About – International Society for the Study of Time

The International Society for the Study of Time (ISST) is an interdisciplinary organization of professional scientists, humanists, and artists. Established by J. T. Fraser in 1966, society members study and explore the multiple dimensions and perspectives of time across the disciplines – the role time plays in the physical, organic, intellectual, and social worlds.

Pursuing its mission to foster the interdisciplinary study of time, the ISST produces two peer-reviewed publications in association with Brill Publishers: a journal, KronoScope, and a series of volumes, The Study of Time, comprising papers selected from triennial conferences. The Society also publishes Time’s News, an annual members-focused magazine.

ISST Timeline

2022: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council votes to postpone their Triennial Conference in Yamaguchi, Japan until the following year, July 2-7, 2023.

Officers: Raji Steineck, University of Zurich-Japanology (President); Jo Alyson Parker, Saint Joseph’s University-English (Vice-President); Daniela Tan, University of Zurich-Japanology (Executive Secretary); Carol Fischer, West Valley College-Theatre Arts (Treasurer).

Council: Robert Daniel, Saint Joseph’s University-French; Sonia Front, University of Silesia, Poland-English; Eve Ishram, University of Arizona-Psychology; Stephanie Nelson, Boston University-Classical Studies; Walter Schweidler, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt-Philosophy.

Other Positions: Dennis Costa, Boston University-Italian (Managing Editor of KronoScope); Arkadiusz Misztal, University of Gdansk-English (Volume Senior Editor); Emily DiCarlo, University of Toronto-Visual Studies (Time’s News Editor, Communications Officer); Paul Harris, Loyola Marymount University-English (Immediate Past President).

2019: Seventeenth Conference: “Time in Variance”; Loyola Marymount University, California; June 23-29, 2019.

Volume: Time in Variance. Ed. Arkadiusz Misztal, Paul A. Harris, and Jo Alyson Parker. Leiden: Brill (in print).

Officers: Raji Steineck, University of Zurich-Japanology (President); Dennis Costa, Boston University-Italian (Vice-President); Daniela Tan, University of Zurich-Japanology (Executive Secretary); Lanei Rodemeyer, Duquesne University-Philosophy (Treasurer).

Council: Alistair Bowden, University of Northumbria-Business, Carol Fischer, West Valley College-Theatre; Carlos Montemayor, San Francisco State University-Philosophy; Arkadiusz Misztal, University of Gdansk-English; Walter Schweidler, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt-Philosophy.

Other Positions: Jo Alyson Parker, Saint Joseph’s University-English (Managing Editor of KronoScope); Robert Daniel, Saint Joseph’s University-French (Volume Senior Editor); Emily DiCarlo, University of Toronto-Visual Studies (Time’s News Editor, Communications Officer); Paul Harris, Loyola Marymount University-English (Immediate Past President).

Founder: J.T. Fraser- The International Society for the Study of Time.

2016: Fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the ISST. Fifteen volumes of the Study of Time series, comprising of more than 300 essays in a variety of disciplines. KronoScope enters its sixteenth year, and to date has featured more than160 articles, as well as notes, poems, and tributes; more than 400 reviewed books in the “Time’s Books” column, which migrated from the newsletter to KronoScope in 2001; and more than 1000 presentations across the ISST triennial conferences and ISST-affiliated conferences.

Sixteenth Conference and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the ISST: “Time’s Urgency”; University of Edinburgh, Scotland UK; June 26-July 2, 2016.

Volume: Time’s Urgency. Ed. Robert Daniel and Carlos Montemayor. Leiden: Brill (in print).

Officers: Raji Steineck, University of Zurich-Japanology (President); Jo Alyson Parker, Saint Joseph’s University-English (Vice-President); Thomas P. Weissert, The Agnes Irwin School-Mathematics (Executive Secretary); Lanei Rodemeyer, Duquesne University-Philosophy (Treasurer).

Council: Dennis Costa, Boston University-Italian; Michael Crawford, University of Windsor-Biology; Robert Daniel, Saint Joseph’s University-French; Carlos Montemayor, San Francisco State University-Philosophy; David Wittenberg, University of Iowa-English.

Other Positions: Claudia Clausius, University of Western Ontario-English (Managing Editor of KronoScope); Steven Ostovich, College of St. Scholastica-Philosophy (Volume Senior Editor); Daniela Tan, University of Zurich-Japanology (Newsletter Editor and Communications): Paul Harris, Loyola Marymount University-English (Immediate Past President).

