classroom exploration: period 110:45 am -...

EX P E RI EN C E L A F A Y E T T E C OL L EG E D A YCLASSROOM EXPLORATION: PERIOD 1 10:45 AM

AFRICANA STUDIES

Senegambian roots: Celebrating Past and Contemporary Sahelian Soul

Wendy Wilson-Fall, Associate Professor and Program Chair

Oechsle Center for Global Education, Room 102A few borrowings from Wolof, a language in Senegambia (West Africa), persist in American vocabulary. The most obvious is "degg, (dig)" which means 'to understand' in Wolof and in American English, as in, "can you dig it?" This session explores Senegambian roots in America and contemporary American influence in Senegal.

ANTHROPOLOGY & SOCIOLOGY

From the "Gifts of Life" to Replacement "Parts": How Anthropology Opens up New Perspectives on

the Complexities of Contemporary Medical and Scientific Practice

William Bissell, Department Head and Associate Professor

Oechsle Center for Global Education, Room 314The transplantation of human organs is an accepted part of our medical landscape, and yet it is much more than just a technical marvel. Indeed, ethnographic research into the sociocultural dynamics of transplantation reveals profound uncertainties about the cultural status and significance of organs. From an anthropological standpoint, what is at stake when we refer to organs as "gifts," or parts, or debate whether they can or should be treated as goods in a free market? How does transplantation open up key questions of markets, morality, and medical culture in the contemporary world? BIOLOGY

Animal Coloration and OrnamentationMike Butler, Assistant Professor

Kunkel Hall, Room 102Animals use a wide variety of colors and shapes to get the attention of other animals. In this mini-course, we will examine the diversity of animal ornaments and discuss how and why animals go to so much trouble to look so good.

CHEMISTRY

Coffee with ChemistsJodi Szarko, Melissa Galloway and Roxy Swails,

Professors

Hugel Hall, Room 302Come explore the opportunities available in the Chemistry Department. Talk to our students about their experiences in classes and research. Take a tour of the facilities and meet faculty mentors.


ECONOMICS

Economic Empowerment Global Learning Project (EEGLP) - Development in Central Appalachia

(Panel Discussion)Michael A. Kelly and Fluney Hutchinson,

Associate Professors

Oechsle Center for Global Education, Room 107We discuss the collaboration between Appalshop, a nationally prominent arts and cultural institution located in Central Appalachia, and the Economic Empowerment Global Learning Project (EEGLP) at Lafayette College. The project concerns Appalshop’s efforts to enhance its capacity to sustainably meet the emergent demands of its mission. The Appalshop-EEGLP project places a primacy upon the individual’s search, with their own voice, for the development of internal value and the validation of that value through socially valuable market exchange.

ECONOMICS

Are We Making the Poor Worse Off? An Economist's Approach to Poverty in the

Developing World David Stifel, Associate Professor

Hugel Hall, Room 100We will explore some of the intuitive and counter-intuitive issues related to poverty reduction policies in developing countries and how the donor community has helped, or hasn't helped. After this class, you may think differently about how we in the US work with developing countries and about how you can best help victims of humanitarian crises.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES & LITERATURES

The Mystery of Chinese Characters Han Luo, Lecturer of Chinese

Pardee Hall, Room 401This mini Chinese class gives a brief presentation on how Chinese characters were created, followed by hands-on Chinese calligraphy practice and an information session on the Chinese language program at Lafayette.


Greek Myths: Then and NowMarkus Dubischar,

Associate Professor of Classics / Assistant Department Head

Pardee Hall, Room 421In this mini-class we will, first, focus on some myths related to Zeus, King of the Olympian Gods. We will discuss what these stories meant to the ancient world and what (perhaps surprising) relevance they have had in later times. Then, we will address a more general question: are there myths in our modern lives?



¡Se habla español! What's it like "Doing Spanish" at Lafayette?

