Lecture series promotes walking, listening across disciplines
A speaker series and symposium designed by Dr. Rachel Epp Buller works to teach the Bethel community about the importance of walking and listening in everyday life.
Dr. Rachel Epp Buller, professor of Visual Arts and Design, is spearheading an initiative across disciplinary boundaries which explores the themes of walking and listening. Through her innovative lecture series, Buller aims to foster collaboration, deepen understanding, and cultivate a culture of attentive listening within the Bethel community.
"Walking and listening are two of the themes running through my Slow Art for Fast Times class, as well as through my own current research," Buller explained. Recognizing the universal relevance of these themes, she decided to invite her colleagues across several disciplines to join her in exploring how walking and listening manifest within their respective fields.
"I shared the idea at a faculty meeting last fall, and after that, some of my colleagues volunteered to participate, and others I invited to join the series," Buller elaborated. The response was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting a shared interest in interdisciplinary dialogue and collaborative inquiry.
The overall goals of the series are ambitious yet deeply resonant. Buller seeks to bring people together, encouraging collective reflection on how different forms of walking and listening can serve as embodied methods of learning and facilitate meaningful relationships.
"The series covers many disciplines — art, biology, communications, religion, music, and English," Buller noted. "It's free and open to all, and students receive convo credit for attending."
The speaker series takes place at the Kidron-Bethel Village Hall, attracting a varied audience including residents of Kidron, community members, and a substantial number of students. Buller expressed her hope that attendees will begin to think more expansively about walking and listening and consider how these practices intersect with their own lives.
In addition to the lecture series, Buller announced an upcoming interdisciplinary symposium, "Walking the Talk: Listening Relationships in a Changing Climate," scheduled for Saturday, April 27. The symposium will feature regional speakers from institutions such as The Land Institute, Washburn University, the Spencer Museum of Art, and KIPCOR. Keynote speaker Dr. Sheena Wilson, Buller's research partner from the University of Alberta in Canada, promises to deliver an insightful address.
The symposium, like the lecture series, is free and open to both students and the public, offering a rare opportunity for interdisciplinary exchange and collective learning. Buller emphasized the urgent need for improved listening in today's world, expressing her hope that these events might serve as a catalyst for positive change.
These lectures take place every other week at Kidron-Bethel Village Hall at 11 a.m. The next lecture will be held Feb. 23.