Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshops (RIW)

The Political Communication Working Group (PCWG) is an interdisciplinary workshop for graduate students and faculty to convene and discuss how political messages are produced, disseminated, and interpreted in contemporary media environments. Our core research topics focus on the evolving relationships between media, politics, and society. Drawing on the interdisciplinary fields of communication, political science, sociology, and information science, our members explore a wide range of topics such as public support for entertainment censorship, climate change communication, social learning on TikTok, political para-social relationships, polarization, political biases in AI-generated content, etc. Our sessions encourage the exchange of ideas and work across theoretical and methodological traditions.

Weekly meetings for the presentation and discussion of comparative politics research.

The Late Antique Reading Group (LARG) offers a formal space for thought-provoking, interdisciplinary conversations about the late antique world and its enduring relevance today.

InSPIRE brings together graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from across the University of Michigan to engage with the intersection of science, technology, and public policy.

Our meetings cover a wide range of topics, including proposal development, book discussions, and critical reviews of recent papers. We also host presentations by faculty and alumni. To enhance this interdisciplinary approach, our workshop is designed to foster collaboration by engaging students and professionals from diverse fields.

Join MiSciComm (formerly MiSciWriters) for in-person and virtual workshops designed to develop science communication skills!

No science communication experience required.
We are always welcoming new writers, editors, translators, and/or illustrators. If you'd like to join MiSciComm, fill out our membership form here. Our onboarding workshops are held once per semester and can be registered for below. Please reach out if you have any comments, questions, or concerns.

Supply chains are the backbone of the global economy. While the fragility, geography, and organization of global production networks are at the forefront of supply chain discourse, the people who make and study consumers’ products are often forgotten. Women especially play a critical role in the production of goods and services and global procurement.

The Women in Supply Chains (WiSC) Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshop (RIW) was created to understand these issues and create a space for graduate students interested in the intersection between gender and supply chains. WiSC researches gender disparities in supply chain scholarship and practice to advance awareness and pursue more equitable outcomes. We seek to bring together an interdisciplinary group to collaborate on topics related to our three research pillars: 1) supply chain discourse and governance, 2) supply chain gender inequities, and 3) barriers to equitable supply chain research and practice. Our interdisciplinary approach addresses the intersections of gender, power asymmetries, and economic exploitation in global production networks. Recent industry research shows that progress on gender representation in supply chains has stalled, demonstrating a need for sustained academic engagement (2024 Women in Supply Chain Survey Report | Gartner).

Research questions we plan to explore include:
To what extent do supply chain theory and discourse rely on or reinforce patriarchal values?What gender-based inequities and power asymmetries exist in global production networks? How can supply chain stakeholders mitigate these inequitiesWhat barriers do gender-marginalized individuals face as supply chain scholars or practitioners? How can we build community for people who work in supply chains?

We plan to hold monthly events (approximately 1 hour) on a consistent day of the week (based on the availability of participants/guest speakers). We also plan to attend and promote events on campus (e.g., speakers, lectures) as they relate to gender and supply chains. Planned events include hands-on activities and treks, including a book club and a manufacturing site tour. Graduate students from all disciplines and gender identities are invited to attend.