"Meet, Greet, Teach"

An Informal Conversation about Interdisciplinary Teaching on Environmental Issues

Meet, Greet, Teach is an evening series offering graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with an interest in interdisciplinary, environmental education a chance to interact with faculty from across campus who are willing to share their enthusiasm and their experience.  

MGT panels focus on a single “30,000 foot” issue: What is interdisciplinary?  The role of facts versus values.  Can personalized teaching be objective teaching?  Over a glass of wine and light appetizers, attendees have a chance to mix and mingle, before settling down to a 30-minute "fast panel" of four faculty, each delivering thought, and conversation, provoking answers.  With time for both structured and social interaction, MGT presents an opportunity for everyone to have a say, make a contact, find a shared direction, and learn something new.

Wanting more follow-up?  We'll wrap up the session with time for more interaction over a glass of wine and light appetizers.

So bring your ideas, and join us for MGT -- an opportunity to explore teaching ideas, make a contact, find a shared direction, and learn something new.

For past topics, click here.

Friday, April 16, 2010
Panel Topic:
Science, Communication, and the Media (flyer)
Summary

Why do the cultures of science and journalism sometimes clash? How can researchers make the most of opportunities to share their work with the wider world? Join us for a look at how changes sweeping across the media industry are presenting new challenges for researchers and the scientific community.

Panelists:
Tom Banse, National Public Radio
Jeff Bunside, NBC Miami
Julet Eilperin, The Washington Post
Michael Todd, MillerMcCune.com
Dawn Stover, Freelance Science Journalist

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Panel Topic:
Food for Thought (flyer)
Summary

If majors and minors are largely about disciplinary learning, how can interdisciplinary and environmental learning be supported and sustained?  One answer is cross-campus themes that thread together faculty and students from many disciplines, all following a common interest.  From food security to foodsheds to the culture of consumption, food pervades our life, our culture, and our campus.  Come share your thoughts on one of our most basic needs with faculty from around campus who have devoted their careers to the study of food.

Wednesday, January 27, 2009
Panel Topic:
Conservation Conversation
Summary

So, you want to save the last great wild places, work in an interdisciplinary environment that blends natural and social science content, be a team player, AND become a famous writer, speaker, scholar, and activist whose seminal work helps define the next generation of resource management? Conservation is all these things and more. Can we teach it effectively in an academic setting? Come hear what faculty, postdocs, and graduate students think we can - and can’t - do. 

Panelists:
Sam Wasser, Professor, Biology
Sarah Reichard, Associate Professor, Forest Resources
Kiki Jenkins, Research Associate, Marine Affairs
Eric Delvin, Graduate Student, Forest Resources

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Event Topic:
"Teaching in a Porous College - Is the Sum more than the Holes?"
Summary

From the early planning days, some have described the College of the Environment as an un-College with innovative cross-connections between units and faculty, drawing on the real-world experience of practitioners outside of the University blended with the academic experience of star teaching faculty.  Can all of that coolness really be packaged into undergrad and grad courses? Join us for the first MGT of the 2009-2010 season where we'll hear from voices inside and outside of the new College on their thoughts on how to create porosity instead of just Swiss cheese.

Panelists:
Jon Bakker, Assistant Professor, Forest Resources
Peter Kahn, Associate Professor, Psychology
David Montgomery, Professor, Earth & Space Sciences
Linda Nash, Associate Professor, History

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Event Topic:
Get Out of MySpace: Innovative Technology in Interdisciplinary Environmental Teaching
Summary

Wondering how to recapture your texting, twittering, tech-savvy students? The final MGT event for this academic year diverges from our "fast panel" format to offer a more in-depth opportunity to interact with faculty who are connecting with this generation.

Presentations:
The Wikipedia Project: Challenging the Definition of Expert and Expanding the Boundaries of the Academic Audience. 
Martha Groom, Associate Professor, UW Bothell Environmental Studies, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences; Adjunct Associate Professor, UW Seattle Department of Biology

Get Over Powerpoint: Using YouTube for Student Presentations
Stephen Gardiner, Associate Professor, Philosophy
Martha Groom, Associate Professor, UW Bothell Environmental Studies, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences; Adjunct Associate Professor, UW Seattle Department of Biology

Beyond Big Brother: Can Clickers Inspire Interactive Learning?
Scott Freeman, Lecturer, Department of Biology
Yoram Bauman, Lecturer, Program on the Environment

Thursday, February 26, 2009
Event Topic:
If men are from Mars, and women are from Venus, what planet are team teachers on?
Summary

Are large courses best delivered by a single individual, or is interdisciplinary and/or environmental material better suited to an instructor team? And what is the most effective method of delivery: blocks of lectures, weekly switches, daily fisticuffs in the classroom? Join us for an MGT examining the opportunities and limitations of team-teaching

Panelists:
David Domke, Professor, Communication
Tom Hinckley, Professor, Forest Resources
Karen Litfin, Associate Professor, Political Science

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Event Topic:
When is the last time you (and your students) were out, standing in your field?
Summary

With today's budgetary shortfalls, will field courses become a thing of the past? Or are there innovative ways to bring students to the field, and the field to students? And what IS "the field" anyway? Join us for an MGT exploring innovative delivery of field courses.

Panelists:
Cheryl Greengrove, Associate Professor, UW Tacoma Environmental Sciences
Steve Harrell, Professor, Anthropology
John Marzluff, Professor, Forest Resources
Iain Robertson, Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture

Thursday, November 13, 2008
Event Topic:
What is Truth?
Summary

Environmental issues are framed by facts, but shaped by values brought to the table by the stakeholders. One man's native predator is another man's sheep killer. Come hear, and share, how to negotiate between the pillars of fact and value in environmental teaching.

Panelists:
David Battisti, Professor, Atmospheric Sciences; Tamaki Endowed Chair of Atmospheric Sciences Michael Robinson-Dorn, Assistant Professor, School of Law; Director, Berman Environmental Law Clinic
Josh Tewksbury, Associate Professor, Biology
Andrea Woody, Associate Professor, Philosophy

Wednesday October 8, 2008
Kick-off Event Topic:
What is it Anyway? 
Summary

From gestalt to nuts-and-bolts, what does interdisciplinary education mean to you? Come hear and share the pitfalls and successes of the interdisciplinary approach to environmental education.

Panelists:
Joyce Cooper, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Richard Gammon, Professor, Chemistry and Oceanography
Benjamin Kerr, Assistant Professor, Biology
Matthew Sparke, Professor, Geography and International Studies