Environmental Humanities Research Cluster
FedEx Institute of Technology launches new research cluster focusing on environmental humanities and issues
The Environmental Humanities Research Cluster at the University of Memphis, within the FedEx Institute of Technology, is dedicated to integrating the humanities with the natural sciences to address contemporary environmental crises. Led by Dr. Amanda Gaggioli from the Department of History and Dr. Youngsang Kwon from the Department of Earth Sciences, the cluster fosters interdisciplinary and integrative research and curriculum development, examining human-environmental relationships across time and space. Faculty from diverse disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields, are engaging collaboratively to explore environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, resource management, land use, sustainability, water security, energy transitions, hazards and disasters, while emphasizing their cultural and political dimensions. By infusing humanistic perspectives into scientific inquiry, this initiative fosters critical engagement with environmental challenges to develop holistic and socially informed solutions. This initiative builds on existing strengths at the university and aims to create a comprehensive, integrative research and curriculum program, equipping faculty, students, and the public with the knowledge and skills to address urgent environmental issues at local, national, and global levels.
Faculty Team Members:
Dr. Amanda Gaggioli (PI), History, Faculty affiliate in CERI and Anthropology
Dr. Youngsang Kwon (Co-PI), Earth Sciences
Dr. Leah Windsor, English, Institute for Intelligence Systems, Center for Applied Earth Sciences & Engineering Research professor
Dr. Will Thompson, International and Global Studies Director, World Languages & Literature
Dr. Simranjit Steel, Sociology, Religious Studies
Dr. Sean Driscoll , Philosophy
Dr. Helen Sable, Psychology, Chair of Educational Initiatives
Dr. Stephen Diko, City & Regional Planning
Dr. Chunrong Jia, Environmental Health
Dr. Eunseo Choi, Center for Earthquake Research & Information
Dr. Laurel Darcy Hackley, Curator at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis; Art and Design
Dr. Anthony Lauricella, C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa
Dr. Keith Bowers, Field Station Director of the Edward J. Meeman Biological Station, Biology
Dr. Jennifer Mandel, Director of The Institute for Agricultural and Conservation Research and Education (ACRE), Biological Sciences
Brigette Billeaudeaux, Librarian and Archivist of the Special Collections department of the University Libraries
Casey Parkman, Digital Initiatives Librarian and head of the Sandbox Creatorspace
Kickoff meeting will be April 4, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m | FedEx Institute of Technology Fishbowl (203/205). For more information on this new research cluster, contact Gaggioli at gaggioli@memphis.edu.