First Symposium: Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World
Inaugural Symposium
The Ansari Institute held the inaugural Nasr Book Prize Symposium Oct. 2-3, 2022 on the campus of the University of Notre Dame
We were delighted to honor Dr. Tyson Yunkaporta, an Indigenous Australian scholar and the author of Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World.
Dr. Yunkaporta's book, which earned widespread acclaim, raised important questions and brought Indigenous ways of knowing to the critical examination of global systems. We discussed this important work with symposium contributors representing diverse religious and secular traditions
We are grateful for the generosity of Drs. Sherif Nasr and Randa Nasr, co-founders of siParidigm Diagnostic Informatics in Pine Brook, N.J., whose support made this symposium possible.
Symposium Coverage
Please see below video of individual conference sessions as well as and coverage from the event.
Symposium Speakers
Sunday, Oct. 2
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Welcome & Introductions
Dr. Scott Appleby
Marilyn Keough Dean
Keough School of Global Affairs
Dr. Mahan Mirza
Executive Director
Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion
Dr. Charles Powell
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Multifaith Engagement
Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Yarning with Indigenous Traditions
Dr. Sousan Abadian
Scholar, educator, consultant
(Indigenous)
Dr. Ashlee Bird
University of Notre Dame
(Native American)
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Engaging with Asian Traditions
Dr. Lara E. Braitstein
McGill University
(Buddhism)
Dr. Christine Gross-Loh
Author, The Path
(Chinese traditions)
Dr. Nirinjan Khalsa-Baker
Loyola Marymount University
(Sikh)
Dr. Mugdha Yeolekar
California State University, Fullerton
(Hinduism)
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Award Dinner
Tribute to Sand Talk; Presentation of the Randa and Sherif Nasr Book Prize on Religion & the World; Conversation on Genre and Word of Gratitude
Dr. Carolyn T. Brown
Board Chair
Fetzer Institute
Dr. Anantanand Rambachan
Professor of Religion
St. Olaf College
Dr. Tyson Yunkaporta
Author, Sand Talk
Nasr Book Prize Honoree
Monday, Oct. 3
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Conversation with Baha’i, Sikh, and Secular Traditions
Dr. Jacques Berlinerblau
Georgetown University
(Secular)
Mr. Khushwant Singh
Founder, Sikhi Council
(Sikh)
Dr. Robert Stockman
Wilmette Institute
(Baha’i)
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
In Dialogue with Abrahamic Traditions
Dr. David Cloutier
The Catholic University of America
(Catholic)
Ms. Nana Firman
Global Muslim Climate Network
(Islamic)
Rabbi Dr. Or Rose
Hebrew College
(Jewish)
12:45 – 2:00pm
Religions for Peace Award Luncheon
Featured Speaker
Dr. Azza Karam
Secretary General
Religions for Peace International
Honorees
Rev. Kosho Niwano
Co-Moderator and Executive Committee Member
Religions for Peace International
Mr. Abdul Ilah Rafie Marafie
International Trustee
Religions for Peace
Dr. Aruna Abhey Oswal
Chair
Abhey Oswal Group and Aruna Abhey Oswal Trust