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In Winter quarter, six experts on the Earth’s polar regions will present public lectures on the multifaceted ways in which those regions are changing.  The speakers include Arctic biologists Jody Deming and Dee Boersma, acclaimed photographers James Balog and Paul Nicklen, Inuit leader Sheila Watt-Cloutier, and former premier of the Yukon Tony Penikett.  Each speaker will give an give a public evening lecture as part of the Walker-Ames/Danz lecture series.  This class provides an opportunity to meet with the speakers, engage with the material they have presented, and have a conversation about their work.  We will meet twice per week during the time of the speakers’ visits, once to read materials prior to the evening lecture, and again to meet with the speaker.  Students will be expected to attend all evening lectures and classes, and to submit an essay at the end of the class that brings together the diverse material.

C ENV 490 B / ARCTIC 498 B

2 credits (CR/NC grading)

SLN: 20769 / 21033

T/Th from 10:30AM to 11:20AM

In addition to T/Th class sessions, students must also attend 6 “Future of Ice” evening lectures on various dates (see schedule here). Students who register for the course should NOT register for the speaker series – all students in the course will automatically be registered for the speaker series without having to do so separately

[course] – Spring 2012: Arctic Perspectives on Global Problems

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ANTH 469 C: Arctic Perspectives on Global Problems

MW 1:30-3:20 in THO 211

Dr. Andrew Gerkey

Click for Time Schedule

**This course counts towards Human & Social Dimensions and/or International for Perspectives and Experiences**

Arctic peoples and places are at the forefront of some of the most pressing global problems today. In this course, we will use Arctic perspectives to explore issues that affect us all, including climate change, environmental conservation, economic development, energy extraction, and diminishing cultural, linguistic, and biological diversity.

Our readings will span the circumpolar Arctic and sub-Arctic, introducing us to the histories and contemporary lives of people in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Russia, and Scandinavia. Beginning with the intimate connections between Arctic peoples and their environments, we will explore the relationship between traditional ecological knowledge and scientific research. How do the practices, ideologies, and authorities that are inherent in different forms of knowledge influence debates over the sustainable and just use of natural resources? Our efforts to answer this question will lead us to consider the ways individuals, communities, institutions, and governments negotiate the balance between seemingly contrary visions of conservation and development, tradition and modernity, sovereignty and integration. We will critically examine these dichotomies and attempt to reconcile or move beyond them. Using the insights gained from Arctic perspectives, we will plot pathways toward potential solutions.

Seattle Audubon Presents: From the Gulf to the Arctic

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Seattle Audubon Presents…

From the Gulf to the Arctic: Energy Challenges and Opportunities

Thursday, March 17th, 7-8PM at Seattle REI

 

The largest environmental catastrophe in U.S. history brings damaging impacts to the sensitive habitats vital to the diverse wildlife that travel along the Gulf Coast up to the Coastal Plain of the Arctic.  Taldi Walter, Assistant Director of Government Relations of the National Audubon Society, visits Seattle to discuss Audubon’s continuous efforts in response to the Gulf Oil Spill and this disaster’s grave implications in the Arctic.  As the Gulf Spill serves as a warning for our country’s exploits, we ask: what are the challenges we face and what opportunities do we have in our future energy developments?  

 

You don’t want to miss out on this fascinating discussion!  Refreshments and treats provided.  Doors open at 6:30pm and the program begins at 7pm. All attendees are eligible to win a door prize from the Seattle Audubon Nature Shop. This is a FREE event and all are welcome.

 

Seattle Audubon cultivates and leads a community that values and protects birds and the natural environment. For more information about this event please visit our Events page at  http://www.seattleaudubon.org/sas/GetInvolved/Events.aspx

                

For more information, please contact Leah Lee at 206-523-8243 x 16 or emailleahl@seattleaudubon.org.