The Freeman Spogli Institute is delighted to welcome the Honorable Marcello Pera, President of the Italian Senate, to Stanford to deliver a lecture on the identity of the West and common challenges facing Europe and the United States. A scholar, professor and politician, Pera has been a Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Pisa since 1992. First elected to the Senate in 1996, Pera has dedicated his career to furthering Italy's progress as a leading democracy, its prosperity as a major global economy, and strong trans-Atlantic relations. In 2005, he was honored by the Fulbright Commission for his international service, and his academic and professional excellence. He is just the second person to receive the Fulbright medal for outstanding contributions to the promotion of cultural understanding between Italy and the United States.