WINTER STUDY PROGRAM
REMINDERS ABOUT WSP REGISTRATION
All students who will be on campus during the 2006-2007 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 Friday, January 26th. Only the Dean can grant an extension beyond this date.
WINTER STUDY 99'S
Sophomores, 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, 28 September.
AFR 25 Border Crossing, Capital Punishment, and Penal Politics in Texas (CANCELLED!)
AMST 15 Contemporary American Songwriting (Same as Music 17)
ANSO 11 Berkshire Farm Center Internship
ANSO 12 Children and the Courts: Internship in the Crisis in Child Abuse
ARAB S.P. Sustaining Program for Arabic 101-102
ARTH 10 Fictionalizing the Artist: Genius and Gender in Films about Artists
ARTH 12 Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography (Same as English 12 and Special 27)
ARTH 13 Love, Longing, and Land: Nation and Identity in Hindi Cinema
ARTH 14 Archaeology and Imagination: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
ARTH 19 Theorizing the Image (Same as English 19 and Philosophy 19)
ARTH 33 Honors Independent Study
ARTS 10 Designing and Modeling Geometric Shapes (Same as Mathematics 10)
ARTS 13 Documentary Video Production (Same as English 13)
ARTS 14 Secret Diaries and Parallel Homework: Video Production
ARTS 15 Large-Format Photography
ARTS 18 A House in a Box (CANCELLED!)
ARTS 25 Art, Culture, and Spanish in Oaxaca, Mexico (Same as Spanish 25)
ARTS 33 Honors Independent Project
ASST 13 The Art of War (Same as Political Science 13)
ASST 25 Politics of the Korean Peninsula (Same as Political Science 25)
CHIN S.P. Sustaining Program for Chinese 101-102
CHIN 10 On Foreign Language Learning (same as Linguistics 10)
CHIN 11 Old Shanghai, New Shanghai (CANCELLED!)
CHIN 12 Traditional Yang-style Taiji
CHIN 13 Theory and Practice of Chinese Cooking
JAPN S.P. Sustaining Program for Japanese 101-102
JAPN 11 Introduction to Language Acquisition (Same as Linguistics 11)
ASTR 25 American Planetariums, Public Outreach, and Astronomy Education
BIOL 11 Curing Health Care (Same as Economics 28)
BIOL 12 Of Lice and Men: Insects, Disease, and History
BIOL 21 Science Beyond Williams
BIOL 22 Introduction to Biological Research
CHEM 11 Science for Kids (Same as Special 11)
CHEM 12 Epidemiology: What Is an Epidemic? How Are They Investigated and Solved?
CHEM 13 Principles and Techniques of Cooking (Same as Special 13)
CHEM 14 Alternative Photographic Processes
CHEM 17 Introduction to Research in Archaeological Science
CHEM 18 Introduction to Research in Biochemistry
CHEM 20 Introduction to Research in Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 23 Introduction to Research in Organic Chemistry
CHEM 24 Introduction to Research in Physical Chemistry
CHEM 31 Senior Research and Thesis
CLAS 11 Horace in English (Same as Comparative Literature 11 and English 27)
CLAS 25 Singing on the Tiber: Performance and History in Rome (Same as Music 25)
COGS 14 Cognition in Autism Spectrum Disorders (Same as Psychology 14)
COMP 11 Horace in English (Same as Classics 11 and English 27)
COMP 13 Modern Arab Cinema (Same as Special 23)
CSCI 14 LEGO Robot Engineering
ECON 11 The Economics of Privacy (CANCELLED!)
ECON 12 Malaria (CANCELLED!)
ECON 13 Mapping Gotham's History (Same as History 17)
ECON 16 Real Estate and the Dream of Prosperity
ECON 18 The Nation in Indian Cinema (CANCELLED!)
ECON 19 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
ECON 25 The Millenium Development Goals and Africa: A Case Study of South Africa
ECON 27 Henry George, Eliminating Poverty
ECON 28 Curing Health Care (Same as Biology 11)
ECON 51 Tax Policy in Emerging Markets
ECON 52 Computable General Equilibrium Model
ENGL 10 Beginning Proust's In Search of Lost Time
ENGL 12 Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography (Same as ArtH 12 and Special 27)
ENGL 13 Documentary Video Production (Same as ArtS 13)
ENGL 14 Transcending Jazz (Same as Music 14)
ENGL 15 The Hours and Mrs. Dalloway
ENGL 17 The Work of Flannery O'Connor
ENGL 19 Theorizing the Image (Same as ArtH 19 and Philosophy 19)
ENGL 20 Henry James: The Golden Bowl
ENGL 22 The Comedy of Tom Stoppard (Same as Theatre 22) (CANCELLED!)
ENGL 23 "Getting Medieval" in Film and Fiction
ENGL 27 Horace in English (Same as Classics 11 and Comparative Literature 11)
ENGL 30 Honors Project: Specialization Route
ENGL 31 Honors Project: Thesis
ENVI 10 The Winter Naturalist's Journal
ENVI 11 Clean Water in the Global Context
ENVI 12 Landscape Photography (Same as Geosciences 12)
ENVI 14 Geology of the National Parks (Same as Geosciences 14)
ENVI 25 Sustainable Resource Management
ENVI 31 Senior Research and Thesis
GEOS 12 Landscape Photography (Same as Environmental Studies 12)
GEOS 14 Geology of the National Parks (Same as Environmental Studies 14)
GERM S.P. Sustaining Program for German 101-102
GERM 11 Anarchism: Old and New Beginnings (Same as Special 17)
HIST 10 African American History and American Film
HIST 11 Generations and Turnings in Film (Same as Leadership Studies 11)
HIST 13 Seeing `Red': Exploring Cao Xueqin's Dream of the Red Chamber
HIST 14 Campus Activism Then and Now
HIST 15 "1968: A Year that Mattered"
HIST 17 Mapping Gotham's History (Same as Economics 13)
HIST 18 City of Steeples: Charting the North Adams Renaissance (CANCELLED!)
LEAD 10 Corporate Leadership and Social Responsibility
LEAD 11 Generations and Turnings in Film (Same as History 11)
LGST 14 So You Want to be A Lawyer?
LGST 15 The Work of the Supreme Court: A Simulation (Same as Political Science 15)
LING 10 On Foreign Language Learning (Same as Chinese 10)
LING 11 Introduction to Language Acquisition (Same as Japanese 11)
LING 12 Preliminary Introduction to American Sign Language (Same as Women's and Gender 12 and Special 12) (CANCELLED!)
