Announcement from the
WMU Center for the Humanities STEAM Interdisciplinary
Working Group
Fall 2014
During the
Fall 2014
semester,
the Western Michigan
University Center for the
Humanities will host a series
of discussions on the integration of the humanities and arts into STEM
(science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education
and research at Western Michigan
University. Moderated by Dr.
Maria Gigante (English), Dr. Steve Malcolm (Biological Sciences), Dr. Jocelyn
Steinke (Communication), and Dr.
Gwen Tarbox (English), this interdisciplinary working group will facilitate discussion among graduate
students, staff and faculty related
to a number of STEM to STEAM
(science,
technology, engineering, arts, and
mathematics) initiatives, including:
• developing
or redesigning interdisciplinary courses according
to STEAM
values;
• promoting
educational and
professional opportunities
in STEAM
for
students;
• broadening participation of women and other
underrepresented groups in STEM
through
STEAM transformations;
• discussing and
disseminating tools and
techniques from
the Arts to enhance
the
effective
communication and
understanding of STEM topics; and,
• showing how
an understanding of STEAM enhances
life-‐long
learning in a
world full
of complex technologies.
The STEAM interdisciplinary working
group will meet 4 times during
the semester to assess opportunities for developing STEAM projects at WMU and to provide
recommendations for supporting
these efforts.
Session 1:
Practical Applications of STEAM
for Instructors and Students
Tuesday, September
23, 2014,
1:00 – 2:30 pm
3025 Brown
Hall
At our
first meeting, participants will discuss selected
readings on STEAM and explore the STEAM initiatives that are already
underway at WMU. During the second half of the session,
participants will engage in a
brainstorming session to generate potential
interdisciplinary STEAM
projects (educational and research) and strategies for integrating
writing and argumentation into the
science
classroom.
Session 2: “Science
on the Campaign Trail:
Climate Change in the
Clements-‐ Upton Congressional Race”
A Speech and Q&A
with Paul Clements,
WMU Political Science
Professor
Tuesday, October
14, 2014, 1:00 –
2:30 pm
University Center for the
Humanities, 2500 Knauss
Hall
WMU professor Paul Clements will discuss the interconnectedness of humanities and STEM fields
as he recounts the way that he has used rhetorical practices to convert
economic theory and environmental science into information that he can use to communicate to area residents
as he runs for the US Congress for the MI Sixth
District.
Session 3: STEAM Funding
Opportunities
October 28, 2014, 1:00 –
2:30 pm
University Center
for the Humanities, 2500 Knauss Hall
The working group will
discuss funding for STEAM initiatives at WMU. Guests from the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)
and the College of Arts and Sciences
Dean’s office will provide participants with
information on external and internal
funding related to STEAM projects.
Session 4: STEAM Initiatives at WMU in 2015
Tuesday, November
11, 1:00-‐2:30 pm
University Center for the
Humanities, 2500 Knauss
Hall
For its final session the STEAM interdisciplinary working group discuss suggestions for STEAM initiatives that could be implemented in 2015. The group will also determine whether it should continue
to meet during
the Spring 2015 semester.
Faculty, staff,
and graduate students
are welcome to attend and participate.
Questions and RSVP: maria.gigante@wmich.edu.
As part of your message,
please indicate which session(s) you wish to attend.
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