Winter Study Courses 2003
WINTER STUDY PROGRAMREMINDERS ABOUT WSP REGISTRATIONAll students who will be on campus during the 2002-2003 academic year must register for WSP. Registration will take place in the early part of fall semester. If you are registered for a senior thesis in the fall which must be continued through Winter Study by departmental rules, you will be registered for your Winter Study Project automatically. In every other case, you must complete registration. First-year students are required to participate in a Winter Study that will take place on campus; they are not allowed to do 99's. Even if you plan to take a 99, or the instructor of your first choice accepts you during the registration period, there are many things that can happen between registration and the beginning of Winter Study to upset your first choice, so you must list five choices. You should try to make one of your choices a project with a larger enrollment, not that it will guarantee you a project, but it will increase your chances. If you think your time may be restricted in any way (ski meets, interviews, etc.), clear these restrictions with the instructor before signing up for his/her project. Remember, for cross-listed projects, you should sign up for the subject you want to appear on your record. For many beginning language courses, you are required to take the WSP Sustaining Program in addition to your regular project. You will be automatically enrolled in this Sustaining Program, so no one should list this as a choice. The grade of honors is reserved for outstanding or exceptional work. Individual instructors may specify minimum standards for the grade, but normally, fewer than one out of ten students will qualify. A grade of pass means the student has performed satisfactorily. A grade of perfunctory pass signifies that a student's work has been significantly lacking but is just adequate to deserve a pass. If you have any questions about a project, see the instructor before you register. Finally, all work for WSP must be completed and submitted to the instructor no later than Thursday, January 30th. Only the Dean can grant an extension beyond this date. WINTER STUDY 99'SSophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible to propose "99's," independent projects arranged with faculty sponsors, conducted in lieu of regular Winter Study courses. Perhaps you have encountered an interesting idea in one of your courses which you would like to study in more depth, or you may have an interest not covered in the regular curriculum. In recent years students have undertaken in-depth studies of particular literary works, interned in government offices, assisted in foreign and domestic medical clinics, conducted field work in economics in developing countries, and given performances illustrating the history of American dance. Although some 99's involve travel away from campus, there are many opportunities to pursue intellectual or artistic goals here in Williamstown. 99 forms are available online: http://www.williams.edu/Registrar/winterstudy/99direct.html The deadline for submitting the proposals to faculty sponsors is Thursday, 26 September. Winter Study Course OfferingsAMES 031 Senior Thesis AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIESTo be taken by candidates for honors by the thesis route in African and Middle Eastern Studies. AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIESAAS 011 African American History Through Film (Same as History 011) (See under History for full description.) To be taken by students registered for Afro-American Studies 491 who are candidates for honors. AMERICAN STUDIESAMST 011 Why New Englanders Eat What They Eat (Same as History 019 and Philosophy 011) (See under Philosophy for full description.) AMST 015 Uncle Eph in his Youth: Old Williams in Thought and Form (Same as ArtH 015, English 024 and Special 015) (See under Special for full description.) AMST 030 Senior Honors Project To be taken by students registered for American Studies 491 or 492. ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGYANSO 010 Intellectual Property An introduction to the history and social significance
of intellectual property. We will consider the origin of laws that protect
trademarks, patents, and copyright, the ways in which they create new
forms of property, and their contemporary crisis of legitimacy in the
face of resistance to globalization. The first half of the course will
consist of regular class meetings, the latter half of directed independent
study of some aspect of intellectual property. Readings will include works
by legal scholars, sociologists, anthropologists, and activists in indigenous
rights and environmental conservation. M.F. BROWN ANSO 011 Berkshire Farm Internship A field placement at Berkshire Farm Center and Services
for Youth in Canaan, New York. Berkshire Farm Center is a residential
treatment facility for troubled, at-risk adolescent boys who have been
remanded to the Farm by the Family Court. These youths come primarily
from lower socio-economic strata, are very ethnically diverse, and hail
from both urban and rural areas throughout New York State. The problems
that they bring to Berkshire Farm are multiple. These include: the psychological
scars of dysfunctional families, including those of physical, emotional,
and sexual abuse; chemical dependency; juvenile delinquency; inability
to function in school settings; and various other issues. Residential
treatment is a multi-modal approach that includes anger-replacement training,
social skills training, and behavioral modification. LARI BRANDSTEIN (Instructor) Lari Brandstein is Director of Volunteer Services at
Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth. ANSO 012 Children and the Courts: Internship in the Crisis in Child Abuse The incidence of reported child abuse and neglect has
reached epidemic proportions and shows no signs of decreasing. Preventive
and prophylactic social programs, court intervention, and legislative
mandates have not successfully addressed this crisis. This course allows
students to observe the Massachusetts Department of Social Services attorney
in courtroom proceedings related to the care and protection of children.
