Renfrew Colloquium

Bridging ideas, sparking innovation 

The Malcolm Renfrew Interdisciplinary Colloquium is a cornerstone lecture series at University of Idaho that brings together distinguished members of the university to present their teaching and research across a wide array of disciplines. Now in its third decade, the colloquium showcases how each academic field approaches inquiry — from the questions it seeks to answer to the methods and vocabularies it uses. This exploration helps foster a deeper appreciation for the intellectual diversity that defines a university community.

Open to students, employees and the public, the weekly lectures spark dialogue that can lead to meaningful collaboration across departments and colleges. In 2015, the series was recognized with University of Idaho's Award for Excellence in Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Efforts. The colloquium is proudly sponsored by the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences and U of I Library.

Join us as we celebrate the power of diverse perspectives to address complex challenges, generate novel insights and engage in conversations that extend far beyond the classroom. 

A platform for interdisciplinary exchange

Presentation topics span the arts, sciences, humanities and social sciences, reflecting the diverse expertise and creativity of our academic community.

Details

  • When: Tuesdays, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Pacific time
  • Where: First floor, University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho
  • Who should attend: Open to all students, employees and members of the public

All sessions are from 12:30-1:20 p.m. Tuesdays on the first floor of the University Library, except for Sept. 29, which will be in the Vandal Ballroom of the Bruce Pitman Center.

Weekly schedule
  1. Sept. 1: Andrew Weymouth and Rebecca Hastings, Library, Transparent Practices: OCR and AI in the Archives
  2. Sept. 8: Dan Bukvich, Music; Michael O’Rourke, Rick Fehrenbacher, Recapping the Renfrew: The Colloquium Turns 25
  3. Sept. 15: Berna Devezer, Business, and Erkan Buzbas, Mathematics and Statistical Science, The Replication Crisis and Replicability
  4. Sept. 22: Barry Green, Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Illegal Gold Mining in Madidi National Park, Bolivia (in the Amazon Basin)
  5. Sept. 29: Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), part of the Borah Symposium. The Human Cost of Conflict: War and Resilience*
  6. Oct. 6: Craig Miller, Theatre, and cast members of 1984, George Orwell’s 1984: From Page to Stage
  7. Oct. 13: David Vartanyan, Physics, Explosive Deaths of Massive Stars (Core Collapse Supernovae)
  8. Oct. 20: Simona Picardi, Fish and Wildlife Sciences, Decoding Hidden Messages from Animal Movement Data
  9. Oct. 27: Dorine Tyr, doctoral student, Politics and Philosophy, Rethinking Peacebuilding: Why Peace is More Than Ending Wars
  10. Nov. 3: Jennifer Johnson-Leung, Mathematics and Statistical Science, Mathematics is Still a Human Endeavor in the Age of AI
  11. Nov. 10: Chenangnon Tovissode, Institute for Modeling Collaboration & Innovation, Using Machine Learning to Map Evidence Seeking and Cognitive Reflection
  12. Nov. 17: Markie McBrayer, Politics and Philosophy; Becca Scofield, History; Benjamin Cover, Law, Making Sense of the Midterms: Analysis of the 2026 Election Results
  13. Nov. 24: No colloquium (Thanksgiving Break)
  14. Dec. 1: Shelley McGuire and team, Family and Consumer Sciences, COBRE in Nutrition and Women's Health – Progress!
  15. Dec. 8: Sean Quinlan, History, and Sarah Nelson, Global Studies, Presenting Sade Today to English-Speaking Readers

Explore archives

Connect to the library to see past colloquium content.

Colloquium archives

Why attend? Engage. Learn. Connect.

The Renfrew Colloquium is a weekly opportunity to dive into timely topics and global challenges through the lens of the colleges and disciplines across the university. Connect with scholars, researchers and professionals to broaden your understanding of how different disciplines intersect to solve complex issues. The colloquium fosters lifelong learning and offers a space to expand your thinking in a community environment. 

A Legacy of innovation

Malcolm Renfrew was not only a distinguished chemist but also a gifted artist, U of I educator and advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration. Renfrew’s influence extended far beyond the laboratory — he championed the integration of science and the humanities, believing that the most pressing challenges required insight from multiple fields. His vision helped shape the university’s collaborative and innovative culture and the colloquium named in his honor continues to embody these values today. His legacy lives on through the generations of students, faculty and researchers who continue to explore the intersections of knowledge he so deeply valued. 

Join the conversation

Interested in presenting or joining as a participant? We welcome new voices to enrich our discussions.

  • Present your work: Submit a proposal to share your research or creative project.
  • Attend a session: All are welcome to join the dialogue and explore new perspectives.
  • Stay informed: Subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly email updates about upcoming presentations. Scroll to the bottom of this page and click on "subscribe now."

Contact us to present

Have questions?

For inquiries about the colloquium, reach out to our team at mric@uidaho.edu.