FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS — Professors from within the IU School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis will discuss their sabbatical projects throughout the 2014 fall semester. Topics include geographic information science, the rise and fall of comedian Mabel Normand, and The Rolling Stones’ Altamont concert.
The series is free and open to the public. The lectures will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the IUPUI Campus Center, 420 University Blvd.:
- Tuesday, Oct. 7, Room 268: Rudy Banerjee, geography, “Research at the Frontiers: A Geographic Journey.” Journey through Berkeley and Silicon Valley to explore geographic information science in the halls of academe and in startup culture, which blends cutting-edge research with real-world pragmatics.
- Tuesday, Nov. 4, Room 307: Julie Belz, English, “Telecollaborative Foreign Language Education.” How do people learn second (and third and fourth) languages, and what is learned in the process? Examine the impact of Internet-mediated, class-to-class learning partnerships on the acquisition of linguistic, pragmatic and intercultural competence, i.e. the ability to see the self through the eyes of the other.
- Friday, Nov. 14, Room 268: Victoria Rogers, philosophy, “Why Should Non-Scientists Care About Science?” What role can non-science disciplines play in fostering scientific literacy for all students? How is scientific literacy related to critical thinking? Examine these questions and potential pedagogical approaches to the crucial problem of misconceptions about science.
- Friday, Nov. 21, Room 268: Claudia Grossman, world languages and cultures, “Lessons From Teaching ‘Business German’ Online.” IUPUI’s first fully online German course, Business German, was redesigned to incorporate new technologies, foster self-directed learning and support collaboration with native speakers. The outcomes offered many rewards, and a few surprises.
- Tuesday, Dec. 2, Room 268: Kristine Karnick, communication studies, “From ‘Keystone Mabel’ to ‘Goldwyn Girl’: Mabel Normand.” Once judged Hollywood’s most popular female comedian, Mabel Normand’s popularity was in decline a mere seven years into her career. Examine the changing social climate that provided the beginning of the end to the star’s film career.
- Friday, Dec. 5, Room 268: Dennis Bingham, English, “Life, Death and All That Jazz: Bob Fosse and the Hollywood Renaissance of the 1970s.” There is more to Bob Fosse (1927-1987) than derby hats and finger snaps. How did Fosse change Hollywood cinema and American culture in ways that, though not always positive, have been lasting and pervasive?
- Tuesday, Dec. 9, Room 268: Mitchell Douglas, English, “A Shot Away: Stones, Angels and Murder at Altamont.” The Rolling Stones concert at Altamont Speedway in December 1969 was marred by an alcohol-fueled security force of Hells Angels and the gang’s murder of a Berkeley teen. Examine a pivotal time in rock history through lyric and persona poetry.
Visitor parking is available for a fee in the Vermont Street Garage. For more information or to RSVP, email libarsvp@iupui.edu .