Students will have access to Department records for purposes of analysis
and will also work with social workers who will provide a clinical perspective
on the legal cases under study. The class will meet regularly to discuss
court proceedings, assigned readings, and the students' interactions with
local human services agencies. JUDITH LOCKE (Instructor) Judith Locke is Associate Justice of the Juvenile Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts ANSO 013 Subsistence and Development: Special Issues in Alaska Native Economy and Society (Same as Environmental Studies 021) CANCELLED! ANTHROPOLOGY ANTH 017 Introduction to Research in Archaeological Science (Same as Chemistry 017) (See under Chemistry for full description.) To be taken by students registered for Anthropology 493-494. SOCIOLOGY To be taken by students registered for Sociology 493-494. ARTART HISTORY ARTH 010 To Outwit Time Is No Small Feat: Exploring Regional Museums This course will introduce the holdings of selected
regional museums through weekly museum excursions. All aspects of museums
will be discussed, though an emphasis will be on discussing the delicate
balance between preservation of, and access to, museum objects. Art conservation
and preservation methods will be described, and at least one tour of an
art conservation laboratory will be included in the class. The class will
begin with a tour of the Williams College Museum of Art, and will continue
with four, weekly day-long museum excursions. Tours will include exhibitions,
and behind-the scenes views at MASS MoCA, the Chapin Library, the Tang
Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, the Clark Art Institute, Historic Deerfield,
and the Albany Institute of History and Art. The class will travel to
New York; the museums selected will depend on the current exhibition schedules.
LORI K. VAN HANDEL (Instructor) Lori van Handel is a conservation specialist who directs Heritage Conservation Services, a local conservation firm. From 1994 to 2000 she was Associate Conservator at the Williamstown Arts Conservation Center. ARTH 012 The Ramayana in Art (Same as Asian Studies 012) The Ramayana, or "Travels of Rama," is one
of the most popular epics of Idia. It is a heroic tale involving romance,
sacrifice, villainy, and warfare on both the human and the cosmic or heavenly
scales. To know the Ramayana is to grasp the essentials of Hindu religion,
culture, and values. This course will explore the exciting visual and
performing arts inspired by the Ramayana in India, where the story originated,
as well as the lands of Southeast Asia where it spread. Arts to be explored
will include the great temple sculptures in stone and bronze, large scale
and miniature painting, plays, dance and musical drama, batik, puppet
shows, even modern day comic books, and film and television productions
of the Ramayana. Social and aesthetic issues to be considered may include
the role played by the arts in society; methods and aims of artistic expression;
ideals of beauty and of virtue; social status and gender; the various
transformations of the Ramayana in both literature and art in various
parts of India and by various levels of society ("folk" art
vs. "high" art), as well as the various different cultures of
southeast Asia. The course will consist partly of art history lectures,
and partly of studio art practice. GARY SMITH (Instructor) Gary Smith is a local historian specializing in Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, and in the art of southeast Asia. His graduate work was done at the University of California, Berkeley. ARTH 015 Uncle Eph in his Youth: Old Williams in Thought and Form (Same as American Studies 015, English 024 and Special 015) (See under Special for full description.) ARTH 016 Buddhist Art of Asia (Same as Asian Studies 016 and Religion 016) (See under Religion for full description.) ARTH 017 Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography (Same as English 017) (See under English for full description.) To be taken by students registered for ArtH 493, 494. ARTH 033 Honors Independent Study To be taken by candidates for honors by the independent study route. ART STUDIO The marble carving workshop introduces the student to
the tools and traditional techniques of marble sculpture. This course
is suitable for students of all levels of ability. The instructor will
demonstrate the techniques and then help each student with their work.
Instruction will include roughing out the work in planes, modeling with
tooth chisels, carving the final form and finishing the surface. There
will be demonstrations on the use of the diamond saw and air hammer (if
a compressor is available. We will work with hand tools and each student
should bring a model (maquette) of the sculpture they wish to carve. We
will use local Vermont marble for the workshop. FRED X. BROWNSTEIN (Instructor) Fred X. Brownstein is a sculptor who creates contemporary figurative work in marble and bronze. He received his B.F.A. at the San Francisco Art Institute and worked for 16 years in Italy. ARTS 011 Introduction to Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) (Same as Physics 011) CANCELLED! ARTS 012 Japanese Traditional Art: Kusaki-Zome and Weaving (Same as Japanese 012) (See under Asian Studies-JAPN for full description.) ARTS 013 Pastel: A Study of Color and the Figure A studio course for those who have a keen interest in
exploring their artistic potential. The instruction will be individualized
but all will benefit from gentle but constructive group critiques. Pastel
is one of the best media for learning about color as it can only be mixed
directly on the painting surface; the range of color and hue that results
from the mixing of just a few pastels is remarkable. The class will focus
primarily on drawing and painting the figure. With the use of fabrics
we will partially clothe the figure and the background in a variety of
colors from neturals to brilliant hues in order to explore the range of
colors that pastel accommodates. Students will need to purchase or provide
a medium-sized set of pastels. Other items that are needed are easels,
drawing boards, 1" to 2" wide bristle brushes, pastel paper,
glassine paper and a simple portfolio. JULIA MORGAN (Instructor) Julia Morgan is a local artist who works in the education department of the Williams College Museum of Art. She received her M.A. in Studio Art from Mt. Holyoke and studied at the Leo Marchutz School of Painting and Drawing in Aix-en-Provence, France. ARTS 014 Artforum Summer 1967: An Exhibition This course will consider a moment in recent art history
from the point of view of a studio artist. Like anthropologists from another
planet, students in this class will look for meaning in every inch of
a cultural artifact, in this case, an Artforum magazine from
the summer of 1967. What was so special about the summer 1967 issue of
Artforum? The issue contains a dramatic clash between two distinct
critical points of view: the critic Michael Fried contributed a landmark
essay, "Art and Objecthood" and the artist Sol LeWitt published
his now famous, "Paragraphs on Conceptual Art." In this issue
we see the end of one modernist view of art, and the beginnings of the
many mixed art practices to come. We will consider everything between
the covers: essays, reviews, projects by artists, even advertisements
as we consider this hinge moment in contemporary art practice. Our goal
is to create a comprehensive (yet physically small) exhibition based on
the art depicted between these pages. Students will build scale models,
make drawings and paintings or otherwise engage art on view in the magazine.
