It’s the Little Things: Remarking on the Mundane in Sze’s “Before Completion”
The 25th United States Poet Laureate combines philosophical musing with appreciation for the mundane in “Before Completion.”
The Scoop
Started in Fall 2024, the Scoop is our student-facing newsletter created by and for students. Thank you for your interest in the Institute's work and staying in touch with us!
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27th Edition | 04/29/2026
It's spring and the end of the semester, and our poet laureate has written her final poem for the Schiller Institute, “haiku series on blossoming.” We are also excited to announce that COP31 applications are now open! We also share a number of off-campus opportunities related to climate and energy: a climate storytelling event featuring journalists, filmmakers, photographers, activists, and scholars, “Stories from a Warming World,” ASI’s Hackathon event at Fenway Park, and the Climate Action Campaign (CAC). Finally, as the semester comes to a close, be sure to take care of yourself! Explore information about Wellness Wednesday events.
26th Edition | 04/15/2026
In this issue of the Scoop, event season is in full swing! Join us for the Recycled Jewelry workshop or our first-ever Schiller Poetry Showcase. Learn about how you can help clean up the Muddy River or participate in a resume-building workshop. In honor of Earth month, come join us for an Earth Day fair or other Greek Week events. Our poet laureate has also honored Earth month with her ecopoetic analysis of Arthur Sze’s “Before Completion.”
25th Edition | 04/08/2026
In this issue of The Scoop, learn more about former Core Fellow Courtney Humphries and the launch of her book, Climate Change and the Future of Boston. We also share information about a presentation by Sophia Kianni, an Iranian-American social entrepreneur, founder of Climate Cardinals, and the youngest UN advisor in U.S. history. Join Dora Rodriguez, a migration justice advocate, founder of Salvavision, and author of Dora: A Daughter of an Unforgiving Terrain, for a powerful talk. Want to get involved in the climate space? Open this issue for information about the Green Careers Networking Event and the Climate Action Campaign (CAC).
24th Edition | 03/25/2026
In honor of our interim executive director, Professor Dunwei Wang, our poet laureate has written a new piece, “Homestretch.” If you are interested in poetry, come to a talk by Washington State poet laureate Derek Sheffield. Additionally, the BC Writing Center is hosting a Writing Center After Dark event on writing for the common good. In this issue, you can also learn about the Cleantech Open application and Clean Energy Opportunity Summit.
23rd Edition | 03/11/2026
In this issue of The Scoop read our poet laureate’s analysis of Derek Sheffield’s poem “Fish Like These” from Not for Luck in anticipation of his upcoming campus visit. Interested in showcasing your green ideas? Come learn about the Eagles Sustainability Competition! If you are looking to take some time to reflect, check out the Ignatian Path Through the Heights.
22nd Edition | 02/26/2026
So many amazing upcoming events in this issue! Learn more about our COP30 symposium and our first Schiller poetry showcase. Interested in talks? Check out a special lecture by an award-winning geologist and science communicator, Anjana Khatwa, on her new book, The Whispers of Rock. Additionally, the Global Citizenship Project will host Catherine Goldberg (BC ’16), climate policy expert and former senior U.S. climate negotiator, for a conversation about climate justice, sustainability, and career pathways in public policy.
21st Edition | 02/18/2026
In this issue of the Scoop, our poet laureate has written a new piece, “Of Laudato Si’ mi’ Signore.” This issue also includes information on exciting events such as the Eagles Sustainability Competition and the COP30 symposium. Check out the BC Career Center’s Eagle Intern Fellowship (EIF) or learn more about submitting work for the Medical Humanities Journal (MHJ). Finally, join social entrepreneur Daniel Germain for his talk Breaking the Circle of Poverty.
20th Edition | 02/04/2026
It's the 20th edition of The Scoop! Read “What Can Belém Teach Boston About Climate Change?” by BC PhD student and COP30 delegate, Abigail Bergman. Learn about the upcoming Climate Is Every Story “Forced Migration & Changing Communities” discussion. In this issue, you’ll also find details about the upcoming Eagles Sustainability Competition and information about how to get your creative works included in this semester’s Medical Humanities Journal.