LING 13 Constructed Languages in Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Culture (Same as Psychology 13)
MATH 10 Designing and Modeling Geometric Shapes (Same as ArtS 10)
MATH 12 Contemporary Movie Criticism
MATH 13 Modern Dance-Muller Technique (Same as Special 18)
MATH 14 Points of Intersection: Where Algebra and Geometry Meet
MATH 16 Knitting: The Social History and Craft Form (Same as Special 16)
MUS 11 Cuban "Classical" Composers and Their Music
MUS 12 Ensembles in Classic American and European Musical Theatre (Same as Theatre 12)
MUS 14 Transcending Jazz (Same as Engish 14)
MUS 17 Contemporary American Songwriting (Same as American Studies 15)
MUS 18 The Life and Music of Bassist/Composer Jaco Pastorius
MUS 19 Bruce Springsteen (Same as Psychology 16)
MUS 21 Individual Vocal and Instrumental Instruction
MUS 25 Singing on the Tiber: Performance and History in Rome (Same as Classics 25)
PHIL 10 "The Origins of Totalitarianism": Hannah Arendt, Race-Thinking and Crisis (Same as Africana Studies 10 and Political Science 18)
PHIL 12 Ethics Bowl: Case-based Reasoning in Ethics
PHIL 19 Theorizing the Image (Same as ArtH 19 and English 19)
PHYS 12 Meet the Right Side of Your Brain: Drawing as a Learnable Skill
PHYS 15 Livres des Artists-The Artist Book
PHYS 22 Research Participation
PSCI 10 Political Campaign Ads-Noise, Trash, or Democracy in Action?
PSCI 11 Grassroots Activism for Social Change
PSCI 12 Democracy or Plutocracy
PSCI 13 The Art of War (Same as Asian Studies 13)
PSCI 14 Assessing the Impact of Local Policy on Underage Drinking: The Role of Server Training
PSCI 15 The Work of the Supreme Court: A Simulation (Same as Legal Studies 15)
PSCI 16 Presentation Skills for Impact
PSCI 17 Great Writing, Great Teaching
PSCI 18"The Origins of Totalitarianism": Hannah Arendt, Race-Thinking and Crisis (Same as Africana Studies 10 and Philosophy 10)
PSCI 21 Fieldwork in Public and Private Non-Profits
PSCI 25 Politics of the Korean Peninsula (Same as Asian Studies 25)
PSYC 10 Mental Illness in Film
PSYC 12 Personality Trait Theory through Biography
PSYC 13 Constructed Languages in Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Culture (Same as Linguistics 13)
PSYC 14 Cognition in Autism Spectrum Disorders (Same as Cognitive Science 14)
PSYC 15 American Incarceration
PSYC 16 Bruce Springsteen (Same as Music 19)
REL 11 Self Revelations: Religious Identity and the Reading and Writing of Memoir and Fiction
REL 12 Yoga: A Mind-Body Connection
REL 13 Augustine's Confessions: `Becoming a Question to Oneself'
REL 25 Jerusalem: A Travel-Study Course with Three Narratives
RLFR S.P. Sustaining Program for French 101-102
RLFR 10 "Astérix the Gaul: French Culture through the Prism of the Comic"
RLIT S.P. Sustaining Program for Italian 101-102
RLSP S.P. Sustaining Program for Spanish 101-102
RLSP 10 Animal Consciousness: Crossing the Species Boundary in Literature and Film
RLSP 25 Art, Culture, and Spanish in Oaxaca, Mexico (Same as ArtS 25)
RUSS S.P. Sustaining Program for Russian 101-102
RUSS 25 Williams in Georgia (Same as Special 25)
THEA 10 Reading Fernando Ortiz (CANCELLED!)
THEA 12 Ensembles in Classic American and European Musical Theatre (Same as Music 12)
THEA 22 The Comedy of Tom Stoppard (Same as English 22) (CANCELLED!)
THEA 25 Making Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa
WGST 12 Preliminary Introduction to American Sign Language (Same as Linguistics 12 and Special 12) (CANCELLED!)
WGST 19 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) (Same as Economics 19)
SPEC 10 Quest for College: Early Awareness in Berkshire County Schools
SPEC 11 Science for Kids (Same as Chemistry 11)
SPEC 12 Preliminary Introduction to American Sign Language (Same as Linguistics 12 and Women's and Gender 12) (CANCELLED!)
SPEC 13 Principles and Techniques of Cooking (Same as Chemistry 13)
SPEC 14 Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
SPEC 16 Knitting: The Social History and Craft Form (Same as Mathematics 16)
SPEC 17 Anarchism: Old and New Beginnings (Same as German 11)
SPEC 18 Modern Dance-Muller Technique (Same as Mathematics 13)
SPEC 19 Medical Apprenticeship
SPEC 21 The Psychology of the Workplace, A Field Study
SPEC 23 Modern Arab Cinema (Same as Comparative Literature 13)
SPEC 24 Eye care and Culture on the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua
SPEC 25 Williams in Georgia (Same as Russian 25)
SPEC 27 Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography) (Same as ArtH 12 and English 12)
SPEC 28 Teaching Practicums in New York City Schools
SPEC 29 Non, non, non! Nonviolence, Nonaggression and Noncoercion
SPEC 34 Winter Emergency Care, CPR, Ski Patrol Rescue Techniques
SPEC 35 Making Pottery on the Potter's Wheel
SPEC 36 Study in Irish Diaspora
SPEC 39 "Composing a Life:" Finding Success and Balance in Life After Williams
COURSES
ANSO 11 Berkshire Farm Internship
ANSO 12 Children and the Courts: Internship in the Crisis in Child Abuse
CHEM 11 Science for Kids (Same as Special 11)
LING 12 Preliminary Introduction to American Sign Language (Same as Women's and Gender Studies 12 and Special 12) (CANCELLED!)
PSCI 17 Great Writing, Great Teaching
SPEC 28 Teaching Practicums in New York City Schools
AFRICANA STUDIES
AFR 10 "The Origins of Totalitarianism": Hannah Arendt, Race-Thinking and Crisis (Same as Philosophy 10 and Political Science 18)
This tutorial examines the work and life of German Jewish political theorist Hannah Arendt, and relationships of ethnic identity,
racism, anti-semitism and fascism in political life. The centennial of her birth and growing debates about the nature of modern "fascism" and
"democracy" have led to increased attention to the writings of Hannah Arendt. This tutorial will review key works including Young-Bruehl's biography,
Hannah Arendt: For Love of the World, and Arendt's own texts: The Origins of Totalitarianism, The Human Condition, Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on
the Banality of Evil, On Revolution, Crises of the Republic, Men in Dark Times, Rahel Varnhargen: The Life of a Jewish Woman.
