An unprecedented, university-wide event next Tuesday and Wednesday, February 22-23, will showcase Temple's unique scholarly connections to Greater Philadelphia and the faculty's role in advancing the region's historic, physical, cultural and community assets.

The Metro-Engagement Forum will bring together faculty members from across the university for two days of research presentations, performances and exhibits, walking tours of Temple museums and collections, a film premiere and faculty-led discussion.

"As one of the points of the Academic Strategic Compass, metro-engagement permeates everything we do at Temple. This forum is an exciting opportunity to shine a light on faculty research and creative endeavors that deepen our commitment to the community," said Betsy Leebron Tutelman, senior vice provost for strategic initiatives and communications, one of three co-coordinators of the forum along with Michele Masucci of the Department of Geography and Urban Studies and Alice J. Hausman of the Center for Preparedness, Research, Education and Practice.

The Metro-Engagement Forum will kick off at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday with a welcome from university leaders, followed by a series of rapid-fire faculty research presentations on subjects ranging from K-12 science education to HIV disclosure barriers. On Tuesday evening, the forum will move to the Temple Performing Arts Center for dance and music performances as well as the Temple premiere of "Top Secret Rosies," a documentary by LeAnn Erickson of the Department of Film and Media Arts about Philadelphia women who worked to break enemy codes during World War II (the film was recently featured by CNN).

Wednesday's highlights include an opportunity to tour about a dozen Temple museums, collections, archives and facilities, including well-known staples such as the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection and lesser-known gems such as the Kornberg School of Dentistry's Edwin and Trudy Weaver Historical Dental Museum. On Tuesday afternoon, the forum will close with faculty-led conversation pods in Shusterman and Annenberg halls on subjects ranging from Temple's Engineering Without Borders program (discussion led by Michel Boufadel) to Kids Write and Create, an urban literacy program in Temple's College of Health Professions and Social Work (discussion led by Rena Krakow).

Forum co-coordinator Michele Masucci stressed the event’s role in "breaking down silos" and increasing awareness by bringing together faculty members from different disciplines and campuses.

"It's all about awareness," Masucci said. "Because so many of us participate in interdisciplinary, community-oriented research and creative expression, we're hungry to learn what others are doing across university. The Metro-Engagement Forum will help scholars make new connections, see new things, meet new people and, ultimately, make Temple even more relevant to Greater Philadelphia and cities in general."

The forum is the second in a series sponsored by the Office of the Provost to highlight the five overarching priorities of the Academic Strategic Compass, the university's academic strategic plan for the future. The event is free and open to the entire Temple community. For more information, go to the Metro-Engagement Forum page at the web site of the Office of the Provost.