Inter-college faculty Seminar in Humanities and Sciences (ISHS)

A forum for discussion and interaction among faculty at UMass-Boston. Faculty from different disciplines and colleges come together to focus on topics of common interest, exchange ideas, renew their intellectual energy, and advance their work in a spirit of adventure and collaboration.

Spring '05 -- Disease and difference

What makes a difference in who becomes diseased -- what counts as disease and who takes responsibility for it? What changes over time can be seen and how do perspectives vary among cultures and social groups? How are different people organizing now to influence change and improvements in health?

Depending on the interests of the participants these questions can be pulled in many directions. Historians might lead a discussion on now-defunct disease definitions such as drapetomania in the 1800s (which "induced the negro to run away from service") to GRID (gay-related immune deficiency) in the early 1980s. Applied social scientists may ask us to consider the role of community-based participatory research in identifying and overcoming the sources of health disparities in urban areas. Life scientists might highlight the possibilities and limitations of genetic screening for identification of at-risk groups and development of prophylatic treatment. Concerned local and global "citizens" may push us to look at poor regions of the world, including US cities, as incubators for new communicable diseases that can break through class and national boundaries. And so on.

We look forward to the cross-disciplinary links, new friendships, and actions that grow out of the seminar discussions.

Particpants

Associate Professor, Family Therapy Program, Counseling Psychology Department (UMB) and Research Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (UMMS)

Women's Studies

Anthropology

College of Management, Program Manager & Adjunct Professor of Marketing and Management

CPCS emerita

Philosophy

English

Director, Science, Technology & Values & Graduate Program in Critical & Creative Thinking