Main Objectives
People and Nature (PAN) is a highly-valued, student-led seminar series at Oregon State University. PAN began over 10 years ago at Oregon State University (OSU) as a faculty-only monthly meeting to unite researchers working on nature-society relationships in distinct disciplinary departments and colleges. Over time, it evolved to include graduate students to consider their research. More recently, PAN operated as a space for brave graduate to practice research presentations, obtain feedback and foster faculty support while audience members learned new ideas, theories, and methods from their peers. Now, PAN it is open to all members of OSU and beyond.
In 2024, the PAN seminar hosts conducted an online survey to ask folks interested in nature-society research in a variety of departments at Oregon State University the following questions: 1) What they liked about the seminar series and would like to keep? 2) What was missing from their current academic pursuits that People and Nature could help foster? 3) What their level of interest in seminar aspects that could help them thrive. |
Our objective is to provide a brave space to build transdisciplinary bridges, share creative ideas, create a community of support, and foster a safe place to practice public speaking. In doing so, People and Nature also serves students on topics missing from their existing curriculum or networks. Further, by opening the space to guest speakers, leaders, faculty, post-docs, and undergraduates, we can break down the walls that separate research ideas based on power and prestige and instead, promote equity and support to propel the best of research. |
Over 40 responses were gathered, synthesized, and operationalized to re-vamp the seminar series to best serve our interdisciplinary research community at Oregon State University. While graduate students and faculty loved student presentations, they also sought a space to build community, hear from guest speakers, and develop new skills (seen in the graph above). Thus, the 2024 series aims to fulfill these objectives.
CommuniTree: Seminar Intentions
Each term, we kick off the seminar with a reflection on its intended purpose. We do this for a few reasons. Primarily, to gain insight on the needs of our attendees. This way the co-hosts know what to resources to acquire and speakers to connect with to "hold space" for and facilitate such topics. Moreover, this activity serves as a reminder to prioritize the advantages of bottom-up leadership, feedback, and interactivity throughout the seminar.
The intentions described here were set by seminar members of People and Nature in Spring, 2024.
The intentions described here were set by seminar members of People and Nature in Spring, 2024.
The fruits represent what we hope to gain from this space. They include tangible and intangible goals such as:
The trunk represents what will make our group strong to be able to uphold these goals. We consider these to be our seminar ground rules. They include:
Sometimes, by defining what a space is not, helps us embrace what it is. The rocks represents the things that might get in the way of us having a good time together and achieving these goals. Thus, leave these at the door. They include:
- Incorporating diverse perspectives and ontological backgrounds
- Innovative energy
- Relevant research feedback
- Ongoing skills development, i.e. interview practice, CV workshopping, and how to effectively present oneself
- Access to university and departmental resources related to human dimensions, including departmental updates
- Interactivity - which looks like active involvement from the participants, such as asking questions, sharing opinions, discussing topics, and collaborating on activities or exercises
The trunk represents what will make our group strong to be able to uphold these goals. We consider these to be our seminar ground rules. They include:
- Mutual Respect: Respect each other's expertise and perspectives, acknowledging multiple ways of knowing, recognizing the value that diverse backgrounds bring to the discussion
- Open-mindedness: Approach discussions with an open mind, being willing to consider viewpoints that may differ from your own, check your ego at the door
- Active listening and interactivity: Listen attentively to others without interrupting, allowing everyone to express their thoughts fully before responding, speaking with others not at others
- Constructive Feedback: Targeted feedback that helps the presenter/researcher get to where they want to be not where you think it should go, productive feedback, focusing on ideas rather than individuals
- Collaboration: Foster a spirit of collaboration, encouraging participants to build upon each other's ideas and work together towards common goals
- Embracing non-closure: Realizing that the work we do in PAN is never fully done, it’s an ongoing conversation an iterative process
- Ongoing commitment: Investment in and support for the group, regular attendance regardless of expertise on a subject to share knowledge and build trust
- HAVE FUN! Self explanatory
Sometimes, by defining what a space is not, helps us embrace what it is. The rocks represents the things that might get in the way of us having a good time together and achieving these goals. Thus, leave these at the door. They include:
- Guest lectures that talk at the audience rather than engage them
- Hybrid approaches as a meeting format. In-person meetings are preferred because technology gets in the way
- Unequal power dynamics and a competitive atmosphere
- A lack of flexibility and hesitancy towards change
- Top-down leadership