Arts & humanities

Humanities and arts scholars at Michigan State University explore cultures, civic responsibility, social issues, and all forms of human expression. Scholarly and creative activity addresses languages and literature, philosoply, religious studies, ethics, and creative and performing arts.

Broad Art Museum at MSU opens

MSU News, Nov 13 2012

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, a new Zaha Hadid-designed contemporary art museum, opened Nov. 10 following a 10 a.m. public dedication ceremony.

The ceremony included Michigan's Gov. Rick Snyder, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, founding donors Eli and Edythe Broad, architect Zaha Hadid, founding museum director Michael Rush, MSU Provost Kim Wilcox and MSU Trustee Chairman Joel Ferguson.

MSU digitizes Civil War letters, journals

Oct 17 2012

Faded and sometimes tattered, letters and journal entries written 150 years ago by hopeful and homesick Civil War soldiers will forever be preserved online, thanks to digitization by Michigan State University archivists.

University Archives and Historical Collections started the project two years ago in recognition of the sesquicentennial celebration of the Civil War. Today, nearly 3,000 pages and images have been digitized and placed online, with more materials added every day.

'Microbial alchemy' produces gold – and art

MSU News, Oct 2 2012

Michigan State University researchers have discovered a bacterium’s ability to withstand incredible amounts of toxicity is key to creating 24-karat gold.

“Microbial alchemy is what we’re doing – transforming gold from something that has no value into a solid, precious metal that’s valuable,” said Kazem Kashefi, assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics.

Civil War sesquicentennial: MSU resources

Sep 27 2012

Michigan and Michigan State University played a pivotal role in many key events during the Civil War. Now during the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, MSU has brought together many of its valuable resources and made them easily available for research and teaching about the Civil War.

University Archives & Historical Collections staff are transcribing and digitizing its collections relating to the Civil War. These materials—including hundreds of pages of correspondence, diaries, musters, reminiscences, and photographs—will be made available online for public use.

Global expansion all about give and take, study finds

MSU News, Jul 25 2012

The key to successful global business expansion is spreading operations across multiple countries, rather than trying to dominate a region or market, according to a new study led by Michigan State University researchers.

In addition, since global expansion is costly for service industries, manufacturing industries will profit most, said Tomas Hult, director of MSU’s International Business Center.

Olympics can be dream or debacle for host cities

MSU News, Jul 9 2012

Hosting the Olympics can allow cities to realize many long-term dreams or spark economic nightmares, according to a new book written by a Michigan State University professor.

Make me an offer, say online shoppers

MSU News, Jun 26 2012

Online shoppers would rather receive an offer for a product or service than make their own offer, according to a study led by a Michigan State University scholar that has implications for the fast-growing e-commerce industry.

MSU to test safety at sports facilities

MSU News, Jun 19 2012

Michigan State University is one of five universities nationwide participating in a pilot program to test innovative security measures at sports facilities and entertainment venues in areas such as parking, concessions, merchandising and ticketing.

MSU students explore positive impact of Lansing graffiti

MSU News, Jun 15 2012

“I find it really interesting that art and creativity can have such a tangible impact on a community,” said Brooke Hawkins, senior English and professional writing major and member of the 517*Theory research group.

Hawkins, along with fellow research students Mike Kulick, Ethan Tate and Jesse Whitmill, has been trying to measure exactly how much of a positive impact graffiti can have on community by studying the REO Town district of Lansing.

More people staying connected on vacation

MSU News, Jun 11 2012

Scanning smartphones, tablets and laptops is as much a part of vacations as slathering on sunscreen, according to a Michigan State University study.

The results, which will appear in the forthcoming issue of Annals of Tourism Research, show that easy online access and ubiquitous personal devices have made the digital divide disappear, even for folks on holiday.