DEREK STROUP '92 (Instructor) Derek Stroup '92 is an artist based in New York City. His sculpture, photographs and paintings are in numerous public and private collections. Recent exhibitions include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Contemporary Museum in Honolulu, and the Roy Boyd Gallery. ARTS 015 Large-Format Photography The course is designed to introduce students to studio/view
cameras, to processing the sheet-film negatives made in them, and to making
contact and projection prints. Studio exercises will include careful analysis
of camera movements to teach their use, and a consideration of lighting
techniques; dark room exercises will include the tray development of sheet
film, determination of effective film speed, and control of contrast through
development time. The subject matter of the photographs produced in the
course will not be prescribed; it is limited only by the participants'
imagination and the weather in January. Working with subjects of their
own choosing, students will be instructed in the principles of traditional
photographic image making by producing large-format negatives and translating
them into effective black-and-white prints in 4x5 and 8x10 formats. RALPH LIEBERMAN (Instructor) Ralph Lieberman is an art historian and photographer who lives in Williamstown. He has a Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts. His photographs have appeared in many publications and are to be found in major American and European art historical study collections. ARTS 016 Natural Science Illustration (Same as Biology 016) (See under Biology for full description.) ARTS 017 History in Pieces (Same as History 017) (See under History for full description.) ARTS 018 Glass and Glassblowing (Same as Chemistry 016) (See under Chemistry for full description.) ARTS 019 Meet the Right Side of Your Brain: Drawing as a Learnable Skill (Same as Physics 012) (See under Physics for full description.) ARTS 020 Writing, Illustrating, and Publishing Children's Books (Same as English 015) (See under English for full description.) ARTS 022 Goddesses, Confucius, Heroines, and Beauties: Chinese Dance This course consists of two components, practice and
history. For the latter, the instructor will use visual materials, such
as ancient Chinese paintings and murals, which are rich in this regard,
and videotapes. Students will be given reading materials related to the
mythology and sociopolitical and cultural context and significance of
the dances to be taught. The dances include, for instance, fan dance,
ribbon dance, and the Bayi, a ritual dance performed at the temples of
Confucius since ancient times, which is still performed in Taiwan on Confucius'
birthday. LIANG CHEN (Instructor) Liang Chen was Assistant Professor at National Tawian Normal university and International Judge for Women's Gymnastics before she came to this country in 1970's. She specializes in Chinese dance and has taught it since. ARTS 024 Greenhouse Drawing (Same as Biology 024) The college has a beautiful new greenhouse that is full
of light, scented with earth, and filled with the reassuring form and
color of plants. These appealing qualities are all the more inspiring
during the month of January when we need signs of renewal. "Greenhouse
Drawing" will meet for nine hours a week in this campus oasis to
draw the plants and architecture. We will also use studio space in Spencer
to enlarge and abstract our life studies into large scale compositions
that involve pattern and color. Beginning and advanced students are welcome,
since the small class size allows for personalized instruction. The class
will focus on the careful observation of nature and should be of interest
to both the scientist and the artist. GLIER ARTS 033 Honors Independent Project Independent study to be taken by candidates for honors in Art Studio. ARTS 035 Making Pottery on the Potter's Wheel (Same as Special 035) (See under Special for full description.) ASIAN STUDIESASST 010 Writing Chinese Lives: Memoir, Biography, History (Same as Political Science 010) (See under Political Science for full description.) ASST 011 Gain and Loss: Classics of Mountaineering Literature When George Mallory was asked many years ago why he
wanted to climb Mt. Everest, he simply replied, "Because it's there."
This winter study course explores what motivates people to risk their
lives to achieve such lofty goals by examining representative works of
mountaineering literature. Ample consideration will also be given to what
climbers learn from their extreme experiences and how survivors deal with
death. Works to be read include Harrer's The White Spider, Herzog's
Annapurna, and Krakauer's Into Thin Air. STAHL ASST 012 The Ramayana in Art (Same as ArtH 012) (See under ArtH for full description.) ASST 016 Buddhist Art of Asia (Same as ArtH 016 and Religion 016) (See under Religion for full description.) ASST 026 Introduction to Zen Training for Pre-Medical Students (Same as Religion 026 and Special 026) (See under Special for full description.) To be taken by all students who are candidates for honors in Asian Studies. CHINESE CHIN S.P. Sustaining Program for Chinese 101-102 Students registered for Chinese 101-102 are required
to attend and pass the Chinese Sustaining Program. LANGUAGE FELLOW To be taken by all students who are candidates for honors in Chinese. JAPANESE JAPN S.P. Sustaining Program for Japanese 101-102 Students registered for Japanese 101-102 are required
to attend and pass the Japanese Sustaining Program. LANGUAGE FELLOW JAPN 011 Embodied Learning (Same as Theatre 011) CANCELLED! JAPN 012 Japanese Traditional Art: Kusaki-Zome and Weaving (Same as ArtS 012) In this class, students will learn traditional Japanese
thread dyeing techniques using vegetable dyes. After dyeing the threads,
students will make two tapestries with cardboard looms. The first tapestry
will be a small wall tapestry, using basic techniques. The second one
will be a wall tapestry using the free technique. The pattern for the
second one will be an original design from the students. At the end of
the class, a show will be held where students will display their works.