JAMES
AFR 25 Border Crossing, Capital Punishment, and Penal Politics in Texas CANCELLED!This winter session course takes place in Austin and in "border" communities in
Texas. It examines the policing of immigration, racial containment/segregation,
domestic and political crimes, and capital punishment in one of the most influential states in national politics. After on-campus study sessions beginning in
early December, students will travel to Texas in January for 7-10 days to meet
with diverse constituencies, academics, community educators and activists focusing on Mexican/Mexican-American/Chicano and African American experiences with penal and police cultures.
Students will write brief e-papers for prep sessions, maintain journals while in
Texas, and have the option to collectively create a web installation of visual culture and oral histories. University of Texas-Austin faculty will also assist in this
winter session course.
Permission of instructor required. Enrollment limit: 8 (expected: 5.) Not open to
first-year students.
Cost to student: $1200.
JAMES
To be taken by students registered for Africana Studies 491 who are candidates for honors.
AMERICAN STUDIES
AMST 15 Contemporary American Songwriting (Same as Music 17)
This course will focus on learning how to write and perform songs in a contemporary style. Topics addressed will include song structure, how to create a lyric
that communicates, vocal and instrument presentation, performing techniques,
publicity for events, and today's music industry. This class will culminate in a
public performance of material written during the course.
To successfully pass this course, students are required to create, edit, perform
and possibly record two original songs. These songs must be conceived during
the course period (in other words, previously written material is not usable.) Students will be guided to create both music and lyrics. They may also be required
to participate in a co-write session. One of these songs will be presented during
the final performance, preferably by the student. Attendance at classes, feedback
sessions, and all officially scheduled events is mandatory and crucial. Also, a
short writing assignment will be passed in on the last day of class.
No prerequisites. Students with a musical background and the ability to play and
instrument may be given preference, but anyone interested is encouraged to register. (Bernice.Lewis@williams.edu). Enrollment limit: 15.
Cost to student: $75 for books and xeroxing costs.
Meeting time: mornings,Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for two-hour sessions.
BERNICE LEWIS (Instructor)
WONG (Sponsor)
Bernice Lewis is an accomplished singer and songwriter who has performed her work throughout the country. She lives in Williamstown and has released five recordings of original material.
To be taken by students registered for American Studies 491 or 492.
ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY
ANSO 11 Berkshire Farm Center 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.
Williams students will commute to Berkshire Farm and work under supervision
in one of the following areas: school, cottage life, chemical dependency unit, research, recreation, performing arts, or in individual tutoring.
Requirements: students will keep a journal reflecting on their experiences, and a
weekly seminar with the instructor will draw on service learning experience.
Students will also be required to submit a final 10-page paper at the end of the
course.
Prerequisites: YOU MUST HAVE A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH
THE INSTRUCTOR who can be reached at 518-781-4567 ext. 121. Enrollment limit: 15. Please note: all queries about this course should be directed to the
instructor.
Cost to student: none.
Meeting times to be arranged.
DONELLE HAUSER (Instructor)
NOLAN (Sponsor)
Donelle Hauser is Program Coordinator at the Burnham Youth Safe Center at Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth.
ANSO 12 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. Access to an automobile is desirable but not
required; some transportation will be provided as part of the course.
Requirements: full participation, a journal, and a 10-page paper to be submitted
at the end of the course.
Enrollment limit: 15. Please note: all queries about this course must be directed
to the instructor, Judge Locke (phone messages may be left at 458-4833).
Cost to student: $25 for books and photocopies.
Meeting times to be arranged.
JUDITH LOCKE (Instructor)
M. F. BROWN (Sponsor)
Judith Locke is Associate Justice of the Juvenile Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ANTHROPOLOGY
To be taken by students registered for Anthropology 493-494.
SOCIOLOGY
To be taken by students registered for Sociology 493-494.
ARABIC
ARAB S.P. Sustaining Program for Arabic 101-102
Students registered for 101-102 are required to attend and pass the sustaining program during the Winter Study Period. Three 50-minute meetings per week.
Meeting time: mornings; 9-9:50 a.m.
VARGAS
ART
ART HISTORY
ARTH 10 Fictionalizing the Artist: Genius and Gender in Films about Artists CANCELLED!
How do films based on artists' lives shape our impressions of the creative individual? This course will explore this issue, studying films about artists from the
Renaissance to the modern period including Michelangelo, Vincent Van Gogh,
Camille Claudel, Frida Kahlo, and Jackson Pollock. We will focus on the
construction, in these films, of a notion of artistic genius, paying particular attention to the role played by gender. Our discussions will be based on the films
themselves as well as comparative material-biographical and art historical readings on the various artists.
Evaluation will be based on class participation, written responses to films, and a
10-page paper.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 12.
Cost to student: none.
Class will meet twice a week for film screenings and discussion. Some films
will be viewed outside class hours.
SOLUM
ARTH 12 Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography (Same as English 12 and Special 27)
(See under English for full description.)
ARTH 13 Love, Longing, and Land: Nation and Identity in Hindi Cinema
How has the medium of film allowed Indian filmmakers to explore and
construct post-independence notions of Indian identity? Through an examination of a series of films, such as Mother India; Amar, Akbar, Anthony; Bombay;
Salaam Bombay!; and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, we will consider the conventions and genres of "Bollywood" films and how filmmakers have worked
with or against these conventions. In imagining India, how do these films represent and negotiate not only issues of class, gender, and religion, but also India's
vast and diverse rural landscapes and modern cityscapes? What visual and narrative strategies have these filmmakers employed? We will also explore how
certain films might appeal both to audiences within India and to the growing
communities of South Asians around the world. Students will write four 3- to
5-page papers.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit 15.
