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 '06 - Sustainability, science, and social change
What does it mean for people to promote sustainability or development that "meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Is this good for everyone or feel good rhetoric for the well off? Effective politics or a distraction from fundamental issues of political and economic control? A new ethic or a historically familiar conservatism? A human-centered concern or a first step towards recognition of the rights of other species? Can natural and social sciences provide adequate concepts, measures, and analyses to guide the pursuit of sustainability? What perspectives can the humanities provide on sciences' attempts to do so? How are different groups organizing now around sustainability concerns?
Depending on the interests of participants such questions and the overall theme of the seminar can be pulled in many directions. We look forward to the cross-disciplinary links, new friendships, and actions that grow out of the seminar discussions.
Review of the semester's experience
Particpants (as of 2/13)
Rob Beattie
Director, Environmental Studies Program
Steffie Hartwell
David Heimann
Management Information Systems
David Levy
Arthur Millman
Philosophy and Graduate Program in Critical & Creative Thinking
Dorothy Shubow Nelson,
Steve Rudnick
Associate Director, Environmental Studies Program
Jack SpencePolitics & Assoc. Dean, Liberal Arts
Peter Taylor
Director, Science, Technology & Values & Graduate Program in Critical & Creative Thinking