Olivia DrakeA review of Laura Stark's new book, Behind Closed Doors: IRBs and the Making of Ethical Research, appears in the January 2012 issue of Science, Vol. 335, no. 6065 p. 170. Stark is an assistant professor of science in society, assistant professor of sociology, assistant professor of environmental studies. The review states: "How did we get here? Seeking to answer that question for institutional review boards (IRBs), Laura Stark's Behind Closed Doors challenges the historical mythology of bioethics. ... The most important contribution of this interesting, slim book is Stark's demonstration that the conventional version of the origin of IRBs is a very partial…
Lauren RubensteinRichard Grossman, professor of economics, was a discussant at the Research Group on Political Institutions and Economic Policy at Harvard University on Dec. 3. Grossman commented on a paper, “Trade shocks, mass movements and decolonization: Evidence from India’s independence struggle,” written by Assistant Professor of Political Economy Saumitra Jha of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. David Stasavage, professor of politics at New York University, served as co-discussant on the paper along with Professor Grossman.
Sivan Battat '15 is mentioned in the Jan. 19 edition of The Jewish Ledger for being "Onward . . . and Upward." Battat and seven other Ezra Academy alumni visited their alma mater to chat with students about their experiences since graduating from high school. The article is online here.
Peter Rutland, professor of government, authored an opinion piece in the Dec. 29 Moscow Times titled "A Cold War Could Turn Hot in the Korean Peninsula." Rutland writes: "Much of the commentary about North Korea after the death of Kim Jong Il has sidestepped the question of reunification. While the nations of Germany and Vietnam were united, Korea remains split into two. In this part of the world, the Cold War is not over, and there is a real danger that it might turn into a hot war. North Korea is committed to unifying the nation by military means. Its…
David PesciThe New York Times explores the increasing attention being paid to Animal Studies at universities across the country, and features two Wesleyan faculty in the piece: Lori Gruen, chair and professor of philosophy, professor of feminist, gender, and sexuality studies, and Kari Weil, University Professor of Letters. Both have researched, published, and lectured widely in the field. The article, dated Jan. 2, also mentions Wesleyan's Human-Animal Studies Fellowship Program.
Vera Schwarcz, the Mansfield Freeman Professor of East Asian Studies, presented a paper on Jan. 20 titled "To Honor the Language of Truth: Reflections on F. Nietzsche, H.N. Bialik, Chen Yinke and Zhang Longxi" at the City University of Hong Kong. Schwarcz, who also is a professor of history, professor of East Asian Studies, was an invited speaker at the international conference on "Cross Cultural Studies: China and the World." Schwarcz's essay will be published as part of a book on 2012. (more…)
Seth Redfield, assistant professor of astronomy, received a grant worth $65,932 from the Space Telescope Institute to support a project titled, "Cool Star Winds and the Evolution of Exoplanetary Atmospheres." The grant expires in October 2014. Redfield is observing stars that are host to their own planetary systems. These "exoplanets" were only discovered in the last decade or so, and since their discovery, astronomers are very interested in learning more about the properties of these planets and their atmospheres. "Invariably, the study of exoplanets is really an exercise in putting life on Earth into a cosmic context. How common are planets?…
Shining Hope for Communities, a Wesleyan foundation that serves Nairobi, Kenya’s poorest slum, was recently awarded a $750,000 grant from the Westport, Conn.-based Newman’s Own foundation to expand a school for girls in Kenya. Shining Hope for Communities was co-founded by Jessica Posner '09 and Kennedy Odede '12. Called the Kiberia School for Girls, the school is the first tuition-free school for girls in the community. The expansion of the school effectively doubles its size with 22 new classrooms. Newman’s Own Foundation has contributed nearly $1 million in grants to Shining Hope for Communities since 2010. In addition to funding for…
Wesleyan University Press received a grant from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving in December 2011. The grant will support the publication of five books in 2012 including: Garnet Poems: An Anthology of Connecticut Poetry Since 1776, edited by Dennis Barone and Ella Grasso: A Biography by Jon Purmont, which are part of The Driftless Connecticut Series; and When Magoo Flew: The Rise and Fall of Animation Studio UPA by Adam Abraham; The Great Camouflage Writings of Dissent (1941–1945) by Suzanne Césaire; and A Guide to Poetics Journal Writing in the Expanded Field, 1982-98, edited by Lyn Hejinian and Barrett Watten.
The Green Street Arts Center received a $3,500 grant from Citizens Bank and a $5,000 grant from Pratt & Whitney to support its After School Program in 2012.
The Davison Art Center received a $1,000 grant from the Middletown Commission on the Arts and a $500 grant from the Middlesex County Community Foundation/Mary Ann Lambert Fund to support "The Big Draw: Middletown." "The Big Draw: Middletown" is a community event with drawing activities on Sunday, April 22. It is modeled on the successful British program that promotes interactive activities designed to break down the “I can’t draw” syndrome and promote the visual arts. Organized by the Friends of the Davison Art Center to celebrate their 50th anniversary, the event will be located on Wesleyan's campus, including the Davison…
Wesleyan's Center for Prison Education received a three year grant worth $60,000 from the Weissberg Foundation. The grant was awarded in December 2011.