ISHA to focus on sustainability during fall term

by Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

aculty from a number of departments will share ideas and research about "Sustainability and Stewardship" during the fall 2002 semester.

     This Interdisciplinary Seminar in the Humanities and Fine Arts (ISHA) is open to faculty in any discipline, according to the seminar's director, Stephen Clingman. The seminar meets every second week.

     "The ethos is democratic and interactive," Clingman said. "No single member is responsible for the full semester's activities; leadership of the seminar rotates, with participants taking it in turn to lead the discussion, and all contributing to a collective enterprise.

     "This is a somewhat unusual topic for us. The essential thing is that, among other things, we are trying to establish a forum where faculty from the sciences and humanities can come together to pursue issues of common interest. We'll have a number of events with that kind of focus."

     Clingman said the seminar has a scope applicable to a wide range of disciplinary approaches.

     "What we are looking for is a group of people who would like to explore their own particular 'take' on the topic in the company of others; to enrich each other's perspectives; to deepen their own imagination and conception of the issues; and to see what results from a collaborative, interdisciplinary exercise," he said. "You don't have to be an expert.

     The deadline for applications is April 26. Contact Clingman for further information (clingman@english.umass.edu) or visit the ISHA Web site (www.umass.edu/hfa/isha).