The next Suter Science Seminar at EMU will focus on one Mennonite group’s farming practices as an alternate response to the current ecological crises.

Dr. Darla Schumm, assistant professor of religious studies at Hollins University, Roanoke, will speak on "Cow Comfort, Pig Palaces and Chicken Coops: Rethinking Mennonite Conceptions of Community as an Ecological Response" 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21 in room 104 of the Suter Science Center.

In her presentation, Schumm will argue that a "simple life" approach is no longer adequate for Mennonites to utilize in addressing ecological concerns of the 21st century. Rather, she will commend another aspect of their heritage – "a sense of community" – in responding to current ecological concerns.

She will examine Mennonite farming practices in rural Ontario that demonstrate the need to rethink definitions of community in light of changes brought about by a shift from primarily substance farming to factory farming.

Refreshments will be served 15 minutes prior to the presentation.

Admission to the seminar is free. For more information, contact Dr. Roman Miller at 540-432-4412; email millerrj@emu.edu.

The language and literature department at EMU is featuring Wayne Johnston, distinguished chair in creative writing at Hollins University, at its second “Writers Read” program of fall semester.

Johnston, whose award-winning fiction writing includes “The Story of Bobby O’Malley,” “The Colony of Unrequited Dreams” and “The Navigator of New York,” will read from his work 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, in Martin Chapel of the seminary building at EMU.

Johnston wrote both the novel and the screenplay for “The Divine Ryans” and received Canada’s most prestigious prize for creative non-fiction for “Baltimore’s Mansion.”

A native of Goulds, Newfoundland, Johnston earned a BA degree in English from Memorial University and was a reporter for the “St. John’s Daily News” before deciding to devote himself full time to writing. En route to being published, he earned an MA in creative writing from the University of New Brunswick.

His first book, “The Story of Bobby O’Malley,” published when he was just 27 years old, won the WH Smith/Books in Canada First Novel award for the best first novel published in the English language in Canada that year.

General admission to the program, which includes dinner, is $14. Reservations are required and should be made by noon Friday, Nov. 23, by calling the language and literature department at 540-432-4168.