BECKER
ARTH 14 Archaeology and Imagination: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
What were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and why have they long fascinated archaeologists, art historians, and scholars of Western civilization? This course investigates the Seven Wonders—the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesos, the Mausoleum at Halikarnassos, the Colossos of Rhodes, and the Pharos (Lighthouse) at Alexandria—from both ancient and modern perspectives. Why and how were these monuments built? What can we learn about the cultures that created them? Given that only the Great Pyramid of Giza stands today, how has archaeological and art-historical evidence been used to reconstruct the monuments that no longer survive? In what ways have the Seven Wonders resided in the imaginations of later cultures? This course also introduces students to some of the “forgotten wonders” of ancient
Requirements: class presentation; 8-10 pp. paper.
No prerequisites. Preference given to first years and majors.
Enrollment limit: 12.
Meeting time: TBA.
JOANNE THOMPSON
ARTH 19 Theorizing the Image (Same as English 19 and Philosophy 19)
(See under English for full description.)
To be taken by students registered for ArtH 493, 494.
ARTH 33 Honors Independent Study
To be taken by candidates for honors by the independent study route.
ART STUDIO
ARTS 10 Designing and Modeling Geometric Shapes (Same as Mathematics 10)
(See under Mathematics for full description.)
In this course we will examine the work of some of the great magazine cartoonists of the last fifty years to understand the ways they employ drawing and writing together to create humor. We will discuss how the notion of what's funny has
changed over time, and how cartoons reflect and illuminate social trends and
concerns.
In addition, students will make their own cartoons. They will explore various
strategies to jumpstart the comic imagination in the search for ideas. They will
work towards developing a personal comic drawing and writing style. Various
media, from pen and ink, to drawing on the computer, will be explored. Although this course will mainly focus on the New Yorker style magazine cartoon,
it is open to students who are interested in other kinds of cartoons.
Evaluation will be based on completed class projects and homework.
Beginners as well as more experienced artists are welcome. Enrollment limit:
12.
Cost to student: $100.
Meeting time: TBA.
DAVID SIPRESS '68 (Instructor)
GLIER (Sponsor)
David Sipress graduated from Williams in 1968 and attended the master's program in Soviet Studies at Harvard University before leaving to pursue a career as a cartoonist. His cartoons appear regularly in the New Yorker, as well as many other publications. They have been a weekly feature in the Boston Phoenix for over thirty years. Sipress is the author of eight books of cartoons and the producer and host of "Conversations with Cartoonists." He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Where do we dwell? Have you ever slept in a snow cave or an indoor fort? In
this studio workshop course we will work together to build individual dwellings
large enough to accommodate sleeping and eating. Students will have the option
of building in the studio or choose sites specific to their work such as a snow-
covered grass plot or dorm room. For background we will look to ancient dwellings, portable tents, and cave structures. We will then discuss the origins of
installation in contemporary art such as Schwitter's Merzbau, Jonathan Borofsky, Judy Pfaff, Sarah Sze, Anish Kapoor, Ernesto Neto, Jessica Stockholder,
Frank Gehry, Thomas Hirshhom and Will Aslop. The course will culminate
with a dwelling festival and documentation. Come with energy to build, clothing
appropriate to your site and a sketchbook.
Requirements: reading, attendance, participation in class and final fort festival.
Prerequisites: Come ready to build! Enrollment limit: 10.
Cost to student: approximately $75 for materials kit and $10 for reading packet.
Meeting time: mornings. Expect to spend at least 20 hours a week on the course.
K. TAYLOR (Instructor)
PODMORE (Sponsor)
ARTS 13 Documentary Video Production (Same as English 13)
(See under English for full description.)
ARTS 14 Secret Diaries and Parallel Homework: Video Production
This course will combine visual analysis, personal essay, performance, and video production. What is left out on my class papers with written text? How does
my eloquence simplify what I needed to say? Why did I not get an A (and why
did I get an A)? The University is a miniature city of a certain age group where
they begin to shape their frameworks to view the world and to be involved in
one. However, the learned criticism is generally only allowed within the boundaries of the subject issued by the class, and the form of the presentation is often
limited to alphabetical and numeral text that has its inherent logical structure.
When do I begin to criticize this very structure? With what other tools can I write
a parallel storyline to our usual analysis? Out of various available tools, this
course will concentrate on video as another language tool to rewrite what we
have written, re-say what we have said, and re-view what have viewed: re-formulate scholarly lives.
Class time will be divided into film viewing, student presentations, and discussion. The students are expected to choose one paper written for other classes at
Williams and then make an alternative or parallel story using video or other media after discussing with the instructor.
Evaluation will be based on attendance, participation and on the basis of the
created work and its evolution. Everybody must attend the final presentation.
Much of the individual work will be created independently. Class time will be
divided among viewing referential works, student presentation, and discussions.
We will overview the works by Diderot's Rameau's Nephew an d Correspondence between Antonin Artaud and an literary critic Jacques Rivière; Kittler's
Gramophone, Film, and Typewriter; Marguerite Duras's War; Paul Virilio's War
and Cinema; Jean Painlevé's science documentary; Kim ki-duk's Binjip (a.k.a.
3-Iron); Joe Gibbon's Living in the World; Lars von Trier's Five Obstructions;
Roberto Bolano's By Night in Chile.
Prerequisites: Students must have enthusiasm for storytelling. Video experience
helpful. Recommended for Juniors and Seniors. Enrollment limit: 8.
Cost to student: $50.
Meeting time: afternoons.
SUNG HWAN KIM (Instructor)
E. GRUDIN (Sponsor)
ARTS 15 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.
Each student will be expected to make exhibition-quality prints, which may be
enlargements or contact prints from 4x5 negatives, or contract prints from 8x10
negatives. The prints will be exhibited in a group show at the end of Winter Study.
Evaluation will be based on commitment to the course, participation in discussion sessions and the quality of the prints. Class will meet as a group for a minimum of six hours a week for lectures, demonstrations in the dark room and studio and crits. In addition to this time, students will be expected to spend at least
20 hours a week in the darkroom working individually, under the supervision of
the course instructor and the photography technician. There are no prerequisites
for the course, although some experience with a camera and dark room work
would be an advantage. Enrollment limit: 10.
Cost to student: $150 lab fee to cover the cost of film, paper and chemicals.
Meeting time: TBA.
RALPH LIEBERMAN (Instructor)
LALEIAN (Sponsor)
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 18 A House in a Box (CANCELLED!)
This is a home design course. Each student will design a house to be built within
a 6-meter cube (20 feet). There will be several exercises in which the students
will present solutions restricted to the 6 meter limits as well as solutions which
could use limited outward expansions for balconies, bay windows or actual second floor room enlargements.
