Jewels of UIC

The Jewels of UIC Lecture Series highlights distinguished UIC faculty whose scholarship, leadership, and public engagement reflect the university’s intellectual depth and civic mission. Hosted by the Great Cities Institute, the series brings together students, faculty, staff, and community members to learn from scholars whose work bridges disciplines and addresses pressing urban, social, environmental, and global issues. Each lecture offers an opportunity to celebrate UIC’s “gems” while creating space for thoughtful dialogue, interdisciplinary exchange, and connection across campus. The series also reinforces UIC’s role as a public research university committed to knowledge, equity, and real-world impact.

Global Environmental Justice: Footprints, Fairness, and the Future of the Planet

Paul Brandt-Rauf, Dean of the UIC School of Public Health, presents “Global Environmental Justice: Footprints, Fairness, and the Future of the Planet” as part of the Jewels of UIC Lecture Series. Drawing from his environmental health research, including work on arsenic contamination in Bangladesh, Brandt-Rauf examines the connections among environment, health, development, and global inequality. His lecture challenges audiences to consider how wealthy societies consume ecological resources, contribute to climate change, and affect vulnerable populations worldwide. Through scientific evidence and ethical reflection, he calls for new ways of thinking about sustainability, fairness, and collective responsibility.

Immigration in the Suburbs: Insights from the 2010-2011 Chicago Area Study

This program highlights findings from the Chicago Area Study’s multi-year research on immigration and suburban change in Lake County, Illinois. Drawing on survey, ethnographic, and in-depth interview data collected in 2010 and 2011, faculty and graduate student researchers examine how suburban communities have responded to growing Latino immigrant populations. Presentations explore local immigration policy, educational access, social networks, undocumented youth, and Latino political incorporation. Together, the program offers insight into the interpersonal and institutional dynamics shaping immigrant experiences in suburban contexts, while also introducing the broader CAS dataset as a resource for future scholarship.