Recent discussions of “Big History” and “deep history” have drawn attention to the variety of timescales historical disciplines rely on and to questions regarding the nature of time itself. This panel brings together a medieval historian, astrophysicist, evolutionary biologist, and philologist to consider the meaning of time and scale in the work they do. Our aim is to explore the comparative meaning of temporality across disciplines, consider the differences and commonalities this discussion reveals, and perhaps suggest ways that scholars in a history department can collaborate with those in other disciplines.

Discussion featuring: Katherine L. French (J. Frederick Hoffman Professor of History, University of Michigan), Cameron Gibelyou (Coordinator of Teaching, Programming, and Innovation, University of Michigan), Piotr Michalowski (George G. Cameron Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, University of Michigan), Stephen A. Smith (Assistant Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan), Paul N. Edwards (discussant; Professor, History and School of Information, University of Michigan), Martin S. Pernick (panel chair; Professor, History, University of Michigan).

Free and open to the public.

This program is part of the Thursday Series of the Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies. It is made possible by a generous contribution from Kenneth and Frances Aftel Eisenberg.