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. In 1990, the Foundation and the University honored Jack's leadership by re-naming the Forum the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues.

Since then four to five lectures each year have been provided to the citizens of Nebraska, featuring experts on Russia, China, Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and indigenous peoples of North America and the world. They have addressed issues of human rights, national and global security, terrorism, the environment, infectious disease, war, the environment, religion, world food systems, and many other topics.

Since 2002 the Forum has presented the Lewis E. Harris Lecture on Public Policy which was endowed at the University by the SmithKline Corporation in honor of Lewis E. Harris, their former Chair and the founder of Harris Laboratories (now MDS Pharma Services). This is an annual lecture that seeks to examine major public policy issues and to provide a special opportunity for interaction between students, the business community and the academic community in Nebraska.

In 2007 a new annual lecture was added to the Forum, the Charles and Linda Wilson Dialogue on Domestic Issues. Through a moderated debate between two recognized experts, the Wilson Dialogue will explore varying viewpoints of an issue with significant impact on Nebraska and the world.

During the 2007-2008 season, the Nebraska Humanities Council will collaborate with colleges and universities across Nebraska to simulcast the forum lectures at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Wayne State College, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. For more information, contact the Nebraska Humanities Council at (402) 474-2131.

St. Paul United Methodist Church sponsors a discussion of the Forum the Thursday following each lecture. They show a video of the original lecture at 6:30 p.m. and begin a facilitated discussion at 7:30 p.m. These events will are held in the Saint Paul UMC Dining Room, 1144 M Street in Lincoln. Contact Sherri Melecki at St Paul United Methodist Church for more information, (402) 477-6951.

The Forum has partnered with many university departments and other organizations to present lectures, including the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies at UNL, the Nebraska Humanities Council, the Knights of Aksarben Foundation, the Lincoln/Lancaster County United Way and others. University departments supporting the Forum include the Office of the Chancellor, the Lied Center for Performing Arts, the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Student Involvement, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications and the University of Nebraska Foundation. Community supporters include KRNU Radio, KLIN Radio and KFOR Radio. These partners are essential to the success of the Forum and we greatly appreciate their support.