Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshops (RIW)

The Political Ecology Workshop (PEW) is an interdisciplinary space for scholars at all career stages with interests in political ecology and related critical approaches to the study of environment-society interactions. PEW brings together a range of divisions across campus, including Anthropology, History, Environment and Sustainability, Political Science, Sociology, and all Area Studies departments and programs. We have founded a collaborative, multidisciplinary community with a shared investment questioning how environments and societies are co-produced and the ways in which power and inequality impact the dynamics and understandings of this co-production. We have run PEW as an RIW for two years and all the workshops have been possible from our committed participants from diverse fields. This year, we intend to develop our membership further by inviting scholars from broader fields and promoting PEW on listservs across campus.

PEW supports graduate student development, including for earlier-stage students seeking interdisciplinary conversations as they develop environment-society research projects and later-stage students seeking to incorporate political ecology into their work. PEW emphasizes dedicated time for graduate students to receive feedback on their work and facilitates faculty-student mentorship. It allows students to access a range of critical environmental studies perspectives they might not have encountered through coursework or departmental activities, and to grow from the feedback and insight of faculty and peers who share this commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and professional development.

The Women in Supply Chains (WiSC) Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshop (RIW) aims to understand and tackle these issues. As the first of its kind at the University of Michigan, WiSC will research 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 patriarchy, 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 does supply chain theory and discourse rely on or reinforce patriarchal values? How would feminist theory influence supply chain research?
What gender-based inequities and power asymmetries exist in global production networks? How can supply chain stakeholders mitigate these inequities?
What 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 (approx. 1 hour). The first two events will be focused on a welcome gathering followed by lighting talks of members' supply chain research or interests. The next three events will dive into the research related to each of the questions (above) we plan to explore. Then, our events will focus on knowledge sharing and collaboration via our book club, supply chain show and tell, guest speaker event, and visit to a manufacturing site to see one stage of a global supply chain. We also will attend events on campus (e.g., speakers, lecturers) as they relate to gender and supply chains.

The Interdisciplinary Science and Policy Initiative for Research Engagement (InSPIRE) is a student-run workshop for graduate students interested in engaging with science and technology policy issues.

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.

Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies Seminar (IISS) provides opportunities for graduate students and faculty who work across various disciplines and world regions to engage in conversations about Islam. This year's seminar focuses on the topic of “The Emergence of Muslim Identities," exploring how Muslims across various temporal and spatial contexts have made and continue to make sense of themselves and others in light of their faith tradition.

This workshop is for clinicians in training who seek to enhance their skills in providing weight-inclusive health and mental health care. No experience is needed - please come to as many or as few sessions are you are able. Looking forward to having you as part of the conversation!

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

No science communication or editing experience required.
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