This class requires no previous artistic training. The technical exercises
will be done through several projects under the instructor's supervision.
KYOKO KABASAWA (Instructor) Kyoko Kabasawa, a Japanese textile and dyeing artist, teaches at Asai Gakuen University in Hokkaido. In addition to a number of prizes awarded in Japan, she won an originality award in Hawaii's Hand weavers' Hui 45th Anniversary Biennial Exhibition in 1998, temari award in Hawaii's Hand weavers' Hui 46th Biennial Exhibition in 2000. To be taken by all students who are candidates for honors in Japanese. ASTRONOMYASTR 010 Cosmology: The History of the Universe Every culture has a creation story about the beginning
(and often the end) of the Universe. Over the last 50 years, scientists
have developed a modern story, involving the Big Bang, the creation of
the elements, the formation of stars and galaxies, and the expansion of
the cosmos. The great advantage of the modern story is that it is based
on solid and specific evidence. In this introductory course, meant for
non-majors, we will recount the history of the Universe as a whole, from
its fiery beginning to its possible fate over billions of years. Our emphasis
will be on understanding the evidence. How do we know the age of the Universe?
How do we measure the distance to the galaxies? We will discuss the concepts
of space-time and radiation, and phenomena such as quasars and gravitational
lenses, using no mathematics beyond basic algebra and trigonometry. We
will also discuss those parts of the modern creation story that are still
mysterious, such as the nature of "dark matter," the JOSHUA WINN (Instructor) Joshua Winn holds a Ph.D. in physics from MIT. He is currently a NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University, where his research focuses on gravitational lenses. ASTR 011 Leadership in Astronomy: From Copernicus and Galileo to Hubble and the Age of the Universe (Same as History of Science 011 and INTR 011) Progress in understanding our Universe has undergone
major steps as the result of sweeping new ideas introduced by major scientists.
Copernicus, in his book of 1543, shook the foundations of ancient science;
Tycho, a few decades later, revolutionized the idea of observing the heavens;
and Kepler, in 1603-1618, completed the Copernican Revolution by removing
the ancient idea that perfect circles were necessary for orbits. Galileo's
discoveries endorsed Copernicanism observationally. Halley and Newton,
starting in the 1680's, led the world to comprehend the universality of
gravity and linked comets with planets in obeying the law of gravity.
In the twentieth century, Shapley moved the Sun out of its central place
in the Universe and Hubble, in the 1920's, found that our galaxy was only
one out of many and that the Universe is expanding all around us. In addition
to studying the contributions of these leaders, we will see how Hubble's
law of the expanding Universe was studied as a Key Project of the Hubble
Space Telescope and how astronomers know more accurately the cosmic distance
scale and the age of the Universe. We will investigate various observations
from the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and other
telescopes on the ground and in space to show how they help us understand
the universe. We will consider the cosmic distance scale back to its roots
in Captain Cook's expedition to the South Pacific in 1769 to study the
transit of Venus and discuss plans for observing the forthcoming transit
of Venus, a rare event that has not been viewed by anyone now alive on
Earth but that will occur in 2004. We will consider the role of NASA,
the space shuttle, and astronaut/astronomers in shaping scientific goals.
Biographies and other readings, videos, and visitors will help shape the
discussion. In the rare book library, we will examine first editions of
epochal books by the authors listed above, from Copernicus's 1543 volume
on upward toward the present, and some students may wish to make their
reports or carry out other projects with those volumes. PASACHOFF To be taken by students registered for Astronomy 493, 494. ASTROPHYSICSTo be taken by students registered for Astrophysics 493, 494. BIOLOGYStudents will undertake an independent project to investigate
a topic of their choice using the transmission and scanning electron microscopes.
They will do their own sample preparation, operate the two electron microscopes,
and take micrographs of relevant structures. Class time will give a brief
overview of the theory and operation of the microscopes and microtomes.
In addition, students will learn how to develop and print their film from
the TEM, and learn how to manipulate the digital images from the SEM in
Adobe Photoshop. (Do you want your erythrocytes red or blue?) There will
be brief reading assignments, a guest speaker and a 10-page paper with
8 well focused micrographs required. The lab is scheduled to receive a
new SEM this summer that will allow observation of wet samples as well
as conventional dried samples , and will extend the limits of research
potential for the scope. NANCY PIATCZYC (Instructor) Nancy Piatczyc received her B.S. in Biology from Tufts University. She attended the school of Electron Microscopy in Albany, NY. She is a trained electron microscopist who operates and maintains the electron microscope facility at Williams. BIOL 011 Envisioning a Sustainable Future (Same as Environmental Studies 011) If humanity is to survive the next century, a massive
movement towards ecological sustainability must occur. What is a sustainable
lifestyle like? Will we have to sacrifice? How do we get there from here?
