HUSA and HGSA Halloween Party

All History grad and undergrad students, postdocs, staff and faculty are welcome to attend!


Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 5 p.m.
Place: Grad Commons

Distinguished Chair Celebration

Bill Waiser, Distinguished Chair

Earlier this month, the Faculty of Arts and Science held a celebration for Bill Waiser and Ron Steer (Chemistry) who had recently been named Distinguished Chairs.  As part of the celebration, Bill was expected to explain History to chemists and Ron was to explain Chemistry to historians.

Although the natural division of the room into disciplinary sides, as like gravitated toward like, did not seem to bode well, both speakers eloquently explained the importance of their work and did, in fact, find common ground.

The 'History' Side, amused during Bill's talk

Bill spoke to the need for history in the modern world, particularly in terms of encouraging an engaged citizenry.  He discussed the thirst of the general public to know more about their past and the way in which historians constantly revise our understanding of the past as new questions arise.  Ron told us that he discovered his subject because he wanted to know what would happen when he shone light on molecules -- and stressed the necessity of continued funding for curiosity-driven research, which is what his own work had always been.

In a week when a local journalist had attacked curiosity-driven humanities research, the emphasis of both speakers on the role of new questions in driving innovation was a particularly welcome message for the audience.

Congratulations to Bill and Ron for being named Distinguished Chairs -- and for their masterful explanations of their work!

Bietenholz Rare Book Collection

Back in 2009, Peter Bietenholz, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Saskatchewan, and his wife Doris donated their rare books to the Murray Library.  

Under the supervision of Special Collections Librarian David Bindle, a McGill MLIS student, Nina Thurlow (B.A. Hons. in CMRS) catalogued the collection as her summer practicum project.  

You can check out the collection by visiting the website (http://library2.usask.ca/bietenholz) and, if you want to take a look at any of the books, you can visit the Special Collections Library.  The Bietenholz Rare Book Collection is a significant addition to the U of S Special Collections and will prove a valuable resource for students, faculty and visiting researchers alike.

Dr. Chad Gaffield Lecture

Dr. Chad Gaffield

The department is delighted to welcome Dr. Chad Gaffield (President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada), who will be giving a guest lecture on "Learning, the Research T, and Engaged Scholarship : How the social sciences and humanities are helping re-imagine universities in the Digital Age".  He describes his presentation:

Universities are among the few institutions that can trace their history to the middle ages. One key reason is their ability to adapt their form and content to changing internal and external forces.  This ability is currently being tested by new insights into pedagogy, new approaches to advancing knowledge and understanding about the past and present, and new relationships with the larger society.  Each of these developments is being enabled, accelerated and influenced by digital technologies, digital content and digital literacies. If judged by public discussion in societies around the world, the current result is both promising and worrisome, both inspiring and threatening. This lecture will briefly describe the profound changes now underway on campuses across Canada and will suggest how innovative approaches in the social sciences and humanities hold significant promise for the successful re-imagining of universities in the Digital Age.

All are welcome to attend!

Date: November 1

Time: 4 p.m.

Place: Convocation Hall 

The Bilson Lecture -- tomorrow!

This is just a reminder that our Bilson Lecture is tomorrow night.  All are welcome!

Dr. Andrea Tone (McGill), “The Curious Case of Val Orlikow: Cold War Psychiatry and the CIA”.

Thursday, October 6

7 p.m.

Arts 241

University of Saskatchewan

Reception to Follow

Meet the Profs Night 2011

The History Undergraduate Students' Association (HUSA) is hosting its annual social "soiree" of the year.

HUSA President Matthew Kerr promises:

"Get caught up in the energy of exciting and engaging conversational pursuits with faculty and your peers while feasting on an array of appetizers, and indulging in your choice of refreshments. ... Show up!  You'll be glad you did!"

Date: Wednesday, October 5th

Time: 4:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m

Place: Louis'

Cost: Free!