Scholarship in action: Research highlights

In partnership with the Medieval Institute, we presented several educational lectures for the Medieval Research Group, highlighting manuscripts in our Special Collections.

In April, Dr. Robert Berkhofer, professor and director of the Medieval Institute, spoke on our “Trial Against the Templars” facsimile collection, which comprises transcriptions of testimony concerning accusations of heresy. The documents in this collection provide a unique insight into the events that led to the suppression of the order in 1312.

The Knights Templar, known for its exploits during the Crusades, was a powerful monastic military and financial order. The order is well known by historians and the general public, as the infamous trials and mythos surrounding the order have been featured in movies and fiction. 

In 1307, King Phillip IV of France arrested French Templar knights and conducted investigations of suspected heresy. The church conducted separate investigations, but the transcripts were lost for centuries until they were found misfiled in the Vatican Archives by an Italian scholar in 2001. The discovery was a significant finding for scholars studying the infamous Templar trials. The Vatican documentation presents the other side of the investigation and highlights the tensions between King Phillip IV and the Catholic Church.

The University Libraries hosted the second-annual WMU Authors Reception during Research and Creative Scholarship Week in April 2025, recognizing 35 WMU faculty members and researchers for their publications. Dr. Mariola Pérez de la Cruz shared a brief presentation on her work creating the open textbook, “Vida y cultura de España.”
 

During Open Access Week in October, we hosted the panel discussion, “Who Owns Research Information?,” to spark conversation among researchers about the benefits and challenges of open access (OA) and today’s publishing landscape.

Dr. Wendy Beane, Department of Biological Sciences, Dr. Robert Berkhofer, Medieval Institute, and Dr. Vincent Longo, School of Communication, shared their experiences with research and publishing.

While open access makes it easier for everyone to freely access research, the panelists offered their perspectives on both the benefits and drawbacks of OA. 

The University Libraries is proud to support graduate education and provide space to showcase the research and creative work of our students. This fall, we hosted the Graduate Student Association’s 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in our Graduate Student Commons.