MTL Interdisciplinarity Symposia 2006-2007

MTL will host a series of lunch symposia in 2006-2007 on interdisciplinarity at Stanford and the future of interdisciplinarity in the humanities and social sciences. The discussions will examine the changing context of interdisciplinarity in the humanities and explore theoretical and methodological questions in interdisciplinarity. Students may obtain units for participating in the symposia by registering for MTL 396: Current Issues in Interdisciplinarity.

Organizers: Ulka Anjaria, Ju Yon Kim, Steven Lee, Theresa Pellinen-Chávez, Sarah Richardson, Jayson Gonzales Sae-Saue, Nirvana Tanoukhi, M. Zamora

Autumn Quarter Schedule All events are from 12 noon - 1:30 pm in the MTL Conference Room in Building 250. Lunch will be served.

Discussion topics and discussion leaders for the remainder of the quarter will be firmed up at the opening session; a revised description of the agenda for the quarter will be circulated after the first meeting.

• Wednesday, October 18
  Opening session
  A moderated opening session to focus our goals for the symposia and to brainstorm frameworks and topics for the coming quarter. What is the interdisciplinarity experience in MTL? How do we define interdisciplinarity? How do we practice it? What are the best institutional contexts for practicing it?

• Wednesday, November 8
  Suggested topic: New trends and questions
  The changing context of interdisciplinarity and cultural studies in the humanities. Remaining at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary practices as more scholars and departments embrace "interdisciplinarity." Engaging the social sciences and the sciences. -Moderators: Jayson and Ju Yon

• Wednesday, November 15
  Suggested topic: The institutional context of interdisciplinary scholarship
  What is the role of the interdisciplinary scholar/program in the university and in the disciplinary landscape? How is MTL similar to and different from other major interdisciplinary and literature programs? What is the profile of MTL in the larger academic landscape? What are the best contexts for practicing interdisciplinarity? Is MTL be better as a department or as a program?

• Wednesday, December 6
  Suggested topic: Debating the literature requirement
  The literature requirement is a significant dimension of the MTL experience; increasingly, many students are -Moderator: Theresa; Speakers: Sarah, Zamora, Ju Yon

More Details and Getting Involved
Events are open to all MTL students - all are welcome and very much encouraged to attend!

This project grew out of discussions among MTL students last spring. The autumn program was developed by a committee of MTL students. We plan four internal lunch events in the autumn quarter, primarily for MTL students. These events will be structured discussions of students' experience with interdisciplinarity in MTL, at Stanford, and in the broader academy. We hope to use the opening session to refine the discussion topics for the remainder of the quarter so that they best reflect participants' needs and interests. The autumn symposia will be followed by four events in the winter quarter that include faculty, members of the committee in charge, guests of MTL, and possibly the larger Stanford community. These discussions will be framed by questions developed by students in the autumn quarter, in collaboration with professors, and will focus on broader theoretical, methodological, and professionalization issues around interdisciplinarity in the contemporary academy.

The Interdisciplinarity Symposia are generously sponsored by the Program in Modern Thought and Literature.