From local streetscapes to global stages, Gregory Betts is breaking barriers with his innovative literary writing and creative research on Canadian experimental literature.

The Professor of English Language and Literature has had his poetry stenciled onto downtown St. Catharines sidewalks, his improvisatory music has been performed around the world and he is set to release an LP with Canada’s legendary noise band, the Nihilist Spasm Band.

Betts said humans are grappling on an existential level with climate change, on an ethical plane with the extension into artificial intelligence (AI), and on a social plane with the ever-increasing density of transglobal networks of communication and movement.

“How might narrative, the most powerful human technology, and poetry, one of our most elemental arts, shift in such a moment to serve the needs of an ever-shifting human community,” he said.

Betts and fellow scholars in Brock’s Faculty of Humanities gathered at the Humanities Research Institute (HRI) Symposium on Monday, April 14 to explore questions about the humanity’s present challenges and opportunities for a sustainable future.

At the Humanities Research Institute Symposium, English Professor Neta Gordon (left) was honoured with the Faculty of Humanities Distinguished Service Award and English Professor Gregory Betts was honoured with the Faculty of Humanities Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity.

During the event, Betts received the Faculty of Humanities Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity while English Language and Literature Professor Neta Gordon was honoured with the Faculty of Humanities Distinguished Service Award.

Gordon said a significant part of her scholarly identity — including research and teaching — has been developed through service, driven by the notion that professors have a responsibility for creating the spaces in which they work.

“I used to joke with colleagues that I had experience as a stage manager, and university service seemed a lot like that: the goal is to set up organized and supportive conditions so that everyone can perform brilliantly,” Gordon said.

Gordon has had significant impact through her roles as Chair of the Department of English Language and Literature from 2008 to 2014, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Curriculum and Student Affairs from 2018 to 2022 and many other committee positions.

At the symposium, Gordon also presented her research that is breaking ground in Canadian literary criticism working with celebrated Canadian author Ann-Marie MacDonald.

Dean of Humanities Carol Merriam said the twice-yearly HRI symposia are highlights for the faculty, gathering scholars and creators to share work and discuss the common interests.

“The Spring symposium is extra special, as on this occasion we honour two faculty award recipients for their contributions in key areas of our academic life,” she said. “Professor Betts and Professor Gordon have both had significant impact on the lives of their colleagues and students through their work, and we are thrilled to be able to recognize them with these awards.”

Organized by Elizabeth Vlossak, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, the symposium featured five-minute “lightning talks.”

The first panel unpacked topics related to technology with talks from Professor of Educational Studies David Hutchison who discussed AI and writing; Associate Professor of Digital Humanities Aaron Mauro who explored cybersecurity and deception; Interdisciplinary Studies PhD student Alison Innes who dove into podcasting and power; and a look at Associate Professor of Digital Humanities Alex Christie’s research in augmented reality.

Associate Professor of Visual Arts Amy Friend also shared her creative research in photography and Assistant Professor of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MLLC) Nicholas Hauck spoke about the complexities of translation.

The second panel included PhD candidate Alia Wazzan who spoke about the representation of Arab women on Netflix;  Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities Sarah Stang who spoke about monstrosity and gaming; Professor of English Language and Literature Martin Danahay who shared his research on “drug wars”; Interdisciplinary Humanities PhD student Anna Roshni Jose who shared her research on domestic violence and the politics of embodiment and space; and Professor of Philosophy Christine Daigle who spoke about the Anthropocene.

MLLC graduate student Hannah Peter also spoke about the research she and her supervisor, Professor Diane Bielicki, have been engaged in examining the stories of immigrants of German ancestry in Niagara.