Philosophy Professors Christoph Hanisch and James Petrik team up for CAPEd Conversations, the podcast series of Ohio University’s Center for Applied and Professional Ethics.

CAPEd Conversations invites guests with expertise in ethics, moral psychology, and applied moral philosophy. Our goal in the conversations is to highlight the relevance and significance of contemporary debates, not only in the scholarly disciplines of the humanities but to develop, with the help of our guests, a better understanding of the practical challenges that contemporary societies are facing in the light of social and technological innovations.

Public Lecture by Nancy Sherman, Distinguished University Professor, Philosophy, Georgetown University. The lecture is open to the University and Surrounding Community.

Aristotle is the giant of western thought. Antiquity knew him as “The First Teacher” and “The Philosopher.” His curiosity about the natural and social world is truly astounding and teaches us all to be curious and to desire to understand. With Aristotle as my guide, I will explore the foundational questions of all Greco-Roman ethics and the questions many of us struggle with every day: What is it to flourish? What is it to live a good life? How do we explore nature without exploiting it? How do we tell jokes without cruel mockery? How do we play without hurting? How do we cultivate friendships that help us grow? What does it mean to feed the soul?

Professor Sherman’s visit is sponsored by the Center for Applied and Professional Ethics, the Philosophy Department, and the College of Arts and Sciences.

CAPE is organizing and hosting a one-day workshop at Ohio University, discussing recent work on the history of (practical) philosophy.

The workshop is taking place in Ellis Hall, room 009, from 9am to 6pm.

Invited speakers: Alyssa Bernstein (OU), Stefan Bird-Pollan (Wayne State), Christoph Hanisch (OU), Frank Kirkland (Hunter College, CUNY), Noelle McAfee (Emory), Herlinde Pauer-Studer (Vienna), Massimiliano Tomba (UC Santa Cruz)

Workshop theme: Philosophy, whether it thematizes it or not, responds in multiple ways to the social dimensions of the phenomenon of “crisis.” At least beginning with philosophers like a Bacon, Descartes and Hobbes, philosophy has explicitly responded to social currents which also means, scientific crisis. In the light of the current social crisis, we propose to cast back our glance at the sorts of crises which gave rise to some of the canonical great works of philosophy, each of which transformed what we mean by philosophy. By reexamining works like Hume’s Treatise and Kant’s Critiques as well as some of the important works of the 19th and 20th Centuries, from Hegel and Nietzsche to Freud, Adorno and Arendt, we hope to contribute to putting the crisis we are living through in historical context.

The Agora Book Club serves as a way for Athens community members to engage with philosophical teachings. Typically led by two Ohio University philosophy students, the Agora Group meets on Thursday evenings at the Athens County Public Library for a total of 3 sessions. This year, the group is reading Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience by Dr. Nancy Sherman (Georgetown). Nancy Sherman will be joining the Agora Book Club for their final session on March 26th to discuss her book. 

This year’s Agora Book Club is being led by recent Ohio University graduates Jack Almoro and Gretchen Sahr.

The Agora Book Club is jointly sponsored by the Department of Philosophy, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Center for Applied and Professional Ethics.

Jack Almoro graduated from Ohio University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and he plans to go to graduate school for philosophy to pursue an M.A. and Ph.D. His primary philosophical interests are the philosophy of mind, ethics, epistemology, metaphysics and ancient philosophy. Outside of philosophy, he likes to listen to music, play video games, and watch his favorite basketball team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Gretchen Sahr graduated from Ohio University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Philosophy. Gretchen now works as a Research Assistant at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service and as a Policy Fellow with the Appalachian Children Coalition. She remains an active member of Ohio University’s Mock Trial team. Outside of Philosophy, Gretchen enjoys making art, swimming, and playing the bass with her bands.

As a leader, you’re often focused on supporting others—but how often do you pause to prioritize your own well-being?

This 60-minute workshop is designed specifically for those in leadership roles who want to better manage their own stress while also creating a healthier, more resilient team environment.

Thursday, March 5th, 1pm-2pm, ONLINE on Teams

For more information, visit this LINK.

Ohio University Eastern will host a FREE three hour, in-person AI Workshop supported by a Talent Ready Grant. Guided by OHIO's commitment to accessible education and learning through experience, this workshop connects campus and community participants with practical, responsible AI approaches that can support programs, organizations and evolving workforce needs in our region.

Tuesday, March 10, 1pm-4pm, Eastern Campus 219

For more information, visit this LINK.

On March 24th, Dr. Nancy Manring, Director of the Environmental Science and Sustainability Program at OU, will discuss her recent book, A World of Wounds: Rebuilding a Bipartisan Environmental Movement and Cultivating Authentic Hope to discuss ways of rebuilding a bipartisan environmental movement and cultivating authentic hope in the face of global warming and other environmental threats with a Q&A following the presentation.

This event is free and open to the public.

Tuesday, March 24 - 5:30PM, Alden Library 319

QPR is a nationally recognized suicide prevention training designed to teach participants how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis, how to offer hope, and how to get help. Much like CPR, QPR is an emergency mental health intervention — a simple but effective approach that anyone can learn. 

Content Warning: This training includes discussions about suicide, mental health crises, and intervention strategies. Some content may be emotionally challenging, especially for individuals with lived experience or those currently struggling with mental health concerns. 

This Online Workshop is open to OHIO Staff & Faculty

March 10, 9am to 10am, ONLINE

To find out more or register, visit this LINK.

OHIO STATE

Ohio State Center for Ethics & Human Values

Ohio State's CEHV is the school's hub for important discussions centered around ethical challenges to help the university and community.

The Center's CARE Panel events focus on important conversations surrounding the ethics in research.

The Center's COMPAS program selects a challenging each year to foster discussion and thought on the next steps for society. This year's theme is food.

Their upcoming panels:

March 13, 11:15am/EST, In Person (OSU) - COMPAS Panel: Food, Technology, and Democracy

March 23, 12:00am/EST, Virtual - CARE Panel: Collaborating with Non-Academic Organizations

For more information, visit their website

OHIO ETHICS

Ohio Ethics Law Webinar

The Ohio Ethics Commission focuses on promoting ethical values in public service so as to strengthen public confidence in government business.

The OEC hosts routine webinars to help public & government employees interested in a 'refresher' on Ethics Law, or those who seek to return to public service.

Their upcoming webinars:

March 11, 10:00am/EST

April 14, 10:00am/EST

May 14, 10:00am/EST

For more information, or to register, visit their website

APPE

Association for Practical and Professional Ethics

The Association for Practical and Professional Ethics is dedicated to advancing education and practice in professional ethics.

APPE hosts Ethics Roundtables where people can engage others in conversations centered around current, ethical issues with the goal of creating meaningful dialogue

Their upcoming roundtables:

3/7/2026, Hybrid - What Do We Owe Each Other? Ethics in the Age of Generative Tools

4/8/2026, Virtual - Eyes Everywhere: The Ethics of Being Watched

For more information, visit their website

Do you have a question about ethical issues?

Have you encountered a moral dilemma you want to share?

Do you need advice about a moral conflict?

Do you have an idea for an event or a workshop on ethical questions?