Supporting the Humanities at UC Berkeley

Shu-han Luo Photo

Shu-han Luo is a new faculty member in English who specializes in medieval literature. 

She is at work on a book that examines Old English poetry, Tang Chinese verse, and later imperial commentary in an effort to deepen our understanding of aesthetic experience in early medieval England.

This semester she teaches Introduction to Old English, which gives students the tools to read the earliest texts written in English — including heroic poetry, travel narratives, and riddles.

 

Gold Astrolabe on Red Background Photo

The History and Philosophy of Logic, Mathematics, and Science working group examines issues at the intersection of mathematics, philosophy, intellectual history, and science. 

These include philosophical problems in the foundations of mathematics and physics, the justification of assumptions inherent in scientific practice, and the application of psychological results to questions in philosophy.

Stephens Hall September 2023 by E. Kotila

Since its establishment in 1987, the Doreen B. Townsend Center for the Humanities at UC Berkeley has encouraged an interdisciplinary approach to scholarship, fostered innovative research, and promoted intellectual conversation across academic fields.

The Center offers an array of fellowship and grant opportunities for Berkeley’s academic community, develops new academic initiatives, and offers numerous public events, including the Avenali and Una’s endowed lectures in the humanities.

Sara Guyer Color Photo

Dean of Arts & Humanities Sara Guyer directed the newly published World Humanities Report, a 6-year investigation into the state of the humanities globally. The report demonstrates the vitality of humanities research around the world and articulates policy recommendations.

This ambitious undertaking is the product of 230 scholars who consider the humanities within the specific contexts of 9 global regions. The report makes recommendations for safeguarding the humanities, including investing in humanities research, protecting freedom of inquiry as a right, preserving archives, and supporting languages and multilingualism.