Finally, the institute welcomes opportunities to honor and celebrate those who have given the state and local communities outstanding public service. The IPA supports public presentations, workshops, and conferences that shed light on the legislative and political processes and examine the cultural context of our times. Given its mission to educate the citizens of our state about public affairs, it's only natural that the IPA was chosen as a host site for the White House Millennium Project Lectures . The Millennium Project was organized by the White House to encourage Americans to reflect on the past and imagine the future as the 21st century approaches. All lectures are sent via satellite from the White House to just one location in the state.
Lectures are also available during the broadcast on the Internet with an interactive chat session.
Sponsored under the auspices of the Illinois Humanities Council, the IPA hosted the first three lectures of the series in 1998. On February 11, Dr. Bernard Bailyn, professor emeritus of history at Harvard University, spoke on the formation of uniquely American ideas during the American revolution and their effects on the present. Seventy-five people attended the telecast and stayed for a discussion that followed led by UIS history Professor Robert McGregor. On March 6, Stephen Hawking spoke on science and creativity in the 21st century. Hawking is known for his books A Brief History of Time and Baby Universes and Other Essays .