Do Experts Still Matter in an Age of AI?

This is a live, interactive, course beginning January 6, 2026

Registration opens December 6th and limited to 25 participants

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Do Experts Still Matter in an Age of AI?

What does it mean to be an “expert” in an era where everyone — from TikTok influencers to AI — claims authority on complex issues shaping our daily lives?

Part I: Defining Expertise

We’ll begin by exploring how different communities conceptualize expertise — from Indigenous healers in the Amazon to Sufi nuclear scientists. Students will engage with the idea of “hierarchies of expertise” and uncover how systems of power, domination, and inequality shape whose knowledge is valued and why.

Part II: Questioning Expertise

Next, we’ll ask why the category of “expert” has become increasingly suspect in a time when information feels so accessible. Through case studies and critical analysis, we’ll explore the tensions between traditional authority and participatory knowledge-making.

Who This Course Is For

Educators and scholars who want to make complex ideas clear and accessible

Activists and organizers who turn expert knowledge into action

Scientists and experts who bridge specialized fields and public impact

Policy professionals who communicate evidence with clarity and power.

Guiding Questions:

  • What counts as expertise, and who gets to decide?

  • How have historical power structures shaped hierarchies of knowledge?

  • Why has public trust in experts declined in the age of social media and AI?

  • What role should experts play in shaping public debates and policy today?

  • How can we bridge the gap between expert knowledge and public understanding?

This course takes a people-centered, anthropological approach to examine how expertise is defined, contested, and communicated across different contexts.

Curious About the Course? Watch the Open House Replay

Learning Outcomes

  1. Critical Reading of Expertise
    Develop the ability to read and analyze expert knowledge with greater depth, nuance, and skepticism.

  2. Inclusive Approaches to Knowledge
    Learn to engage with expertise in ways that respect and incorporate diverse cultural and social belief systems.

  3. Translating Expertise for Publics
    Build the skills to identify, explain, and communicate different forms of expertise to a range of public audiences.

Real World Project

Students will be working throughout the course on writing an op-ed or policy memo on an issue that requires translating the work of experts to a broader public audience.

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Meet Your Teacher

Dr. Negar Razavi

Political Anthropologist
State Power | Empire | Security | Gender | Middle East Policy

Dr. Negar Razavi is a political anthropologist whose research explores the intersections of state power, empire, security, foreign policy, expertise, and gender.

She is currently an Associate Research Scholar at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at Princeton University, where she is completing her first book manuscript on the role of policy experts in shaping U.S. security policies toward the Middle East — with a particular focus on Iran.

Dr. Razavi also serves as a Senior Researcher at Security in Context. As a publicly engaged scholar, she works to bridge critical scholarship and policy spaces, bringing deeper context and accountability to U.S. foreign policy debates.

Course Schedule

6 Weeks starting January 6, 2026

Live, interactive session at 12 PM EST

Recordings available if you can’t attend live.

    • Tuesday, January 6, 2026

    • Tuesday, January 13, 2026

    • Tuesday, January 20, 2026

    • Tuesday, January 27, 2026

    • Tuesday, February 3, 2026

    • Tuesday, February 10, 2026

    *Sessions may be rescheduled in emergencies.

This is a live, interactive class and registration is limited to 25 students.

Sign up to be notified when registration opens.

Join the Waitlist

  • "Professor Negar was an amazing professor. She was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging and always came to class with a superb attitude. She kept the class engaged and lead great group discussions. I would highly recommend anyone take a class with this professor, she really does make it worth it. Ten out of ten, can't recommend enough."

    -Student at William & Mary

Dates & Elligibility

Starting

January 6, 2026

$600 + applicable taxes

Seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Limited to 25 students.

Join the Waitlist

All learners must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the course.

Learn and apply to scholarships available.

FAQs

  • Our courses are designed for lifelong learners — visionaries, educators, artists, activists, builders, and anyone ready to reimagine systems and create what’s next. No formal academic background is required; what matters most is your curiosity and commitment to learning in community.

  • Each course is co-taught or designed by leading academics and practitioners who bridge theory with real-world practice. Courses are intentionally small (limited to 25 learners) and combine academic rigor, experiential learning, and community connection. Every course has a real-world project or creative output, so you leave not just with knowledge — but with something you’ve created.

  • Courses run anywhere from 6-12 weeks and include a combination of live sessions, readings, and experiential assignments. Sessions are held live on Zoom and recorded for those who cannot attend in real time.

  • The tuition for each course is set by the faculty and limited scholarships are available to ensure accessibility. Registration details and payment options will be available on each course page once enrollment opens.

  • To keep learning intimate and collaborative, each course is capped at 25 learners. This ensures everyone has space to share, connect, and receive personalized feedback.

  • All live sessions are recorded and shared with participants. While attending live is encouraged to build community, we understand that life happens — you can still fully engage through recordings, readings, and project submissions.

  • Yes — learners who complete all sessions and submit their final project will receive a Certificate of Completion from the School of Radical Imagination. More importantly, you’ll walk away with a tangible creation and a network of peers working on similar visions for change.

  • Each course page includes an overview of the topics, faculty background, and intended outcomes. If you’re unsure which course aligns with your goals, you can schedule a 15-minute call with an Academic Advisor to explore your interests and options.

  • Before registration opens, each course will host a 1-hour Open House — a live Q&A session with the faculty where you can learn more about the course content, structure, and vision. This is also a chance to meet other interested learners and feel into whether the course is right for you.

  • Yes! We welcome new faculty who align with our mission and approach. If you are an academic, practitioner, or artist interested in teaching, you can submit a course proposal through our website or reach out directly to the team.