ADSP Infusing Institute Final Presentation

Dr. Eric J. Fitch, Assoc. Prof. Chair, Biology & Environmental Science

Marietta College

Marietta, OH

Marietta College has several existing Interdisciplinary Programs which I participate in:

• Environmental Science/Studies • ENVR 210 Intro. To Environmental

Science• ENVS/RELI 233 Religion and Nature• ENVS/POLS 310 Environmental Policy

and Law• ENVS/POLS 311 Politics of Global

Ecology • ENVR 330 Environmental Sustainability

Leadership and Asian Studies

• Leadership – LEAD 308 Science and Public Policy and ENVS 320 Science, Technology and Society

• Asian Studies• ENVS 394 Natural and Social History of

Oceania - An experimental course – A study of the lands and peoples of arguably some of greatest feats of navigation and colonization in the history of human civilization.

Oceania from Australia through Polynesia to Hawai’i follows a unique set of paths – physical, social, spiritual and cultural – to unique and vulnerableNatural environments.

Oceania (aka Oceanica; Australasia)

Inclusion in the Asian Studies curriculum

• Geographic location of the Nations involved should be sufficient prima facia for inclusion

• But…..

Modern migrations to the archipelagos of the Pacific

• Nikkei • Chinese• SE Asians• Etc.

Represents a significant

dispersal of culture as well as

Population.

Reason for being part of Infusing Institute #1

• Have the Science and the Social Science components of this new course mostly nailed down.

• The cultural elements of the “indigenous peoples” as well

as the immigrant populations are currently deficient.

This is where the Institute comes in.

Objective: fulfilled: Japanese and Chinese religion, art, literature and culture have had incredible influence throughout Oceania. I came to learn and I have. Now it is time to do the heavy lifting and incorporate material into the experimental course and make it ready for review as a permanent part of the curriculum.

Reason for participating in the Institute #2:

• Upgrading content of current coursework

ENVS/RELI 233 Religion and Nature

The narrow focus of the course allows for a considerable breadth of faiths that are covered. Given this, the weakest areas of my knowledge base are Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism (esp. Chan and Zen), and Shinto.

Objective: fulfilled. Religion components of the Institute were very strong providing much useful material.

Reason for Participation in Institute #3

• Potential supplemental material for other courses• Was hoping for material for

• ENVS 320 Science, Technology and Society• Hoped that some of the literature coursework would

deal with contemporary popular culture esp. Japanese popular culture

• Anime, Manga, Mecha, Kaiju, etc.• 2 out of three

Conclusion:

• Good News:

• The Institute provided even more information and inspiration to augment the content of these aforementioned courses.

Conclusion part 2:

• Bad news: lots of time and effort needed to integrate useful information and follow leads for further material.

Conclusion part 3:

• The institute provided enough material and inspiration to keep me going for at least a couple of years, and maybe by that time I’ll be ready to apply for round two. In the meantime, it’s time to fly back to my regular duties.

• Aloha, Mahalo and A hui ho!