About the Hilldale Lectures

The Hilldale Lecture Series, inaugurated in 1973-74, is sponsored by the faculty's four divisional committees - Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Studies - and funded by the university's Hilldale Fund. The series gives each division the unique opportunity to present to the university community distinguished thinkers whose contributions to contemporary culture and science have received international recognition and acclaim. All lectures are free and open to the public.

A lecturer's presence on campus provides a special opportunity for faculty, staff and students to engage around topics of mutual interest. Each lecturer is invited to deliver a public talk, which is followed by a hosted reception to give attendees access to the speaker. Smaller and more focused interactions are also scheduled for selected faculty and students.

Nominate a Hilldale Lecturer

The call for nominations for the 2012-2013 Hilldale Lecture Series is now posted. The nomination deadline is February 1, 2012. The nomination deadline has been extended to March 20, 2012 for arts and humanities, biological sciences and physical sciences. (The deadline has not been extended for social studies.)

Although a divisional committee each year may invite a distinguished scholar to present the division’s Hilldale lecture, at its option the committee may decide to direct several years of its lecture budget allocation toward a single lecturer in order to attract higher profile individuals.

About the Hilldale Fund

Created in 1962 through a gift to the board of regents through the University of Wisconsin Foundation, the Hilldale Fund is dedicated to the support of projects that advance scholarly activity at UW-Madison. The fund has benefitted over the years from income realized from the operation of the Hilldale Shopping Center, which was constructed on university-owned land, and more recently from proceeds from the sale of that real estate.

2011-2012 Hilldale Lectures

October 6, 2011 - Biological Sciences
"Polycentric Institutions to Cope with Ecological and Social Diversity"
Elinor Ostrom

October 20, 2011 - Social Studies
"Has American Politics Betrayed the Middle Class?"
Jacob Hacker

November 11, 2011- Arts and Humanities
"Inquisition and Censorship: (Early) Modern Perspectives on the Humanities"
Mario Infelise

Physical Sciences - No lecture for 2011-2012

Past Hilldale Lectures