THE 2026 NIEMEYER LECTURES IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

THE LAST MAN AT 200

IMAGINING THE FUTURE AFTER ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

Postapocalyptic political thought from Mary Shelley's The Last Man (1826) to Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven (2014)

The 2026 Niemeyer Lectures, Henkels Lectures, and  Keats-Shelley Association of America Curran Symposium

in Political Philosophy, Literature, and the Arts

Supported by Notre Dame's Provost's Office Arts Initiative

September 24–25, 2026

University of Notre Dame

Co-Sponsorships: Provost’s Office Arts Initiative · Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts, Henkels Lectures Program · Glynn Family Honors Program · Departments of Political Science; Film, Television & Theater; English and Creative Writing · DPAC · Environmental Humanities Initiative · Keats-Shelley Association of America Curran Symposium

Conference panels are free to attend please register for panels either in-person or zoom options available. 

Please see the following options that are free, but tickets are required below.

DPAC Ticketed Events: Free ticketed registration for DPAC events with Emily St. John Mandel opens on August 19.

DPAC — PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Ticketed Events

Thursday September 24, 2026

6:00–7:00 pm Fireside Chat with Emily St. John Mandel (Keynote, 2026 Niemeyer Lectures in Political Philosophy)

Philbin Theatre, DPAC

On her novel Station Eleven: sources, inspirations, HBO adaptation, and ties to contemporary environmental and postapocalyptic literature and political thought, followed by audience Q&A

Interviewers: Eileen Hunt (Political Science) and Roy Scranton (English, Creative Writing, and Environmental Humanities)

Chair: Roy Scranton

Audio recorded for transcription and inclusion in the edited conference volume. No filming of this or any Mandel events.

7:00–8:00 pm Dessert Reception, Wine Bar & Book Signing

DPAC Lobby

Emily St. John Mandel book signing

ND Bookstore table with copies of Station Eleven, Sea of Tranquility, Exit Party, and other Mandel titles

8:00–9:30 pm Screening & Discussion: HBO's Station Eleven

DPAC Arts Cinema

Select scenes from the HBO series, with short presentations by Emily St. John Mandel and Ricky Herbst, followed by audience discussion

Introduction: Jim Collins (Film, Television and Theatre, Notre Dame)

Chair: Ricky Herbst, Film, Television and Theatre, Notre Dame