UPCOMING EVENTS
Francophone Fun in July
with the French Conversation Group!
The French Conversation Group will be gathering for a Bastille Day Brunch and Wine Down Wednesday in July.
Saturday, July 14, 10:00 a.m. @ Crêpes et Croissants – Have brunch to celebrate Bastille Day!
Wednesday, July 25, 6:00 p.m. @ Cellar on Greene – Every Wednesday, you can try three wines for the price of one!
To join the gang for conversation and fraternité, please RSVP HERE.
Saturday, July 14, 10:00 a.m. @ Crêpes et Croissants – Have brunch to celebrate Bastille Day!
Wednesday, July 25, 6:00 p.m. @ Cellar on Greene – Every Wednesday, you can try three wines for the price of one!
To join the gang for conversation and fraternité, please RSVP HERE.
Astronomers Without Borders
An Evening at the South Carolina State Museum Observatory
Tuesday, July 24 @ 6:00 p.m.
South Carolina State Museum, Observatory Classroom
w/ Mike Simmons, president, Astronomers Without Borders
& Matthew Whitehouse, SCSM Observatory Manager
South Carolina State Museum, Observatory Classroom
w/ Mike Simmons, president, Astronomers Without Borders
& Matthew Whitehouse, SCSM Observatory Manager
Join us for an evening of international astronomy! South Carolina State Museum Observatory Manager Matthew Whitehouse will describe the work of the museum's observatory, global astronomy education initiatives, and his creative activities combining music and astronomy. Following Matthew's presentation, Astronomers Without Borders president Mike Simmons will connect with us remotely from his home base in Los Angeles to discuss his organization's outreach around the world.
After sunset, you are invited to join us for telescope viewing of Jupiter (weather permitting).
After sunset, you are invited to join us for telescope viewing of Jupiter (weather permitting).
A $5 entry fee will be charged at the general museum admission desk.
Guests will be allowed to explore the museum after the program until 10:00 p.m.
Space is limited. Please RSVP to dmonk@columbiaworldaffairs.org or call 803.252.2197
Guests will be allowed to explore the museum after the program until 10:00 p.m.
Space is limited. Please RSVP to dmonk@columbiaworldaffairs.org or call 803.252.2197
Mike Simmons has been an amateur astronomer for 40 years and loves sharing the sky with others. His outreach efforts in astronomy broadened in 1999 when he traveled to Iran for a total solar eclipse. In Iran he found an enthusiastic astronomy community lacking the resources easily found in the West. He has since traveled to Iran several times, and in 2004 he led a group of Westerners to Iran to observe the rare Transit of Venus alongside hundreds of Iranian amateur astronomers. In 2006 Mike traveled to the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, bringing observing equipment donated by American astronomers to their enthusiastic but isolated Kurdish counterparts. He has also assisted amateur astronomers and educators in many countries via the Internet. Seeing astronomy as a universal interest that transcends cultural differences, Mike founded Astronomers Without Borders in 2006. He now serves as President of this effort to unite astronomy and space enthusiasts around the world through those common interests.
Also a writer and photographer, Mike has contributed to publications including Scientific American, Astronomy and Sky and Telescope where he is a Contributing Editor. He regularly gives presentations, both in the US and abroad, on his experiences and interests, and on his outlook on international relations through astronomy. During the UN-declared International Year of Astronomy 2009 Mike led the effort to organize the Cornerstone Project "100 Hours of Astronomy" in more than 100 countries, the largest outreach effort of the year.
Minor Planet Simmons (22294) was named in his honor in 2003, in part for his "varied outreach activities in astronomy." In 2014, Mike was awarded the prestigious 2014 Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion Prize from the Société Astronomique de France (SAF) for “setting a worldwide example that astronomy does transcend political and cultural borders.”
Also a writer and photographer, Mike has contributed to publications including Scientific American, Astronomy and Sky and Telescope where he is a Contributing Editor. He regularly gives presentations, both in the US and abroad, on his experiences and interests, and on his outlook on international relations through astronomy. During the UN-declared International Year of Astronomy 2009 Mike led the effort to organize the Cornerstone Project "100 Hours of Astronomy" in more than 100 countries, the largest outreach effort of the year.
Minor Planet Simmons (22294) was named in his honor in 2003, in part for his "varied outreach activities in astronomy." In 2014, Mike was awarded the prestigious 2014 Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion Prize from the Société Astronomique de France (SAF) for “setting a worldwide example that astronomy does transcend political and cultural borders.”
Organist, composer, and astronomy educator Matthew Whitehouse has appeared in recitals throughout the United States and currently serves as Observatory Manager at the South Carolina State Museum. He has given presentations and participated on panels at conferences of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the American Astronomical Society, is published in Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s Mercury magazine, and has presented at international astronomy education conferences in Bath, UK; Leiden, Netherlands; and Medellin, Colombia. From 2006-2013 he has served on the instructional staff of The University of Arizona Astronomy Camp (hosted at Kitt Peak National Observatory), for which he developed a series of guided listening experiences highlighting connections between music and science. A dedicated church musician, Whitehouse is currently Director of Music at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Lexington.