Founder: J.T. Fraser-The International Society for the Study of Time

2013: Through the efforts of Katharina Clausius, Caroline Diezyn, and Emily DiCarlo, the ISST is connected to the social media platforms of Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter, and real-time updates about the fifteenth triennial conference, held at the Orthodox Academy of Crete, are posted. In the absence of ISST Founder J.T. Fraser, the council votes that the immediate past president becomes a permanent council member position to serve as “institutional memory.” Paul Harris becomes the first to take up this role.

Fifteenth Conference: “Time and Trace”; Orthodox Academy of Crete, Greece; June 30-July 6, 2013.

Volume: Time and Trace. Multidisciplinary Investigations of Temporality. Ed. Sabine Gross and Steve Ostovich. Leiden: Brill, 2016.

Other Positions: Claudia Clausius, University of Western Ontario-English (Managing Editor of KronoScope); Steven Ostovich, College of St. Scholastica-Philosophy (Volume Editor Senior), Sabine Gross, University of Wisconsin, Madison-German (Volume Editor); Daniela Tan, Zurich University-Japanology (Newsletter Editor and Communications), Paul Harris, Loyola Marymount University-English (Immediate Past President).

Founder: J.T. Fraser- The International Society for the Study of Time.

2010: At the fourteenth triennial conference at Monteverde, Costa Rica, the last founder’s lecture, “The Origin of the Integrated Study of Time,” is presented by Frederick Turner in J. T. Fraser’s absence. Fraser attends his last Council meeting in October and passes away in November.

Fourteenth Conference: “Time: Origins and Futures”; El Establo Conference Center, Monteverde, Costa Rica. July 25-31, 2010

Volume: Time: Origins and Futures. Ed. Raji Steineck and Claudia Clausius. Leiden: Brill, 2013.

Officers: Paul Harris, Loyola Marymount University-English (President); Jo Alyson Parker, Saint Joseph’s University-English (Vice-President); Thomas P. Weissert, The Agnes Irwin School-Mathematics (Executive Secretary); Lanei Rodemeyer, Duquesne University-Philosophy (Treasurer); J. T. Fraser-Study of Time (Founder).

Council: Dennis Costa, Boston University-Italian; Michael Crawford, University of Windsor-Biology; Steven Ostovich, College of St. Scholastica-Philosophy; Marlene Soulsby, Pennsylvania State University, Scranton-German and Comparative Literature; Raji Steineck, University of Zurich-Japonology; Frederick Turner, University of Dallas-English.

2007: At the thirteenth triennial conference in Asilomar, California, the first Founder’s Prize for New Scholars was presented to Carlos Montemayor for his essay “Time: Biological, International and Cultural.”

Thirteenth Conference: “Time: Limits and Constraints”; Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, California, United States; July 28-August 3, 2007.

Volume: Time: Limits and Constraints: The Study of Time XIII. Ed. Jo Alyson Parker, Paul A. Harris, Raji Steineck. Leiden: Brill, 2010.

Officers: Paul Harris, Loyola Marymount University-English (President); Koen DePryck, Education (Vice-President); Thomas P. Weissert, The Agnes Irwin School-Mathematics (Executive Secretary); Robert Daniel, Saint Joseph’s University-French (Treasurer); J. T. Fraser-Study of Time (Founder).

Council: Mark Aultman, Westerville, Ohio-Law; Dawna Ballard, University of Texas, Austin-Communication Studies; Sabine Gross, University of Wisconsin, Madison-German; Erica Magnus, Theatre Arts; Raji Steineck, University of Zurich-Japonology; Frederick Turner, University of Dallas-English.

Other Positions: Jo Alyson Parker, Saint Joseph’s University-English (Volume Editor); Claudia Clausius, University of Western Ontario-English (Membership Chair); Marlene Soulsby, Pennsylvania State University, Scranton-German and Comparative Literature (KronoScope Editor); Mary Schmelzer, English (Newsletter Editor).

2004: Twelfth Conference: “Time and Memory”; Clare College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; July 25-31, 2004.

Volume: Time and Memory: The Study of Time XII. Ed. Jo Alyson Parker, Michael Crawford, Paul Harris. Leiden: Brill, 2006.