In this course, we will first look at key technologies and resource management
issues required for (and also driving!) the movement towards sustainability,
including energy, water and agricultural practices. By considering the
ramifications of these issues, it will be possible to envision in some
detail what a sustainable lifestyle must be like. We will then consider
how the mindset and practices of the developed world must evolve to allow
the sustainability movement to truly take hold. Students will read several
short background papers before each class. SILVIO EBERHARDT (Instructor) Silvio Eberhardt holds B.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Biology from Lehigh University where he also pursued a minor in "Humanities perspectives in Technology") and a Ph.D. degree from The Johns Hopkins University. For the past 10 years he has taught computer engineering at Swarthmore College and Villanova University. During that time, he has avidly researched sustainable technologies for renewable energy systems, home construction (he participated in building a straw-bale/cob medical clinic near Ontario last summer), and food production (he has been running indoor hydroponic systems for the last 3 years). He plans to dedicate the rest of his career to sustainability. BIOL 012 Science in the Media (Same as Chemistry 012) (See under Chemistry for full description.) BIOL 013 Mapping the Natural Landscape (Same as Environmental Studies 013 and Geosciences 013) Cartography, while rooted in the rigors of science,
is very much an aesthetic exercise. A map that is successful aesthetically
provides the best medium for communicating information to the user. Natural
landscapes provide some of the most compelling and rewarding material
for a cartographer to practice with. This project-oriented course will
address both the scientific and aesthetic domains of cartography, while
developing maps of natural areas of interest to individual students. Introductory
material will include the cartographic fundamentals of geodesy and projections,
geographic data research, and the compilation and manipulation of data.
We will then turn our attention to cartographic design, with an emphasis
on depicting natural landscapes as exemplified in the work of the great
mountain cartographers of Switzerland as well as some closer to home.
We will explore and utilize techniques that have become widely accessible
with modern technology, such as digital elevation model manipulation and
shading, and multi-layered artwork composition in raster and vector graphics
environments. Students will design and complete a project involving the
depiction of a landscape (with or without overlaid thematic content) on
a map or cartographic illustration which may be static, animated or interactive.
PAT DUNLAVEY (Instructor) Pat Dunlavey is a free-lance cartographer who specializes in maps that emphasize landscape and offer a passionate view of the natural world. His credits range from orienteering maps, including those for 1993 World Orienteering Championships, to award-willing recreation maps such as the 2001 map of Chugach State Park in Alaska. His highly technical and interdisciplinary approach to cartography has been recognized in journals from Communication Arts to Cartographic Perspectives. BIOL 014 Orchids! (Same as Environmental Studies 014) This course explores the world of orchids. First we
will consider the aesthetics of orchids and how this fueled both the exploration
for new species in the nineteenth century and the production of modern
hybrids. Next we will study the biology of orchids particularly the structural
and physiological adaptations that have permitted these plants to inhabit
sites as diverse as the treetops of tropical forests and the frozen meadows
of New England. The complex relationship between flower structure and
the behavior of pollinators is of special interest. The fascinating world
of the orchid hybridizer will be examined. How is it possible to combine
four genera to make one plant? The commercialization of orchids led to
the destruction of many natural populations. Is it possible to protect
and possibly reestablish endangered species through the cultivation and
propagation of orchids from seed? Orchid hybridization and the discovery
of methods for the tissue culture of rare plants have revolutionized the
commercial availability of orchids. Globalization has affected the orchid
industry. We will discuss these recent trends and what it means for those
hoping for a career with orchids. C.J. GILLIG (Instructor) C.J. Gillig, Technical Assistant in the Department of
Psychology at Williams College, received his B.A. in Biology from St.
Mary's Universty of San Antonio, Texas and his Ph.D. in Zoology from UMass,
Amherst. Although he now works in the Department of Psychology he has
remained interested in biology and specializes in orchids. He has a mixed
collection representing numerous genera. He is a member of the American
Orchid Society and the Amherst Orchid Society. BIOL 015 Epidemiology, Epidemics, and Human Health (Same as Chemistry 015) (See under Chemistry for full description.) BIOL 016 Natural Science Illustration (Same as ArtS 016) Natural science illustration combines art with careful
attention to the details of plant and animal life. Drawing or painting
biological subjects is an important way to discover the true nature of
an organism or habitat. In publications, illustrations clarify information
and draw attention to the text. In this course, the instructor will present
demonstrations and examples of natural science illustration, but the students
will spend the bulk of their time creating their own illustrations. The
goal will be for each student to research, illustrate, and write text
for one comprehensive illustration about an aspect of natural science
such as habitat, ecology, pollution or life-cycle. The class will meet
twice a week in the morning for three hours and students will be expected
to spend significant time outside class working on their illustrations
and research. ROBIN BRICKMAN (Instructor) Robin Brickman received her Bachelor's degree in graphic arts and botany from Bennington College. She is an award-winning illustrator with over twenty-five years of professional experience. She has illustrated books for Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Charlesbridge, The Millbrook Press, Rodale Press. Her works are shown and collected nationally. BIOL 017 The New England Forest (Same as Environmental Studies 017) This field-oriented course explores (first-hand and
through readings and discussions) the ecology, natural history, utilization
and conservation of New England's most abundant natural resource: the
forest. A comparative approach to forest communities will be taken: we
will visit different forest types across the New England landscape delving
into some of the reasons why they may vary. Specific topics will include
community dynamics, tree and shrub identification, adaptation, wildlife,
threats to the forest, forest management and conservation issues. There
will be up to four meetings per week, at least two of which will be in
the field (some field trips may require that students are engaged in the
class beyond normal WSP class hours). The course will culminate in a two
to three day trip to more thoroughly investigate a remote forest region.
