Summer Research Seminars – Quaker Institute for the Future

The Quaker Institute for the Future holds summer research seminars on a yearly basis. The location varies each year and recent seminars have been held online, but the purpose is always to encourage spirit-led research using Quaker methods of discernment and reflection. Daily activities include silent worship, group discussion, solo research time and a convivial atmosphere of shared effort.

Each morning begins with a time of silent centering worship after the manner of Friends, followed by the presentation of two research projects on which participants are working. Each presentation includes a time for questions, clarification, and discussion, followed by a time of collaborative discernment conducted as a “meeting for worship for sharing.”

The Seminar can be thought of as a “meeting for worship for the conduct of research.” As individuals share their research projects in a Quaker process of collective inquiry and collaborative discernment, the projects may arrive at a configuration of knowledge and understanding that would not have occurred had they remained individual efforts.

The afternoons are open for participants to work on their research projects or meet with others for additional collaborative discussion and discernment.

Please see the list of past seminars for reports on each year’s activities.

Each morning begins with a time of silent centering worship.

Each presentation includes a time for questions, clarification, and discussion, followed by a time of collaborative discernment conducted as a “meeting for worship for sharing,” also known as “Quaker Dialogue.”

Afternoons are open for participants to work on their projects or meet with others for additional collaborative discussion and discernment.

Evening meals are shared communally providing further time for exchange and engagement.

For in-person seminars, we keep costs as low as possible. Hospitality will be provided by local Friends. We ask those who are able to contribute $100 on a sliding scale to cover costs for themselves and others. Each participant will also contribute to the cost of our meals. For video-conference seminars, we ask participants to consider making a donation that is within their means.

The 2023 seminar will be online from July 17 through 21. For more information on attending or presenting a topic, please see the 2023 page or contact Gray Cox at gray@coa.edu.

Past Seminars