NJSOC Director develops 'Best Practices' program
William Thomas, director of Montclair State's New
Jersey School of Conservation (NJSOC), has been recognized for developing
one of the planet's "Best Practices Using Indigenous Knowledge"
by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's
(UNESCO) Management of Social Transformations Program (MOST).
Twenty-two individuals are being recognized for their innovative methods
of using indigenous knowledge. In addition to being innovative, Best Practices
were chosen for their potential to make a difference and inspire others
to develop sustainable use strategies for the environment.
Thomas works in the most remote regions of Papua New Guinea to record
local environmental knowledge. "I am particularly interested in the
potential for indigenous knowledge to provide a blueprint for the conservation
of the earth's remaining wild lands," Thomas said. By working with
local people to record their knowledge of the biological diversity in
their homelands, Thomas helps to create a baseline of information on environments
that have yet to be studied by western science. Indigenous knowledge of
accepted biodiversity indicators such as birds can provide information
on the connection between indigenous societies and biological diversity.
It can also predict the effect of human activity on biodiversity. "I
hope that by exposing conservationists to the possibilities of indigenous
knowledge, they will be more willing to involve local people in the conservation
of their lands," he said.
The NJSOC, the environmental education field campus of Montclair State,
is the largest and oldest university-operated environmental education
center in the nation. It is located 57 miles from the Montclair campus
on a 240-acre tract located in the center of Stokes State Forest in Sussex
County.
The main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in
the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education,
science, culture and communication in order to further universal respect
for justice, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms.
More information on Best Practices Using Indigenous Knowledge will soon
be available on the UNESCO Web site
or the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher
Education (NUFFIC) Web site.
Russian pianist presents Rachmaninoff recital
Pianist Irina Koulikova of the Moscow State Conservatory will present
a recital of Rachmaninoff music on Monday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. in McEachern
Recital Hall. She will be joined by David Witten and Mark Pakman of Music
in a performance of Rachmaninoff's piano music for four hands and the
rarely heard piano pieces for six hands. The free concert is sponsored
by the Music Department and Global Education.
Universities in South Africa face similar
student affairs issues
Karen Pennington, vice president for Student Development and Campus Life,
discovered that student affairs personnel at universities in South Africa
are facing some of the same issues as their American counterparts. Pennington
was part of a delegation from the United States that visited several universities
in South Africa in November during the National Association of Student
Personnel Administrators (NASPA) annual conference.
Pennington, who is president-elect of NASPA, said the gathering was an
opportunity for senior student affairs administrators to share ideas and
strategies, and get a global sense of what is happening in the field.
"In many respects the issues are the same," she said. "Alcohol
use, the economy, building programs. HIV is also a big concern."
At Stellenbosch University, language is a major issue. "It is one
of the few Afrikaans-language universities in the country," Pennington
said. "There is a lot of discussion taking place about teaching in
English. Other universities teach almost totally in English."
Arrangements are being made for four administrators from South Africa
to come to NASPA's March conference in St. Louis, "Gathering at the
Gateway: Renewing Our Spirit."
PRISM coordinator earns environmental honor
Katrina Macht, Focus Schools coordinator for Montclair State's PRISM (Professional
Resources in Science and Mathematics) program and a student in the doctoratal
program in Philosophy for Children, has been chosen the Environmental
Educator of the Year by the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education
(ANJEE).
A teacher in the Bridgewater-Raritan School System, Macht was chosen for
her outstanding contributions to teachers and students. Jacalyn Willis,
director of PRISM, said Macht "has made a major impact on how people
think about the environment."
Among Macht's achievements are the design and presentation of professional development workshops and institutes for teachers in more than 15 school districts, the creation of a premier outdoor schoolyard habitat, Hillside Meadows, and the coordination of the annual Forest Fest Day at her school at which this year's speaker was renowned international scientist Jane Goodall.
Macht plans to begin research on the impact of critical thinking skills on ethical decision-making in environmental education using the Jane Goodall Institute's youth program, "Roots and Shoots." She will travel to Africa, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica as part of her doctoral work.
For PRISM, Macht developed a model urban-surburban partnership between her school and the Jackson School in East Orange.
Award-winning wildlife artist offers workshop
Internationally renowned, award-winning wildlife artist, conservationist
and educator Carol Decker will offer a workshop on the techniques and
strategies of wildlife art on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at Montclair State's New Jersey School of Conservation.
Decker will cover topics ranging from supplies, outdoor journaling and
sketching techniques to utilizing computer technology as a tool, business
and marketing strategies and copyright.
Class size is limited to 25 people. Cost is $200 and includes lunch. To
register, call 973-655-7614. The New Jersey School of Conservation is
located in Sussex County, about 10 miles north of Branchville in Stokes
State Forest. A division of the College of Science and Mathematics, the
School of Conservation is the oldest and largest university-operated environmental
field center in the nation.
Handcrafted items available at art gallery gift shop
The University Art Gallery Gift Shop, located in the front of the gallery
in Life Hall, is offering handcrafted items by Franc Palaia and Joan Webster
Price, two of the artists whose works were part of the "Cycles and
Recycles: Regeneration" exhibit.
Palaia's work uses everyday objects juxtaposed with classical antiquities.
He also creates picture lamps and children's coloring books. Items by
Price in the shop include her recent collaged paintings.
Also available for purchase are one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry made from
authentic gemstones, unique papier-maché hand puppets, an autumnal
wreath, T-shirts and many other items.
The shop is open during regular gallery hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Harry Potter added to Gifted and Talented offerings
"Harry Potter" is one of the magical new course offerings this
spring from the Gifted and Talented
Youth Programs.
Intended for children in grades K-3, "Harry Potter" will take
students through an enchanting journey through Hogwarts where they will
brew polyjuice and other potions, grow a flesh-eating plant in Herbology
and learn about the care of magical creatures. Extracurricular activities
include the ever popular quidditch, wizard's chess and a feast involving
chocolate frogs.
The variety of courses offered to talented young scholars is indeed magical,
whether it's "Introduction to Veterinary Medicine" for inquisitive
scholars in grades 4 to 6, "How Did Caesar Say It" for budding
linguists in grades 7 and 8 or "Power Writing" for aspiring
essayists in grades 9 to 11.
The Gifted and Talented Youth Programs, now in its 22nd year, has more
than 60 offerings this semester including courses in physics, math, algebra,
biology, geometry, creative writing, chemistry, archaeology, computers
and more.
Other new courses include "Philosophy for Children II," "Entomology,"
"Etymology," "Click/Quick for Computing Kids," "Introduction
to Statistics" and "Logic, Who Needs It?"
All courses are offered on Saturdays and Sundays unless otherwise specified.
The spring semester begins March 8 and 9, and continues through May 17
and 18.
"The common wisdom says that parents of academically gifted children
have nothing to worry about," said Richard Taubald, director of the
program. "But parents know, and Montclair State knows, that rearing
exceptionally bright children is far from easy. While each child is wonderfully
unique, many parents share a number of concerns. You want your students'
exceptional promise to grow through stimulation and challenge. You want
them to benefit from advanced courses and subjects that many schools don't
offer. You think about the social aspects of life, too, the friendships
and fun that should be part of growing up. Montclair State's programs
for academically gifted youngsters address all these concerns, in a stimulating
and enjoyable environment."
For more information or a brochure, call 973-655-4104.