2026 Bob and Kim Griffin Lecture: The U.S.-China Rivalry for Global Power

Ambassador Nicholas Burns will be at Northrop on Thursday, Oct. 22, to discuss the U.S.-China rivalry for global power. The talk is the 2026 Bob and Kim Griffin Lecture, and it's presented by the China Center.

If you're not familiar with the series, the Griffin Lecture is part of UMN Conversations at Northrop, a University of Minnesota series of lectures, panel discussions, and conversations held at Northrop throughout the academic year. The series draws on the university's many departments to address important and timely issues, and speakers are invited by faculty, students, and staff to enrich the UMN community. This particular installment comes from the China Center, which makes sense given the subject matter.

Burns is the main feature here, and the topic—the U.S.-China rivalry for global power—is one of the biggest stories in international relations right now. It's the kind of conversation that usually stays in the headlines, so hearing it laid out in person at Northrop is a good chance to get a more direct look at where things stand.

The session is at capacity, but there's a waitlist you can register for if you're still hoping to get in. It starts at 5 PM on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Northrop on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.