Nasr Book Prize 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.

The book was a fitting work for the inaugural Nasr Book Prize. The award highlights the work of scholars who reimagine the connection of religion and global affairs.

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.

The symposium featured a number of panels and discussions that allow scholars and experts to explore Dr. Yunkaporta’s work. Videos from these sessions are available below.

Welcome Remarks

Watch the welcome remarks for the symposium. Featuring Dr. Scott Appleby, Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs; Dr. Mahan Mirza, Executive Director of the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion; and Dr. Charles Powell, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Multifaith Engagement for the Ansari Institute.

Yarning with Indigenous Traditions

Scholars Ashlee Bird (Notre Dame), Sousan Abadian (Independent) discuss Indigenous perspectives on global systems with fellow Indigenous scholar Tyson Yunkaporta, the author of “Sand Talk.”

Engaging with Asian Traditions

A panel exploring insights from Asian traditions brought together Lara E. Braitstein (McGill University); Christine Gross-Loh, author of “The Path”; Nirinjan Khalsa-Baker (Loyola Marymount University; and Mugdha Yeolekar (California State University, Fullerton), along with author Tyson Yunkaporta.

Tribute to Sand Talk

Tyson Yunkaporta discussed his book, Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World with Carolyn T. Brown, board chair of the Fetzer Institute, who served on the Nasr Book Prize selection committee. Scholar Anantanand Rambachan (St. Olaf College), who also served on the selection committee, reflected on the book as a tool for decolonializing and getting back to a more sustainable way of living amid the climate crisis.

Conversation with Baha’i, Sikh, and Secular Traditions

Jacques Berlinerblau (Georgetown University), Khushwant Singh (Sikhi Council) and Robert Stockman (Wilmette Institute) participated in this panel discussion where each shared perspectives from their respective traditions and conversed with Tyson Yunkaporta.

In Dialogue with Abrahamic Traditions

David Cloutier (The Catholic University of America), Nana Firman (Global Muslim Climate Network) and Rabbi Dr. Or Rose (Hebrew College) discussed insights from Abrahamic traditions in this conversation with Tyson Yunkaporta.

Religions for Peace Award Luncheon

At the close of the Nasr Book Prize Symposium, the Ansari Institute and Religions for Peace honored three people as Religions for Peace’s Multi-religious Peacemakers. Honorees included:

  • Mr. Abdul Ilah Rafie Marafie, international trustee for Religions for Peace and chief patron trustee for the Marafie Foundation;
  • Rev. Kosho Niwano, co-moderator and executive committee member of Religions for Peace and president-designate of Rissho Kosei-Kai, a lay Buddhist movement; and,
  • Dr. Aruna Oswal, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist who co-president and international trustee of Religions for Peace.

This closing luncheon features remarks by Azza Karam, Secretary General for Religions for Peace, who underscored the importance of multifaith peacebuilding work to deal with today’s global crises.

For more information visit the event website.

Ansari Institute

October 2, 2022

Global AffairsReligion and PhilosophyAnsari Institute for Global Engagement with ReligionDigest175Global AffairsMultifaithNasr Book Prize SymposiumReligion