2025 FAS Faculty Academy Workshops & Mini-courses

FAS Faculty Academy workshops and mini-courses are short, non-credit courses taught by FAS faculty members, for FAS faculty members. Spring 2025 mini-course descriptions and the online registration form can be found below. Registration deadlines vary. All courses will be held in-person.

SAL2 will offer 6 mini-courses in May and early June, 2025:

Politics of Reproduction

• Instructor: Rene Almeling, Professor of Sociology; History of Medicine; Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and Public Health
• Four meetings: Tuesday, May 27; Thursday, May 29; Tuesday, June 3; and Thursday, June 5
• Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
• Location: TBD
• Register by Friday, May 23

Course description:

Learn about the latest developments in reproductive politics and develop a fuller understanding of how reproduction is a strategic site for examining the relationship between bodies and societies. Drawing on historical and contemporary evidence from around the world, we will discuss social scientific approaches to reproductive processes and technologies, from pregnancy and birth to abortion and assisted reproduction, as well as how they are shaped by powerful institutions such as medicine, the family, law, and the marketplace. This is a mini version of a popular seminar I’ve taught at Yale for the past 10 years.

"Pure" Research and Its Values

• Instructors: Jessica Brantley, Frederick W. Hilles Professor of English, and Karsten Heeger, Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics
• One meeting: Thursday, May 8
• Time: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM with lunch discussion from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
• Location: Linsly-Chittenden Hall (63 High St.), Room 319
• Registration is closed
• Lunch will be provided

Course description:

What is the value of “pure” research? And how can we speak persuasively about its value in the face of society’s growing skepticism? We – Karsten Heeger (Physics) and Jessica Brantley (English) – propose to convene a cross-divisional faculty discussion group to begin to explore these issues.

Articulating the value of academic research apart from its possible applications is an urgent need in 2025, as the public is increasingly mistrustful of higher education and unsure of its value. One way of defining the purpose of a university education is by calculating the return on investment of tuition dollars in the form of lifetime salaries. One can also cite the importance to society of life-saving and transformational inventions in medicine, science, and technology. But how do we defend the value of academic pursuits that don’t lead immediately or directly – or even eventually – to “real-world” applications?

As the current chairs of Physics and English, we are eager to organize a cross-divisional faculty conversation about the value of pure research because we see commonalities in the curiosity that drives our work. “Curiosity,” in fact, rather than “purity,” might be the defining feature of this kind of inquiry. Although the humanities and the sciences are often thought to represent two separate cultures of academic life, both share a fundamental commitment to seeking greater understanding. Humanists find it a question frequently raised about our subjects: “What can you do with that?” But scientists, too, often have to address the question of how to value research that has no clear application. We hope to formulate new answers for our precarious moment by joining with Yale colleagues across the sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. How do our institutional ideals of Lux et veritas relate to this fundamental aspect of our work?

Questions to raise:

• What are the points of commonality in research purpose across disciplines and divisions? Across the arts and sciences? Are there important differences, as well?
• How should we articulate the common values that drive our research?
• How might we engage our students in these questions?
• How might this conversation reach an audience beyond our campus?

Rocket Science 101

• Instructor: Marla Geha, Professor of Astronomy and of Physics
• Two meetings: Tuesday, May 27 and Tuesday, June 3
• Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
• Location: TBD
• Register by Friday, May 23

Course description:

Modern life increasingly depends on technology provided by Earth-orbiting satellites, from detailed weather predictions to broad-band internet and GPS. The pace of space launches is rapidly accelerating, particularly in the commercial and military sector. How are satellites launched into orbit and how do they work once they get there? This two part minicourse will first focus on understanding the orbital regions around Earth and then focus on GPS satellites as an example for how satellites operate in space. The course is intended for non-STEM participants, but all are welcome.

You Can Learn to Read Korean Over Lunch – Really!

• Instructor: Angela Lee-Smith, Senior Lector II in East Asian Languages and Literatures
• One meeting: Wednesday, May 21
• Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
• Location: TBD
• Register by Monday, May 19
• Lunch will be provided

Course description:

Unlock the Korean alphabet in one lunchtime session — no experience needed!

Ever wanted to read Korean but thought it would take months? Think again! In this lunchtime workshop, you'll unlock the secrets of Hangeul (한글)—the Korean alphabet, designed to be so simple and logical that it's called "morning letters" because it can be learned in just a few hours. Korea's global influence has skyrocketed in recent years, with K-pop, K-dramas, reality shows, and Korean cinema (Squid Game, Parasite, Minari) captivating audiences worldwide. Meanwhile, Korean food—from bibimbap to K-BBQ—has become a favorite among food lovers everywhere. Even the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has recognized this cultural impact, adding dozens of Korean-origin words like "kimchi," "Hallyu," "K-drama," and "daebak!." At Yale, interest in the Korean language has grown significantly, reflecting its cultural and academic relevance. The Korean program continues to expand, offering more courses and engaging students across disciplines. This workshop provides a unique opportunity to experience Korean language and culture in an accessible and enjoyable way.

Participants will learn:

• The basics of Hangeul—how the alphabet is structured and why it's so easy to learn.
• How to read Korean words—sound them out and recognize key phrases.
• K-Culture connection—apply your skills to K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean cinema.
• Korean food & local spots—learn to read menus, K-pop lyrics, and signs at nearby Korean restaurants and markets.

Nature, AI, and Performance: Making the Invisible Audible

• Instructor: Matthew Suttor, Senior Lecturer in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies
• Three meetings: Wednesday, May 28; Thursday, May 29; and Friday, May 30
• Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Location: Leeds Studio, Room 103, CCAM
• Register by Friday, May 23

Course description:

Can the invisible patterns of nature become audible, visible, and felt?

This mini-course invites FAS faculty into a hands-on exploration of how artificial intelligence and environmental data can be transformed into sonic, visual, and performative expressions. Drawing from the semester-long course Nature, AI, and Performance, recently featured in Yale News, the mini-course distills its most engaging elements into an immersive, interdisciplinary experience.

Using CCAM’s Leeds Studio—equipped with motion capture, multi-channel sound, and data-driven visualization tools—participants will experiment with turning datasets (e.g. climate records, bird migrations, air quality, ocean currents) into dynamic forms of expression. Together, we’ll explore how performance practices and AI-assisted tools can offer new pathways for research, teaching, and ecological storytelling. 

Latin American Music and Conversation

• Instructor: Maria Vazquez, Senior Lector I in Spanish and Portuguese
• Four meetings: Monday, May 12–Thursday, May 15
• Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
• Location: Humanities Quadrangle, Room 132
• Registration is closed

Course description:

This 4-day Spanish conversational mini-course offers an engaging journey into the vibrant and diverse world of Latin American music, welcoming students of all Spanish language levels. Conversations and discussions will be conducted in Spanish, but most class materials will be available in both Spanish and English translation. To support learners at different levels, daily vocabulary lists, and brief grammar explanations will be provided as needed. Each day, students will explore a different musical genre, uncovering its history, cultural significance, and the influential artists who have shaped the Latin music scene. By blending music and conversation, this course seeks to enhance language skills while deepening students’ appreciation of Latin American music and culture.