Our focus this year will be a deeper exploration of the concept of the ‘alternatives’ at the present time. The title of this session points to the triad of issues we want to address: concepts related to and necessary for teaching and research on alternative culture; an examination of the problems of alternative forms of expression and the study of these alternatives; and, finally, new opportunities that are opening up for the alternative as a result of technological developments and political and social change.

This year's summer session will be comprised of a range of activities that will allow for multiple and varied approaches to alternative cultures: small group discussions; one-on-one sessions between resource faculty and participants; lectures by experts in the field; ‘concept seminars’ exploring concepts central to teaching and research in alternative culture; and sessions devoted to pedagogy and curriculum development.

Specific outcomes for this session include:

1. Participants will have clearly-developed and defined syllabi for one or more courses which they will be able to offer at their home universities. These syllabi will be posted on this website, to share with participants and with the global academic community;
2. An alternative culture concept glossary, which will be posted on this website and can be used by participants as a teaching and research resource;
3. The establishment of working sub-groups that will have on-going discussions during 2008-2009 about key issues related to the teaching of alternative culture;
4. Sub-groups will post short, co-written pieces reflecting on issues involved in teaching and research in their topic area on the website;
5. Participants and resource faculty will have a draft proposal for a special journal issue and/or edited volume that will reflect the work of the project and make it available to others in the academic community.