On February 25, 1988 the initial coordinating committee for the "Cooper Foundation-UNL Forum on World Issues" met at the Cooper Foundation offices in Lincoln, Nebraska. The president of the Foundation, E.N. "Jack" Thompson, had conceived of the idea of a forum on international issues to increase Nebraskans' understanding of the people and cultures of other countries and the challenges that face them, and us. Our board of trustees believed so strongly in the concept that the Foundation agreed to provide the major funding for it. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln shared that commitment and agreed to co-sponsor the Forum, providing major logistical and management support, as well as some financial support.

University departments supporting the Forum are: the Chancellor's office, the Lied Center for Performing Arts, International Affairs, Political Science and Student Involvement. The Forum is also supported by The University of Nebraska Foundation, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications, KRNU Radio, KLIN Radio and KFOR Radio. We have had many community partners, including the Nebraska Humanities Council, the Lincoln Action Program, St. Paul United Methodist Church, and the Knights of Aksarben Foundation.

Over 75 lectures have been provided to the citizens of Nebraska since the Forum was established. Lectures have featured experts on Russia, China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and indigenous peoples of the United States and the world. They have taught us about human rights, national security, infectious disease and world food systems. Three Nobel Peace Prize winners, Elie Weisel, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has spoken at the Forum. Scientists such as Meave Leakey, E.O Wilson and Peter Gleick have talked about prehistory, biology and the environment. Martin Marty and the Rev. Peter Gomes discussed religion and faith. James Woolsey, attorney and former head of the CIA, spoke of national security and the threat of terror. Nebraska senator Bob Kerrey debated Vietnam with former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara; Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel and local experts addressed the community with a panel on terrorism shortly after September 11, 2001. The rock star Bono came to talk about AIDS and debt relief for Africa on World AIDS Day in 2002.

In 2002, the Forum joined a new partner, the Lewis E. Harris Lecture on Public Policy, which was endowed at the University by SmithKline Beecham in honor of Lewis E. Harris, former Chair. This is a yearly lecture that will be presented by the Thompson Forum series. The first Lewis E. Harris Lecture in our partnership will be February 17, 2004 and will feature President Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland (1990 - 1997) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 - 2002.