Accordingly, students should be prepared to spend many hours in the outdoors
coping with the elements. DREW JONES (Instructor) Drew Jones, Manager of the Hopkins Memorial Forest, has a Master of Forestry degree from Duke University. He has worked as a wildlife biologist and naturalist from the Southern Appalachians to the North Woods. BIOL 018 Human Nature, Natural Limits and the Human Predicament (Same as Environmental Studies 018) (See under Environmental Studies for full description.) BIOL 019 Food Security and Agriculture in the Northeastern U.S. (Same as Environmental Studies 019) (See under Environmental Studies for full description.) BIOL 020 Evolution and Creationism (Same as History of Science 020 and Religion 020) CANCELLED! BIOL 022 Introduction to Biological Research An experimental research project will be carried out
under the supervision of the Biology Department. It is expected that the
student will spend 20 hours per week in the lab at a minimum, and a 10-page
written report is required. This experience is intended for, but not limited
to, first-year students and sophomores, and requires the permission of
the instructor. THE DEPARTMENT BIOL 023 Science Through Technology in an Elementary School Classroom CANCELLED! BIOL 024 Greenhouse Drawing (Same as ArtS 024) (See under ArtS for full description.) To be taken by students registered for Biology 493, 494. CHEMISTRYCHEM 011 Science for Kids (Same as Special 011) Are you interested in teaching? Do you enjoy working
with kids? Do you like to experiment with new things? Here is a chance
for you to do all three! The aim of this Winter Study Project is to design
a series of hands-on science workshops for elementary school children
and their parents. Working in teams of 2-4, students spend the first two
and a half weeks of Winter Study planning the workshops. This involves
deciding on a focus for each workshop (based on the interests of the students
involved) followed by choosing and designing experiments and presentations
that will be suitable for fourth-grade children. On the third weekend
of Winter Study (January 25, 26) we bring elementary school kids with
their parents to Williams to participate in the workshops. JENNA MACINTIRE and L. PARK Jenna MacIntire is a Laboratory Instructor for both the Biology and Chemistry Departments at Williams. CHEM 012 Science in the Media (Same as Biology 012) A good science writer takes specialized technical material
and makes it clear, understandable, and compelling. A great science writer
may even make it beautiful. In this course we will read examples of the
best science writing for the general public in newspapers, magazines,
books, museums, TV, and radio. In addition to discussing the science that
informs each, we will talk about what the public needs to know about science
and why, and look at the variety of ways scientific ideas are communicated
to the public. We will investigate how good science writers interweave
narrative and exposition, and how individual writers develop unique voices.
In addition to a lot of reading, we also will do a lot of writing. By
emulating good science writers in your own writing, and by discussing
your own work as well as others, you will develop skills in the art of
explanation, skills that will serve you well outside the class. JO PROCTER (Instructor) Jo Procter, news director at Williams College, has a master of science in communication from Boston University. She also has worked for Popular Science Magazine, WGBH-TV, and Mutual Radio. CANCELLED! CHEM 014 Emergency Medical Technician-Basic A course designed to prepare students for the Massachusetts
EMT exam and to provide training to become certified as an Emergency Medical
Technician. The course teaches the new national standard curriculum which
makes reciprocity with many other states possible. Students will learn,
among other skills, basic life support techniques, patient assessment
techniques, defibrillation, how to use an epi-pen, safe transportation
and immobilization skills, as well as the treatment of various medical
emergencies including shock, bleeding, soft-tissue injuries, and child
birth. In order to reduce the number of class meetings required during
Winter Study Period, the course will hold the following mandatory meetings
in the fall semester: 1 November (orientation), 3 November, 17 November,
and 1 December. KEVIN GARVEY (Instructor) Kevin Garvey is a Massachusetts state and nationally approved EMT-I (Intermediate) and an EMT-IC (Instructor/Coordinator). He had been involved with Emergency Medical Services for 15-20 years. Mr. Garvey currently works for Baystate Health Systems as an registered nurse and EMT-I and also works as an EMT-I for Village Ambulance in Williamstown. Mr. Garvey is also an EMT training instructor at Greenfield Community College. CHEM 015 Epidemiology, Epidemics, and Human Health (Same as Biology 015) Epidemiology is about the distribution of and determinants
of disease in human populations. While the discipline first developed
around epidemics of infectious diseases, its low technology approaches
have been usefully employed to study most of the major acute and chronic
non-infectious disease epidemics of the last 50-100 years, including pellagra,
coronary heart disease, and lung cancer, and some of the minor epidemics,
for example, occupational asbestos exposure and lung disease, and even
the use (and misuse) of C-section in delivering babies. NICHOLAS H. WRIGHT '57 (Instructor) Dr. Nicholas H. Wright '57, a medical epidemiologist with a longstanding interest in family planning/population and international health issues, recently retired from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey, and now lives in Williamstown. CHEM 016 Glass and Glassblowing (Same as ArtS 018) This course provides an introduction to both a theoretical
consideration of the glassy state of matter and the practical manipulation
of glass. We do flameworking with hand torches for at least 12 hours per
week. While no previous experience is required, students with patience,
good hand-eye coordination, and creative imagination will find the course
most rewarding. The class is open to both artistically and scientifically
oriented students. THOMAN CHEM 017 Introduction to Research in Archaeological Science (Same as Anthropology 017) CANCELLED! CHEM 018 Introduction to Research in Biochemistry An independent experimental project in biochemistry
is carried out in collaboration with a member of the Department with expertise
