¼â½ÐÊÓƵ’s Focus on Water
By Lauren Houck ’15
Water, water everywhere – especially at ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ University. The Water Focus is in full swing at ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ and well into its second semester of exploration both in and outside the classroom, with a full spectrum of classes and events that challenge and intrigue.
Professor Jo Yarrington, the faculty facilitator of “the Water Focus,” and professor of studio art, said, “The focus on water has proved to be very ‘fluid’ as a creative principle and organizational structure for the third University theme.”
With more than 70 percent of the earth’s surface covered by water, students, faculty, and staff, have had plenty of opportunities to explore the issue through practically every discipline across campus.
This semester, in addition to water-themed classes, the University will offer a number of events on water. Professor Yarrington said, “The theme of water has provided the basis for a forum of interdisciplinary discussions as we look at its many forms, its dependency to be shaped by a river or a glass, its existence as a solvent, our inalienable human right to have clean water since our very existence depends on access, and finally, and perhaps most importantly, finding an answer to the main concern of the 21st Century - how we as a global community can provide the best stewardship of this most valuable resource.”
Upcoming events:
On Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kelley Theatre in the Quick Center, Captain Richard Phillips will discuss his book, A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea. Somali pirates captured Captain Phillips’s cargo ship near the Horn of Africa in the spring of 2009 and his courageous story was turned into the well-reviewed film Captain Phillips. Students who are interested in attending this event should contact FUSA for more information.
George S. Logan of Aquarion Water Company will present a free lecture, “Utilizing Natural Water Resources – Connecticut & Beyond,” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the DiMenna-Nyselius Library Multimedia Room. Logan is the Director of Environmental Management and Government Relations at the company. He will share his insights on humanitarian efforts in South America, along with water quality and health issues in developing countries.
On Wednesday, March 18, 2015 in the Diffley Board Room of Bellarmine Hall at 7:30 p.m., ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ University will host the Deputy Director of the United Nations Environmental Programme, Jamil Ahmad. Ahmad will deliver a free lecture on a variety of water topics including global warming’s effect on water, the “spillover effect” on development, migration and conflict, issues with the lack of clean water in developing countries, refuse accumulation in the world’s oceans, and millennium development goals involving water.
