On Friday, September 19, researchers from across campus gathered at Gies College of Business for a fast-pitch networking event designed to spark interdisciplinary collaboration. Co-hosted by CSBS and Gies, the session centered on the New Perspectives on Ethical and Responsible Business in the 21st Century funding opportunity, made possible by a generous gift from William J. and Jenifer A. Chase to Gies.
The event featured brief pitches and open dialogue, offering participants a chance to explore shared interests and discuss potential collaborations. Some presenters shared slides to highlight ongoing projects, while others spoke informally about their methodologies, recent work, or future directions. Attendees asked thoughtful, cross-disciplinary questions offering alternative framings, suggesting datasets, and raising potential pitfalls and ethical considerations.
The research topics reflected a wide range of disciplinary expertise. Among the highlights: strategies to improving working conditions in low-wage professions, methods for reducing food and produce waste in agriculture, the impact of algorithms in marketing, and the historical evolution of fiduciary duties and implications for modern business.
The event brought together faculty and researchers from Accountancy, Business Administration, Psychology, School of Social Work, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, and the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center. Together, the lively exchange of ideas demonstrated the kind of interdisciplinary energy this opportunity aims to foster, where diverse perspectives come together to address pressing questions about ethics and responsibility in business.
To learn more or connect with potential collaborators from the event, please reach out to Kaylee Lukacena at lukacen2@illinois.edu.