Symposium at UC Davis to Focus on the Value and Values of Feminist Research

By Lisa Howard

UC Davis students, postdocs, faculty, staff and community members are invited to explore how feminism can inform research at the third annual Feminist Research Symposium, May 8 in the Student Community Center Multipurpose Room. This event is organized by the UC Davis Feminist Research Institute (FRI).

The symposium will highlight the results of projects that explored the question, “What is Feminist Research?” Panel discussions will feature interdisciplinary faculty and graduate student research from the humanities, social sciences and STEM fields.

Dawn Sumner, a professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and chair of the FRI faculty board, attended last year’s symposium. “It brought together diverse perspectives that triggered many new ideas about how feminism intersects with STEM fields,” Sumner said.

The keynote speaker this year is Banu Subramaniam, who earned a Ph.D. in zoology/genetics at Duke University and now is a professor of women, gender and sexuality studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

“Subramaniam’s research, exemplified in her award-winning book, Ghost Stories for Darwin, works at the intersection of plant biology and histories of imperial, racial, and gendered power in scientific research,” said Kalindi A. Vora, associate professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies and director of FRI. “A prolific collaborative researcher across fields, Dr. Subramaniam will lead our conversation across arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields about the vast potential of what feminist research, and feminist collaboration, can achieve.”

FRI will also debut a video, What is Feminist Research?

“This video highlights compelling findings from interviews we’ve been conducting this year about many dimensions of feminist research. We hope that it will spur attendees to help us in visioning the future of feminist research at UC Davis,” said Sarah McCullough, associate director of FRI.

Attendees will be invited to help identify the most pressing concerns and themes for feminist research to address. The day will conclude with an exploratory panel on the value and values of feminist research.

FRI launched in late 2015 with a focus on research development and bridging the gap between the humanistic and scientific sides of campus. The institute catalyzes the potential of feminism to transform academic research to meet today’s pressing social and scientific challenges. Feminist research combines a commitment to social justice and gender equity with rigorous methodologies that produce more impactful and accurate knowledge. The results are collaborative, transdisciplinary projects that ask new questions, use new methodologies, and engage new audiences.

The symposium is co-sponsored by Middle East/South Asia Studies at UC Davis. The event is free and open to the public.

Attendees are welcome to attend all or part of the symposium. Lunch will be provided. Participants are encouraged to register in advanced, but can also register at the event.

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