Dear Friends,
We continue to develop plans for our upcoming annual Natural Science Section Meeting, which is to take place in Ann Arbor from December 1st through 4th. The registration form is on our website (www.naturalsciencesection.org). Please register by November 15th. Schedule planning is somewhat fluid and dependent upon your responses.
We encourage as many NSS members and colleagues to come to Ann Arbor as possible, for taking stock of what we have done and gauging where we, as a Section, might grow as a scientific community, given the capacities we collectively possess. We want to survey the directions conventional science is moving in our time and consider how we may contribute to an evolution of scientific thinking and practice.
Whereas the founding of the Natural Science Section took place in Ann Arbor some years ago, we are honoring Arthur Zajonc, Ernst Katz, and Seyhan Ege, among the many others who had a vision of an active Science Section. We are very grateful that Arthur will be joining us, as will Fred Amrine. For this special meeting Johannes Kühl will also be joining us and will report on the Natural Science Section in Dornach and their respective “taking stock” process.
Thursday will be devoted to Class work, including conversation on the theme of the inner development of the scientist in regard to Goethe’s and Steiner’s methodologies. Colleagues will join us Thursday evening.
Friday morning, Craig Holdrege will offer opening thoughts for a progressive world café discussion structured to address evolving science in the biological sciences. We look to Arthur Zajonc for opening thoughts for the conversation on Saturday morning, addressing evolving science in the physical sciences. These discussions will be preceded by a Thursday evening talk by Fred Amrine and a Friday evening talk by Johannes Kühl. We are grateful that these leaders are taking part in this conference.
We are asking all NSS members to post a brief “resume” of their interests and activities in the members section of our website. And for those who can attend the meeting, the schedule format will allow each participant to briefly share their resume, so that all together we can make face-to-face connections and build a better picture of our community. The schedule will also afford time for some short presentations of participants’ research results, for those who desire. Adonis Press will also have a table of Goethean and anthroposophical books set up.
Please make an effort to come to Ann Arbor. And encourage your colleagues. Again, if you cannot attend, please participate in this community-building effort by registering on our website and posting the brief resume of your interests and activities as soon as possible, so that we may review these at the meeting.
Warmly,
The Planning Committee (John Barnes, Andrew Linnell, Jennifer Greene, and Barry Lia)