A new project at Indiana University aims to break down misconceptions about Islam and increase intercultural understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims around the world.

A consortium of six Title VI National Resource Centers, led by IU's Center for the Study of Global Change, has been awarded $96,600 from the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) to launch a project called Voices and Visions.

The money comes from the SSRC's "Academia in the Public Sphere: Islam and Muslims in World Context" program, funded by the Carnegie Corp. of New York. The SSRC's grants program is intended to foster deeper public understanding of Muslim peoples and their diverse histories and cultures. Out of 10 universities awarded funding, IU's Voices and Visions project received the most money because of the "ambitious scope" of the program, according to Tom Asher, SSRC program officer.

Asher says the grant selection committee, including members from academia, the media, and the nongovernmental sector, "saw in Indiana's project a way of introducing scholarly voices to a public debate that often takes place with flawed premises and a real misunderstanding of the nature of Islam and Muslims generally."

"This timely project will widen our understanding of Muslims and Muslim communities," says IU Vice President for International Affairs Patrick O'Meara. "The grant is a recognition of this important topic and of the capacity of IU to implement [the project]."

Hilary Kahn

Universities have a responsibility to help rectify misleading and often harmful stereotypes and social messages about Muslims and Islam, according to Hilary Kahn, the associate director for the Center for the Study of Global Change who is leading the Voices and Visions project. Drawing on IU's established strength in international programs, collaboration, and outreach, Voices and Visions "will explore perceptions, myths, and stereotypes about Islam and Muslims—including some of the more controversial topics such as gender oppression and violence—but we'll tackle these issues in a balanced, sensitive, and scholarly manner where various viewpoints and positions are represented," Kahn says. "Ideally, we'll replace myths and assumptions with respect, openness, and a better understanding of the variation within Islam and among Muslims."

Voices and Visions will consist of 60 podcasts produced with public radio station WFIU and made available on the National Public Radio Web site and elsewhere. Kahn says the podcasts will cover topics such as the pillars of Islam, issues surrounding depictions of Muhammad such as in the Danish cartoon controversy, Muslim stereotypes, Muslims in American politics, Muslims and Jesus, Islam in Latin America, and Islam in Indonesia. The podcasts will begin airing weekly in early September, around the time of the Islamic celebration of Ramadan. "We will certainly have a podcast about what Ramadan is and people's memories about Ramadan celebrations from around the world," Kahn says.

The project also includes four events -- two for the public and two for media and business professionals. The events will take place during the fall and spring semesters of 2008 and 2009, focusing on imagery of Islam, everyday life of Muslims, conducting business with Muslim communities, and media representations.

The Center for the Study of Global Change is partnering with IU's African Studies Program, East Asian Studies Center, Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center, Russian and Eastern European Institute, West European Studies, Center for International Business Education and Research, the IU School of Journalism, WFIU, the Islamic Center, and the Bloomington Area Arts Council to produce the Voices and Visions project.