SHERMAN, TEXAS -- Austin College is hosting an interdisciplinary undergraduate conference "Environment and the Humanities" Friday - Sunday, April 23-25, on campus. Five speakers will address various environmental issues. All conference lectures are free and open to the public.Lectures:Friday, April 23?Ben Johnson, Southern Methodist University, Department of History "The Many Uses of Environmental History"4 p.m., Wright Campus Center, Room 231 ?Alex Hunt, West Texas A&M, Department of English"The Ecology of Story: Literature and the Environment on the Texas High Plains"7 p.m., Wright Campus Center, Room 231 Saturday, April 24?Karann Durland, Austin College, Department of Philosophy "The Good Life"11 a.m., Wright Campus Center, Room 231?John A. Grim, Bucknell University, Department of Religion"Religion and Ecology: Deepening the Discourse on the Environment from the Standpoint of the Humanities"4 p.m., Wright Campus Center, Room 231?Aaron Abeyta, Adams State College, Department of English"From the Sovereign Banks of the Conejos: Using Natural Gifts to Promote Community and Cultural Sovereignty"7 p.m., Wright Campus Center, Room 104Austin College Assistant Professor of English Bonnie Roos is coordinating the conference, which is expected to become an annual event."This will be a unique opportunity for undergraduates to build professional relationships, prepare for graduate studies, share some of their best work, and express their commitment to the environment," Roos said. In addition to the keynote speakers, undergraduate students from several colleges will make presentations regarding their own research. The call for papers included abstracts from undergraduates in any field, on any topic related to the humanities and the environment. Undergraduate presentations are not open to the general public.Austin College Student ResearchAustin College students involved in presentation panels include freshman Carolina Azevedo of Richardson, Texas; freshman Lindsay Brown of Oklahoma City, Okla.; freshman Lily Cates of Maplewood, N.J.; freshman Madiha Chaudhry of Dallas; freshman Amanda Coleman of Allen, Texas; freshman Renee England of Highland Village, Texas; sophomore Ashley Gant of Plano, Texas; freshman Jon Glenn of Plano, Texas; freshman Aaron Harris of Medina, Texas; freshman Tad Hopp of Denton, Texas; senior Rachel Mechenbier of Albuquerque, N.M.; sophomore Nicole Michalec of Richardson, Texas, senior Jordan Michel of Plano, Texas, who served as student coordinator for the conference; senior Victoria Slominski of Denison, Texas; sophomore Karman Weaver of Plano, Texas; and senior Aaron White of Grand Prairie, Texas.Austin College, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), is an independent, liberal arts college of 1,300 students located 60 miles north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Chartered in November 1849, it is the oldest college in Texas under original charter and name as recognized by the State Historical Survey Committee.Austin College is included in Loren Pope's Colleges That Change Lives, ranked among the "Best 351 Colleges" in the 2004 Princeton Review, and profiled in the 2004 edition of Kaplan's Insiders Guide to the 328 Most Interesting Colleges.