Summer Institute 2025

Religion and Public Life is partnering with Harvard's Global Studies Outreach Committee to provide a four-day, on-campus workshop focused on our understanding of knowledge and how it is shaped by diverse value systems and lived experiences. This year’s workshop will take place in-person on Harvard’s Cambridge campus from Monday, July 28–Thursday, July 31, 2025. 

Today, educators and students have access to an extraordinary amount of information coming from widely-varied sources. This often overwhelming access requires us to make sense of multiple, sometimes contradictory claims, and to reflect deeply on how we understand what we believe to be true and why. 

Additionally, we and our students come from various backgrounds and perspectives. “Contested realities” recognizes that our understanding of knowledge is shaped by diverse value systems and lived experiences. This notion challenges the idea of a singular, objective truth for all disciplines, suggesting that what we consider “real” can vary significantly amongst individuals and groups. This presents educators with a particular challenge: which “realities” do we teach? By exploring contested realities, we engage with critical questions about the nature, source, and validity of knowledge. For example:

1. How do we understand what we believe to be true and why?
2. How do our cultural backgrounds shape our interpretations of knowledge?
3. How do personal experiences influence what we consider to be true?
4. How do power relations affect whose or what knowledge is considered legitimate?

Contested realities is deeply influenced by our situatedness—recognizing that our perspectives  shift with context. In the era of AI, where algorithm-driven content can blur the lines of truth, reflecting on the above questions is important for understanding how to critically evaluate knowledge in post-truth environments. 

While in Cambridge/Boston, we will stitch together first-hand experience through sessions with content, policy, and pedagogy experts to engage in educational planning on commonly debated topics such as climate change, migration, economic inequality, and civil/political rights. This will include a place-based approach that will highlight indigenous epistemologies and local histories in order to answer:

1. What are examples of contested knowledge that can lead to conflict and/or peace?
2. How can educators encourage critical thinking about contested knowledge in their context? Which skills promote exploring diverse viewpoints and contested topics?
3. What strategies can educators use to build a constructive environment when exploring diverse viewpoints and contested topics?

Daily sessions will be designed with opportunities for participants to experiment with classroom activities focused on transferable skills.

Cost
The cost to attend the workshop is $100. Breakfast and lunch will be provided at no additional cost. Limited funds are available to applicants who *reside outside of Massachusetts* to help defray travel costs. If you are interested and eligible to receive these funds, please indicate your interest through the workshop application form.

For additional information, please contact Hesham Elnagar.