News

save the dates for these upcoming events 2026-2027 at the Gaines Center

Apr 30, 2027

Save the dates for these upcoming public and community events from the Gaines Center for the Humanities. All Gaines public events are free, but some may require advance registration. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 Gaines kick-off to our Year of the Human Algorithm--a free screening and panel discussion of the 2013 movie "Her" starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson.

nominations and self-nominations now open The 2027 Gaines Lecture for Outstanding Research in the Humanities

Nov 30, 2026

The Gaines Lecture for Outstanding Research in the Humanities recognizes advances in the Humanities by early career* scholars at the University of Kentucky, spotlighting ground-breaking work related to our annual theme. The 2026-27 theme is "The Human Algorithm."

Co-sponsored by the Gaines Center for the Humanities Adam Becker: More Everything Forever Lecture & Book Signing

Nov 18, 2026

Co-sponsored by the Gaines Center for the Humanities, Adam Becker, author of More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley’s Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity will be at the Singletary Center for the Arts at 6:00 PM on Wednesday November 18, 2027. Becker will speak on the implications of Silicon Valley’s visions of AI for the environment in general, and climate change in particular. More Everything Forever was named a Best Book of the Year in 2025 by Scientific American, Kirkus, and Conversation.

Spring 2027 HMN 303 Humanities in Action: City Stories with Tori Cruz-Falk & Dr. Rosie Moosnick

Nov 4, 2026

Registration opens soon for HMN 300:Humanities in Action which will center on City Stories: Empathy at Work in the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for the Spring 2027 semester. Taught by Tori Cruz-Falk (LFUCG) and Dr. Rosie Moosnick (Sociology), this class will provide hands-on experience in humanities and civic engagement, focused on empathy in the context of our most important, yet often unseen, city workers.

From Bell Witch to Blair Witch: Appalachian Folklore and Film with Dr. Chelsea Brislin

Oct 29, 2026

Join Gaines Associate Director Dr. Chelsea Brisling for an exploration of Tennessee's Bell Witch legend and its connections to The Blair Witch Project, followed by a screening of the film. This event will take place at 6:00 PM on Thursday 29 October in the Lewis Honors College.

sign up now! Gaines Fellowship Information Sessions

Oct 18, 2026

Sign up now for one of our Gaines Fellowship information sessions: Monday October 19 ~ 3:30 PM Lewis Honors College (in person) Tuesday November 17 ~ 3:00 PM via Zoom Wednesday January 20 ~ 2:00 PM via Zoom Register at gaines.uky.edu/gaines-fellowship

Co-sponsored by the Gaines Center for the Humanities The Unique Role of Campus Advertising in American Elections with Lynn Vavrek

Oct 15, 2026

Explore the power of television advertising in political campaigns with Phi Beta Kappa visiting scholar Lynn Vavrek, a political scientist from UCLA. Discover how campaign ads use emotion and persuasion and whether they actually influence voters. This event will take place at 5:30PM on Thursday October 15, 2026, in the Lewis Scholars Lounge, Lewis Honors College. Free and open to the public.

Twelve New Gaines Fellows Named

by Ryan Girves

Apr 3, 2026

Twelve University of Kentucky students have been selected as the newest Gaines Fellows, representing nine colleges across campus and marking a record number of applications for the highly competitive program. The Gaines Fellowship in the Humanities is a distinctive, two-year program designed to enrich undergraduate education through interdisciplinary coursework, independent research and community engagement. Fellows are selected for their academic achievement, research potential, interest in public issues and commitment to exploring the human condition through the humanities.