Officers: Paul Harris, Loyola Marymount University-English (President); Nicholas Tresilian, Artstation (Vice-President); Thomas P. Weissert, The Agnes Irwin School-Mathematics (Executive Secretary); Robert Daniel, Saint Joseph’s University-French (Treasurer); J. T. Fraser-Study of Time (Founder).

Council: Mark Aultman, Westerville, Ohio-Law; David Burrows, New York University-Music; Claudia Clausius, University of Windsor-English; John Cordes, University of Maryland-Communication; Koen DePryck, Education; Frederick Turner, University of Dallas-English.

Other Positions: Jo Alyson Parker, Saint Joseph’s University-English (Newsletter Editor and Volume Editor); Claudia Clausius, University of Western Ontario-English (Membership Chair); Michael Crawford, University of Windsor-Biology (Volume Editor); Marlene Soulsby, Pennsylvania State University, Scranton-German and Comparative Literature (KronoScope Editor).

2001: KronoScope: The Journal for the Study of Time is launched, with J. T. Fraser serving as Founding Editor and Dr. Marlene Soulsby serving as Managing Editor.

Eleventh Conference: “Time and Uncertainty”; Castello di Gargonza, Monte San Savino, Italy; July 1-7, 2001.

Volume: Time and Uncertainty. Ed. Paul A. Harris and Michael Crawford. Leiden: Brill, 2004.

Officers: Rémy Lestienne, Centre National de la Research Scientifique-Neuroscience and Physics (President); Paul Harris, Loyola Marymount University-English (Vice-President); Thomas P. Weissert, The Agnes Irwin School-Mathematics (Executive Secretary); Victoria Koehler-Jones (Treasurer); J. T. Fraser-Study of Time (Founder).

Council: Mark Aultman, Westerville, Ohio-Law; David Burrows, New York University-Music; Sabine Gross, University of Wisconsin, Madison-German; Carmen Leccardi, University of Milan, Bicocca-Sociology; Marlene Soulsby, Pennsylvania State University, Scranton-German and Comparative Literature; Nicholas Tresilian, Artstation.

Other Positions: Jo Alyson Parker, Saint Joseph’s University-English (Newsletter Editor); Michael Crawford (Volume Editor); Gus Koehler (Membership Chair).

1999: Thomas Weissert creates the first ISST web page.

1998: Tenth Conference: “Time at the Millenium: Changes and Continuities”; Evangelische Akademie, Tutzing, Germany; July 5-11, 1998.

Volume: Perspectives at the Millenium (The Study of Time X). Ed. Marlene P. Soulsby and J. T. Fraser. Westport, CT: Bergin and Garvey, 2001.

Officers: Rémy Lestienne, Centre National de la Research Scientifique-Neuroscience and Physics (President); Jonathan Kramer, Columbia University-Music (Vice-President); Thomas P. Weissert, The Agnes Irwin School-Mathematics (Executive Secretary); David Burrows, New York University-Music (Treasurer); J. T. Fraser-Study of Time (Founder).

Council: Mark Aultman, Westerville, Ohio-Law; Claudia Clausius, University of Windsor-English; Sabine Gross, University of Wisconsin, Madison-German; Paul Harris, Loyola Marymount University-English; Martin Held, Evangelishce Akademie-Economics; Marlene Soulsby, Pennsylvania State University, Scranton-German and Comparative Literature.

Other Positions: Marlene Soulsby, Pennsylvania State University, Scranton-German and Comparative Literature (Newsletter Editor); Olga Hasty, Princeton University-Russian(Membership Chair).

1995: At the ninth triennial conference in Saint-Adèle, Québec, the first J. T. Fraser Prize is awarded to an outstanding time-related book published in the three years since the last conference: Barbara Adam’s Timewatch: The SocialAnalysis of Time (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1995). Thomas Weissert gets the ISST online, implementing a listserv.

Ninth Conference: “Time, Order, Chaos”; Saint-Adèle, Québec, Canada; July 2-8, 1995.

Volume: Time, Order, Chaos: The Study of Time IX. Ed. J. T. Fraser, Marlene P. Soulsby, and Alexander J. Argyros. Madison, CT: International Universities Press, 1998.

Officers: Albert I. Rabin, Michigan State University-Psychology (President); Jonathan Kramer, Columbia University-Music (Vice-President); Mark Aultman, Westerville, Ohio-Law (Executive Secretary); David Burrows, New York University-Music (Treasurer); J. T. Fraser-Study of Time (Founder).

