2006-2007 PROGRAM
Course Fee: Three Lectures for $15
September 15, 2006
ANTARCTICA: A LAND APART
Peter Middleton
The Antarctic continent stands alone amongst the continents of the world, in both its
genesis and present existence, as the coldest place on earth. Antarctica is a land
of mystery and awesome beauty that has drawn mankind to its shores in increasing
numbers for nearly two hundred years. Yet none has truly been able to call it
home. It is a forbidding and elemental place that has thwarted innumerable
attempts to conquer its vastness. In apparent contradiction to this stark
reality, is the abundant life to be found in the waters and on the shores
which surround the continent of ice. These actualities form the basis of
this illustrated talk which will explore some of the physical majesty,
incredible history and unique life forms of the continent. Consideration
will also be given to changes that are now facing the continent.
Peter Middleton has lived in Owen Sound since 1975 where he
taught in the Ontario public school system for thirty-five years. From
1993 to 1998 he was Principal of the Bruce County Outdoor Education
Centre and the Bluewater Institute for Outdoor Education and
Environmental Studies. He has guided wilderness trips in northern
Ontario and Baffin Island and ecotourist trips to Amazonia, the
Arctic and Antarctic, Newfoundland, Scotland, South Africa,
India, Trinidad and Tobago. Peter’s most recent visit to Antarctica
was during the winter of 2006.
September 22, 2006
GENETIC TESTING: A PANDORA’S BOX
Dr. Mary Jane Esplen
This presentation will address the psychosocial and behavioural impacts of
genetic testing and the knowledge of one’s disease risk. Using clinical
examples, Dr. Esplen will illustrate what it might be like for someone
considering genetic testing or has gone through it to live with the
results of such tests. She will also discuss some of the ethical issues
involved with genetic testing. As well, Dr. Esplen will describe for us
the human genome project as it impacts health and medicine.
Dr. Esplen is an Associate Professor of Medicine (Dept of Psychiatry)
at the University of Toronto and a Canadian Institute of Health Research
Scientist at the University Health Network of Toronto. She is the current
vice-president of the Canadian Assoc. of Psychosocial Oncology and a
member of the Advisory Council on Genetics Health Services for both
the provincial and national ministries of health in Canada.
September 29, 2006
MEDICINAL PLANTS AND HUMAN HEALTH
Dr. Praveen Saxena
Medicinal plants are widely used for healing the ailments of body, spirit and the
mind in many religious, spiritual and cultural traditions around the world. However,
the “plant” is often the most neglected part of plant-based medicine. This is
clearly evident in continuing concerns with the quality and safety of
plant-based medicine. This presentation will explore the current status
and future possibilities of novel, safe, effective and high-quality
medicinal plant products.
Dr. Praveen Saxena is a Professor in the Department of Plant
Agriculture at the University of Guelph where he explores how plants
grow and are used in medicine and agriculture. His research involves
development of specialized growth conditions to alter the way
plants grow. His specialty is "in vitro propagation" whereby
plants are grown in test tubes from just a few cells, without
soil and without seeds. This technology provides plants that are
free of contamination and are rich in medicinally active compounds
to develop consistent and effective commercial products.
PHILOSOPHICAL PUZZLES
October 13, 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17, 2006
Course Fee: $35
Oct.13: What is Colour? (& other chromatic conundrums)
Shapes are “in the world”. Are colours? This question will be answered in
the negative, and other questions about colour that you may have thought
about will be discussed. What kinds of colour blindness are there? Do
different people who are not colour blind see the same colours? Do
animals see colours?
Don Dedrick: Associate Professor in the Departments of
Philosophy and Psychology at the University of Guelph, focusing
on the cross-cultural understanding of colour.
Oct. 20: Does Science Provide its own Ethics?
Is there any role for ethics in science, or does science function best
when it is unencumbered by external, non-scientific considerations? Can
science be left to its own devices?
David Castle: Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa
specializing in science and ethics and science policy. Member of the
Canadian Program on Genomics and Global Health. Conducts research
on the contributions of science and technology innovation to global
health equity.
Oct. 27: Logic: What is it Good for?
Everyone can imagine
why it is a good thing to be logical. However, many philosophy
students are rather shocked by what they end up studying when
they sign up for a logic course. Is there any use for the stuff
professional philosophers call logic, and does it have any real
applications? or is it just an esoteric game?
David De Vidi: Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University
of Waterloo focusing research on logic and the philosophy of
mathematics and science.
Nov. 3: Can we Detect Zombies in our Midst?
What kind of thing is phenomenal consciousness – the feeling of pain,
the taste of cinnamon, the experience of orange? Could I ever know
what it feels like to be you by looking in your brain? If not, is
there any prospect of a science consciousness ... and worse, might some
of us not be conscious at all but merely zombies?
Andrew Bailey: Assistant Professor Department of Philosophy,
University of Guelph. He works on philosophy of the mind, examining
the relationship between the mental and the physical.
Nov 10: What’s Sex got to do with Reproduction?
The new reproductive and genetic testing technologies present new
opportunities and hazards. Should women (and men!) over 60 become
parents? Should stored embryos be used for stem cell
research? Should we test fetuses and embryos for disease,
and if so, what does that say to persons currently living
with disabilities or disease?
