Scholars in Studio

Did you know that half of the water used in the United States goes to cooling power plants? And that only five percent goes to domestic consumption? Drew Guswa, professor of engineering and director of the Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability talks about the role of the hydrologist in ensuring a reliable and safe supply of water for communities and nations around the world.

Ann Leone examines how writers have used landscapes to aid in the telling of stories throughout literature, offering a "voice" that can subvert or complement what readers learn from other characters. Through this lens we see how the gardens of Versailles play a powerful role in French novels and how Capability Brown adds to the drama of Jane Austen. Thus readers can discover new meanings that they may not have unearthed otherwise.

Senior lecturer, John Gibson, gives a drawing lesson on visual rhyming with the help of a Picasso from the Smith College Museum of Art.

Nina Antonetti traces the evolution of the Smith College campus from the original 27-acre pastoral academic village designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to John Nolen's formal Quadrangles to the 1995 Master Plan of Cornelia Oberlander '44 and Shavaun Towers '71, which knits together varied architectural forms and philosophies into a sustainable vision for future growth. The result is an eclectic landscape that encodes the college's history while remaining an integral part of Smith's educational mission.

Susan Van Dyne, Professor of the Study of Women and Gender and Director of the Archives Concentration Studying archival photographs from the early days of Smith College, Susan Van Dyne traces the changing styles, attitudes and modes of dress of Smith students, who defied Victorian-era convention to express themselves through academics, athletics and dramatics. These self-consciously crafted and carefully curated images allow us to witness the emergence of modern womanhood.

Traditionally, engineers have been trained to be “value neutral,” focusing on solving the problem at hand without always considering the social and moral consequences of their work. Donna Riley argues that, with a shift in priorities to emphasize helping people over earning profits, engineers can strive to achieve not only efficient solutions but a more just society as well.

Sam Intrator, Professor of Education and Child Study It’s widely accepted that higher education leads to better life outcomes, yet college remains an unfulfilled hope for many young Americans. At the same time, the U.S. is falling behind much of the developed world in measures of academic achievement. Sam Intrator considers the merits of three different approaches to narrowing the achievement gap to the benefit of individuals and society.

One man’s protest quickly became a movement that toppled governments in Tunisia and Egypt, led to revolution in Libya, and incited uprisings against regimes throughout the Middle East. From Tahrir Square to Tripoli, the Arab Spring has gripped the attention of the world. Will these events lead to real democratic reforms in the region, or will the familiar cycle of oppression and unrest continue? Donna Divine considers the possibilities.

Kevin Quashie takes a closer look at the iconic image from the 1960s of American sprinters Tommie Smith and Juan Carlos raising their fists in protest on the medal podium at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Their display, Quashie argues, was more than an angry act of defiance; it was a quiet moment of personal revolution.

Among the concerns about human-caused climate change is the specter of tens of millions of so-called environmental refugees spreading north into Western Europe and North America. Greg White argues that the estimates of potential environmental refugees are both greatly exaggerated and politically motivated.