in biochemistry. Biochemistry is a branch of chemistry that deals with
the molecular details of living systems including the interaction of biologically
important molecules. In the Chemistry Department, studies are underway
to investigate the structure/function relationship of proteins, the interaction
between proteins and RNA and DNA, DNA structure and repair, and the molecular
basis of gene regulation. LOVETT CHEM 019 Introduction to Research in Environmental Science (Same as Environmental Studies 020) An independent experimental project in environmental
science is carried out in collaboration with a member of the Department
with expertise in environmental science. Current research projects include
studies of atmospheric chemistry related to global warming and acid deposition,
heavy metals in the local environment, and further development of laboratory
techniques for Environmental Studies 102 (Introduction to Environmental
Science). THOMAN CHEM 020 Introduction to Research in Inorganic Chemistry An independent experimental project in inorganic chemistry
is carried out in collaboration with a member of the Department with expertise
in inorganic chemistry. Opportunities for research in inorganic chemistry
at Williams include the study of transition metals in biological systems
(enzymes, proteins), and as building blocks for new materials with interesting
electronic (magnetic, conducting) and optical properties. Students working
in this area will gain expertise in the synthesis of new compounds and
their characterization by modern spectroscopic techniques. L. PARK, SCHOFIELD CHEM 023 Introduction to Research in Organic Chemistry An independent experimental project in organic chemistry
is carried out in collaboration with a member of the Department with expertise
in organic chemistry. One representative project involves isolation of
the bioactive constituents of Southeast Asian dart poisons from their
natural sources and the elucidation of their three-dimensional structures.
Another line of investigation probes new and efficient methods for the
creation of molecules of medicinal interest. Some targets include the
kavalactones-the active principles of the herbal extract KAVA KAVA which
is promoted as an alternative anti-anxiety remedy, and octalactin A-an
interesting 8-membered ring compound isolated from marine microorganisms
that has shown significant toxicity toward human cancer cells. J. HODGE MARKGRAF '52, RICHARDSON, SMITH J. Hodge Markgraf '52, Professor of Chemistry emeritus, taught organic chemistry at Williams for four decades. His current research interests include the synthesis of pharmacologically active compounds that have been identified as antitumor, antiviral, antiprotozoan, antirheumatism, or anti-inflammation agents. He has previously taught a WSP course on combinatorial chemistry. CHEM 024 Introduction to Research in Physical Chemistry An independent experimental project in physical chemistry
is carried out in collaboration with a member of the Department with expertise
in physical chemistry. Current research projects in the Department include
computer modeling of non-linear, chaotic chemical and biochemical systems,
molecular modeling of water clusters, laser spectroscopy of chlorofluorocarbon
substitutes, and experimental studies of the oxidation of sulfur dioxide
on atmospheric aerosols. PEACOCK-LÓPEZ, THOMAN CHEM 031 Senior Research and Thesis To be taken by students registered for Chemistry 493, 494. CLASSICSCLAS 010 Gender in Talmud and Midrash (Same as Women's and Gender Studies 010) CANCELLED! CLAS 011 Writing with Wedges: Language and Literature of Mesopotamia This course will present an introduction to cuneiform
writing, including overviews of Sumerian, the language for which the script
was invented around 4000 BCE, and Akkadian, the Semitic language written
on millions of clay tablets and stone monuments from 2500 BCE until the
turn of the era. Forgotten for two millennia, cuneiform was rediscovered
in the nineteenth century and deciphered by a painstaking process. We
will recreate that process and look at examples of the major literary
genres of Mesopotamia. Texts will include myths (the Epic of Gilgamesh
and the Babylonian Creation Story), legal material (the Code
of Hammurapi and signed contracts), omens and rituals (such as procedures
to avert the evil portended by the appearance of a ghost), and royal inscriptions
and correspondence (including King Sennacherib's description of the siege
of Jerusalem, also described in the Bible). We will see how a basic understanding
of the original languages can enhance our ability to understand the texts-and
therefore the culture-that were fundamental to the later development of
Western civilization. SALLY MOREN FREEDMAN (Instructor) Sally Moren Freedman received her PhD in Assyriology in 1977 from the University of Pennsylvania and continued at the university as a research associate in the Babylonian section of the University Museum while lecturing in the Oriental Studies Department. She went on to teach Old Testament Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary. CLAS 012 Love and Sex in the Ancient World Are the ways we feel and express romantic emotions natural
and diachronic, or are they conditioned by specific historical, social
and cultural circumstances? What are the ancients' and our attitudes towards
homosexuality, extramarital affairs, and pederasty? This course addresses
such questions through a survey of Ancient Greek and Latin literary works
which feature love relationships, including works by Homer, Sappho, Plato,
Vergil and Ovid. Students will get an insight into the depiction of romantic
feelings and practices in antiquity, and will be asked to explore topics
like: the objectification of the female as beloved and Muse, the identification
of an author with the tormented lover speaking in the first person, the
supposed emasculation of men in homosexual relationships etc. Students
will be expected to attend all classes and to make use of discussion topics
and visual material on the Blackboard web page. Cost to student: $45. MANOLARAKI May be taken by students registered for Classics 493, 494. COMPARATIVE LITERATURECOMP 010 Living by Words: Surviving and Thriving in the Art and Sport of Rhetoric (Same as English 010, INTR 014, and Special 016) Whether dealing in the realms of public life, commerce,
or academe, the speaker who can clearly and cogently define or defend
a policy, product, or theoretical position is usually the most successful.
