About PISC

The Princeton Islamic Studies Colloquium is a forum at Princeton University for workshopping students’ and guest scholars’ works-in-progress in Islamic Studies and related fields.

The Islamic Studies Colloquium formed in the spring of 2009 with the hope of encouraging an interdepartmental discussion and circulation of ideas among graduate students and professors with an interest in Islamic Studies.

The colloquium meets several times per semester to discuss a pre-circulated paper, and all attendees are expected to have read and reflected on the paper beforehand. A discussant initiates the conversation with a summary of the work in progress’ main argument, taking care to identify what the piece contributes to current scholarship as well as the potential for further development. Following the author’s response, a moderator conducts an hour of mediated discussion. The forum is led and organized by graduate students.

PISC is supported by the generosity of Princeton University’s Department of Religion and the Department and Program of Near Eastern Studies.

Please contact pisc@princeton.edu for more information, and follow us on Twitter at @PISCPrinceton!