http://practicalethics.net/blog Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:19:43 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The field of animal studies is burgeoning. Kin to environmental studies, animal studies considers the interconnections between people, animals and nature, using animals as its point of departure. The recent journal Humanimalia is one of several recent journals to emerge in this field of scholarship. The journal's description is below. ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/humanimalia/ I was recently asked if there are supplemental resources I recommend to students wishing to familiarize themselves with the historical and geographic contexts of environmental affairs. I do indeed have several recommendations, many of which I use myself. If you need to bone up on the basics of history and ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/resources-for-students-new-to-environmental-studies/ Feminists have long been interested in the animal and environmental movements. Indeed, one of the main sources of support (and opposition) to animal studies has been those working in Women's Studies. The connections feminist see between women, animals and the rest of nature are complex. The critique of patriarchy's ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/womens-studies-animal-studies-postdocs/ I am frequently asked to provide recommendations for academic fellowships, scholarships, or graduate school applications. Because these recommendations are important, I take writing them seriously. So I have a few rules and requirements that you should keep in mind before requesting that I do so. 1. Your first step ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/student-space-recommendations/ Please view the latest episode of Animal Inventory TV by clicking here. When Angelo realized he was about to become homeless, he was determined not to let his cat Simon suffer the same fate. Angelo was heartbroken to imagine being separated from his best friend, but in an unexpected turn of ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/animal-inventory-tv-episode-3-angelo-simon/ We are currently in the midst of the sixth great mass extinction event in our planet's history. The die-off of species is occurring at 100 to 1000 times the natural background rate and is largely due to human activities. At the current rate 1 in 4 mammal species (and numerous ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/recreational-conservation-by-lori-marino/ Animal Inventory TV is a new video web show (in association with my blog, Animal Inventory) that profiles profound relationships between humans and other animals. Each episode profiles an animal and his or her person, and tells the story of a friendship that is both astonishingly unique, and utterly universal. Click ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/animal-inventory-tv-episodes-1-and-2-by-lisa-brown/ Question: What is the point of course evaluations? When students and professors really care about education and educating, course evaluations can be very helpful. The most obvious advantage is identifying elements of a course to keep, jettison or improve upon. As importantly, course evaluations are an opportunity for students and professors to ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/student-space-course-evaluations-by-william-lynn/ Students have been asking about the Spring Semester course I will teach at Williams College. I'll be teaching one course entitled 'Understanding Policy' and the 'Senior Seminar'. I've included a brief description of the courses below. Both are in the Environmental Studies program, but students from other majors are welcome to ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/student-space-spring-courses-by-william-lynn/ Colleagues, friends and students have contacted me about the courses I will teach at Williams College. A brief description of each course follows below. I'll update this list and repost it as needed. If you would like to see the other courses in the Environmental Studies program visit the Williams College ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/student-space-my-courses-at-williams-college-by-william-lynn/ Hello, As the summer ends, many of your are completing your final course requirements. It might be an internship, a thesis or dissertation, or some other kind of project. And as the prospect of finishing your education gets closer and closer, you will begin to worry more and more about finding ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/student-space-summers-end-by-william-lynn/ Question: What computer should I buy? Choosing the right computer platform is a personal and institutional decision. The machine and its software has to work for you, as well as integrate into the network of hardware and software applications of your department and institution. I cannot tell you what is ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/student-space-computers-by-william-lynn/ A short note to say that as of this Fall, I am joining Williams College as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies. Williams is a terrific liberal arts college located in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. I could not be happier with this wonderful opportunity. I hope you will ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/williams-college-by-william-lynn/ From July 17 to July 23, 2008, I took part in a six-day “Whole Thinking Retreat” sponsored by the Center for Whole Communities at Knoll Farm in Fayston, Vermont. The twenty-plus participants and facilitators were a multi-racial group of environmental leaders from across the country trying to move beyond ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/coming-home-from-knoll-farm-by-steve-chase/ I am both honoured and pleased to introduce Lori Marino as a new columnist to Ethos. cheers, Bill ~ Lori Marino is a senior lecturer in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory University and a faculty affiliate of the Living Links Center for the Advanced Study of Ape and Human Evolution in ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/lori-marino-by-william-lynn/ Lisa Brown recently shared some excellent advice on planning and writing a research project. Many of the readers of this blog are spending the summer writing their research project, thesis or dissertation. One way of implementing her advice is to form a writing support group. Here are a few suggestions ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/student-space-writing-support-groups-by-william-lynn/ One of Ethos' best known editorialists is Marc Bekoff. Marc has been an important part of Ethos from the start, sharing advice as well as content as we found our niche in the virtual Kosmos. Marc's contributions as an academic and advocate are unsurpassed and deeply admirable. Its time I ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/marc-bekoff-by-william-lynn/ Marc Bekoff is a prolific writer and speaker in cognitive ethology and behavioural ecology. In a recent editorial to the Daily Camera, he makes an analogy between the carbon and compassion footprints of humanity. Compassion is the key for bettering animal and human lives. People all over the globe are ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/compassion-footprint-by-marc-bekoff/ As I suggested in a previous post, having to choose between a life of public service and financial success is part of the ethos of our culture. Harvard students too are feeling the pull of doing good or doing well. You can read about it here: Big Paycheck or Service? ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/doing-good-or-doing-well-by-karin-lauria/ The Spanish parliament's decision to extend certain political rights to great apes is sparking a renewed debated about the meaning of a mixed community of people, animals and nature. You can read more about the decision at Reuters. cheers, Bill http://practicalethics.net/blog/spain-to-extends-rights-to-apes/ Dear Ethos readers: I thought this issue addressed an interesting nexus between ethics, science, culture, and public policy, so I wanted to share it with you. I welcome your thoughts and comments. Best - Jared Milrad Our Common Concern.com ----- Sometimes it seems that blood drives are everywhere -- at school, work, you name ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/want-to-donate-blood-if-youre-gay-think-again-by-jared-milrad/ Last week I participated in a live broadcast that focused on the ethics and politics of killing some animals for the benefit of others. For example, should we kill sea lions to save salmon, coyotes to protect sheep, wolves to safeguard cattle, or cats to preserve song-birds? These are the ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/playing-god-by-william-lynn/ One of my greatest pleasures on Ethos is introducing new columnists to our readers. Today I want to welcome Jared Milrad. Jared was born in New York City and raised both in New York and central New Jersey. Vegan since the age of 14, Jared has been intensely interested ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/jared-milrad/ June 22, 2008 In "The dumbing down of voters" (Op-ed, June 15) Rick Shenkman attributes Americans' political ignorance to television and the collapse of labor unions. I think there is a deeper problem: The United States tends to raise employees, not citizens. Our culture emphasizes so-called practical skills, while we thumb our ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/a-populace-of-employees-not-citizens-by-karin-lauria/ News is breaking today that Des Moines County sheriffs in Iowa shot about 10-16 pigs who presumably had escaped a factory farm, swam through a massive flood, and found safety atop sandbag levees. County officials feared that the pigs would cut the levees with their hooves or root there. I am ... http://practicalethics.net/blog/the-pigs-and-the-flood-by-jared-milrad/