom
Crafting the Original Idea: The germination of an idea; when, where, why it begins, won’t go away and comes to fruition.
1:30-2:40 pm—Old Main Chapel
Ebert Interruptus Film Series I: JAWS
3-5 pm— Macky Auditorium
Why Critical Race Theory is such a Hot-Button Topic
3-4:10 pm—UMC 235
The Hidden Opponent: Victoria Garrick shares the journey of how she battled and overcame anxiety and depression.
7-9 pm—Macky Auditorium

April 7

The Dark Web: Why is it a Scary Place?
9-10:10 am—Macky Auditorium
War in the Ukraine: The Tragedy Unfolding and What’s Next
10:30-11:40 am—UMC 235
BIPOC Youth Activism
10:30-11:40 am—CASE Chancellor’s Auditorium
Psychology of Comedians: What’s so funny…and why?
12-1:10 pm—UMC West Ballroom
Pop Culture: What's Left to Talk About? Contemporary issues in pop culture with CU graduate students.
1:30-2:40 pm—Old Main Chapel
The Law of the Land: A Grand Tour of the Constitution. Is the constitution prepared for the 21st century?
3-4:10 pm—UMC Center Ballroom

April 8

Climate Change: A Global Challenge with Local Opportunities
10:30-11:40 am—UMC 235
Sports and their Impacts on Mental Health
12-1:10 pm—Old Main Chapel
Gaming as a Generation: What effect has gaming had on the generations? Ready Player One, Metaverse, WTF?
12-1:10 pm—Visual Arts Center 1B20
Cashing In: The Branding of College Athletes. College athletes have a new opportunity to profit from their personal brands.
1:30-2:40 pm—UMC 235
The Glass Ceiling: Journey to the Top. A multigenerational panel of women leaders discuss their experiences working up the ladder and give advice on how young women can do the same.
1:30-2:40 pm—UMC East Ballroom

April 9

Addressing Mass Burnout: Record numbers of people are leaving their jobs in search of more money, flexibility, and more happiness.
9-10:10 am—UMC 235
You Need to Calm Down: Strategies and Methods for Overcoming Anger
10:30-11:40 am—CASE Chancellor’s Auditorium
Dating is More Difficult Than Ever: It's not Your Fault
12-1:10 pm—UMC East Ballroom
Radical Bridge-Building: How a millennial musician is bridging the political divide.
1:30-2:40 pm—Macky Auditorium
Is Being an Influencer Really a Career Path? How do you go from developing a viral video to a successful online commercial business?
1:30-2:40 pm—UMC West Ballroom
Empowering BIPOC Students' Voices in the Classroom: Preventing the erasure of students’ differing identities, histories and current realities.
3-4:10 pm—Old Main Chapel

Explore & Discover

Imagine the Possibilities

Interested in global concerns?

CWA brings together brilliant minds and thought leaders from across the globe to discuss a diverse range of topics and explore solutions to world issues. Big ideas and endless discoveries await at this one-of-a-kind conference.

Take Part in Movie Magic

Watch and experience Steven Spielberg’s Jaws like never before!

A beloved CWA tradition, Ebert Interrupts will be presented by returning host, film critic and author Josh Larsen. Interruptus events begin at 3 p.m. daily April 6–9 in Macky Auditorium. The first session is a full screening of Jaws, followed by three movie analysis sessions. You can play a role in discussing the film’s artistic choices, frame by frame, or simply sit back and enjoy the show. Note: Ebert Interruptus is an in-person-only event.

CWA members

Volunteer & Leadership Opportunities

The CWA offers opportunities in a variety of areas, allowing students to select an option that best suits their schedules and interests. Our student volunteer group meets weekly, and all students are welcome to join.

During the fall semester, subcommittees composed of CU students, faculty, staff and community members work together to recruit speakers and design the panels of the upcoming conference. Students are welcome to participate in any (or as many) subcommittees as they would like—or may decide to attend only the student group meetings.

Interested in CWA student volunteer and leadership opportunities? We want to hear from you!

Sign up to volunteer

CWA Student News

First-Ever CWA Course Offered Spring 2022 Semester

The Conference on World Affairs and the Center for Leadership have partnered to offer a one-credit course for participation and involvement with Conference on World Affairs event this upcoming Spring 2022 semester. Learn more and register today! Read more

CWA Launches Student Leader Certificate Program

The Conference on World Affairs student leadership team has established a new CWA student leader certificate program in which student volunteers can gain recognition for their efforts in planning the annual Boulder tradition. Read more

CWA Speaker Ambassadors Gain Real World Connections

Students make valuable career connections as a CWA speaker ambassador where they network with experts in their field from around the world during the Conference on World Affairs on the CU Boulder campus (April 6-10, 2020). Read more

CWA Program Committees

Arts

Business

Human Condition

International Affairs

Politics & Media

Science & Technology

Conference Week Volunteer Opportunities

Each participant has a CU student volunteer assigned to them as an "ambassador" during their time on campus for CWA week. The speaker ambassador offers to act as a point of contact during their stay in order to assist and answer any questions that may arise—and also gives the participant a commemorative CWA pin. This is an excellent way to meet and connect with the CWA speakers.

CWA Speaker Ambassadors Gain Real World Connections

For each panel session, a student or community committee member is assigned to work behind the scenes to coordinate logistics for that event. This includes introducing panel members to the moderator, leading them from CWA headquarters to the venue and ensuring that the session's physical needs are in order (microphones are working, water is available, name cards are in place). The producer stays in the back of the venue throughout the session to make sure everything runs smoothly.

In the weeks leading up to the Conference volunteers help in the CWA Office assisting in the Conference preparations. During CWA Week, volunteers work behind the scenes in the Conference Headquarters.

The colorful international flags lining the main walkway through Norlin Quad is a sure sign that CU's annual rite of spring—the Conference on World Affairs—is back! The student volunteers who assemble the flags and then put them up each day take special pride in the brilliant visual display they create—and the impact it makes on the tens of thousands who pass through the Quad that week.

Student volunteers provide transportation to and from Denver International Airport, as well as to local events during the week. The Conference utilizes University of Colorado vehicles, so it is not necessary to own a car to be a driver. Driving the participants is a great opportunity to have fascinating conversations with some truly remarkable people and meet other CU students and Boulder community members.

Donate your time during CWA week by photographing and video recording sessions and events for the CWA office archives.

Main menu

CU Students

Big Ideas. Endless Discoveries.

Join us!

CWA Student Track

Explore & Discover

Volunteer & Leadership Opportunities

CWA Student News

First-Ever CWA Course Offered Spring 2022 Semester

CWA Launches Student Leader Certificate Program

CWA Speaker Ambassadors Gain Real World Connections

CWA Program Committees

Conference Week Volunteer Opportunities

Main menu

Search

CU Students

Big Ideas. Endless Discoveries.

Join us!

CWA Student Track

Explore & Discover

Volunteer & Leadership Opportunities

CWA Student News

First-Ever CWA Course Offered Spring 2022 Semester

CWA Launches Student Leader Certificate Program

CWA Speaker Ambassadors Gain Real World Connections

CWA Program Committees

Conference Week Volunteer Opportunities