On Wednesday, December 15 2010, faculty, students, staff and members of the Peterborough community warmed Traill College's new Bagnani Hall with engaging insights and dialogue about current research in the humanities.

Interesting intersections

Dr. Kathryn Norlock, Trent’s Kenneth Mark Drain chair in ethics, began the day’s presentations with her exploration of resistance, hope and the personal politics of citizenship. Professor Norlock spoke about her singular, political choice not to eat meat, and the reaction of some of her fellow Americans. “You think you can single-handedly bring down the meat industry?” they would ask her. “No," she would reply, “but that doesn't mean I have to participate in it." Prof. Norlock concluded that in some instances, resistance can be a good substitute for hope.

Science as human activity

Dr. Stephen Bocking, Trent professor in Environmental & Resource Sciences/Studies, addressed the construction of scientific practice and fact, with special focus on the relationship of scientists, and scientific practice, to place. Professor Bocking spoke about his work in the Broughton region of British Columbia, an area of intense commercial salmon farming. He shared points on his investigation of how scientists connect with the environment in which they are working, and how this relationship informs the scientific practice and methods they develop and employ.

Nourishing dialogues

Dr. Sylvie Bérard, professor of Modern Languages & Literatures, presented her work on Quebec Science Fiction writer Élisabeth Vonarburg and talked about the importance of maintaining dialogues between disciplines, “which helps [us to] nourish and theorize each other,” noted Professor Bérard.

Delving into her work on representations of the unspeakable, English professor Dr. Rita Bode talked about the prolific work of 19th Century American author Harriet Prescott Spofford. Professor Bode addressed how one story in particular, Circumstance, the story of a woman captured by a panther, could be read as a coded account of rape.

Graduate student Judith Mintz, a Master’s degree candidate working out of the Frost Centre at Trent, shared her investigation of Ami McKay's novel, The Birth House, through a feminist lens.

Listening deeply

Borne out of a deep interest in helping students negotiate change and complexity, senior tutor Christy Carlson offered insight into new directions in academic advising. Working with an emerging model of advising as teaching, Carlson highlighted the dialogic nature of the advising process.
Dr. Michael Morse, professor of Cultural Studies, presented his work on the work of jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, and a philosophy of history expressed purely through instrumental music.

Reaching back

Displaying an impressive memory for names and bibliographic information, Trent archivist Janice Millard shared findings from her engagement with the Bagnani fonds, sharing interesting details on the life of Augusta Robinson Houston.

Dr. Ian Storey, a professor of Ancient History & Classics, presented his process and findings regarding the dating of Phrynis, an avant-garde musician of the fifth century B.C.

Looking forward

Dr. Steven Franklin, president and vice-chancellor and Dr. Gary Boire, provost and vice- president academic, commended the researchers for their work. Professor Boire underscored the importance of the researcher’s ability to explain what they do in terms that everyday people can understand. He sees this as integral to advocacy for, and the continuation of, robust studies in the humanities.