Inequality: Conditions, Consequences, Solutions
June 29 - July 1, 2015
This three-day institute gave educators interdisciplinary perspectives on one of the world’s greatest problems: inequality. With an eye toward curriculum development, presentations and discussions drew on comparative and international examples to explore causes and possible remedies to social and natural disparity.

Energy and the Global Environment: Science, History, Politics
June 23 - 25, 2014
This three-day institute incorporated perspectives from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to examine how concerns over energy scarcity and energy sustainability can be translated into creative classroom instruction.

Feeding the World: Challenges to Achieving Food Security
June 25 - 27, 2012
60 Chicago educators participated in this three-day institute that explored the concept of global food security. Academic and policy experts presented and discussed the challenges to providing all people with physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, nutritious food.

Migration: Causes and Consequences
June 27 - 29, 2011
This interdisciplinary three-day institute explored the causes and consequences of migration. Daily themes addressed included: Social and Legal Aspects of Migration, Conflict and the Environment, and Economic Factors. Faculty and staff from the University of Chicago and other educational institutions from around the world spoke each day, interspersed with discussions of K-12 curriculum development.

Water: An Interdisciplinary Examination of the World's Most Essential Resource
June 28 - July 1, 2010
From Turkish dams to Asian carp, the 2010 Summer Teacher Institute gave Chicago educators a thorough primer on teaching the many ways that water, and the lack of it, shapes our future. This 3-day institute explored global water issues, including those that affect the Great Lakes region. Daily topics included: water scarcity, effective water management, and water issues in politics, sanitation, agriculture, and economics. A follow-up curriculum development workshop was held on July 1st.

Climate Change: Biological and Social Implications
June 23 - 25, 2008
This three-day institute focused on biological and social aspects of climate change. It The institute featured presentations by scientists and policy experts with both topical and regional expertise as well as panel discussions and small group activities.

Epidemics Then & Now: Infectious Diseases Around the World
June 26 - 29, 2006
This four-day workshop will explored epidemics and pandemics through a series of presentations, panel discussions, and small group activities. Area studies faculty, regional experts, and medical practitioners from the University of Chicago and partner institutions will lectured on the historical, cultural, scientific, and political issues surrounding the spread and impact of infectious diseases.

Viewing the World Through Media and Popular Culture
June 20 - 23, 2005
This four-day workshop explored the ways in which media shape processes of state formation, identity politics and worldwide consumption. In addition to thematic presentations, participants engaged in roundtable discussions, classroom applications, and cultural enrichment activities.

Regional Perspectives on Globalization and Human Rights
June 28 - July 1, 2004
This institute explored human rights and globalization issues. High school teachers and college educators from the Chicago area and the upper Midwest participated in the weeklong program through lectures, multimedia presentations, and discussions.

Maps, Identity, and World Studies
June 18 - 29, 2001
This workshop was intended to give teachers of grades 6-12 essential tools for discussing and examining maps and their relevance to world studies. Topics include the relationship between map design, self-perception, and world view; using maps to discuss ethnicity, identity, and national relations; and Incorporating maps into the high school curriculum.