To: Recipients of ECOLOG-L digests <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>
Subject: ECOLOG-L Digest - 14 Sep 2003 to 15 Sep 2003 (#2003-231)
There are 9 messages totalling 368 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Freshman reading in science (8)
2. freshman reading in science
[ Part 2: "Included Message" ]
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 10:30:47 -0500
From: David S. White <david.white@MURRAYSTATE.EDU>
Subject: Freshman reading in science
The Freshman Reading Experience at Murray State University (now
entering its third year) is similar to programs at other smaller
universities in that incoming freshmen are assigned a summer reading. The
goals of the program are to provide a common academic experience for
incoming freshman that facilitates classroom discussions and to establish
connections between the reading and other cultural events on campus. The
first two books have been Rick Bragg's "All Over but the Shoutin'" and
Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed On (Not) Getting by in
America". This fall we will be choosing a science based book for the
2004-2005 academic year.
I would be very interested to hear from anyone at a university
that has selected a reading in the sciences. We are hoping to find a book
that would be "popular" (appealing to a campus-wide audience) and with a
living author (and someone we might be able to bring to Murray State). The
book could be either fiction on non-fiction. If you have any suggestions,
please let me know. I also would be interested in hearing how science
readings have worked compared with more traditional humanities readings.
David White
Co-Chair, Freshman Reading Experience
Murray State University
David.white@murraystate.edu
David S. White
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Director, Hancock Biological Station
Coordinator, Center for Reservoir Research
561 Emma Drive
Murray, KY 42071
Phone 270-474-2272
FAX 270-474-0120
[ Part 3: "Included Message" ]
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 11:28:51 -0500
From: Dave McNeely <dlmcneely@LUNET.EDU>
Subject: Re: Freshman reading in science
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Jonathan Wiener's _The Beak of the Finch, A Story of Evolution in Our Time_
(a popular account of Peter and Rosemary Grant's work on Darwin's finches).
The best popular read on ecology, evolution, and recent research I have seen
in my lifetime. No one who understands the work presented in this book (and
it is presented in an extremely exciting way) could ever subscribe to a
creationist view of life, and yet there is no discussion of the
creationist-evolution public discourse. And I venture to say that every
writing instructor would also approve the choice. Did I say that it is well
written, from both technical and fun perspectives?
Dave McNeely
Oh, another choice, but less exciting to read for the general student might
be E. O. Wilson's _The Diversity of Life_ (it is for the general public, and
has been published as a "textbook" as well). this one is more "preachy"
than the Wiener book, and unbashfully advocates resource conservation.
Any of Stephen J. Gould's books, but he died last year and so is not
available for a campus visit.
David L. McNeely, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
P.O. Box 1500
Langston University
Langston, OK 73050
Telephone (405) 466-6025
Email dlmcneely@lunet.edu
Web page http://www.lunet.edu/mcneely
FAX (405) 466-3271
"Are we there yet?"
Source unknown
----- Original Message -----
From: "David S. White" <david.white@MURRAYSTATE.EDU>
To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 10:30 AM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Freshman reading in science
> The Freshman Reading Experience at Murray State University (no
> entering its third year) is similar to programs at other smaller
> universities in that incoming freshmen are assigned a summer reading. T
e
> goals of the program are to provide a common academic experience for
> incoming freshman that facilitates classroom discussions and to establi
h
> connections between the reading and other cultural events on campus. T
e
> first two books have been Rick Bragg's "All Over but the Shoutin'" and
> Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed On (Not) Getting by in
> America". This fall we will be choosing a science based book for the
> 2004-2005 academic year.
> I would be very interested to hear from anyone at a university
> that has selected a reading in the sciences. We are hoping to find a b
ok
> that would be "popular" (appealing to a campus-wide audience) and with
> living author (and someone we might be able to bring to Murray State).
he
> book could be either fiction on non-fiction. If you have any suggestio
s,
> please let me know. I also would be interested in hearing how science
> readings have worked compared with more traditional humanities readings
>
> David White
> Co-Chair, Freshman Reading Experience
> Murray State University
> David.white@murraystate.edu
>
>
> David S. White
> Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
> Director, Hancock Biological Station
> Coordinator, Center for Reservoir Research
>
> 561 Emma Drive
> Murray, KY 42071
>
> Phone 270-474-2272
> FAX 270-474-0120
[ Part 4: "Included Message" ]
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 11:52:58 -0400
From: jcornell@MAILBOX.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Freshman reading in science
Dear David,
How about "Guns, Germs and Steel" by Diamond?
Joseph Cornell, PhD
SUNY ESF
Syracuse, New York
[ Part 5: "Included Message" ]
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 11:23:08 -0600
From: John CAVITT <JCAVITT@WEBER.EDU>
Subject: Re: Freshman reading in science
David,
I would suggest the book, "Refuge: an unnatural history of family and
place" by Terry Tempest Williams. Terry intertwines two events that
changed her life in the spring of 1983. First she learned that her
mother was diagnosed with cancer. The second event began that same
spring as the waters of the Great Salt Lake rose to unprecedented
levels. As the GSL was rising it began to threaten one of the most
important freshwater marshes in western North America, the Bear River
Migratory Bird Refuge. Terry does a terrific job of weaving these two
compelling stories together. On the one hand you have a seemingly
random event (flooding and destruction of freshwater marsh) and on the
other a result of human technology (both Terry and her mother were
exposed to the fallout of atomic bomb tests in the 1950's). I could
imagine very interesting discussions in all kinds of courses across
campus!