Past Events, Programs & Partnerships in 2017
January 31
Distinguished Speaker: Consul General of India in Atlanta, Nagesh Singh
February 2
Reception for Michel Martelly, former President of Haiti, with Claflin University
February 4
Academic WorldQuest 2017 Regional Competition
February 15
Reception welcoming International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) guests from Ukraine and Afghanistan
February 17
Women in Leadership with IVLP guests from Ukraine at Columbia College
March 14
Taste of the World Dinner at Il Giorgione
March 23
Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, former President of Tunisia
April 4
The Recent Turmoil in Turkey and Freedom of the Press with Turkish newspaper executive in exile Abdülhamit Bilici
April 6
Reception for Ambassador Budimir Loncar, former Yugoslav Ambassador to the US
April 20
Jihad in Hollywood: An Evening of Film, Art & Music with Syrian artists Jihad Abdo and Fadia Afashe at the Columbia Museum of Art
April 22
Biergarten on Main Street with Bierkeller Columbia
April 28
Reception for the Beyond Bollywood: Indian-Americans Shape the Nation exhibition at the South Carolina State Museum with Pratik Mathur, First Secretary, Embassy of India
May 8
Bringing the World to South Carolina with Dolly Chewning, International Sales and Marketing, South Carolina Parks, Recreation & Tourism
May 30
Starless Dreams film screening and discussion on the Travel Ban at The Nickelodeon Theatre
July 12-21
South Carolina Estonia Trade Agreement delegation to Estonia led by Harry Huge, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia for the state of South Carolina
August 10
Making the Connection: Lucerne, Switzerland meets Columbia & South Carolina with Michelle Abboud, VP, North America for Lucerne Business, and Susanna auf der Maur, Kaufmann Ruedi Law Firm
August 30
Women’s Economic Advancement and Policy: A Look Abroad and at Home, a panel discussion with CARE USA and the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network
September 26 & 27
Future of Korea series with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Korea Economic Institute (KEI), and the U.S. Department of State. Sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and KEI
October 18
Building an International Mobility Center in South Carolina: The German Israeli American Innovation Triangle with Morris Ellison, Womble Carlyle
November 2
European Union trade delegation luncheon
November 5-9
International Visitor Leadership Program: Current US Social, Political and Economic Issues for Young Russian Leaders
November 8
2017 Global Vision Award Gala honoring former Charleston, SC Mayor Joe Riley at the Columbia Marriott
November 13
Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World film screening and discussion with artist and author Steven Naifeh at the Columbia Museum of Art, in partnership with the Carolina Peace Resource Center and USC’s International Education Week
December 1
Artist Salon: Poetry in the Galleries at the Columbia Museum of Art with the French Conversation Group in connection with the Henri Matisse: Jazz & Poetry on Paper exhibition
December 13
French Conversation Group Wine Down Wednesday at Lula Drake Wine Parlour
December 16
Christmas Biergarten on Main Street with Bierkeller Columbia
Distinguished Speaker: Consul General of India in Atlanta, Nagesh Singh
February 2
Reception for Michel Martelly, former President of Haiti, with Claflin University
February 4
Academic WorldQuest 2017 Regional Competition
February 15
Reception welcoming International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) guests from Ukraine and Afghanistan
February 17
Women in Leadership with IVLP guests from Ukraine at Columbia College
March 14
Taste of the World Dinner at Il Giorgione
March 23
Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, former President of Tunisia
April 4
The Recent Turmoil in Turkey and Freedom of the Press with Turkish newspaper executive in exile Abdülhamit Bilici
April 6
Reception for Ambassador Budimir Loncar, former Yugoslav Ambassador to the US
April 20
Jihad in Hollywood: An Evening of Film, Art & Music with Syrian artists Jihad Abdo and Fadia Afashe at the Columbia Museum of Art
April 22
Biergarten on Main Street with Bierkeller Columbia
April 28
Reception for the Beyond Bollywood: Indian-Americans Shape the Nation exhibition at the South Carolina State Museum with Pratik Mathur, First Secretary, Embassy of India
May 8
Bringing the World to South Carolina with Dolly Chewning, International Sales and Marketing, South Carolina Parks, Recreation & Tourism
May 30
Starless Dreams film screening and discussion on the Travel Ban at The Nickelodeon Theatre
July 12-21
South Carolina Estonia Trade Agreement delegation to Estonia led by Harry Huge, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia for the state of South Carolina
August 10
Making the Connection: Lucerne, Switzerland meets Columbia & South Carolina with Michelle Abboud, VP, North America for Lucerne Business, and Susanna auf der Maur, Kaufmann Ruedi Law Firm
August 30
Women’s Economic Advancement and Policy: A Look Abroad and at Home, a panel discussion with CARE USA and the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network
September 26 & 27
Future of Korea series with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Korea Economic Institute (KEI), and the U.S. Department of State. Sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and KEI
October 18
Building an International Mobility Center in South Carolina: The German Israeli American Innovation Triangle with Morris Ellison, Womble Carlyle
November 2
European Union trade delegation luncheon
November 5-9
International Visitor Leadership Program: Current US Social, Political and Economic Issues for Young Russian Leaders
November 8
2017 Global Vision Award Gala honoring former Charleston, SC Mayor Joe Riley at the Columbia Marriott
November 13
Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World film screening and discussion with artist and author Steven Naifeh at the Columbia Museum of Art, in partnership with the Carolina Peace Resource Center and USC’s International Education Week
December 1
Artist Salon: Poetry in the Galleries at the Columbia Museum of Art with the French Conversation Group in connection with the Henri Matisse: Jazz & Poetry on Paper exhibition
December 13
French Conversation Group Wine Down Wednesday at Lula Drake Wine Parlour
December 16
Christmas Biergarten on Main Street with Bierkeller Columbia