The students will design the entire living space, including all furniture (volume,
size, functionality). The main design purpose is to get away from the limitations
of floor plan/two-dimensional-projection approach to design. The conception of
the living spaces will focus on multi-level occupancy, highly ergonomic built-in
furniture and differences of ceiling heights. Special emphasis will be given to tri-
dimensional layer-occupancy design, as it is done in airplane restrooms (and
customarily in product design, as can be seen inside the CPU cabinet of a personal computer).
Due to the familiarity of the themes involved (living in enclosed spaces, personal spatial needs, human behavior) and to specific exercises, the students will develop their own data sheets with information on human dimensions, furniture
sizes, hand reaching curves, shelving heights.
Final presentation will be a 1:20 scale model of the house, assembled in such a
way as to permit internal viewing. Drawings, sketches and partial (cut) models
can also be included.
No prerequisites, although previous studio training and personal drawing talent
will help students in the class. Enrollment limit: 15.
Cost to student: lab fee to cover the cost of materials.
Meeting time: TBA, six hours per week.
RAUL NOBRE MARTINS (Instructor)
GLIER (Sponsor)
Raul Martins is a Brazilian architect. His graduate studies in Computer Science are in an effort to bring computer technology into architecture. As an architect he has worked on high-density low-rise, low-income complexes and is presently working in new housing development-both as an architect and a developer. His other interests include urban policy and architecture history and preservation.
ARTS 25 Art, Culture, and Spanish in Oaxaca, Mexico (Same as Spanish 25)
The city of Oaxaca is a unique place where age-old dialects, traditional art practices and religious customs coexist side by side with contemporary life. Living
and studying in Oaxaca, Mexico will provide students with the opportunity to
experience the richness of culture that Oaxaca has to offer. This course is designed as an exploration of Mexican culture and is centered on the teaching and
enhancement of Spanish, as well as, daily practical studio components in the
making of art. Specifically, it will be organized with morning Spanish classes,
afternoon art studio classes, (focusing on drawing, sculpture and collage), as
well as frequent excursions to view museums, artist's studios, archaeological
sites, galleries and cinema. The hope is, that immersion into a culture so vastly
different from our own can have a profound and lasting effect on one's perspective with regards to life, culture and art. Students will live with a Mexican family
in Oaxaca, providing a greater opportunity to practice Spanish and gain a deeper
understanding of Mexican life.
Prerequisites : at least one introductory course in Spanish and ArtS 100 or permission of instructor. Enrollment limit : 12. Not open to first-year students.
Cost to student: approximately $2,056.
Itinerary: Meet in Williamstown prior to Winter Study to provide information
and prepare students about what to expect and what to bring. Spend Winter
study period in Oaxaca, creating art, enhancing Spanish abilities and exploring
and discussing Mexican culture.
PODMORE and PAULINA SALAS-SCHOOFIELD
Paulina Salas-Schoofield is resident of Oaxaca, Mexico. During the past 8 years she has taught courses on Mexican Culture and Spanish Language at the Language Centre of the Benito Juarez University and Instituto Cultural Oaxaca. Paulina Salas-Schoofield studied art history in Mexico City and film studies at Edinburgh University.
ARTS 33 Honors Independent Project
Independent study to be taken by candidates for honors in Art Studio.
ASIAN STUDIES
ASST 13 The Art of War (Same as Political Science 13)
(See under Political Science for full description.)
ASST 25 Politics of the Korean Peninsula (Same as Political Science 25)
(See under Political Science 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. Classes meet Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
from 9:00-9:50.
Prerequisite: Chinese 101.
Evaluation will be based on regular attendance and active participation.
Cost to student: one Xerox packet.
LANGUAGE FELLOWS
CHIN 10 On Foreign Language Learning (same as Linguistics 10)
This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of second language development by exploring some key concepts in theories of second language acquisition, including competence vs. performance, intake vs. output, interlanguage, and learner variables. Such understanding will enable students to reflect
upon their own learning strategies in order to effectively attain proficiency in a
second language. Although issues to be covered in this course are selected with
second language learning in mind, all of the issues are equally relevant to second
language teaching. Accordingly, this course should be of interest to those who
wish to gain knowledge in second language acquisition in general, those who
wish to improve their learning skills in a particular language, and those who are
considering a career in teaching foreign languages.
Evaluation will be based on active class participation, successful completion of
mini-presentations, and an individual project.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 12.
Cost to student: one Xerox packet.
Meeting time: afternoons, three two-hour sessions per week.
C. CHANG
CHIN 11 Old Shanghai, New Shanghai (CANCELLED!)
Once referred to as "Paris of the East," Shanghai has been considered as the industrial, commercial, and financial center of contemporary China. For historians, Shanghai marked the beginning of Chinese modernity and urban culture.
More recently, Dana Janklowics-Mann and Amir Mann's award-winning documentary revealed Shanghai to be a "ghetto"/ "paradise" for Jews fleeing Nazi
persecutions in the 1930s. But for the local people, there have always been two
Shanghai: the old and the new. In this class we will study the city and people of
Shanghai from various angles. We will look at the city's history, local culture,
local dialect, and the everyday life of ordinary people living in it, including their
aspirations and discontent, as well as foreigners' life experiences in the city. We
will compare a "real" Shanghai and an "imagined" one, and examine the ideas
of "modernity" and "local identity" through explorations in historical studies,
essays, novels, and films about the city. This class requires no knowledge of
Chinese; the language of instruction will be English.
Evaluation will be based on class preparation and participation, a presentation,
and a final project based on the topics covered in class. We will meet as a group
an average of six hours per week, with allowances made for one-on-one sessions
to develop final projects. Students will be expected to do readings before class
and to come to a few film showings outside the regular class hours.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 12.
Cost to student: approximately $75 for books.
Meeting time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10-noon.
YU
CHIN 12 Traditional Yang-style Taiji
This course provides an introduction to the history, theory, practice, and application of traditional Yang-style Taiji (Tai Chi). Students will undergo intensive
training in this beautiful form as well as learn its place in Chinese history, culture, and medicine. Daily practice outside of class using step-by-step video instruction will be required in order to complete the learning process within the
month. We will discuss the origins of Taiji more than 2000 years ago during the
Chun Qiu Period and make some contrasts and comparisons between that time
in China and America today. The principles of Yin and Yang and how they apply to the practice of Taiji will also be addressed. Students will learn the twelve
major energy channels and how energy moves through them. Charts will be provided with the English and Chinese names of each of the 108 forms in traditional
Yang-style Taiji. Required readings will include The Father's Suggestions For
The Child (Yen Shi Jia Shun).