Michelle Geoffrion-Vinci, Professor

Pardee Hall, Room 429Take part in a "snapshot" Spanish class. Learn about how we "do" language, literature, civilization and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. No experience necessary, just bring your "A Game" and be ready to explore. ¡Adelante!

HISTORY; RUSSIAN AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES

A New Cold War? Russia, Ukraine, and the WestJoshua Sanborn, Professor and Head

Oechsle Center for Global Education, Room 216Recent events in Ukraine and Russia have raised the specter of a "New Cold War." This talk will discuss current events within the historical context of the "Old" Cold War that dominated geopolitics in the latter half of the twentieth century.MATHEMATICS

Origami and MathematicsEthan Berkove, Professor

Pardee Hall, Room 227Although origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, it has lots of connections to mathematics too. Over the past 30 years, investigations into the folding process have resulted in many stunning models and a surprising number of applications. We'll talk about some of these, and an origami magic trick too.

NEUROSCIENCE

Experience NeuroscienceElaine Reynolds, Associate Professor

Oechsle Hall, Room 224Come hear about our interdisciplinary neuroscience program and the collaborative research being carried out by our majors.

PHILOSOPHY

Education and IndoctrinationPeter Gildenhuys, Assistant Professor

Oechsle Hall, Room 211Have you ever heard someone say that education is just indoctrination? Come and learn why this allegation is false.

PHYSICS

Space and Time Around Black Holes and Dense Stars

David Nice, Associate Professor

Hugel Hall, Room 103We will discuss (i) why classical laws of nature are not "good enough" and why relativity is needed, (ii) how to "think about space and gravity" in Einstein's theory of general relativity, (iii) how time and space behave near a black hole, and (iv) how radio telescope observations of pulsars allow us to probe time and space near neutron stars and white dwarf stars. This mini-class is partly based on material covered in Physics 130.


POLICY STUDIES

Learning by Broadcasting: Policy Studies Productions in Collaboration with PBS

Mark Crain, William E. Simon Professor of Political Economy

Ramer History House, Room 105The Policy Studies Program works in partnership with PBS Channel 39 (WLVT) to produce televised broadcasts covering politics and major global issues affecting business and society. This session describes the roles of Lafayette students in the productions and the skills derived from these active learning experiences. Students involved in past broadcasts will participate in the session.


CHEMISTRY


Professors


COMPUTER SCIENCE

Seeing is Believing: Why Computers Cannot See (yet)

Amir Sadovnik, Assistant Professor

Acopian Engineering Center, Room 500Why can a 4 year old still perform many visual tasks better than the most advanced computer? In this talk we will examine why computer vision is such a challenging field by understanding some of the mechanisms humans use to see. We will also review some applications of computer vision in our daily life.ECONOMICS; ATHLETICS

Academics and Athletics: Winning on the Field and in the Classroom

Susan Averett, Dana Professor of Economics

Hugel Hall, Room 100Lafayette’s blend of world class academics and NCAA Division 1 athletics imbues the College with great energy, spirit and a sharp edge of competitive fervor. Join Dr. Susan Averett, Charles A. Dana Professor of Economics, Faculty Representative to the NCAA and Faculty Mentor for the Lafayette Football Program in a discussion with a selection of varsity, club and intramural student-athletes. Whether you plan to make a varsity team or just are looking to stay fit and be social through involvement in intramural offerings, this session is for you! In addition to being a means to learn more about the exciting compliment between academics and athletics at Lafayette, this session is a terrific opportunity to interact with successful students who have taken their passion for athletics and combined it beautifully with success in the classroom.

ENGLISH

"Goodbye, Clarice": Why We Love Serial Killer Novels

Patricia Donahue, Professor

Pardee Hall, Room 421The Serial Killer novel is one of the most popular subgenres of the larger genre typically known as "mystery" or "detective fiction." Why do novels like THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS both repulse and thrill us? What are their distinctive conventions? In what ways do these novels reflect their cultural moment?


GEOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCES

Earth History: Tales of Evolution & ExtinctionDavid Sunderlin, Associate Professor

Van Wickle Hall, Room 105If you scale the entire history of our planet to one day's length, we humans come on the scene just 30 seconds before midnight. Historical earth scientists study the rich epic of change that has unfolded over this deep expanse of time. This session will take you on a time machine way, way back.

GOVERNMENT & LAW

The Causes & Consequences of the Arab Spring, 2010-2015

Ilan Peleg, Charles A. Dana Professor

Kirby Hall of Civil Rights, Room 104What has been called "The Arab Spring"--the demonstrations, coups, and civil wars in the Middle East--has impacted deeply the political situation in the region, possibly the most volatile area of the world. This lecture will assess the causes of this historic event and its immediate and long-term consequences, both domestic and international. MATHEMATICS

Mathematics and The Card Game SET®Elizabeth McMahon, Professor

Pardee Hall, Room 217SET® is a card game played with a special deck. The game is deeply mathematical, and we will explore that math, with a special focus on geometry.

MATHEMATICS

Have you heard?: Vaccines, Viruses, and Herd ImmunityThomas Yuster, Associate Professor

Pardee Hall, Room 227Measles, Influenza, Polio, Smallpox, Mathematicians. The first four you want to avoid. How about the fifth? Some of those mathematicians study the spread of the first four, and how the associated vaccines affect that spread. Sometimes their students do the same. Come hear about the Herd. Is it immune, and what does that mean?MUSIC

Thoughts and Practices of Jazz MusiciansSkip Wilkins, Associate Professor of Music

Williams Center for the Arts, Room 123Jazz pianist Skip Wilkins will perform short selections and discuss the modes of thought of jazz performers, composers and arrangers. Interspersed will be examples related to courses and ensembles at Lafayette College.

PSYCHOLOGY

Procrastination in the PigeonRobert W. Allan, Associate Professor

Oechsle Hall, Room 223Procrastination is a problem for all of us, greatly reducing productivity, and increasing the likelihood of feeling guilty for jobs not completed on time. In a series of experiments I have demonstrated that pigeons also procrastinate. The data suggest several methods for approaching and resolving procrastination. The biggest question is whether our culture will agree that it's time to stop procrastination.

EX P E RI EN C E L A F A Y E T T E C OL L EG E D A YCLASSROOM EXPLORATION: PERIOD 3 1:45 PM

CHEMISTRY


Professors


ECONOMICS

An Economist, his Students, and Community-Based Learning & Research (CBLR): Connecting

Coursework & CommunityChris Ruebeck, Associate Professor

Oechsle Center for Global Education, Room 107A discussion of Economics majors' Marketing Research course projects and Math-Econ honors thesis work using surveys and statistical analyses. Examples include work with community partners concerned about local farmers' supply chain, city residents' interest in community gardens, understanding the Holiday Helpers program, and helping to address Easton students' summer learning loss.ENGLISH

Poetry as Entertainment; or, a Blast from the Past

Chris Phillips, Associate Professor

Pardee Hall, Room 421This mini-class will show how 21st-century media can be used to rediscover the ways readers entertained themselves with poetry in previous times. And maybe we'll find out something about ourselves along the way. Warning: fun may be had while learning in this class.


Best Practices in GermanMargarete Lamb-Faffelberger and

Christa Keister, Professors

Pardee Hall, Room 429Listen, talk, read, and experience your way into German. Learn about the role of Lafayette’s German program for interdisciplinary studies (incl. engineering) and enjoy presentations of student work at various proficiency levels.HISTORY

Jihad and Crusade: the Evolution of Medieval Ideologies

Rachel Goshgarian, Assistant Professor

Ramer History House, Room 105This class highlights the beginning of the long period of wars on the Middle East known in Europe as the "Crusades." And will offer insight into the ways in which crusading ideology was developed and influenced Islamic notions of Jihad (Arabic, "struggle"). Participants will engage with primary source materials.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS; GOVERNMENT & LAW

Gender and International Development: Challenges of Poverty Alleviation

Hannah Stewart-Gambino, Professor

Oechsle Center for Global Education, Room 216The post WWII international development programs have rested on Western assumptions about labor, job creation, and economic growth. Western assumptions about the gendered division of labor in modern economies often collide with non-Western realities. The result can be disastrous for both poor women and poor men.