Council: Barbara Adam, University of Wales-Social Theory; Alexander J. Argyros, University of Dallas-English; Jens Brockmeyer, Claudia Clausius-University of Windsor-English; Paul A. Harris, Loyola Marymount University-English; Olga Peters Hasty, Princeton University-Russian; Rémy Lestienne, Centre National de la Research Scientifique-Neuroscience and Physics

Other Positions: Marlene Soulsby, Pennsylvania State University, Scranton-German and Comparative Literature (Newsletter Editor)

1992: Eighth Conference: “Dimensions of Time and Life”; Centre Culturel International de Cerisy-la-Salle, France; July 3-9, 1992.

Volume: Dimensions of Time and Life: The Study of Time VIII. Ed. J. T. Fraser and M. P. Soulsby. Madison, CT: International Universities P, 1996.

Officers: Helga Nowotny, ETH Zurich-Philosophy of Science (President), Lewis Rowell, Indiana University-Music (Executive Secretary), Richard A. Block (Treasurer); J. T. Fraser-Study of Time (Founder).

Council: Barbara Adam, University of Wales-Social Theory; Hans Ågren, University of Uppsala-Psychiatry; Mark Aultman, Westerville, Ohio-Law; Olga Hasty, Princeton University-Russian; Rémy Lestienne, Centre National de la Research Scientifique-Neuroscience and Physics; Samuel L. Macey, University of Victoria-English; Albert I. Rabin, Michigan State University-Psychology.

Other Positions: Marlene Soulsby, Pennsylvania State University, Scranton-German and Comparative Literature (Newsletter Editor); Robert Thornton (Membership Chair).

1989: Seventh Conference: “Time and Process: Interdisciplinary Issues”; Glacier Park Lodge, Glacier National Park, United States; July 9-15, 1989.

Volume: Time and Process: Interdisciplinary Issues: The Study of Time VII. Ed. J. T. Fraser and Lewis Rowell. Madison, CT: International Universities P, 1993.

Officers: Samuel L. Macey, University of Victoria-English (President); John G. Weihaupt, University of Colorado, Denver-Oceanography (Executive Secretary until 1990); J. T. Fraser-Study of Time (Founder and Acting Executive Secretary starting 1990); Richard A. Block, Montana State University-Psychology (Treasurer).

Council: Albert I. Rabin, Michigan State University-Psychology; Charles Sherover, New York University-Philosophy;Marlene Soulsby, Pennsylvania State University, Scranton-German and Comparative Literature; Wesley M. Stevens, University of Winnipeg-History; Lord Michael Young of Dartington.

Other Positions: Richard Martin, Amherst, Massachusetts-Publishing (newsletter editor until 1990); Marlene Soulsby, Pennsylvania State University, Scranton-German and Comparative Literature (newsletter editor starting 1990); Lewis Rowell, Indiana University-Music (Membership Chair)

1988: “Time’s Books,” a review of time-related books becomes part of the newsletter.

1987: The Aperiodic Newsletter becomes Time’s News.

1986: Sixth Conference: “Time and Mind”; Dartington Hall College, Totnes, England; July 4-11, 1986.

Volume: Time and Mind: Interdisciplinary Issues: The Study of Time VI. Ed. J. T. Fraser. Madison, CT: International Universities P, 1989.

Officers: Lewis Rowell, Indiana University-Music (President); J. T. Fraser, The Study of Time (Secretary and Founder); Mark Aultman, Westerville, Ohio-Law (Treasurer).

Council:Jacob A. Arlow, Medicine; Anindita Balslev, Osborn Group; George Ford, University of Rochester-English; Jonathan D. Kramer, Columbia University-Music; John A. Michon, University of Groningen-Psychology; Helga Nowotny, ETH Zurich-Philosophy of Science.

Other Positions: Richard Martin, Amherst, Massachusetts-Publishing (Newsletter Editor); Samuel L. Macey, University of Victoria-English (Membership Chair).

1983: A provision in the ISST Constitution and By-Laws grants J. T. Fraser permanent Council status and designation as the society’s Founder.

Fifth Conference: “Time, Science, and Society in China and the West”; Castello di Gargonza, Monte San Savino, Italy; July 3-9, 1983.

