Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshops (RIW)

Please join NCF in discussing the nineteenth century with third year Maria Rossini as she prepares for her preliminary exam. We will precirculate Maria’s exam opening statement so that members may come prepared with thoughts/questions. This will be a casual, low-stakes conversation, so in-depth preparation is not necessary. We will circulate Maria’s writing to those who have RSVP’ed by Friday at 5 pm. If you RSVP later than that, please reach out to Alexa or Asa to receive the document.

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.

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

No science communication or editing experience required.
We are always welcoming new editors, translators, and/or illustrators. If you'd like to join MiSciWriters, fill out our membership form here.

The Forum for Research in Medieval Studies (FoRMS), first formed as a
Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshop (RIW) in Fall 2010, serves as a structure
for the Medieval Lunch series and a reading group for graduate students. In its geographical, historical, and disciplinary scope, FoRMS aims to
provide an important forum for graduate students and faculty to discuss their
work as contributions to the broad field of “medieval studies.” At FoRMS
sponsored lunches throughout the semester, graduate students can present their
ongoing research and receive feedback from other members of the FoRMS
community. FoRMS also sponsors interdisciplinary reading groups and other
social events, which are organized on a more ad-hoc basis.

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.