Rust Belt Studies Special Issue: The Regenerative Rust Belt

deadline for submissions: 
December 31, 2025
full name / name of organization: 
The Rust Belt Humanities Lab at Ursuline College

Rust Belt Studies Special Issue
The Regenerative Rust Belt: Environment, EcoLogy, Ecosystems

For too long, the narrative of the Rust Belt has been one of emptiness, decay, decline, and vacancy —
and often, our stories are neglected in the national sphere or controlled by cultural outsiders.

In this issue, we will consider the following and more :

How can the humanities imagine regenerative Rust Belt futures and learn from industrial history?
How can the humanities activate the environmental movement in new ways in the Rust Belt?
How can we use art, literature, and music to teach the environmental Rust Belt in the classroom?
How can we use the humanities to reflect on ecosystems both natural and human?

 

Please send papers and questions to Katharine.Trostel@Ursuline.edu and Valentino.Zullo@Ursuline.edu

 

More info at Rustbeltstudies.org