Resources Relating to the Study of
Religion and Nature
Scholarly Associations, Centers, and Programs
This section provides a listing of some of the growing number of academic organizations, centers and institutes, programs, and positions that are exploring the interdisciplinary nexus of religion, nature and culture.
Organizations
F.O.R.E.S.T. - The Florida Organization on Religion, Environmental Science, and Technology, A Local Societies Initiative Group with support from the Metanexus Institute. (USA)
Academic Programs
There are a wide variety of graduate programs where students can study aspects of the relationships between people and their religions and environments, or explore such relationships from their own faith traditions. Many university-based divinity schools have both theological and non-theological faculty who mentor students in graduate research engaging religion and nature. A few programs, however, are developing specific graduate curriculum for such study, or are seeking to enhance their ability to mentor students in this area:
A number of other programs have faculty specialists who mentor students in graduate education focused on religion and nature. These include:
Drew University's
Theological School and
Religious Studies Department. With both theologians and social scientists studying various aspects of religion and nature it is a good example of a university that enjoys synergies for religion and nature studies through cooperative relationships among theological school and university faculty.
Schumacher College for ecological and environmental studies offers an MSc degree in Holistic Science (UK).
Prospective graduate students can also consider interdisciplinary programs in Environmental Studies (such as at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of Oregon (USA), or The University of Toronto and York University (Canada), and disciplinary ones such as those found in Anthropology, Philosophy, Literature departments at other outstanding schools. Some examples of unique programs where faculty have known expertise in religion and nature include:
Tufts University,
Center for Animals and Public Policy, at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (USA), offers M.A. degrees in Ethics and Values and Animals and Public Policy, and has faculty expertise in religion, animals, and nature.
Interdisciplinary Centers, Institutes, Initiatives & Projects
The University of Montana’s
Center for Ethics is involved in offering programs in Environmental Ethics
(USA)
Jobs
Five courses/year (3/2 semester), undergraduate and graduate, MA thesis supervision, usual research, committee, and other non-teaching duties. AOS: Professional or Applied Ethics. AOC: Ethical Theory. Position will require active participation in newly created Center for Professional Ethics & Justice. Course assignments will include courses in professional/applied ethics (e.g., Agricultural Ethics, Business Ethics, Engineering Ethics, Bioethics, Global Ethics) and introductory and advanced courses in ethical theory. Familiarity with feminist ethics desirable. Ability and willingness to engage in interdisciplinary scholarship and teaching is expected. Ph.D. in Philosophy required prior to appointment. Salary competitive.
Apply online at
www.hr.uidaho.edu/employment/ and submit by mail a complete dossier (including letter of application, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, writing sample, evidence of teaching excellence, and a statement on pedagogical goals and methods) to:
Five courses/year (3/2 semester), undergraduate and graduate, MA thesis supervision, usual research, committee, and other non-teaching duties. AOS: Environmental Philosophy, broadly construed. AOC: Open. Position requires leadership ability for departmental M.A. emphasis in environmental philosophy and active participation in newly created Center for Professional Ethics & Justice. Course assignments will include courses in environmental philosophy and history of philosophy. The department has teaching needs in both ancient/medieval and modern philosophy. Familiarity with feminist or non-western philosophy desirable. Ability and willingness to engage in interdisciplinary scholarship and teaching is expected. Ph.D. in Philosophy required prior to appointment. Salary competitive.
Apply online at
www.hr.uidaho.edu/employment/ and submit by mail a complete dossier (including letter of application, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, writing sample, evidence of teaching excellence, and a statement on pedagogical goals and methods) to:
Applications are invited for a tenure track position (Assistant Professor for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level beginning in Fall 2008. AOS/AOC environmental philosophy and non-western philosophy/religion. (The successful candidate must specialize in one of these fields and be competent to teach in the other.) Candidate must have the ability to teach an introductory survey in world religions. Ph.D. in either philosophy or religious studies, must be completed by end of May, 2008. We seek a colleague who highly values, and has the ability to engage in, conversations across philosophical and cultural traditions. This position is in a department of philosophy that offers two philosophy majors, one with religious studies emphasis, as well as minors in philosophy, religious studies, and interdisciplinary humanities. It has a 3/3 teaching load, expectations of research, and usual service duties. Evidence of strong research and strong teaching is required. Application materials received by November 10, 2007 will receive first consideration. Preliminary interviews will be conducted at the American Philosophical Association Eastern Division Meeting in Baltimore, December 27-29. East Tennessee State University is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer.
Send letter of application, CV, three letters of reference, evidence of teaching excellence, and a brief representative writing sample to Search Committee:
Applications are invited for a tenure track position (Assistant Professor) within the Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies, to begin fall of 2008. AOS: in either A) Religion and Nature / Religion and Ecology or B) Applied Philosophy. Our interests in religion include scholars in Buddhism, Islam, or Christianity. Our interests in applied philosophy include bioethics, biotechnology and policy, and nanotechnology and ethics. AOC: Open, but departmental needs include analytic philosophy and/or logic.
As the leading program in environmental philosophy in the United States, the department seeks a dynamic individual who is interested in exploring how their area of expertise intersects with contemporary environmental, cultural, and societal issues. The department is particularly interested in interdisciplinary, field-based philosophic research on issues of local, regional, national, and international scope. Experience and/or interest in working with other humanists, scientists, engineers, and policy analysts is especially valued. Normal teaching load is 2-2.
Qualifications include a Ph.D. by May 1, 2008. The department offers a BA, MA, and PhD in philosophy, and an interdisciplinary minor in religion studies. Located in the Dallas-Ft Worth Metroplex, the university has more than 34,000 students.
Review of applications will begin in October, and will continue until position is filled. Please send a letter of application, your C.V., and three letters of references to:
UNT is an AA/ADA/EOE committed to diversity.
Ursinus College invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor of environmental studies to begin in fall 2008. A Ph.D. in environmental studies or a related field is expected by the start of employment. Applicants are welcome from all areas of environmental research [including that focused tightly on religion and nature, Dr. Wallace has confirmed] and pedagogical interests within environmental studies. Prior experience teaching in an interdisciplinary environmental program is highly desirable. Teaching responsibilities will include core courses in environmental studies and courses in the candidate's area of expertise. The successful candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching in a liberal arts setting and will be expected to participate in the College's interdisciplinary liberal studies freshman seminar, mentor student research, oversee campus sustainability projects, implement a program of scholarly activity, and participate in the continuing development of our thriving Environmental Studies Program.
Send letter, c.v., undergraduate and graduate transcripts, copies of original teaching evaluations, statement of teaching philosophy, research plan (including student involvement), and three letters of recommendation (at least one of which must address teaching) to Richard L. Wallace, Chair, Environmental Studies, Ursinus College, P.O. Box 1000, Collegeville, PA 19426. To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by Oct. 1, 2007. For inquiries contact Dr. Wallace at
rwallace@ursinus.edu (no e-mail applications, please). For more information on the Ursinus Environmental Studies Program, please see
http://academic.ursinus.edu/env/.
Ursinus College, established in 1869, is a highly selective, independent, co-educational, residential liberal arts college of 1600 students located 25 miles northwest of center city Philadelphia. Ursinus College is an EEO/AA employer. In keeping with the college's historic commitment to equality, women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.
