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Cultural Research in the 21st Century: Designing the World Cultures Institute

April 7, 2005

Open Forums Will Contribute to Development of Signature
Research Institute

Through a broad range of research and public outreach programs,
the World Cultures Institute will be dedicated to the study and
exchange of ideas about the range of peoples who have populated
California in the past and present, as well as the politics,
economy, environment, arts, history, language and literatures of
these cultures.

Cultural Research in the 21st Century: Designing the UC
Merced World Cultures Institute
is a series of open forums
planned to mark the start of this signature research institute. The
purpose of the meetings is to create a lively dialogue on cultural
issues in the San Joaquin Valley between the UC Merced faculty and
the community.

The World Cultures Institute will support research and conduct
programming to strengthen the study of culture in the social
sciences, humanities and arts. Another important goal is to allow
scholars and students in engineering and the natural sciences to
incorporate culture into their research as well. A main goal of the
institute is to explore linkages between the rich cultural
resources of the San Joaquin Valley and global culture.
Representatives of social service organizations and cultural
organizations are especially encouraged to attend.

Three forums are planned, focusing on different aspects of the
study of culture:

Friday, April 22, 2005

2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

UC Merced Center, Fresno

550 East Shaw Avenue, Fresno

“Health, Education, and the Environment:

Promoting Cultural Issues in Public Policy”

RSVP by Monday, April 18.

Friday, May 20, 2005

2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

UC Merced Center, Bakersfield

2000 K Street, Bakersfield

“Migration and Transnational Cultures: Understanding the
People of the Central Valley in the Context of the World”

RSVP by Monday, May 16.

Friday, June 17, 2005

2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Great Valley Center

201 Needham Street, Modesto

“Museums, Parks and Libraries: Supporting Regional Arts and Culture”

RSVP by Monday, June 13.

Each session will follow the same format:

2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Opening Remarks


Kenji Hakuta
, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities
and Arts

2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. University Research Overview


Sam Traina
, Professor of Natural Science and Director of the
Sierra Nevada Research Institute

2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Panel Discussion

UC Merced faculty members*

3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Q & A

3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Break with light refreshments to be served

3:45 p.m. - 5 p.m. Open Forum

Kenji Hakuta, Moderator

“Culture, the Valley and the World”

- How do issues of culture, ethnicity and race affect your
work?

- How does your group interact with the Valley and the world?

“The Role of the University”

- What archives, oral histories and collections
would you like to see preserved?

- What are important cultural landmark and social or cultural
resources of the Valley we shouldn’t ignore?

- How can the UC Merced World Cultures Institute engage with
your organization?

*UC Merced Faculty Panel Participants:



Henry Forman
, Professor


Jan Goggans
, Assistant Professor of Literature


Sean Malloy
, Assistant Professor of History


Manuel Martin-Rodriguez
, Professor of Literature

Bruce Miller, University
Librarian


Ruth Mostern
, Assistant Professor of History


Dunya Ramicova
, Professor of Art


Belinda Reyes
, Assistant Professor of Public Policy


Sam Traina
, Professor of Natural Science and Director of the
Sierra Nevada Research Institute

To RSVP or to obtain additional information and directions,
please contact Mary Treasure at (209) 724-2950. Please call two
weeks in advance to make arrangements for the hearing impaired.