Interdisciplinary Centers
Arts and Science Centers | Arts and Science Cores | Interdisciplinary Centers
Since the world's most pressing problems are not uniquely “historical,” “political,” or “biological” in nature, why should our search for solutions be confined within the traditional academic departments that bear these names? The College of Arts and Science addresses critical issues and leverages faculty and student strengths across many departments and schools, through the creation of interdisciplinary centers. These centers provide resources and a point of focus for faculty with common interests, give rise to new courses, bring new programming to campus, encourage new research, and strengthen Vanderbilt's intellectual community.
Center for Digitial Humanities
The Center for Digital Humanities is an intellectual hub for digital humanities inquiry and practice serving the entire Vanderbilt community and beyond. The center aims to create a flourishing environment for innovative exploration at the intersection of digital technology and humanities research through learning experiences, project support, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy
Established in 2003, the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy is the first university-based policy program to fully engage the American cultural policy system. Drawing upon the unique resources of a great university, the Curb Center supports research and programming that address the five primary sources of cultural policy in the United States.
Engine for Art, Democracy and Justice
In an ongoing collaborative effort with the Frist Art Museum, Fisk University, and Millions of Conversations, the Engine for Art, Democracy and Justice explores the difficulties and entanglement of art today, and how it connects to issues of democracy and justice.
Vanderbilt Institute for Chemical Biology
The Vanderbilt Institute for Chemical Biology runs research and education programs in the application of chemical technologies to important biological problems. Specifically, the center's researchers design and develop new chemical agents to assist in the detection and treatment of disease. The center trains graduate students, recruits new faculty members with needed expertise, and runs a seminar program.
Vanderbilt Initiative for Gravity, Waves and Fluids (VandyGRAF)
The Vanderbilt Initiative for Gravity, Waves and Fluids connects mathematicians, physicists, and astrophysicists for collaborative study in relevant scientific fields, such as general relativity, fluid mechanics, and the evolution of partial differential equations. VandyGRAF hosts seminars and conversations with award-winning faculty.
Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering
The Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering's mission is to drive innovation in nanoscience, nanotechnology, and education that benefits society by providing access to state-of-the-art instrumentation, sharing hands-on technical expertise, and facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations.
Vanderbilt LGBTQ+ Policy Lab
The Vanderbilt LGBTQ+ Policy Lab brings in expertise from diverse fields of study—including economics, sociology, medicine, and law—to understand how policy shapes the lives of LGBTQ+ people and how people can, in turn, shape policy. In addition to conducting important research, which has been published in the Harvard Law Review and covered by mainstream news outlets, the Policy Lab hosts a national conference, collaborates with community leaders to deliver relevant and impactful programming, and offers learning opportunities, such as courses and fellowships.