Personally Speaking/Scientifically Speaking — Our colleague Alan Rauch will deliver a presentation about his book Dolphin on Tuesday, November 1, at UNC Charlotte Center City. His presentation will begin at 6:30. A reception and book-signing will follow his presentation. His presentation is part of the Personally Speaking Series, which is co-sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the J. Murrey Atkins Library with support from UNC Charlotte Center City. The series is open to the public without charge, but attendees are expected to register in advance. To register for Alan’s presentation, please click on the following link: http://bm5150.com/public/webform/render_form/3trujsrfvrddxuhx0lbtxfwiob8lu/e0c636a0a0b654955db464ffd7a53301/addcontact
In Dolphin, Alan combines his expertise in literature and culture with his scientific background in zoology. He discusses the dolphin’s place in mythology, literature, and popular culture, but he also provides a scientific overview of the evolution and biological characteristics of dolphins. Alan is one of several faculty members in the English Department to take a scholarly interest in science and technology. Jen Munroe and Matthew Rowney both study the relationship between the natural environment and culture. Lara Vetter is interested in how the tension between science and religion is reflected in the works of several modernist writers. Katie Hogan has an interest in gender and medical humanities, and this interest is reflected in her book Women Take Care: Gender, Race, and the Culture of AIDS. Tony Jackson and Ralf Thiede both work at the intersection of cognitive science, language, and texts, and Boyd Davis is currently working on several research projects that deal with the relationship between Alzheimers and language. Aaron Toscano and Greg Wickliff have both conducted research on the history and rhetoric of technology. Similarly, Heather Vorhies is interested in the history of scientific rhetoric. I could mention several more examples of English faculty members who write about science and technology in their scholarship, but my list list is getting a bit long already. Needless to say, our English Department is very much a player in the emerging field of Science and Technology Studies (STS).
Kudos — As you know, I like to use my Monday Missives to share news about recent accomplishments by members of our department. Here is the latest news:
Bryn Chancellor was featured in a column in the Charlotte Observer on local authors.
Jennie Mussington recently received the Golden Nugget Award “for going above and beyond the call of duty” in recognition of her calm and professional response to a student with a medical concern.
Quirky Quiz Question — In Dolphin, Alan Rauch writes about the depiction of dolphins in popular culture, including a hit television series from the mid-1960s that features a bottlenose dolphin. Does anybody remember the name of this television show?