photo by: Journal-World File

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg responds during a question-and-answer session with University of Kansas law students and faculty during a 2005 visit to Lawrence. Stephen McAllister, then KU's law dean, is pictured at right.

Issues such as climate change and environmental sustainability will take center stage as part of the Hall Center for the Humanities 2021-22 speaker series, the KU organization announced Wednesday.

The speaker series is titled “In Search of Harmony: The Humanities and Our Natural World.” The series will features topics ranging from indigenous knowledge about plants to an in-depth look at America’s national parks. However, the center also has several other events planned, including a review of the leadership of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an examination of the history of slavery and even a lecture on the history of tango music.

Events included on the Hall Center’s upcoming schedule include:

• “Deep Play? Video Games and the Historical Imagination,” by Andrew Denning, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14;

• “The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis,” by Amitav Ghosh, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21;

• “Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Women’s Leadership in Modern America,” by Irin Carmon, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30;

• “The History of Tango Music,” by Emilio Solla, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28;

• “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants,” by Robin Wall Kimmerer; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10;

• “The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America’s National Parks,” by Terry Tempest Williams.

The Hall Center also plans to host author Clint Smith to speak about his new book, “How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America.” However, a date and time for that event has not yet been determined.

The Hall Center, located on the KU campus at 900 Sunnyside Ave., intends to host its events in person this season. However, the center said plans may change based on the evolving COVID-19 environment and the concerns of speakers and audience members.

To see the full schedule for the center, go to hallcenter.ku.edu.