Evaluation will be based on attendance and active participation, a practical test
on the Taiji form, and two short papers.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit:12.
Cost to student: $50 for videotapes and Xerox packet.
Meeting time: three two-hour sessions per week afternoons from 2-4.
ZHONG-HUA LU (Instructor)
C. KUBLER (Sponsor)
Zhong-hua Lu is a Taiji and Qigong master and watercolor artist who lives on a wilderness farm in Cropseyville, New York. He has taught Taiji, Qigong, and Kung Fu at various institutions in New York and Massachusetts.
CHIN 13 Theory and Practice of Chinese Cooking
Much more than in the U.S., in China people are always talking about food; as
the Chinese saying has it, min yi shi wei tian `the people consider eating as heaven'. This hands-on course will foster an appreciation of the historical and cultural background of Chinese cooking, as well as the development of practical skills
in preparing a variety of dishes. Chinese cuisine is inherently healthful because
of its reliance on vegetables, vegetable oils, steaming, stir-frying, and fat-free
condiments. To the extent possible, we will use locally available ingredients (organic if possible) to cook authentic Chinese food, primarily Chinese home cooking. Since climate has had a huge impact on availability of ingredients, the
course includes an introduction to the four primary regions, or schools, of Chinese cooking-Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern. While we will cook
most dishes together, every student will have the opportunity to make at least
one dish independently.
Evaluation will be based on class participation, a final project involving the creation and cooking of original recipes, and a 10-page paper.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 8. In case of overenrollment, Chinese and
Asian Studies majors will receive preference, then seniors and juniors, then others.
Cost to student: approximately $75 for Xerox packet and materials.
Meeting time: two three-hour sessions per week afternoons from 1-3:50.
JERLING KUBLER (Instructor)
C. KUBLER (Sponsor)
Jerling Kubler has taught Chinese language and culture at various schools in the U.S. and overseas including Williams College, where she has served for three semesters as Visiting Lecturer in Chinese.
Interested in learning first-hand about Chinese and Taiwanese culture and becoming acquainted with the so-called Taiwan (economic and political) "miracle"? Want to improve your knowledge of Mandarin, the world's most widely
spoken language? Then join us on this 24-day study tour to Taiwan, Republic of
China. We'll spend the first two and a half weeks in Taipei, the capital city,
where three hours of Mandarin language classes will be scheduled each morning
at the Mandarin Center of National Taiwan Normal University. After class each
day, we'll meet as a group for lunch and discussion. Activities with Taiwanese
university students and visits to cultural and economic sites of interest will be
scheduled for some afternoons and Saturdays, with other afternoons, evenings,
and Sundays free for self-study and individual exploration of the city. During the
last week, we'll conduct a seven-day tour of central and southern Taiwan. Two
orientation sessions will be conducted on campus in the fall to help participants
prepare for their experience.
Evaluation will be based on satisfactory completion of the language course and
active participation in the other scheduled activities.
Prerequisite: one year of Chinese or permission of the instructor. Enrollment
limit: 15. Not open to first-year students.
Cost to student: $2000. (Includes round-trip air fare from New York City, tuition, textbooks, accommodations, weekday lunches, local excursions, and tour
of central and southern Taiwan; does not include breakfasts, dinners, and weekend lunches while in Taipei, estimated at $300, or incidental expenses. Participants should note that, to enhance learning and to stay within budget, accommodations and most meals will be local student-not foreign tourist-standard.)
C. KUBLER
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. Classes meet Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
from 9:00-9:50.
Prerequisite: Japanese 101.
Evaluation will be based on regular attendance and active participation.
Cost to student: one Xerox packet.
LANGUAGE FELLOWS
JAPN 11 Introduction to Language Acquisition (Same as Linguistics 11)
This course examines how children learn their first language. We will focus on
the stages children go through, and how they use language as they learn. The
basic issues, methods, and research in the study of first-language acquisition are
discussed.
Evaluation will be based on attendance, class participation, one class presentation, and a 10-page research paper on selected issues in language acquisition. We
will meet three times a week for two-hour sessions with extra screenings of
films on language development.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit:15.
Cost to student: about $40 for books and printed materials.
Meeting time: three two-hour sessions per week mornings from 10-noon.
YAMAMOTO
To be taken by all students who are candidates for honors in Japanese.
ASTRONOMY
ASTR 25 American Planetariums, Public Outreach, and Astronomy Education
The installation of the new Zeiss optomechanical planetarium projector in our
Old Hopkins Observatory in 2005, and the installation of a smaller digital planetarium system, is leading to greatly enhanced capability for instruction and public outreach. During January 2007, we will visit several of the major planetariums in the United States and consider the equipment capabilities of optomechanical and digital projectors as well as the educational level of the content as
presented for students and for the general public. We will meet with the directors
of all facilities. In Massachusetts, we will visit the planetariums at home and in
Boston. In Seattle, we will benefit from the joint American Astronomical Society/American Association of Physics Teachers meeting of January 7-11 while
also visiting the Pacific Science Center. In Los Angeles, we will be among the
first to visit the newly re-opened Griffith Observatory and Planetarium after its
5-year rebuild and the installation of its new Zeiss projector. In New York, we
will visit the Rose Center for Earth and Space in its architectural wonder of a
glass enclosure surrounding its Hayden Sphere that contains its Zeiss IX. We
will compare with our own Zeiss Skymaster ZKP3/B projector on the Williams
campus.
Students will be expected to participate in all activities, to write 5-page papers
about each site, and to write a concluding 10-page paper comparing the facilities
and capabilities.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 10. Not open to first-year students.
Cost to student: $2730.
PASACHOFF
To be taken by students registered for Astronomy 493, 494.
ASTROPHYSICS
To be taken by students registered for Astrophysics 493, 494.
BIOLOGY
Students 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.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 8. No preference given.
Cost to student: $40 for text and readings.
Meeting time: afternoons. Class will meet for two hours, three times a week,
plus scope time.