Terry is a wonderful poet / naturalist who I think still resides in
Salt Lake City.
Cheers
JFC
John F. Cavitt PhD
Dept. of Zoology
Weber State University
2505 University Circle
Ogden, UT 84408-2505
(801) 626-6172
FAX: (801) 626-7445
homepage: http://faculty.weber.edu/jcavitt
"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability,
and
beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise."
Aldo Leopold
[ Part 6: "Included Message" ]
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 13:16:42 -0500
From: Christopher J Wells <chris_wells@USGS.GOV>
Subject: Re: Freshman reading in science
"Cabbages and Kings" by Marvin Harris. The book looks at evolving
relationships between culture and environment by describing commonalities
across cultures, regions and through time. It works rather well with
Diamonds book, previously recommended.
---chris
Christopher J Wells, Geographer
National Wetlands Research Center, USGS
700 Cajundome Blvd
Lafayette, LA 70506
337 266 8651
chris_wells@usgs.gov
[ Part 7: "Included Message" ]
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:23:35 -0400
From: Christopher Oliver <oliverc1@MSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Freshman reading in science
chris et al.
I believe the book is actually, "Cannibals and Kings" by Marvin Harris -- I
agree it's an interesting book.
I would also suggest David Takacs books, "The Idea of Biodiversity," in
which the author interviews some of the most important figures in the field
about their thoughts on biodiversity and science.
christopher
At 01:16 PM 9/15/2003 -0500, Christopher J Wells wrote:
>"Cabbages and Kings" by Marvin Harris. The book looks at evolving
>relationships between culture and environment by describing commonalitie
>across cultures, regions and through time. It works rather well with
>Diamonds book, previously recommended.
>
>---chris
>
>Christopher J Wells, Geographer
>National Wetlands Research Center, USGS
>700 Cajundome Blvd
>Lafayette, LA 70506
>
>337 266 8651
>chris_wells@usgs.gov
*********************************************************************
* CHRISTOPHER OLIVER
* Environment, Science and Technology
* Department of Sociology
* Michigan State University
* 316 Berkey Hall
* East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1111
* (517) 355-6640
* (517) 432-2856 Fax
* oliverc1@msu.edu
*********************************************************************
[ Part 8: "Included Message" ]
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 16:07:17 -0400
From: Andrew Miller <miller@UMBC.EDU>
Subject: Re: Freshman reading in science
The Song of the Dodo by David Quammen. Long but fascinating, about island
biogeography and its application both to islands and all kinds of
fragmented ecosystems. He has another book just out on large predators and
their importance to ecosystems and to humans. I forget the name but it has
been reviewed within the last two weeks.
On Mon, 15 Sep 2003, Christopher Oliver wrote:
> chris et al.
>
> I believe the book is actually, "Cannibals and Kings" by Marvin Harris
- I
> agree it's an interesting book.
>
> I would also suggest David Takacs books, "The Idea of Biodiversity," in
> which the author interviews some of the most important figures in the f
eld
> about their thoughts on biodiversity and science.
>
> christopher
>
> At 01:16 PM 9/15/2003 -0500, Christopher J Wells wrote:
> >"Cabbages and Kings" by Marvin Harris. The book looks at evolving
> >relationships between culture and environment by describing commona
ities
> >across cultures, regions and through time. It works rather well wit
> >Diamonds book, previously recommended.
> >
> >---chris
> >
> >Christopher J Wells, Geographer
> >National Wetlands Research Center, USGS
> >700 Cajundome Blvd
> >Lafayette, LA 70506
> >
> >337 266 8651
> >chris_wells@usgs.gov
>
> *********************************************************************
> * CHRISTOPHER OLIVER
> * Environment, Science and Technology
> * Department of Sociology
> * Michigan State University
> * 316 Berkey Hall
> * East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1111
> * (517) 355-6640
> * (517) 432-2856 Fax
> * oliverc1@msu.edu
> *********************************************************************
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew J. Miller
UMBC Department of Geography and Environmental Systems
1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250
Phone: 410 455-3151 Fax: 410 455-1056 e-mail: miller@umbc.edu
[ Part 9: "Included Message" ]
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 19:54:52 -0400
From: crowe@COASTAL.EDU
Subject: freshman reading in science
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I can't believe no one has mentioned The beak of the finch by Jonathon Weine
.
won a pultzer prize; based on peter and rosemary grant's work on Darwin's
Finches
------------------------------------------------------------
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[ Part 10: "Included Message" ]
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 19:48:13 -0500
From: Wendee Holtcamp <ecowriter@EV1.NET>
Subject: Re: Freshman reading in science
I second the vote for The Beak of the Finch - it won a Pulitzer Prize by
the way. It was awesome, incredible, and I learned so much from it. I
actually listened to it (unadbridged) as a book-on-tape (some 13 tapes)
as I commuted between Houston & College Station, and listening as a
great way to "read" it as well.
Wendee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wendee Holtcamp ~~ ecowriter@ev1.net
Freelance Writer & Photographer ~~ www.greendzn.com
Ph.D. Student, Rice University, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Thanks to discussion with TVR, I have decided to put a link to back files of the discussion group. This months back files.
The link to complete archives is available elsewhere.
This text was originally an e-mail. It was converted using a program
RUPANTAR- a simple e-mail-to-html converter.
(c)Kolatkar Milind. kmilind@ces.iisc.ernet.in