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Humanities and Social Science Research in our faculty has never been more important. Research allows us to share and shape our creativity, stories, policies, ethics, and innovations, which, together, ensure a more critically engaged and just world.

To promote our research culture in HSS and in our province, the Nexus Centre includes diverse programming. In addition to the four strands of activities below, in the Winter 2026 semester, we launched our Artist in Residence program.

The Winter Artist-in-Residence Program

We’re thrilled to announce Nasim Makaremi Nia (Interdisciplinary PhD Student) as the Centre’s inaugural Artist in Residence.

Nasim Makaremi Nia is a visual artist whose artwork and sculpture engages questions of gender, migration, and belonging. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, most recently with “Entangled” at the Rooms Museum as part of its Elbow Room Residency Program.

Nasim will contribute to the Centre’s intellectual and creative life by sharing some of her work in the Centre and with a public presentation in conjunction with the Arts Society working group on Friday, February 12th. She will use the office space attached to the Centre as a workshop.

We look forward to the conversations, collaborations, and creative outcomes sure to transpire. Welcome, Nasim!

WINTER 2026 PROGRAMMING AT THE CENTRE: 

1. HSS Understanding Our Worlds Series
2. Research Tips and Conversations
3. Research & Writing Groups and Colloquium Series
4. Quoi de Neuf? [French Language public lecture series]
5. Visiting Scholar Program
6. Other Activities

HSS Understanding Our Worlds Series

This round table series puts leading thinkers in HSS in conversation with other faculty, graduate students, and members from our communities, at home and abroad.

 

The *Politics, (best) Practices, Pitfalls and Pleasures at the MUNL Archives* roundtable features the editors of and contributors to  (MUP, 2025).

Participants will consider the methods and theories undergirding their archival work in Newfoundland. 

Responding: Sonja Boon (Adjunct, GNDR), Heidi Coombs (Independent scholar), Vicki Hallett (GNDR), Daze Jeffries (Artist,Writer,Activist), and Amy Sheppard (Social worker).

 

Co-sponsored with the Department of Political Science, this roundtable will take place on Friday, February 13th from 12-1pm in SN4022 and online (register ). Participants will consider “Queer,” specifically, "How does the term’s divergences, connections and overlaps with a variety of intellectual and/or activist trajectories shape our work and/or lives."

Participants: Ailsa Craig (Sociology), Sulaimon Giwa (Social Work, Sociology), Nat Hurley (Dean HSS, English), Susanne Luhmann (Gender Studies), Patrick Squires (Gender Studies), and Beth Tuinstra (Education)

Moderated by: Sarah Martin (Political Science, Geography)

Monday, March 2nd from 12-1pm: Roundtable on “Canada at a Constitutional Crossroads? On Laïcité (Secularism) & the Notwithstanding Clause,” SN4022 and .

Participants: Amélie Barras (York University), Dia Dabby (UQAM), Meg Gaudet (POSC), Syed Adnan Hussain (St. Mary’s University), Blair Long (ECON), & Jennifer Selby (RELC/POSC).

Friday, March 6th from 12-1pm: Daniel Kudla (SOCI) on “Human Rights in Canada’s Homeless Encampment Governance,” SN4022 and .

Friday, March 20th from 12-1pm: A roundtable featuring Lucian Ashworth (POSC) on Commemoration & the Ghosts of the World Wars: Who Are We Remembering Now?, SN4022 and .

Responding: Vicki Hallett (GNDR), Susanne Luhmann (GNDR), Sophie Shoemaker (POSC) & Sarah Worthman (POSC).

 

Friday, March 20th from 4-5pm: A roundtable featuring Véronique Forbes (ARCH) and Paul Ledger (ARCH) on “Vínland or Berryland? Exploring the possibilities of the Strait of Belle Isle in the late Viking Age.” SN4022 and .

Responding: Dean Bavington (GEOG), Catherine Losier (ARCH), Sébastien Rossignol (HIST) & Bryn Tapper (ARCH).

 

Monday, March 30th from 12-1pm: A roundtable featuring Ruth Murambadoro (GNDR) and Clever Chikwanda on “An Everyday Justice Approach: Local Peace Beyond the State and Transitional Justice,” SN4022 and .

Responding: Paul Adjei (Social Work and Interim Associate VP, Indigenous Research) & Godfrey Maringira (Sol Plaatje University, South Africa)

Moderated by: John Awolusi Oluwabunmi (GNDR)

Thursday, April 23rd from 1-2:15pm: A roundtable featuring Shannon Hoff (PHIL) on , SN4022 and .

Responding: Kaleb Cohen (PHIL), Adrian Johnston (University of New Mexico), Scott Johnston (PHIL/EDU), Elaine Miller (Miami University)

 

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Research Tips & Conversations

These lunchtime sessions feature faculty, graduate students, and other research specialists sharing research-related advances and skills.

 

This session features HSS’ 2026 Henrietta Harvey Lecturer, Benjamin Berger (Osgoode Hall Law School) in a session tailored for LWPP students on “How to Read Religion and Law”, in conversation with Stacie Swain (RELC, GNDR) and Jennifer Selby (RELC/POSC). In-person only. Please register .

 

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Visiting Scholar Program

The “Visiting Scholars Program” aims to encourage visiting scholars on campus or online to offer an additional workshop or talk on method and/or theory with broad HSS- and graduate-student appeal.

Honorarium: $300 for external scholars. The Centre will assist with scheduling, coordinating, promoting, and hosting the event.

To Apply (Rolling deadline; Four scholars funded/term): Submit the scholar’s name, affiliation, proposed workshop/talk title, length (45-120 minutes), and potential dates/times to jselby@mun.ca. Please apply 4 weeks prior to their visit.

 

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Quoi de Neuf [What's New]?

Join us for this public-facing lecture series, funded by the French Services Grant Program under the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Many more lectures will be announced shortly. Follow us on .

Sessions are in person in the Centre and online, typically on Wednesdays, from 7-8pm from October 2025 – June 2026.

All Francophiles and Francophones are welcome!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Activities

The Philosophy Colloquium Series is back!

Organized by Ilgin Aksoy (PHIL), join the Philosophy Colloquium Series this Winter semester for any of its eight talks (see below). The Centre opens at 4:45pm and the lecture begins at 5pm at the Nexus Centre (SN4022) & on WebEx at .

The Medieval and Early Modern Studies Lecture Series (organized by Agnes Juhasz-Ormsby (ENGL) and Sébastien Rossignol (HIST)) continues on Tuesday, January 20th from 4-5pm with Sébastien Rossignol for “Nature Teaches Everyone.”

And Tuesday, March 3rd from 4-5pm with Ericka Making (ENGL):

“Research at the Centre of the Edge” Speaker’s Series

In this moment in which research at MUNL is under threat, join this hybrid cross-campus roundtable discussion on Tuesday, February 10th from 12:30-2pm through Webex and in the Junior Common Room (DH-2002). More details here. Please bring your lunch.

Moderator: Barb Neis

Participants: Amanda Bittner, Nancy Dahn, Josh Lepawsky, Verena Kalter, Chris Parrish, Shegufta Shetranjiwalla, & Terry Lynn Young.

 

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