NANCY PIATCZYC (Instructor)
ALTSCHULER (Sponsor)
Nancy Piatcyc 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 11 Curing Health Care (Same as Economics 28)
For the past several years increases in U.S. health care costs have significantly
outpaced both inflation and personal income growth. In 2006, the U.S. government will spend nearly a trillion dollars on health care-one-seventh of the
overall budget. Experts predict that federal health care expenditures will need to
double over the next decade to cope with the unprecedented demand on health
care created by the graying "baby boomer" generation. Major American employers such as GM are cutting their employee's health care benefits in order to
become profitable. On a per capita basis, a major reduction in funds available for
health care seems inevitable. The reduction of health care costs will create difficult questions. For example, Are all Americans entitled to the same expenditures?; Should drug company profits be regulated?
This course will give students the opportunity to look at health care from various
points of view, including economic, medical, social, ethical, and legal perspectives. We will consider recent legislation that brings the state of Massachusetts to
the forefront of the debate on universal health care coverage. Students will be
asked to propose the best strategies for financing health care and to predict the
positive and negative impacts of those strategies. Students will have several opportunities to interview experts and to express their own views.
Evaluation will be based on classroom participation, performance in semi-formal team debates, and a 10-page position paper due at the end of the term.
No prerequisites. Enrollment open to all but limited to 24.
Cost to student: none.
Meeting time: 10-noon, Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
JEFFREY THOMAS (Instructor)
ALTSCHULER (Sponsor)
Jeffrey Thomas received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Indiana University. He has nearly fifteen years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry where his research has focused on genetics, genomics, computational biology, and drug discovery. Several guests will also lend their expertise to the discussion, including a family coping with a chronic disease, Berkshire are physicians, a hospital administrator, an attorney, and an advocate for universal health care.
BIOL 12 Of Lice and Men: Insects, Disease, and History
Insect-borne diseases have been extremely important throughout human history.
In this class we will explore the biology of a number of important pathogens and
their arthropod vectors, and discuss their effects on humanity from prehistory to
the present. We will study the biological factors that make these diseases so
problematic, discuss historical and current approaches for controlling them, and
explore the potential of the new field of genomics for understanding and combating them. Additional topics for discussion will include: the importance of
economics, land use, and climate change to insect-born diseases. Some disease
systems that will be studied are: Malaria-the mosquito-vectored disease that
kills over a million children and infants per year in African alone; Plague-vectored from rats by fleas, responsible for the Black Death of the 14th Century that
killed up to a third of the human population worldwide; Typhus Fever-louse-
borne disease that in many wars caused more death than the battles did; Leishmaniasis-the cutaneous form, vectored by sand fleas, is currently a problem for
soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Students will gain experience with several techniques used in the diagnosis and
study of insect-borne diseases, as well as observe specimens of disease vectors
and pathogens.
The final meeting of the class will be a symposium in which students will present on a topic of their choice related to insect-borne disease.
Evaluation will be based on attendance, participation, a 10-page paper, and the
final presentation.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 15.
Cost to student: approximately $25 for books.
Meeting time: mornings, six hours per week.
ARAM STUMP (Instructor)
ALTSCHULER (Sponsor)
Aram Stump will be the post-doctoral teaching/research fellow in the BiGP Program in 2006-2007 and is doing collaborative research with Biology faculty.
BIOL 21 Science Beyond Williams
Are you interested in hands-on experience in a science-related field beyond the
Purple Valley? Are you curious to explore science in a university or medical
school research lab, a government agency, or a not-for-profit organization? This
course is designed to help students take part in scientific work or research going
on outside of Williams in order to provide them with a broader sense of what it is
like to work in a professional scientific setting.
Students will work with a Williams professor to locate a mentor at a work site in
the United States in the student's area of interest. Once a student has arranged for
a mentored hands-on experience for three weeks of Winter Study, he or she will
prepare for the internship by reading literature related to the project, and discuss
the readings with a professor here at Williams in November/December. Once on
site, students must remain in contact with their Williams faculty sponsor by having a weekly phone conference.
Transportation to and from work site will be covered as well as housing. Temporary, three-week housing may be difficult to arrange at various locations, so
choosing a work site close to home may be necessary to minimize housing costs.
Evaluation will be based on a 10-page paper and a presentation to a relevant department or program on the goals and accomplishments of the three-week project.
Strong interest, enthusiasm and willingness to plan and prepare for the internship are required for this course. Interested students are encouraged to email
Professor Raymond (wraymond@williams.edu) well in advance of WSP registration.
Prerequisite: two semesters of relevant course work in science and/or mathematics. Enrollment limit: 10.
Cost to student: varies, depending upon costs of travel to work site and housing.
RAYMOND
BIOL 22 Introduction to Biological Research
An experimental research project will be carried out under the supervision of
Biology Department faculty. 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.
Interested students must submit an application form available on the Biology
Department webpage: http://www.williams.edu/Biology/Research/Winter/022Application/022application.shtml.
Prerequisites: Biology 101. Enrollment limit: 15.
Cost to student: none.
Meeting time: mornings.
STAFF
To be taken by students registered for Biology 493, 494.
CHEMISTRY
CHEM 11 Science for Kids (Same as Special 11)
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 20, 21) we bring elementary school kids with their
parents to Williams to participate in the workshops.
You get a chance to see what goes into planning classroom demonstrations as
well as a sense of what it's like to actually give a presentation. You find that kids
at this age are great fun to work with because they are interested in just about everything and their enthusiasm is infectious. You also give the kids and their parents a chance to actually do some fun hands-on science experiments that they
may not have seen before, and you are able to explain simple scientific concepts
to them in a manner that won't be intimidating. It is a rewarding experience for
all involved.
Evaluation is based on participation in planning and running the workshops.
Each group is expected to prepare a handout with descriptions of the experiments for the kids, parents, and teachers.
No prerequisites: You need not be a science major; all that is needed is enthusiasm. Enrollment limit: 25.
Cost to student: none.
Meeting time: mornings. Classes meet three times a week for approximately
three hours each session. The workshop is run on the third weekend of Winter
Study (January 20, 21) and attendance from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is mandatory that
weekend. There are also one or two brief meetings held in the fall term for preliminary planning.
BINGEMANN and RICHARDSON
CHEM 12 Epidemiology: What Is an Epidemic? How Are They Investigated and Solved?