19th Edition | 01/21/2026
We are back for another semester of The Scoop! Read Elleen Kim’s reflections on her experience of COP30 in Belem, Brazil. Also in this issue is another amazing analysis by our poet laureate on BC student Olivia Emerick’s poem “Back for the Summer.” Want to become more involved in Schiller? Learn how to apply to be a member of our Student Board! If you are interested in health beyond borders, look into the Global Public Health and the Common Good major and minor.
18th Edition | 12/08/2025
The Schiller Institute held an amazing study sanctuary to help students rest and recharge during finals season. Need more mental health resources? See what else we recommend. Also check out our exciting new book club! Our first read? Fire Weather by John Vaillant.
17th Edition | 11/21/2025
In this issue, explore ecopoetic analysis of “The Intentions of Thunder” by Patricia Smith written by our poet laureate. Check out some exciting campus events and opportunities such as the GIS poster session and the Global Engagement Development Program. Or learn about the Cape Code All-Starts summer internship.
16th Edition | 11/12/2025
In this edition, written by our very own Director of Finance and Operations, Greg, read about COP and our history of participation. Also read Jesse’s new poem “Climate Is.” which is inspired by both the Institute’s involvement in COP30 and our Climate Is Every Story series. Check out a new art exhibit: Talking on Eggshells by Professor Shelley White and her students. Look at the Schiller Institute’s staff's fantastic halloween costumes…dressed up as each other!
15th Edition | 10/29/2025
COP30 is coming up! Open this issue to read about Professor Jesse Swann-Quinn’s experience with our mock COP negotiations. Our poet laureate has written another analysis on “Haunting Tomorrow” by Craig Santos Perez. Also learn about undergraduate assistant Julia’s plans to tackle the Boston marathon while raising money for cancer research!
14th Edition | 10/16/2025
Read about Schiller student and undergraduate assistant Junsoo and his work with the institute. Our poet laureate is back with a new poem, “Ferroptosis,” inspired by the research and life of Dr. Whitney Henry, who visited Boston College as part of the Casper Augustus Ferguson Seminar series. Also, check out the fantastic encounter Assistant Director Kaley had with a moose while hiking Mount Isolation!
13th Edition | 10/01/2025
What Can Smash Bros Teach Us About Climate Action? If that question intrigues you, explore this week's issue of The Scoop! Learn more about exciting Schiller events, including a conversation with a climate negotiator and former BC student Catherine Goldberg ‘16. Also check out campus events like the annual Hackathon and how to get involved with the Every Bite Counts student group.
12th Edition | 9/17/2025
Meet Erik, the Administrative and Fiscal Assistant for the Schiller Institute. Learn about our new year-long series, Climate Is Every Story, run in partnership with Environmental Studies, Journalism, and English. Check out the Environmental Ethics in Dialogue conference in partnership with Lowell Humanities Lecture Series by Professor Mellisa Lane. Also, learn about how you can be highlighted in The Scoop!
11th Edition | 9/03/2025
Meet the new editor for The Scoop, Magali! Also check out our new series, Behind the Research, and its interview with BC graduate student Xinyi Yang and postdoc researcher Dr. Chanil Park. See what Schiller students are up to now with an article by Dominique about her participation in the Mobilization and Political Economy Research Experience. Also get to know our poet laureate, Jesse!
10th Edition | 05/15/2025
Announcing our Fall 2025 Courses – SCHI 4020/6020: The Sustainability Energy-Climate Nexus: Integrated Science and Society and SCHI 3030: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Energy, Environment, and Health. Also, learn more about how to get highlighted in future issues of The Scoop, as well as exciting paid opportunities for students with Panoplia Laboratories.
9th Edition | 05/07/2025
Meet Echo, a third-year Human-Centered Engineering student, and President of oSTEM at Boston College. Read “Parachute” by our poet laureate! Also, check out the reflection on Green Week and the Schiller Institute’s participation. Read about how students founded the Boston College Engineers Without Borders chapter in partnership with the Schiller Institute.
