CEAS Hosts “Environment in East Asia” Student Conference

Cynthia RockwellMarch 25, 20169min
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"Environment in East Asia" was the topic of the inaugural College of East Asian Studies Student Conference held March 25. The conference included an interdisciplinary panel of Wesleyan faculty discussing issues related to the environment in East Asia; break-out sessions conducted in four languages (Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean); and a wrap-up session to bring all conversations together.
“Environment in East Asia” was the topic of the inaugural College of East Asian Studies Student Conference held March 25. The conference included an interdisciplinary panel of Wesleyan faculty discussing issues related to the environment in East Asia; break-out sessions conducted in four languages (Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean); and a wrap-up session to bring all conversations together.

More than 60 students gathered in Beckham Hall for the College for East Asian Studies Student Conference, “Environment in Asia,” co-sponsored with the Center for Global Studies and the Center for Pedagogical Innovation on March 25.

Professor of Government Mary Alice Haddad, Associate Professor of Music Su Zheng, and Associate Professor of Film Studies Lisa Dombrowski offered their discipline as a lens through which to view environmental concerns in the region— from using political action to regulate pollution, to music videos that call attention to smog concerns, to films that highlight the surreal aspects of man-made structures that change the landscape.

Following the talks, students adjourned small discussion groups. The conference was unique in offering conversation in each of four languages, noted Haddad, who is also chair of the College for East Asian Studies and professor of East Asian studies and professor of environment studies.

“At Wesleyan, we have enough language competency for students to engage in meaningful, intellectually rigorous discussions in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean,” said Haddad. “We have enough diversity on campus that any given session will likely have no fewer that four nationalities represented.”

After the sessions, the students and professors then convened to bring their observations back to the group—and to plan similar events.

Haddad was pleased with the conference, calling it “an extraordinary event that highlighted everything that is so special about Wesleyan.” She said, “Students from around the globe interacted in multiple languages discussing one of the most important issues of our time. Faculty from different disciplines illuminated and discovered new insights as we discussed our work in the interdisciplinary panel.
She also noted that student identity groups were the primary organizers of the event, “generating the ideas and the energy underneath everything. It was one of those moments in which everything comes together.”

Haddad also places the event in context of growth: “The CEAS received two large institutional grants this year. One was from the Japan Foundation to hire a new tenure track faculty member in traditional Japanese literature. The other was from the Korea Foundation to hire a new tenure track faculty member in Korean political economy. Although neither of the grants had funds for student conferences, and thus were not direct funders of the events, some of the inspiration for the event came from our wish to celebrate the growth and vibrancy of our new College.”

See additional photos of the conference below: (Photos by Olivia Drake)

 Professor of Government Mary Alice Haddad spoke on "Environmental Politics in East Asia." Haddad also is chair and professor of East Asian studies and professor of environmental studies.

Professor of Government Mary Alice Haddad spoke on “Environmental Politics in East Asia.” Haddad also is chair and professor of East Asian studies and professor of environmental studies.

Haddad explained how many companies in East Asia, including Toyota, received pressure from the public to strengthen their environmental controls.
Haddad explained how many companies in East Asia, including Toyota, received pressure from the public to strengthen their environmental controls.
Su Zheng, associate professor of music, spoke on "Smog Protest Music and the Internet in China." Zheng also is associate professor of East Asian studies and associate professor of feminist, gender and sexuality studies.
Su Zheng, associate professor of music, spoke on “Smog Protest Music and the Internet in China.” Zheng also is associate professor of East Asian studies and associate professor of feminist, gender and sexuality studies.
Lisa Dombrowski, associate professor of film studies, spoke on "Environmental Themes in East Asian Cinema."
Lisa Dombrowski, associate professor of film studies, spoke on “Environmental Themes in East Asian Cinema.”
The conference was supported by the College of East Asian Studies, the Center for Pedagogical Innovation and the Center for Global Studies. More than 60 students attended the event.
The conference was supported by the College of East Asian Studies, the Center for Pedagogical Innovation and the Center for Global Studies. More than 60 students attended the event.
Following the faculty talks, students participated in group breakout sessions led by student facilitators.
Following the faculty talks, students participated in group breakout sessions led by student facilitators.
The breakout sessions were discussed in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
The breakout sessions participants discussed environmental issues in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages.
In the Korean-speaking group, a student discussed the dangers of dyes used in clothing.
In the Korean-speaking group, a student discussed the dangers of dyes used in clothing.
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“The conference is highly innovative and may be the only multi-disciplinary, multi-lingual conference in the U.S.,” Haddad said. (Photos by Olivia Drake)