The Borah Symposium introduces audiences to the most contemporary global problem solvers of our time. Held every year since 1948, this University of Idaho event proffers their new ideas for overcoming the obstacles to world peace.

Our next event, "Climate and Conflict" is coming to the Moscow campus October 7-9, 2019. Our line-up of speakers include: Sherri Goodman, Senior Strategist at the Center for Climate and Security; Captain Shaun C. McAndrew of the U.S. Navy; Ertharin Cousin, former Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme; and Samantha Power, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Learn about our coming symposium or explore and watch past symposiums in our archives:

2019 Borah Symposium
Symposium Archives

More About the Symposium

The symposium honors the legacy of former US Senator from Idaho William Edgar Borah (1864-1940) by considering the causes of war and the conditions necessary for peace in an international context. Themes and speakers for the annual events are selected by the faculty-student Borah Foundation committee, with administrative and fiscal support provided by the staff of the Martin Institute. Each symposium adopts an interdisciplinary, non-partisan focus in an effort to reach as many members of the university and community as possible.

The William Edgar Borah Outlawry of War Foundation, a separately endowed entity at the University of Idaho, was established by the State Board of Education using funds donated by Salmon O. Levinson in 1929.