INTERSECTIONS OF ARTS, CULTURE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN NEW YORK
Friday, November 14, 2025
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
CBIS Auditorium, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI is dedicated to supporting local history
The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at RPI, in conjunction with Albany Symphony, New York State Canal Corporation, and New York Power Authority, would like to present Reflections on Waterways, a symposium which revisits the various celebratory performances done along the route of the Erie Canal commemorating the 200th anniversary of the waterway, with commentary from several guest speakers.
Completed in 1825, the Erie Canal was the largest state-funded public works project of the 19th century. It was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean, via the Hudson River, to the Great Lakes, reducing transportation costs across the Appalachians. Dubbed, "the nations first super highway," it also accelerated the Westward expansion of the United States.
Today, the Erie Canal is primarily a tourist attraction with recreational vehicles using the waterway. However, it's legacy is still felt. Several museums dedicated to its history line the corridor. In 2000, Congress designated the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to protect and promote the system.
Please REGISTER if you would like to join us at the symposium.
Event Schedule
9:30 AM | Morning Refreshments Coffee and light refreshments available in the CBIS lobby |
10:00 AM | Welcome and Introduction Rebecca W. Doerge, Provost RPI Joseph Moloughney, P.E. | Eastern Region Canal Engineer, NYSCC David Alan Miller | Heinrich Medicus Music Director, Albany Symphony Will Pedigo, WMHT VP Chief Content and Engagement Officer WMHT: The Canal That Sparked America s Engineering Revolution |
10:25 AM | Presentation: How Horizontal and Vertical Waters Shaped Troy's Past and Present. Chris Tozzi | Senior Lecturer of Science and Technology Studies, RPI |
10:40 AM | Introduction to Albany Symphony Screenings WMHT : "What Happens When a Historic Waterway Inspires a Modern Symphony?" |
| Screening: Earth and Water (2024) Clarice Assad, Schoharie, NY |
| Introduction: Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at RPI and the Music Program William Gibbons | Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Dean, RPI |
10:55 AM | Presentation: Ecological Engineering interplay of earth and water engineering, design, degradation, and restoration Kate Galloway | Assistant Professor, Games and Experiential Media, RPI |
11:10 AM | Screening: Canton Tea Man s Tale (2024) - Dai Wei, Waterloo, NY Introduction: David Alan Miller |
11:25 AM | Presentation: Music Technology and Live Performance Rob Hamilton | Associate Professor and Head of Arts, RPI |
11:40 AM | Student Presentations Moderated by: William Gibbons |
12:00 PM | Closing Remarks: William Gibbons | Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Dean, RPI Brian Stratton | Director, New York State Canal Corporation David Alan Miller | Heinrich Medicus Music Director, Albany Symphony
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