Faires Faculty Forum

Westminster College's Faires Faculty Forum presentations will take place every Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. in Mueller Theater of McKelvey Campus Center (MCC).

Westminster College's Faires Faculty Forum presentations will take place every Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. in Mueller Theater of McKelvey Campus Center (MCC).

Westminster College's Faires Faculty Forum presentations will take place every Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. in Mueller Theater of McKelvey Campus Center (MCC).

Westminster College's Faires Faculty Forum presentations will take place every Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. in Mueller Theater of McKelvey Campus Center (MCC).

Westminster College's Faires Faculty Forum presentations will take place every Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. in Mueller Theater of McKelvey Campus Center (MCC).

Sherri Pataki, associate professor, Psychology and chair, Bridges Steering Committee, Michael Aleprete, assistant professor, Political Science, Amy Camardese, associate professor, Education, Linda Domanski, professor, Education, Charlene Klassen Endrizzi, professor, Education, Mandy Medvin, professor, Psychology, M. Eileen Morelli, associate professor, Education, with undergraduates Lyndsey Vogler, Psychology major and Kelcey Bailey and Teresa Whetstone, International Politics majors

Shortly after returning from the Brazilian Amazon, the American poet Elizabeth Bishop wrote in a letter that her trip was “one of the most amazing experiences of my life.” Last summer, with support from the Watto Award, Dr. Hicok followed in Bishop’s footsteps throughout Brazil, including a three-day, 500-mile boat trip down the Amazon River from Manaus to Santerém. Dr. Hicok’s talk will focus on the ways that Bishop wrote about this trip in letters, notebooks, prose and poetry and how she transformed that experience into art.

Shortly after returning from the Brazilian Amazon, the American poet Elizabeth Bishop wrote in a letter that her trip was “one of the most amazing experiences of my life.” Last summer, with support from the Watto Award, Dr. Hicok followed in Bishop’s footsteps throughout Brazil, including a three-day, 500-mile boat trip down the Amazon River from Manaus to Santerém. Dr. Hicok’s talk will focus on the ways that Bishop wrote about this trip in letters, notebooks, prose and poetry and how she transformed that experience into art.

The paddlefish or spoonbill (Polyodon spathula) is native to a number of large North American rivers, including the Ohio River. One remarkable feature of this awesome species is the prominent rostrum or paddle, an extension of the skull that grows rapidly soon after the fish hatch. Dr. Robertson will describe his collaborative research into the functional morphology and growth of the rostrum, including capstone projects and course-based studies.

Meet Terry Jachimiak. He's a member of the Westminster College (PA) faculty teaching theater courses including theater design and technical production. Jachimiak shows us how working with Theatre Westminster showcases the liberal arts mission at work as students experience all aspect of a production as they focus on the audience.

From early May 2011, when the most preliminary of design meetings happened, to the end of October 2011, when the lights finally brought the design to life, Mr. Jachimiak and Sophomore Josh Scott developed a memorable home for the characters of The Drowsy Chaperone. Reaching across multiple disciplines, the pair utilized techniques such as critical thinking and abstract research to create a world for the actors and actresses to live in. Mr. Jachimiak will share his insights into the design process with a student, including successes, struggles and implications for future collaborations.

The Founders of the American Republic looked to the ancient Roman Republic as an inspiration when designing—and “selling”—the form of government embodied in the U.S. Constitution. In developing a document of Latin terminology for a presentation at Septimana Californiana (“California Week”), Dr. Castro discovered how the realities of modern American government necessitated exploring more than just the Republican period of Roman history, in order to adequately describe in particular one of the Branches of the U.S. government.

The Founders of the American Republic looked to the ancient Roman Republic as an inspiration when designing—and “selling”—the form of government embodied in the U.S. Constitution. In developing a document of Latin terminology for a presentation at Septimana Californiana (“California Week”), Dr. Castro discovered how the realities of modern American government necessitated exploring more than just the Republican period of Roman history, in order to adequately describe in particular one of the Branches of the U.S. government.

The Slow Food movement began in Italy as a reaction to the globalization of food production and consumption. Fearing the erosion of local food cultures that have traditionally been a defining feature of Italian identities, the slow food movement in Italy seeks to localize food production processes and consumption patterns. Dr. Aleprete’s talk stemming from his CIEE travels will explore the slow food movement’s impact and the intersection of the local and global pressures on food production in modern Italy.

The Slow Food movement began in Italy as a reaction to the globalization of food production and consumption. Fearing the erosion of local food cultures that have traditionally been a defining feature of Italian identities, the slow food movement in Italy seeks to localize food production processes and consumption patterns. Dr. Aleprete’s talk stemming from his CIEE travels will explore the slow food movement’s impact and the intersection of the local and global pressures on food production in modern Italy.

Dr. Boylan has been doing collaborative research with undergraduates on environmental analysis of hydraulic fracturing for over a year. This talk will explore the pros and cons of shale gas extraction in the context of undergraduate research. Experimental results on frack water and future plans involving air quality monitoring will also be discussed.

Dr. Boylan has been doing collaborative research with undergraduates on environmental analysis of hydraulic fracturing for over a year. This talk will explore the pros and cons of shale gas extraction in the context of undergraduate research. Experimental results on frack water and future plans involving air quality monitoring will also be discussed.

Exoplanets – or planets orbiting other stars – are the hottest topic in astronomy right now. In the past few years, hundreds of exoplanets have been discovered, many of them drastically different from the planets of our own Solar System. These discoveries are reshaping our understanding of how planets form and evolve. Dr. Oberst will talk specifically about the “transit” method of observing exoplanets, the (known) exoplanets he and his students have recently observed from Westminster’s campus, and his plans to hunt for new exoplanets.

Exoplanets – or planets orbiting other stars – are the hottest topic in astronomy right now. In the past few years, hundreds of exoplanets have been discovered, many of them drastically different from the planets of our own Solar System. These discoveries are reshaping our understanding of how planets form and evolve. Dr. Oberst will talk specifically about the “transit” method of observing exoplanets, the (known) exoplanets he and his students have recently observed from Westminster’s campus, and his plans to hunt for new exoplanets.

At least twenty seven percent of the world was infected by the so-called Spanish flu of 1918-1920. Mathematical models help explain the rapid spread, why the epidemic is over before all are infected, and the reason some quarantines are unsuccessful in limiting the spread. Based on her recent sabbatical exploration, Dr. Cuff will explain how she used differential equations and a computer algebra system to create and examine the basic model.

At least twenty seven percent of the world was infected by the so-called Spanish flu of 1918-1920. Mathematical models help explain the rapid spread, why the epidemic is over before all are infected, and the reason some quarantines are unsuccessful in limiting the spread. Based on her recent sabbatical exploration, Dr. Cuff will explain how she used differential equations and a computer algebra system to create and examine the basic model.