Human ecology

Immigration Debate

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Stacey Delikat reports from Arizona about their 2010 immigration law and the national debate that has ensued because of it. Explore the background, rationale, and implications of the 2010 Arizona immigration law. Understand the various positions taken in support of or opposition to the 2010 Arizona immigration law and critically evaluate the merits and legality of the law. Write creatively from various perspectives on the immigration issue.

Farmington Mine Disaster

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Examine the causes of the Farmington Mine disaster and the impact on the community.

Theories of Rome's Colosseum | Time Scanners: Colosseum: Chapter 4

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Learn the secrets of the ancient Colosseum in Rome by studying Beijing's Bird Nest Stadium in this segment from Time Scanners. The team uses their laser scanning technology to digitally recreate both stadiums. By comparing them side by side, the team learns how the Roman's engineered evacuation routes from the stadium.

Fijian Food

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Graduate student Courtney Andrews studied how Fijians are incorporating imported western foods and cooking methods into their diet, to the detriment of their health. She also speaks about her group project, a Garbology study.

Inside Roman Architecture | Time Scanners: Colosseum

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Investigate the complex infrastructure of Rome's Colosseum in this clip from Time Scanners. Ravaged by time and earthquakes, only parts of the Colosseum remain. The team travels 150 miles from Rome to Pozzuoli to explore another amphitheatre, with a hypogeum similar to Colosseum's.

Gender Roles

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Undergraduate Ben Knox was the only male expedition member and studied Fijian men and cultural differences. Part of his research concentrated on the Fijian phrase “Vaka Vanua” which roughly translates as “to resemble the land” and is a philosophical ideal of great meaning to Fijian men.

What Would it Look Like | Global Oneness Project

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Increased global consumerism has vast environmental, economic, and social repercussions. Thought leaders across the globe investigate the unsustainable cultural values at the root of modern consumption.

Students watch a 25-minute film, What Would It Look Like? by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, about the environmental, economic, and social impacts of global consumerism.

In this lesson, students discuss what motivates their own consumer choices as well as the effects of consumerism on the global economy. Reflective writing prompts are also included for students to demonstrate their understanding of the story.

The Garbology Project

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Graduate student Mallory K. Messersmith’s group project was a Garbology study. Mallory discusses the composition of Fijian garbage and how it may be changing as Fijians purchase and use more imported western items, particularly food items.

A Thousand Suns | Global Oneness Project

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In an age of rising populations and climate change, global food security is a major concern. New farming technologies and market-based agriculture provide one answer while traditional farming practices and natural resource management provide another.

Students watch the film, A Thousand Suns by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, about the traditional farmers of the African Rift Valley and their unique world-view.

In this lesson, students examine the impacts of globalization and climate change on traditional farming in the Gamo Highlands of the Rift Valley. Students identify ways that Gamo farming is linked to a unique holistic worldview and debate whether globalization is having a positive or negative impact on Gamo culture. Reflective writing prompts are also included for students to demonstrate their understanding of the story.

5,000 Refugees Stranded in Bay of Bengal

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Hear about the challenges facing refugees from Myanmar with this video and educational resources from PBS NewsHour from May 15, 2015.

Human ecology

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