Depending on the venue and the aim of the speaker, the words might be
artful and poetic, cajoling and competitive, formally read from the page
or seemingly delivered impromptu. This course will briefly examine some
of the classic styles of oratory from Aristotle's Rhetoric to MTV's advertising
campaigns, make visits to a variety of venues that employ a special style
of professional discourse, and give participants a range of methods and
ample practice in the basics of effective spoken communication. The practical
intent of the course is for participants to develop confident, cogent,
and dynamic presentation styles, to reinforce tight organizational focus
and relaxed, natural delivery, and to develop creative approaches to speaking
in front of a group. The course will guide participants through the presentation
process from conception, outlining, and devising the message, to development
of visual aids, message delivery, and handling question and answer sessions.
Methods employed will include vigorous pursuit of improvisational theater
techniques and some athletic training. Participants will receive intensive
personal coaching and a videotaped record of their personal progress.
The final project will be a group presentation at a public forum. PETER BUBRISKI (Instructor) Peter Bubriski has been coaching leaders in communication skills for twelve years. A founding partner of the Cambridge-based communications consulting firm of B&B Associates, where he has been designing and leading workshops in presentation skills since 1991, he is also a senior associate with MEWS/Customer Communications 2000, a Boston consulting firm catering to the insurance industry. He has taught at The Boston Conservatory, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Executive MBA Program, and he lectures regularly at Boston University's School of Management. He is also a professional actor with twenty years of credits in theater, film, and television ranging from ABC's All My Children to The King and I with Yul Brynner and independent films with Katharine Ross and Tyne Daly. COMP 011 Contemporary Israeli Film (Same as Religion 011) (See under Religion for full description.) COMP 013 Introduction to Indian Cinema (Same as Economics 013) (See under Economics for full description.) To be taken by students registered for Comparative Literature 493, 494. To be taken by students registered for Literary Studies 493, 494. COMPUTER SCIENCECSCI 010 C, UNIX and Software Tools This course serves as a guided tour of programming methods
in the UNIX operating system. The course is designed for individuals who
understand basic program development techniques as discussed in an introductory
programming course (Computer Science 134 or equivalent), but who wish
to become familiar with a broader variety of computer systems and programming
languages. Students in this course will work on UNIX workstations, available
in one of the Department's laboratories. By the end of the course, students
will have developed basic proficiency in the C programming language. FREUND CSCI 011 The Dynamic Duo: Cold Fusion and SQL Server CANCELLED! To be taken by students registered for Computer Science 493-494. CONTRACT MAJORTo be taken by students registered for Contract Major 493, 494. ECONOMICSECON 010 East Asia: Miracle and Crisis This course is intended to help CDE fellows integrate
the material they studied in the first semester by applying it to the
circumstances of a particular group of countries. During the 2003 Winter
Term session we will focus on a case study of what are widely perceived
to be successful development experiences-those of the East and Southeast
Asian "miracle" economies. We will consider issues such as the
desirability of the economic transformations that have taken place in
these countries, the conditions that may have made such transformations
possible, the roles that specific policies may have played in bringing
them about, the causes of the recent economic crisis in the region and
its implications for future growth in the affected countries, as well
as the lessons that the East and Southeast Asian experience may hold for
other developing countries. MONTIEL We are bombarded on a daily basis with assertions based
on data, opinion polls, and statistical analyses. From soft drink commercials,
to political speeches, to economic and political reporting, data are used
(and sometimes misused) to sway our opinion, earn our dollar, and set
public policy. As responsible citizens and consumers, we need to be able
to evaluate the data and statistics presented to us in order to make informed
decisions. How are data collected and how is public opinion measured?
How do policymakers and researchers learn facts about social and economic
activity? This course will offer the basic tools needed for evaluating
data and will explore the issues and controversies surrounding its myriad
uses. Topics to be covered will include the basics of data collection
and survey methods, issues and problems policymakers face when collecting
and using data (representativeness, response rates, confidentiality),
the politics of data collection, and public opinion polls and their use.
Working in groups, students will use what they learn to field their own
survey or poll of the local or college community. SHORE-SHEPPARD ECON 012 Business Risk Analysis: Inside the Mind of a Banker So you think that business and finance are a big mystery
and potentially boring? Discover how easy it is to understand how a company
works and how interesting risk analysis can be. Do you feel that a career
in business is not for you, but want to know enough to invest your millions
wisely? Or are you, perhaps, considering business or finance as a career
and would like a head start (not to mention a leg up in the interview
process)? Or maybe you picture yourself as the boss someday, no matter
what your field. Then this is the course for you! This experience will
provide a basic overview of financial analysis with a particular emphasis
on the banker's perspective. Among the topics that we will discuss are:
the qualitative and quantitative aspects of risk analysis, understanding
financial statements, how businessmen and bankers manage and mitigate
the risks in their businesses, and how bankers decide on the structure
and pricing of loans. JAMES SUTHERLAND (Instructor) James Sutherland worked for The Chase Manhattan Bank for over 21 years including 17 in Latin America and 3 as an instructor in the credit training program in New York. For the last 7 years he has |