8th Edition | 04/22/2025
Meet Dominique, one of our undergraduate students who has also written many pieces for The Scoop! We also follow up with Morrissey College junior Ashley Delgado, who won the Romero Scholarship and was a part of the 2025 Chile project team for our Working For and With Communities program. Former Schiller student Gustavo Cardona e Almeid, a part of the COP29 delegation, shares his journey leading to him pursuing a Ph.D. in Finance at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, in Curitiba, Brazil. Meet Jier Huang, one of our Schiller Core faculty members! Finally, we share more ecopoetic analysis by our poet laureate on “Remember” by Joy Harjo.
7th Edition | 04/07/2025
Meet Greg, our director of Finance and Operations! Also, follow-up with postdoctoral researcher Yongfa and his journey to becoming a tenure-track assistant professor. Our poet laureate has written a new poem, “Calafia.” Schiller undergraduate assistant Dominique recounts her experiences at the annual Make-a-thon.
6th Edition | 03/25/2025
This week's issue highlights Lila, Schiller’s graduate student website specialist. Our poet Laureate, Jesse, analyzes environmental themes in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 98. Read about BC’s Engineers Without Borders co-presidents' experience at the EWB’s national conference. We also promote the new journalism minor. Michaila Peters, COP29 delegate to Baku, founded the Public Philosophy Initiative and is running a three-part workshop series, "Shifting the Global Paradigm: The Role of Philosophical Pedagogy in Climate Justice."
5th Edition | 03/12/2025
In this issue, our Schiller staff member of the week is undergraduate assistant and Schiller student, Julia Wowkun. We also highlight the SCHI3030: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Energy, Environment and Health course. Learn more about Schiller core faculty member, Yi Ming. Our poet laureate has written a new poem “i land.” Watch the amazing lecture given by Nobel Prize winner Moungi Bawendi, who recently spoke at the Institute! You can also watch recordings from the COP29 symposium and the keynote speech by Esquire Henry.
4th Edition | 02/18/2025
Our Schiller team member of the week is the Assistant Director of Programs, Kaley! Check out the course spotlight on SCHI3040: Health and the Environment: People, Policy, and Technology. This issue looks at Schiller Student Board President, Elliana, and her journey with the institute. Additionally, former Schiller Student Board President, Thalia, who was part of our delegation to COP27 in Egypt, writes an article about her time at BC and what she’s been up to since graduating. In this week's issue, our poet laureate analyzes Amanda Gorman’s, “The Hill We Climb.”
3rd Edition | 02/04/2025
Meet one of our amazing undergraduate assistants, Shelby, in this week's issue! Learn more about SCHI3030: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Energy, Environment, and Health in our course spotlight. Also read about core faculty member Edson Severnini and his journey to the Schiller Institute. This week's issue also follows up with Schiller student Julia and her experiences with the Institute. Another former student, Jack, who participated in the COP28 delegation to Dubai shares his updates too. Our poet laureate also published a beautiful new poem “A Time Capsule Holds Our Grief.” Finally, check out the winners of this year’s Eagles Sustainability Competition.
2nd Edition | 01/22/2025
New semester, new issue of The Scoop. Meet Laura, the executive director of the Schiller Institute. Also check out this week's course spotlight: Climate Change and Energy Transition: Japan as a Case Study. In this issue, our poet laureate analyzes Camille Dungy's poem “This Beginning May Have Always Meant This End.” Learn more about being part of the Schiller Student Board!
1st Edition | 12/12/2024
Check out our inaugural Scoop issue! Meet the first editor of The Scoop, Charlotte, and read about Schiller undergraduate assistant Dominique's experience at The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts. Also our amazing poet laureate, Jesse Julian, shares her new poem “pilot:poet::poet:pilot”. Learn about BC COP29 delegates and their experiences in Baku, Azerbaijan. Need some self-care resources? Take a look at the ones included in this week's issue.