CSRC

Issues surrounding religion and conflict have changed dramatically in the last decade. A new scholarly paradigm that integrates the contributions of many disciplines is needed to address the many dimensions of this topic. The Center and its affiliated programs are committed to serving as a bridge that links scholars across the university for intellectual exchange, cross-fertilization and collaboration where these issues interact, overlap, and intersect.

The School of Global Studies at Arizona State University will examine global issues from the perspective of an overarching theme of Quality of Life. The school's working groups will be organized around key current research and teaching themes and will be composed of core Global Studies faculty as well as affiliated faculty from throughout the University. The working groups will integrate research and teaching, breaking down barriers between the academic and the non-academics, creating an atmosphere rich in intellectual vibrancy. In addition to its undergraduate degree, the School will offer a Master of Advanced Study degree in Global Studies, providing professional training to future decision-makers in government, business, non-governmental organizations and policy bodies.

The Consortium for Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Life Sciences, located in the ASU School of Life Sciences, seeks to promote cooperation, collaboration, and coordination among ASU’s centers and programs whose interests bear on the ethical, legal, and social implications of the life sciences. Research and findings in the biological sciences, bio-medical, and bio-technological fields are rapidly developing knowledge and products often before society has a chance to reflect upon the implications of the advances. The consortium will bring together researchers from a variety of fields that consider scientific advances from the perspectives of ethics and religion, history, law, and policy. Our separate units have overlapping expertise and missions relating to the life sciences and society. We seek to facilitate communication and thereby to enhance the impact and opportunities for us internally, for the university as a whole, and in interaction with community partners.

The Consortium for Strategic Communication is a strategic research initiative through the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication. It is directly associated with the Hugh Downs School while constantly building connections with other organizations and departments both inside and outside Arizona State University. We are currently affiliated with The Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict and West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center and we are always looking to work with additional partners. Our initiative was launched during the spring of 2005 with a public lecture series that brought to the ASU campus recognized experts and distinguished spokespersons drawn from government, military, academic, and first-responder communities. During the fall semester of 2005 we expanded the initiative by creating a Consortium for Strategic Communication working group. The work group meets weekly during Fall and Spring sessions and whenever possible during breaks.

Religion Dispatches is an online magazine devoted to exploring the intersections of religion, values, and public life, nationally and globally. It aims to provide a platform for expert, critical exploration of religion in the contemporary world for a general readership. The goal of Religion Dispatches is to inform public debate by analyzing and critically engaging the role of religion and values on the most vital issues of our time.