Volume: Time, Science, and Society in China and the West: The Study of Time V. Ed. J. T. Fraser, N. Lawrence, and F. C. Haber. Amherst: U of MA P, 1986.

Officers: John A. Michon, University of Groningen-Psychology (President); J. T. Fraser (Secretary and Founder); Mark Aultman, Westerville, Ohio-Law (Treasurer).

Council: Hans Ågren, University of Uppsala-Psychiatry; K. G. Denbigh, Council for Science and Society, London; George Ford, University of Rochester-English; Francis C.Haber, University of Maryland-History; Nathaniel Lawrence, Williams College-Philosophy; Lewis Rowell, Indiana University-Music; Hasanao Toda, Hokkaido University-Psychology.

Other Positions: Sharon Schwarze, Cabrini College-Philosophy (Newsletter Editor); Samuel L. Macey, University of Victoria-English (Membership Chair).

1979: At the fourth triennial conference in Alpbach, Austria, the ISST conference is organized around a unifying theme for the first time.

Fourth Conference: “Beginnings and Endings”; Alpbach, Austria; July 1-10, 1979.

Volume: The Study of Time IV. Ed. J. T. Fraser, N. Lawrence, and D. Park.New York & Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1981.

Officers: George Ford, University of Rochester-English (President), J. T. Fraser, The Study of Time (Secretary); Lewis Rowell, Indiana University-Music (Treasurer).

Other Positions: Sharon Schwarze, Cabrini College-Philosophy (Newsletter Editor); Samuel L. Macey, University of Victoria-English (Membership Chair).

1976: Third Conference: Alpbach, Austria; July 1-10, 1976.

Volume: The Study of Time III: Proceedings of the 3rd Conference on the International Society for the Study of Time: Alpbach Australia.Ed. J. T. Fraser, N. Lawrence, D. Park. New York & Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1978.

Officers: Gert H. Müller, University of Heidelberg-Mathematics (President); J. T. Fraser, The Study of Time (Secretary); Helen Green, Wesleyan University-Psychology (Treasurer).

1973: Second Conference: Lake Yamanaka, Japan; July 3-8, 1973

Volume: The Study of Time II: Proceedings of the Second Conference of the International Society for the Study of Time, Lake Yamanaka, Japan. Ed. J. T. Fraser and N. Lawrence. New York & Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1975.

Officers: David Park, Williams College-Physics (President); J. T. Fraser, The Study of Time (Secretary); Helen Green, Wesleyan University-Psychology (Treasurer)

1974: The first issue of the ISST newsletter (a two-page document typed up on ISST letterhead by J. T. Fraser and called Aperiodic Newsletter), is published in April. The first ISST constitution is approved during the ISST Council meeting in Williamstown, MA, in September.

1972: The Study of Time series is inaugurated with the publication of The Study of Time: Proceedings of the First Conference of the International Society for the Study of Time Oberwolfach (Black Forest)West Germany. Edited by J. T. Fraser, F. C. Haber, and Gert Müller and published by Springer-Verlag.

1969: First Conference: Mathematisches Forschunginstitut, Oberwolfach, FederalRepublic of Germany; August 31-September 6, 1969.

Volume: The Study of Time: Proceedings of the First Conference of the International Society for the Study of Time Oberwolfach (Black Forest)––West Germany. Ed. J. T. Fraser, F. C. Haber, G. H. Müller. New York & Berlin: Springer-Verlag. 1972.

Officers: M. Satoshi Watanabe, Yale University-Physics (President); J. T. Fraser, The Study of Time (Secretary)

1966: Founding of the International Society for the Study of Time

J.T. Fraser publishes his comprehensive anthology of time studies, The Voices of Time: A Cooperative Survey of Man’s Views of Time as Expressed by the Sciences and by the Humanities (New York: George Braziller), which includes his essay “The Study of Time,” which proposes “an interdisciplinary and normative study of time sui generis” (590). He delivers the paper “The Interdisciplinary Study of Time” at the “Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Time” conference held by the New York Academy of the Sciences. During the conference, he consults with Gerald Whitrow and Satoshi Watanabe, and the three declare the founding of the International Society for the Study of Time.

Officers: Gerald J. Whitrow, University of London-Mathematics (President); J. T. Fraser, The Study of Time (Secretary); M. Satoshi Watanabe, Yale University-Physics (Treasurer)