The Role of Scholars in a Time of Social and Ecological Crisis

This panel was proposed by Professor Catherine Potvin, the inaugural Emeritus College Patricia Merivale scholar in residence at Green College. It seeks to respond to a question often asked of Dr Potvin by more junior scholars: “What can and should we do in these troubled times?” The five panelists, at various career stages from a range of disciplines, will engage this question from different standpoints. They will discuss their sense of the need for action, the challenges of advocacy, and potential constraints on (effective) intervention. With contributions, during the discussion, from graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, current faculty, and members of the public in the audience, we hope that this panel will make an important contribution to current debates about the relevance of universities, the academy’s role in society, and the responsibilities of individuals as scholar-citizens.