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A conversation with President Alar Karis of the Republic of Estonia
October 27, 2025 @ 11:30 am – 2:00 pm EDT
Join us for a conversation with President Alar Karis of the Republic of Estonia on innovation and digitaltransformation, geopolitical challenges, and national security on NATO’s eastern border.
Following remarks, President Karis will be in conversation with Professor John Mark Hansen, Charles L. Hutchinson Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Political Science and the College at the University of Chicago.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
This program is presented by The International House Association Global Forum Series. This event on October 27th, 2025 is co-sponsored by UChicago Global.
Registration is required. Please use entrance on S. Dorchester Ave. Doors open at 10:45am. Lecture begins at 11:30am. No entry will be permitted after 11:45am.
Security Notice: All bags will be checked upon entry and must be stored in the coat room for the duration of the event. Please plan accordingly and avoid bringing large or unnecessary items.
If you have questions or would like additional information on accessibility and accommodations in place for this event, please contact International House at 773-753-2274 or i-house-programs@uchicago.edu.
The 2025-2026 Global Forum Series theme is Pathways to Peace: Lessons in Reconciliation. The Global Forum will convene leading thinkers, scholars, and practitioners to discuss one of humanity’s most profound challenges and greatest hopes: the ability to reconcile after conflict. Through this series, we will hear from diplomats, historians, philanthropists, and others who witnessed and shaped these turning points in history. We will also highlight the role of International Houses around the world in the reconciliation of conflict. The International House Association (IHA) represents a collection of historic Rockefeller International Houses and centers around the world.
Biography of President Alar Karis
Alar Karis is an Estonian molecular geneticist and developmental biologist. He has served as the President of the Republic of Estonia since 11 October 2021.
Alar Karis was born on 26 March 1958 in Tartu.
He graduated from the Estonian Agricultural Academy (now the Estonian University of Life Sciences) in 1981. He was awarded a Master of Science degree in 1987. Alar Karis has worked in a variety of research institutes in Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. He was awarded the status of professor at the University of Tartu in 1999. His research has been among the most widely cited internationally of any Estonian scientist of his generation.
Alar Karis was one of the co-founders of Visgenyx, a company which grew out of the University of Tartu and undertook research and development in the field of biotechnology.
Alar Karis was elected rector of the University of Tartu in 2007. He has also served as the rector of the Estonian University of Life Sciences, as the Auditor-General of the Republic of Estonia and as the head of the EUROSAI Working Group on Environmental Auditing (EUROSAI WGEA). He has led the work of Universities Estonia (the national council of university rectors) a number of times.
Prior to being elected president, Alar Karis was working as the director of the Estonian National Museum.
He has previously been a member of the Academic Council and Academic Advisory Board of the President of the Republic and of the Research and Development Council; a member of the supervisory boards of the Estonian Fund for Nature, the European University Association, the International Council of Archives, the International Council of Museums, the museums of the University of Tartu and the Estonian Literary Museum; a member of the advisory board to the Entrepreneurship & Living Environment Development Division of Enterprise Estonia; and the chairman of the supervisory boards of the Estonian Development Fund and (from 2020-2021) the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
Alar Karis served as the honorary consul to the Republic of Chile in Estonia from 2010-2021.
He has been awarded the Order of the White Star, 4th class. He is also a recipient of the Commander’s cross of the Order of Leopold II of Belgium, the Commander’s cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star of Sweden, the Commander’s cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland, the Latvian Cross of Recognition, 3rd class and Order of the National Coat of Arms chain, and the Royal Order of the Seraphim of the Kingdom of Sweden.
Alar Karis is married to Sirje Karis. They have three children.