Berglund Seminar Series
Each semester the Honors College invites faculty and community partners to participate in our Berglund Seminar and Challenging Conversations series. The purpose of the series is to generate meaningful discussions and debates outside of the classroom.
VCU faculty have presented on a range of subjects from e-cigarettes, to 3D printing museum artifacts, to representation and identity. We have also had community partners discuss topics like affordable housing, the GRTC Pulse and Richmond transit system and helping families of inmates.
Our Challenging Conversations are designed to bring a small group (10-15) of students together to engage in conversation around challenging topics. In contrast, the Berglund Seminars can be on a variety of topics and are open to the public.
Blurred Lines: Creativity and Copyright in American Popular Music
Presented by Anthony Burnham, M.M., M.S.
Wednesday, September 24 | 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Honors College Room 1303
A discussion of creativity and musical elements through the lens of copyright infringement cases in popular music. What makes a song unique? What constitutes plagiarism? Where is the line? Does it even matter?
Economic Evangelism: Bringing the Good News of the Dismal Science
Friday, October 3
10 a.m.- 11 a.m.
Honors College Room 1210 (National Scholarship Office Conference Room - First Floor)
Register Here
Economics has long been dubbed “the dismal science”—but what if it’s exactly the lens we need to design education systems that work? This seminar explores how economic thinking can illuminate the hidden architecture of public education: opportunity cost, marginal benefit, and long-term return on investment. Through real-world examples from Virginia’s economic and financial education initiatives, we’ll examine how strategic design, resource planning, and district partnerships can turn short-term funding into lasting infrastructure. Participants will consider how education functions as both a public good and a personal asset—and what that means for policy, funding, and scale. We’ll challenge assumptions about what makes an educational program “worth it,” and who gets to decide. Whether you're drawn to systems design, social impact, or fiscal strategy, this session offers a fresh framework for building programs that deliver real value. It's time to rethink what economics can do for education.
Space is limited to 10 students. The first 10 students will get a confirmation email from Anthony Burnham. All others will be placed on waitlist and admitted as space allows.