ISPE seeks to broaden the intellectual conversation on the Ball State campus, providing opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to hear new and different ideas that might challenge them in important ways.
ISPE’s annual events include:
- Menard Political Economy Speaker Series hosts two speakers each semester to engage with students, faculty, and the community.
Madam C. J. Walker Colloquium in Political Economy is an annual event which presents a public talk with a prominent scholar, as well as a series of smaller events with students --all themed around a topic. Named after the early 20th century African-American beauty products entrepreneur and social activist whose business was headquartered in Indianapolis, this event explores the relevance of free enterprise and entrepreneurship for the past, present, and future of historically marginalized groups.- The Horwitz Nobel Prize Panel features Ball State University faculty giving short talks on the discoveries and achievements that were honored with that year’s Nobel Prizes. The panel is based on an idea proposed by the late founding director of ISPE, Dr. Steven Horwitz. The Nobel Prizes are widely regarded as the most prestigious awards given for intellectual achievement in the world and are conferred in six categories: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, peace, and economics. Since 1901, the Nobel Prizes have been presented to Nobel Laureates at ceremonies on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. ISPE presents the Horwitz Nobel Prize Panel in early December.