The myth of Pandora's Box persists to this day in various incarnations. Even with entrenched gender bias, the story as a myth, forever re-told, re-translated, re-interpreted, and re-applied, has gained an excess of significations. These linger and shape our sense of ourselves in the world. Pandora's insatiable curiosity reflects our fervent need to peek where maybe we shouldn't and to know. Such curiosity carries consequence and potential. Looking into the box is looking into the abyss; exploring the unknown releases the great ills of the world or the wondrous gifts of the gods.
This conference invites you to lift the lid and look into matters related but not limited to cultural values, epistemology, identity, society, and scientific progress. What is released will depend on you.

Pandora, dear Pandora, have pity upon us!
Free us from the gloomy prison!
Open, open, we beseech you!

--Hesiod

Curiosity is the thirst of the soul.

-Samuel Johnson

Curiosity is one of the lowest of the human faculties. You will have noticed in daily life that when people are inquisitive they nearly always have bad memories and are usually stupid at bottom.

- E. M. Forster

Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.

-Zora Neale Hurston