Elisabeth Gedge: Department of Philosophy and the Women’s
Studies Program at McMaster University, teaching bioethics,
focusing on the impact of reproductive technology on society
and the care of the elderly. She serves on the University
Research Ethics Board.
Nov 17: Media Ethics: Paradox or Responsibility?
Is the media’s main function merely to inform the public or do they have
a greater responsibility to society? Should we be concerned about the
media’s role in setting the public agenda and influencing public
opinion? We will approach these questions first, by discussing
some current issues covered in the news; and second, by considering
various ethical models and approaches that may serve as useful
guidelines.
Violetta Igneski: Assistant Professor in Philosophy and
Communication Studies at McMaster University. Her research
focuses on moral, legal, political and ethical issues in
interpersonal communication and the media.
CANADA’S ARCTIC
Jan. 12, 19, 26, Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23, 2007
Course Fee: $40
| Jan. 12: |
The Treasuries of the Snow: An Introduction to Polar
Regions – an investigation of lands near the polar
axis.
Reverend Jerry Salloum |
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| Jan. 19: |
The Peculiar Behaviour of the Sun at
High Altitudes – an examination of why the Arctic is the way it
is.
Reverend Jerry Salloum |
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| Jan. 26: |
Snow and Ice: Principal Ingredients of the High
Arctic – all you ever wanted to know about frozen
water.
Reverend Jerry Salloum |
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| Feb. 2: |
Arctic Perspectives: Context Issues and
Sustainability – a brief historical sketch noting the many forces that
continue to shape the Arctic followed by a "Sustainability
Perspective".
Dr. Robbie Keith |
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| Feb. 9: |
Ecology, Wildlife and
Communities – overview of the ecosystems and the stresses on them;
the impact of wildlife harvesting on remote communities.
Dr. Robbie Keith |
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| Feb. 16: |
Who Is In Charge of Climate Change in
the Arctic, Mother Nature or General Motors?
Dr. Terry Gillespie |
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| Feb. 23: |
Managing for Sustainability – How are we doing
now? An examination of the impact of diamond mining, contaminants,
parks and protected areas, science and public policy, indigenous
knowledge, international agreements.
Reverend Jerry Salloum |
Rev. Jerry Salloum: Part-time Lecturer in Geography,
Wilfrid Laurier University, and Vicar, St. George’s Anglican Church,
Campbellville, Ontario. He has travelled extensively in the High
Arctic studying formation, drift and deterioration of Baffin Bay
icebergs.
Dr. Robbie Keith: (Environmental Consultant)
was a faculty member at the University of Waterloo from 1970 to
1996 in the Dept. of Environmental and Resource Studies, where
his research and teaching focused on environmental themes
relating to northern Canada and the circumpolar Arctic.
Dr. Terry Gillespie: College Professor
Emeritus at the University of Guelph teaching Meteorology. Also
works with the Ontario Weather Network focusing on crop/microclimate
interactions.
HOW WE GOT HERE FROM THERE:
A WHIRLWIND TOUR OF CANADIAN WRITING
Dr. Gary Draper
April 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11, 2007
Course Fee: $30
This course will take a look behind the headlines of the boom in Canadian
writing. It will explore the beginnings and progress of our literary
history and consider some of the issues that continue to be reflected
in the work of our best writers.
| April 13: |
Where We Are Now (part 1) – A look
at a handful of some of the significant writers of the late 20th
century – Lorna Crozier, Don McKay, Alistair McLeod, Alice Munro,
Michael Ondaatje, Rudy Wiebe. |
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| April 20: |
Beginnings – An overview of some
representative writers including explorers, settlers and travellers
who helped lay the foundations of our literary history – David Thompson,
Susanna Moodie, Anna Jameson, Isabella Valancy Crawford, Pauline
Johnson, John Richardson. |
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| April 27: |
Getting Literary – A consideration
of some of the most successful of Canada’s early writers, whose works
might reasonably be called Canadian classics – Stephen Leacock, L.M.
Montgomery, E.J. Pratt, Morley Callaghan, Sinclair Ross, Elizabeth
Smart. |
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| May 4: |
Confidently Canadian – An examination
of writers of mid-century and later, who were among the first to
demonstrate the coming of age of Canadian writing in the second
half of the 20th century – Margaret Lawrence, W.O. Mitchell,
Robertson Davies, Al Purdy, Margaret Atwood, Leonard Cohen. |
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| May 11: |
Where We Are Now (part 2) – A look at
some of the younger generation of Canadian writers, that reflects the
diversity of Canada in the 21st century – Thomas King, Wayson Choy,
Shyam Selvadurai, Yann Martel, Michael Crummy, Annabel Lyon. |
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Gary Draper is an Associate Professor of English
at St. Jerome’s University in the University of Waterloo. He teaches
both early and contemporary Canadian Literature, as well as Composition,
Fantasy and Science Fiction. He is a poetry editor with Brick
Books (London, Ont.) and a short-fiction editor with the New
Quarterly (Waterloo) and was a founding editor of Trout Lily
Press. As organizer of St. Jerome’s Reading Series he has had
the pleasure of talking with a wide range of contemporary
Canadian writers, of whom he is largely in awe.
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