2023-2024
Fall
October 2
Welcome and introductions, colloquia planning for the year ahead
During our first doctoral colloquium meeting we will brainstorm ideas and start planning what we will do at this year’s colloquium meetings. In the past, we have discussed readings, workshopped papers, held panels on topics in science and human culture, and more, but it will be up to us to decide what’s in store for this year.
October 30
Film Showing: Dune (2021)
Dennis Villeneuve's 2021 rendition of Frank Herbert's 1965 book touches on a number of crucial subjects in science in human culture. From ecology and the impact of extractive economies to the role of travel in political systems and even restrictions on AI, Dune is never far from thought on the role of science and technology in our society.
November 6
Readings Discussion
This meeting will see a discussion of the role of risk in scholarship on science in human culture. We will take a look at chapter 2 of Ulrich Beck's Risk Society for a grounding in some of the seminal scholarship on the subject, as well as chapter 8 of Creating Resilient Futures to see one area in which the concepts have been employed in recent years.
Copies of these readings can be requested by contacting Hugh Milne.
Winter
January 29
This week's meeting will be a works-in-progress workshop for two of our colleagues, Lauren Cole and Michelle Lee. Come to help them workshop their ideas and to learn more about what your fellow colloquium members are up to!
February 12
This meeting will consist of a discussion of global and pre-modern medicine. We will use as the basis of our discussion chapter 3 of Sara Ritchey's "Acts of Care" and chapters 4 and 5 (they are short) of C. Pierce Salguero's "A Global History of Buddhism and Medicine". It should be an exciting opportunity to discuss the diversity of ways health and wellness have been conceived, as well as the role of faith and gender in medical care.
Copies of the readings can be requested by contacting Hugh Milner.
Spring
April 29
This week we will be discussing Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower. Butler's work sits at the intersection of technology, the environment, and society, envisioning a number of speculative futures for humanity. Parable of the Sower is no exception, a book that has received numerous accolades and may be her most well-known work. Copies of the book will be available for interested students.
May 3
We will be visiting the Dearborn Observatory, and hope for good weather to get a clear look at the night sky!
Space in the observatory is limited, so an RSVP will be sent to students on the colloquium mailing list. Be aware that the observatory is unfortunately not ADA-accessible, and is neither heated nor cooled (so dress appropriately for whatever weather we get).