DETAILED MISSIONS of COLLOQUIES |
Appalachian Forum
Co-conveners: Mary English (4-4251) and Mike Clark (4-6006) clarkgmorph@utk.edu |
NEW: Collaborating with the APPALACHIAN STUDIES ORGANIZATION to develop their 30th Annual Appalachian Studies Conference, based at nearby Maryville College, March 23-25 The Appalachian Studies Organization has a rich interdisciplinary ethos and the meeting will bring more than 500 scholars, teachers, artists, and members of diverse organizations and agencies that serve and study Appalachia. http://www.appalachianstudies.org/
Focus: Southern Appalachian culture and concerns. One of the longest running and most active groups. Meets monthly for informal discussions by the participants, all of whom share an interest in the region. Recent readings have included: Knoxville, Tennessee by Wheeler and McDonald, We Make the Road by Walking, edited by Bell, Gaventa and Peters, Worldwatch Paper 105, and a recent book on the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Sponsors: As an outgrowth of the Appalachian Forum, an interdisciplinary course, "20th Century Appalachia: Its Environment and Its Culture" has been developed by faculty members who have participated in the colloquy.
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APPLIED PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDIES
Co-conveners: Howard Pollio (4-4361) and Sandra Thomas (4-7581)
HomePage
for more on Applied Phenomenological Studies |
Focus: Development of a humanities-based approach to applied human research that is designed to illuminate the deeper meanings of universal human experiences such as pain, anger, spiritual distress, forgiveness, creativity, skill, and humor. The methods of existential phenomenology being pioneered at UT have been applied in areas such as nursing, education, clinical psychology, skilled performance, and counseling. Three research groups meet weekly all year:
The Tuesday Group, led by Sandra Thomas and Howard Pollio, meets from 2:30 - 4:30 in 234 Nursing.
The Wednesday Group, led by Howard Pollio, meets from 5:00 - 7:00 in 401 Austin Peay.
See the Applied Phenomenological Studies HomePage for more information.
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Critical Theory
Convener: Allen Dunn (4-6962)
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Focus: an interdisciplinary colloquy composed of faculty and graduate students who meet weekly to discuss readings in contemporary critical theory. These readings are selected from a broad range of humanities and social science disciplines, including literary criticism, sociology, psychology, philosophy, history, and political science. The group's discussions focus primarily on competing models of inquiry and interpretation in the humanities and social sciences and on the moral and political values which these models imply. When it is possible, the colloquy brings the theorists whom it is reading to campus for lectures and discussions.
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Cultural Diversity
Co-Conveners: Tom Hood (4-7024) and Janet Atwill |
Focus: This colloquy is comprised of members of the University community who are committed to improving the University's educational, institutional, and social climate with regard to diversity. Based on the premise that skills in dealing with diversity are inseparable from the skills necessary for living in a democratic society, the Colloquy aims to provide support for those actively involved with diversity issues and to work with other established groups to serve as a resource for the University community. Sponsors discussion groups and speakers, as well as informal gatherings to facilitate connections among faculty from different disciplines.
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Gerontology Colloquy (formerly Aging and Society)
Co-conveners: Sandra McGuire (4-7589) and Diane Klein (4-0294)
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Focus is on current issues in aging in America. Topics of interest are the social implications of a "graying" society, lifelong learning, health and aging, and research on aging.
Sponsors the Aging and Society course in the University Studies program. The colloquy periodically sponsors visits by nationally-known experts on aging.
Symposium on Ageism & Gerontology
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The History and Philosophy of Science and Technology -- Convener: Heather Douglas (4-3255)
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Focus: group meets weekly (in F2005, Thursdays at 5 PM at the Golden Roast) to discuss each other's work in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. Papers a distributed and read in advance. Robust core group includes Heather Douglas (Philosophy), Denise Phillips (History), Millie Gimmel (foreign languages), Stephen Blackwell (foreign languages), Jeff Kovac (Chemistry), and Ted Richards (Philosophy), but more are welcome.
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Interdisciplinary Colloquy on Rhetoric
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Focus: Faculty from Classics, English, Speech Communication, Religious Studies, Journalism, Theater, and other departments, meets regularly to discuss rhetoric readings of common interest. Each year, the colloquy sponsors a two-day symposium in which prominent visiting speakers address an issue important for our understanding of the nature and function of rhetoric in society.
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Focus: As a topic that cuts across disciplinary boundaries, spirituality invites exploration from a diversity of perspectives that can inform our understanding, including: psychology, neuroscience, medicine, physical and biological sciences, mathematics, history, art and literature, political science, anthropology, philosophy, and theology. Surely other perspectives are likely to emerge, considering the influence of the spiritual impulse on our personal, professional, and social behavior. We feel it important to address this deeply seated human quality that may be quite separate from specific religions that may also be energized by this impulse.
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Spirituality and Health
Conveners: Jo Lynn Cunningham (4-2163) and Tom Hood (4-7026)
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Focus: "The colloquy is concerned with issues related to spirituality and health (with both concepts broadly defined). We have members from both UT and the larger community and are open to new members at all times. A central activity is reading and discussing books related to the colloquy theme. The colloquy also has sponsored speakers and taught a course on the topic of spirituality and health."
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