BC group headed to COP27
A delegation of faculty and students will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt.
November 2022
Greetings! As our students approach the end of the semester, the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society is moving full steam ahead. We hosted our first two faculty mixers with a third scheduled on November 28. The research of our inaugural cohort of Schiller seed grant recipients was spotlighted in the first of four scheduled symposia, with the second scheduled for November 21.
You may find the newsletter’s feature on Associate Professor of History Ling Zhang to be of interest. It follows her on a very personal research journey to the center of China’s hydropower-producing region. An important part of the Schiller Institute’s mission is to meld the humanistic with the scientific; in this issue we are proud to announce the appointment of the first Schiller Poet Laureate, BC first-year undergraduate Jesse Julian. Jesse will comment throughout the year on institute goings on.
The Schiller Institute has also been busy managing the University’s involvement in the UN Climate Change Conference. Our 20 delegates will soon be returning from Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where they represented the University at COP27, and are eager to share their experiences with the BC community. Writers Ed Hayward and Stephanie McPherson help us understand how the delegates prepared for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
We hope you will join us at our upcoming events. As always, if anything in this issue resonates with you or you would like to discuss your ideas about collaborating in our focus areas of energy, environment, and health, please be in touch. We are always on the lookout for partnerships to serve the common good.
Professor Laura J. Steinberg
Seidner Family Executive Director, Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society
SCHILLER-UGBC ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM PANEL
In partnership with Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) student leaders, the Schiller Institute is presenting an expert panel on environmental racism on 11/29, 6–7 p.m., in the Schiller Institute Convening Space (Room 501 in 245 Beacon). The interdisciplinary, cross-organizational panel includes BC faculty Lacee Satcher (Sociology), Michael Glass (History), and Laura Hake (Biology), and the Reverend Vernon K. Walker, program director of Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW).
These feature our grantees in themed fora that foster connections and
promote future collaborations. We have three upcoming: Health and
Well-Being (Mon., 11/21, 3:30–5:30 p.m.); Climate Change and Clean
Energy (Thu., 1/19, 3:30–5:30 p.m.); Communications, Education, and
Public Engagement (Thu., 1/26, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.). All students,
faculty and staff are invited.
THE FUTURE OF CLIMATE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
Funded by Schiller, the climate change series provides opportunities for faculty and special guests to present cutting-edge research with robust interactions following each talk. The most recent seminar featured Jesse Jenkins of Princeton University, who discussed “How the USA Can Reach Net Zero 2050.” Spring 2023 seminar schedule.
Even within the tight-knit BC community, making connections with other scholars who share research interests is challenging. These social events are lightly structured to facilitate connections and catalyze new collaborations. Sign up for upcoming Social Hours here.
The gold shipping container known as the Global Engagement Portal will return to O'Neill Plaza from November 28 to December 7, and we’re partnering with the International Studies Program on multiple climate focused sessions. Visit the Portal website to learn about upcoming sessions.
Inaugural Schiller Institute Poet Laureate
We are proud to announce the appointment of inaugural Schiller Institute Poet Laureate Jesse Julian. Jesse is a first-year student at BC. A talented writer, she recently won the Schiller prize at the Constitution Day event we co-sponsored with the Clough Center. Read Jesse’s biography on our Meet the Team page.
Event recap: On the Road to Sharm El-Sheikh: BC@UNCOP Series
As part of the Schiller Institute's role in managing BC’s involvement in the UN Climate Change Conference, we hosted a public talk by New York Times climate reporter Somini Sengupta and a featured faculty panel which discussed the issues on the table and those that should be on the table at UN COP27. View the video on our BC@UNCOP page.
Celebrating 245 Beacon Street
In September, hundreds of Boston College trustees, benefactors, faculty, staff, and students celebrated the formal unveiling of the Schiller Institute’s new home, 245 Beacon Street. The evening featured a keynote address by Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Romer, a panel showcasing institute faculty, and presentations by faculty and students. Read more
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Schiller Institute will be hosting a wide array of events this Spring. Read more about some of our featured events.