Despite the pandemic, University of Missouri Arts and Science faculty continued publishing groundbreaking work covering topics from archeology to Brazilian soccer. However, the usual celebratory book launches, performances and readings were swapped for more understated and COVID-safe activities.

To honor their achievements, the College of Arts and Science, in collaboration with the Office of the Provost and the Office of Research and Economic Development, recently hosted a Celebration of Arts and Humanities Research — a virtual event bringing together 20 faculty members from those disciplines to present most of the 28 books and CDs published in 2020.

In his opening remarks, MU President Mun Choi said the humanities remain essential to addressing the urgent challenges facing society. “These books, recordings and performances really do reveal a greater understanding of ourselves and our world,” Choi said. “They make us more empathetic, more imaginative and more human.”