Fear: The 18th Annual Interdisciplinary Colloquium
Tuesday April 14, 2026
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it” – Nelson Mandela
Fear is an essential part of the human experience. Linked to our earliest human ancestors as a survival instinct, its power is unquestionable. While we have evolved to interpret and act upon fear, it remains a constant in our lives. Although fear stimulates an uncanny awareness of danger and discomfort, it can also catalyze change. As we grapple with life’s uncertainties, fear fosters moments of growth, motivation, and introspection. This year’s colloquium examines our complex ability to both overcome and embrace fear, for it is often in these vulnerable moments where we are the most afraid that we feel the most alive.
Topics may include (but are not limited to):
- Horror, pop culture, and urban legends
- Fear as a motivator and inhibitor
- Trauma, anxieties, and phobias
- FOMO
- Political and social fears
- Adrenaline, fight-or-flight, and the science of fear
- Technology and the future
- Mortality
- Stage fright / public speaking
- Fear of the unknown
To submit a proposal, please send an abstract of roughly 250 words with name, contact information, and departmental affiliation to usi1lacolloquium@usi.edu by February 20th, 2026. More information about this event may be found on our colloquium website: https://www.usi.edu/idc
