Trent University launched a week-long celebration of excellence in the humanities on April 13, 2015 with a symposium which showcased the interconnection of research and teaching at the University.
The event, at Trent’s Bagnani Hall, featured presentations by Dr. Michael Hickson (Philosophy), Dr. Caroline Durand (History), Dr. Liam Mitchell (Cultural Studies), and Dr. May Chazan (Gender & Women’s Studies), which highlighted the variety of research interests at Trent. It culminated with a discussion on the importance of free speech at the university.
“The symposium is an opportunity for faculty in the humanities to share with colleagues, students, and the community what they do both in the classroom and in their research” said Dr. Hugh Elton, dean of Arts and Science: Humanities at Trent.
Commenting on the relevance of studying humanities at Trent, Professor Elton said, “Solving many of the world’s problems requires an understanding of the complexities of human behaviour, and that’s what we do in the humanities.”
Prof. Elton also noted that the skills developed in the humanities have a wide application for students after they graduate. “The humanities require students to combine creativity with critical thinking and to communicate their ideas and insights to others. Our students learn how to analyze information, translate that into reports, and make decisions based on incomplete data. Those skills are valuable whether you’re a coach of a sports team or you’re running a business.”
Professor Hickson, who spoke about his research on the 17th century philosopher Pierre Bayle, agreed. “The critical thinking we do in the humanities trains your mind to think about issues very carefully and systematically and that is applicable in almost any job,” he said.
“But we’re also creating balanced people,” Prof. Hickson added, noting that the personal interaction with faculty in the humanities at Trent “lights students up.” “What’s very marketable is a person who is passionate, who has a lot of interests, and who is willing to try new things.”
“It’s about skill-training for life,” added Prof. Elton. “These skills are applicable over and again in a world that is changing rapidly. Students in the humanities at Trent are gaining tools to manage not only their first job, but all the way through to their retirement.”
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Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2015.