April 10, 2025 - 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

The WSU Humanities Center invites faculty, students, staff, and the community to our Spring Symposium entitled, Water/sheds. 

Abstract: Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, while the human brain and heart are made up of 73% water. Water constitutes both our bodies and the planet to a great extent and, as such, it is indispensable to life. As Astrida Neimanis eloquently states, “Water connects the human scale to other scales of life, both unfathomable and imperceptible. We are all bodies of water, in the constitutional, the genealogical, and the geographical sense.” Wayne State is located near vital waterways, including the Detroit River, which connects Lake St. Clair and the Upper Great Lakes to Lake Erie. Even Michigan's distinctive shape is largely framed by the surrounding waters of four of the Great Lakes. In this symposium, speakers from various disciplines explore the role of water in their work and engage in discussions about how water influences their scholarship, creative process, and productions.

Presenters: 

Eric Ash (Professor, History)

Donovan Hohn (Professor, English)

Donna Kashian (Professor, Biological Sciences) 

Rahul Mitra (Associate Professor, Communication)

Elena Past (Professor, CMLLC)

William Shuster (Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering)