The Aspen Institute

05/22/2026

Earth’s climate is changing now, and the path forward demands bold ideas, collaboration, and action across every sector.
This July, thousands of leaders, innovators, policymakers, scientists, and changemakers will gather in Chicago for Aspen Ideas: Climate to explore practical solutions and reimagine what’s possible for our collective future.
Be part of the conversations driving real climate action and leave inspired to help shape a more sustainable future. Register now to join us in Chicago for Aspen Ideas: Climate: https://www.aspenideas.org/attend/climate

04/21/2026

What started as a nine-year-old’s morning chats with his mom about politics turned into a trusted, 50,000-subscriber independent news platform. Gabe Fleisher, founder of Wake Up to Politics, has been delivering thoughtful, context-rich political coverage for more than half his life.

Now a Gwen Ifill Fellow at the Institute, Gabe joins host Lorelle Atkinson on our new B-Sides podcast to talk about the values that shape his journalism, why independent media can build trust where institutions struggle, and how Gen Z is reimagining political engagement. Along the way, he shares his approach to making the news accessible without the drama—and why treating readers like adults might just be the key to rebuilding trust in our public square.

B:Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership brings forward stories like Gabe’s through conversations with leaders across industries who are navigating complexity with clarity and purpose.

Watch the full episode on our YouTube!

04/17/2026

What does it look like to reach a point in life where you have nothing left to prove, yet everything left to give?

Tune in to the pilot episode of B:Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership, hosted by Lorelle Atkinson, featuring Sherrell Dorsey, a tech innovator, mentor, and community builder who has embraced unstructured time, hosted 50 visitors in a single year, and poured into the next generation with the same intentionality her mother and grandfather showed her.
From dinner parties by the pool to free certification programs that open doors, she shares how leadership, for her, is about showing up for others and creating spaces, both physical and digital, where people can thrive.
Through candid conversations with people shaping their fields, B: Sides looks beyond titles and résumés to explore the human stories behind leadership.
Watch now on our YouTube channel.

10/16/2025

Joshua Wyner is the founder and executive director of the College Excellence Program at the Aspen Institute, where he also serves as a vice president. In this episode, he shares three outcomes-focused lessons for higher education leaders—insights any public sector leader can apply.

10/08/2025

This October 20-21, the Aspen Institute debuts its newest essential forum — Aspen Ideas: Economy.

Join us in Newark, NJ to explore the forces shaping our economic future. From signature roundtables to immersive experiences, this two-day event brings together leaders, scholars, and innovators for meaningful dialogue and fresh insights.

Learn more: aspenideas.org/attend/economy

09/12/2025

From robotic milking systems to smart manure management, today’s dairy farms are rethinking conventional farming through the lens of climate action.
In partnership with Environmental Defense Fund and Midwest Dairy, Aspen Ideas: Climate organized a tour that took attendees beyond the panels and into Lenkaitis Holsteins in Illinois, a state-of-the-art family farm where Andy and Sarah Lenkaitis are blending innovation, sustainability, community, and animal care to shape the future of dairy farming.
Dive deeper into their climate story in our latest blog on the website.

08/18/2025

AI can solve the world’s most urgent challenges, but only when communities are at the heart of its design.

That's why Aspen Digital is developing community-aligned AI Benchmarks to align the goals of AI developers with the communities' priorities. We are starting with food systems and nutritional security, a critical sector where AI applications hold promise, but their development remains underexplored.

To ensure future AI research responds to real needs, Aspen Digital is launching a global call for input from food security professionals and practitioners. This short survey is designed to elevate the key challenges that people in the field are facing. The insights we gather will help guide the development of new benchmarks to inspire AI research that supports community-driven solutions and fosters development.

Check out the survey:

We don’t just need smarter tech, we need smarter goals. Take the survey so your insight can shape the future of AI in food security.

01/14/2025

12/24/2024

"Wisdom comes with winters," said playwright Oscar Wilde.

We at the Aspen Institute wish you and yours a joyous holiday season, filled with wisdom that guides you into a bright new year. ❄️

11/01/2024