UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Through the spring of 2024, the College of the Liberal Arts’ theme, “Moments of Change: Creating a Livable Planet,” is focusing on the ongoing work of Liberal Arts students, faculty, staff and alumni in support of sustainable futures.
Through the Moments of Change initiative, the Liberal Arts community explores what it means to live through historic and contemporary times of change. Similar to “Remembering 1968” in 2018 and “A Century of Women’s Activism” in 2020, the college has planned an array of courses, lectures, presentations and events centered around the “Creating a Livable Planet” theme.
The College of the Liberal Arts has aligned its definition of sustainability with Penn State’s — the simultaneous pursuit of human health and happiness, environmental quality and economic well-being for current and future generations. With that definition in mind, the college has planned programming focused on topics like economic, racial and gender equity and responsible labor practices.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 11, the College of the Liberal Arts will host “Historical Contexts of Humans Shaping Their Environment,” an event for students, faculty, staff and community members to learn more about the theme and various perspectives related to sustainability.
A pop-up exhibit curated by members of Penn State Eco Action will be hosted by the Eberly Family Special Collections Library from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mann Assembly Room of Paterno Library. Participants can view items from Eco Action’s archives — a collection of documents highlighting student activism at Penn State dating back to 1973, including Earth Day activities, protests and actions taken by students to further environmentalism on campus. Student leaders from sustainability-related student organizations will talk about their work and tell students how to get involved.
From 3 to 4:30 p.m. guests will be invited into Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, to hear a series of short presentations by Liberal Arts faculty who will examine sustainability throughout human history. The audience will have time to ask their own follow-up questions and converse with the presenters. The presentations will be moderated by Kathryn Salzer, associate professor of history and Gorman-McCourtney Early Career Professor in Medieval History, and Laurel Pearson, associate teaching professor of anthropology.
Presenters are listed below.
— Douglas Bird, associate professor of anthropology
— Jennifer Boittin, associate professor of French, Francophone studies, and history
— Sophie De Schaepdrijver, Walter L. and Helen P. Ferree Professor of Modern European History
— Kirk French, teaching professor of anthropology
— Faisal Husain, assistant professor of history
— Ann Killebrew, associate professor of classics and ancient Mediterranean studies, Jewish studies and anthropology
— Jacob Lee, assistant professor of history
— Richard Mbih, assistant teaching professor of African studies
“This event showcases some of the important work that Penn State faculty, students and staff in the College of the Liberal Arts and throughout the University are doing in the area of sustainability,” said Richard Page, associate dean for undergraduate studies in the College of the Liberal Arts. “It is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how people have affected the environment in different historical contexts and what different student organizations are currently doing to help create a more livable planet.”
To learn more about the theme, see future events, find sustainability-related courses and learn more about getting involved in sustainable student organizations, visit Moments of Change: Creating a Livable Planet.