Hannah Norman '16(more…)
Olivia Drake
Wesleyan's Women in Science (WIS) gathered at the Van Vleck Observatory on Oct. 8 for "Starry Night," an evening of stargazing, conversation and hot chocolate. Participants used the Astronomy Department's 16-inch Fiducia telescope to view the night sky. (Photos by Ryan Heffernan '16) (more…)
The Office of Equity and Inclusion sponsored a day-long writing symposium on “Words after War: Storytelling for Life, Business and Politics” Oct. 10 in Usdan University Center. The symposium, which was open to military veterans, Posse Veteran Scholars, Wesleyan students and community writers, provided thoughtful, diverse conversation and writing about conflict and how to bridge the veteran/civilian divide. More than 45 people registered for the event. The symposium featured panel discussions and breakout workshops with authors. Participants learned valuable and practical writing techniques and left with a newfound sense of empowerment and inspiration in producing art that builds community, makes an…
Pumpkins, peppers, beets, tomatoes and thyme are still growing at Wesleyan’s Long Lane Farm this October. The student-run organic farm is devoted to allowing students a place to experiment and learn about sustainable agriculture. In addition to weekly meetings, students run work days every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Long Lane students also seek to foster good relationships with local farmers.
The College of the Environment will host its annual Pumpkin Fest from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 17 at the farm.
On Sept. 16, students enrolled in the PSYC221 Human Memory course used the Wesleyan University Archaeology and Anthropology Collections for hands-on learning. The class, taught by Erika Fulton, visiting professor of psychology, visited the collections to learn more about memory and the brain. Students compared and contrasted three skulls from disparate time points in human evolution and used their observations to make inferences about how different parts of the brain must have evolved. "They had to think about the relationships among a changing environment, memory demands, and brain lobe development," Fulton said. "I think it was a fun way for them to…
On Sept. 29, Wesleyan hosted the annual Eat Local Challenge. This one-day only event challenged the Bon Appétit Management Company staff to create a midday meal entirely from products and ingredients harvested within a 150-mile radius of the campus. The meal included produce, meat, fish and other ingredients from local farmers, ranchers, food crafters and fishermen. The lunch menu incorporated items such as corn on the cob from Horse Listener’s Orchard in Ashford, Conn. and clams and mussels provided by Ipswich Seafood in Ipswich, Mass. Kenian’s Grist Mill’s fried haddock from Yuscabog, R.I. and Szawlowski Farms’ potatoes from Hartfield, Mass. combined…
Chloe Nash ‘16, a double major in biology and environmental studies, contributed to groundbreaking research on the mysterious Flatback sea turtle — a species with only two photographs in the wild, both of the same individual turtle. While studying abroad in Australia last spring, Nash volunteered at James Cook University for a project that involved raising 30 flatbacks from hatchlings and attaching GPS devices to their shells.
The turtles were released in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and seven are being tracked by satellite. This research is the first time Flatbacks, only found in Australia, have been monitored underwater.
Lauren RubensteinWesleyan's IntraGreek Council (IGC), in partnership with the Division of Student Affairs and the Athletics Department, is inviting Middletown families to participate in the inaugural Wesleyan Fall Harvest Festival on Oct. 10. Traditional carnival games with prizes, face painting, a crafts table and other fall activities will be offered for children 13 and younger. The ICG will collect canned food donations for the Office of Community Engagement's Thanksgiving food drive. The festival will run simultaneously with the home football game against Colby College. During half-time, children who come in costume may walk across the field in a parade, and will have a chance to win one…
Mike Robinson, assistant professor of psychology, assistant professor of neuroscience and behavior, is the author of an article published Sept. 27 in Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience. Titled, "Roles of 'Wanting' and 'Liking' in Motivating Behavior: Gambling, Food, and Drug Addictions," the article is co-authored by Adam Fischer, previously Robinson's lab manager, Aarit Ahuja '16, Hannah Maniates '16, and Ellen Lesser '15. In this paper, the authors argue that two separate but interconnected subcortical and unconscious processes direct motivation: "wanting" and "liking." These two processes work together but can become disassociated, especially in cases of addiction. For example, in drug addiction, repeated consumption…
The Wesleyan Student Assembly hosted the 24th Annual Student Groups Fair Sept. 18 on Andrus Field. The event provided students with an opportunity to meet with both new and established groups. The annual fair also offered students a chance to network with multiple school departments who provide a variety of programs every year.