MATHEMATICS

Mathematics of the Art of M. C. EscherGary Gordon, Professor

Pardee Hall, Room 217M . C. Escher's art is ubiquitous in popular culture. We'll look at some of the underlying geometry he used to make his work.

MATHEMATICS

Why Mathematics is so Important, from an Investment Point of View

Qin Lu, Associate Professor

Oechsle Hall, Room 211This talk introduces some basic Mathematics concepts: mean and standard deviation in the context of investment. It shows that Mathematics has an important application in the financial industry. THEATER

Reading Visual CultureSuzanne Westfall,

Director of the Arts, Professor of Theater and English

248 North 3rd Street (Arts Campus), Media 2Our first books are picture books, but as we learn to read, the images disappear and our education focuses on reading and writing WORDS. Yet thousands of images surround us each day, and we are rarely taught how to read, analyze, or acknowledge as intellectual property the non-verbal modes of communication. Advertisers know this. Theater and Media artists know this. Most people who use visual images count on our inability to realize what they are doing to us. "Reading Visual Culture" teaches us to protect ourselves from such brainwashing.

THEATER

Total Immersion RehearsalsMichael O'Neill, Associate Professor and Head

248 North 3rd Street (Arts Campus), Studio TheaterHaving recently directed the theater department's production of Brian Friel's "Dancing at Lughnasa" using a total immersion rehearsal technique, Professor Michael O'Neill and some of the cast invite our guests to join or observe a workshop conducted in total immersion. Simply put, only Irish accents, cultural references, and accurate period styles are allowed. You just might leave as a new person!


ART

Discovering Photography at LafayetteGreta Brubaker, Visiting Professor of Art

Williams Visual Arts Building, (Arts Campus), Room 103Explore the photography lab and studio while meeting current art faculty and students. We will create camera-less images using scanners after a scavenger hunt for the most interesting materials and objects. This will be a hands on look at Photography at Lafayette!

FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES

Digital Storymaking: FAMS Media Projects from First Year to Senior Capstone

Andy Smith, Associate Professor and Chair,

Film and Media Studies

248 North 3rd Street (Arts Campus), Media 2What kind of digital media making is possible in Lafayette's new facilities for Film and Media Studies? Come see the projects, tour the spaces, and hear the voices of Film and Media Studies students working on web series, narrative film, documentary, experimental film, screenwriting, and other forms of media production. RESEARCH

Creating Knowledge: Scholarship and Research at Lafayette

Matt Hyde, Dean of Admissions

Kirby Hall of Civil Rights, Room 104Unlike most Liberal Arts colleges, learning at Lafayette is not confined by an Ivory Tower. Being an exclusively undergraduate institution allows our students much more access to faculty while providing significantly greater exposure to meaningful academic research than found at other liberal arts colleges. Our students ask big questions and enjoy beautifully resourced opportunities for research to answer them. Take a moment to learn how our students not only obtain knowledge but also work with professors one-on-one to further their academic field and actually create knowledge.

THEATER

Reading Visual CultureSuzanne Westfall,

Director of the Arts, Professor of Theater and English

248 North 3rd Street (Arts Campus), Media 2Our first books are picture books, but as we learn to read, the images disappear and our education focuses on reading and writing WORDS. Yet thousands of images surround us each day, and we are rarely taught how to read, analyze, or acknowledge as intellectual property the non-verbal modes of communication. Advertisers know this. Theater and Media artists know this. Most people who use visual images count on our inability to realize what they are doing to us. "Reading Visual Culture" teaches us to protect ourselves from such brainwashing.

classroom exploration: period 110:45 am -...

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