The biological world is ever changing, and human populations are subject to the
variability of biological, chemical, and physical agents. It has been said that the
job description of a virus/bacterium is to "infect, multiply, and move on to
another host." The word epidemiology comes from the Greek, essentially meaning "the logic of that which is upon the people." Although physicians at the
time of Hippocrates were pre-occupied by outbreaks of infectious diseases, in
the 20th Century, epidemiology has moved on to embrace the study of epidemics of chronic disease, nutritional conditions, occupational exposures and their
outcomes, etc. The object of this study is prevention of conditions that potentially can affect large numbers and classes of people. With the addition of modern
statistical concepts, epidemiology has made important contributions as to how
hypotheses about health and disease are evaluated. In a highly interactive environment, and relaying on small group analysis and class presentation, students
review the history of epidemiology through actual epidemic investigations in the
field, as well as classic papers in the health literature. Students learn how epidemics are investigated and how to begin to evaluate the quality and reliability
of studies in the health literature. Throughout, we concentrate on the logic of the
epidemic investigation and the preventive policies/actions that flow from that
analysis, and not on obscure facts or highly specialized knowledge.
Evaluation is based on the written epidemic analyses and class presentations,
and a short written critique of an article in the health literature on a subject of
personal interest.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 12.
Cost to student: $150 for books and materials for analysis.
Meeting time: afternoons, three days per week, for approximately six hours per
week. There may be some evening meetings, depending on the schedules of visiting instructors.
NICHOLAS H. WRIGHT '57 (Instructor)
L. PARK (Sponsor)
Dr. Nicholas H. Wright (Williams Class of 1957) is a medical epidemiologist with a longstanding interest in international health issues. He lives in Williamstown.
CHEM 13 Principles and Techniques of Cooking (Same as Special 13)
In this course we consider the practice and pursuit of food and its preparation.
Students study the hands-on aspects of specific techniques, as well as explore a
variety of more specialized ingredients central to various world cuisines. Classes
involve discussion of specific techniques and ingredients, followed by the preparation of full menus designed to illustrate variations on those themes. We consider the specific elements of a recipe, from ingredients to techniques, why each
is included and how each works. For instance, a menu might focus on different
types of pastas, and would include a discussion on why different pastas are
paired with specific sauces based on shapes and textures, how specific dishes
have evolved, and how similar culinary concepts are represented in the cuisines
of other cultures. The course may include visits to/by local purveyors and producers such as grocers, butchers, affineurs, and bakers. In addition, the course
culminates in a day-long trip to New York's Chinatown and other neighborhoods to explore Asian markets and specialized food purveyors. Finally, we
introduce you to the world of food writing, with a number of short works that
consider very different aspects of food and cooking: the emotive power of familiar foods, the chemical transformations that occur within a cooking process, the
symbolism associated with certain foods, and the cultural history of specific
dishes. Readings may include authors such as Brillat-Savarin, Colwin, Fisher,
Kennedy, McGee, and Simeti. Students are expected to be generally comfortable working in a kitchen, though prior extensive experience is not expected.
The only requirements are an open mind, an adventurous palate, and a true interest in learning something about food, its preparation, and the different ways in
which it is viewed. Students are expected to provide their own chef's knife,
apron, cutting board, and dishtowel; they should be willing to get messy, work
hard, and eat well!
Attendance at all classes for the entire class period is absolutely mandatory, and
evaluation is based on performance in the kitchen, as well as on a final written
assignment; this may be a 10-page research paper on the history of a particular
ingredient, on the role of food in a specific culture, or a thoughtful analysis of a
memorable meal or other food-related experience.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit 22. Preference is given to sophomores, juniors and those students who clearly indicate their interest in hardcopy form to
Professor Park.
Cost to student: $275-$300, which will cover all supplies (you will get to eat all
the meals you prepare) as well help defer the cost of the field trip(s).
Meeting time: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., in the Fort
Hoosac kitchen (on campus).
L. PARK and ANGELA CARDINALI (Instructors)
Park is a professor in the chemistry department as well as a graduate of the Professional Technical Program at the Peter Kump's Cooking School in NYC (now the Institute for Culinary Education); her training and expertise are in the areas of classical French technique and various Asian cuisines. Cardinali is the editor of several cookbooks, and her expertise is in the area of Italian cuisine.
CHEM 14 Alternative Photographic Processes
The most widely known process in photography is the one based on silver halide
chemistry. However, alternative processes such as the Cyano, Ambro and Platino types which use iron, chromium or platinum compounds as sensitizing
agents, are known, but these have not been commercialized. In addition to producing images with unique artistic appeal, each of these processes provides ample opportunities to learn about interesting chemical reactions and physical phenomena. This course introduces some of the alternative photographic processes
and shows students how to apply them to make their own prints using chemicals
that they prepare themselves. Some aspects of the silver halide process will also
be covered. To satisfy the curious, the course attempts to explain the underlying
mechanisms of each process covered at the molecular level using a largely qualitative approach, supported with demonstrations and experiments. The first 45
minutes or so of a typical meeting in this course is used to introduce and discuss
a topic pertaining to the historic background or the chemical principles of a given process. The remaining time of the meeting is used for hands on experience
in preparing solutions and making prints. Evaluation is based on attendance,
class participation, and the artistic and technical quality of the prints made by
students. The prints will be exhibited on the last day of the course.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 10. Preference is given to sophomores and
juniors.
Cost to student: $90 for supplies and printed material.
Meeting time: mornings, three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
from 10-noon). One or two meetings will be held at a museum.
HASANAYN
CHEM 15 "You Are Not Listening!"-Exploring Interpersonal Conflict (Same as Leadership Studies 15 and Special 15)
The aim of this course is to equip you with communication and leadership skills
to navigate interpersonal conflicts in a productive manner, whether you find
yourself in an uncomfortable situation in professional settings or in relationships
with family members or friends. We discuss models of conflict resolution and
examine the structures of these commonly difficult conversations using examples from our own experiences. Through role-plays, we practice communication
skills important to productive dialogue, learn how to listen for and interpret the
significance of what is said and not said. We also explore how our own immediate reactions may get in the way of achieving what we really want. By analyzing
the underlying reasons for disputes from different perspectives, we look to create
outcomes that serve our interests and address the needs of our adversaries. We
experiment with stepping into active leadership in conflicts for the sake of creating the types of relationships we want to have. Though the focus is on interpersonal conflict, the mediation skills taught in this class are an asset in many negotiation settings, including the future workplace. The class format is largely
group discussions and activities such as role-plays in which you will practice
conflict resolution and mediation techniques.
Evaluation is based on preparation and participation in class discussions and activities, homework exercises, including the keeping of a conflict journal, and a
final 10-page paper. Attendance of all classes is expected.
No prerequisites. Students should be genuinely interested in learning how to
create personal growth from conflicts. The topics of the class and the nature of
experiential exercises and follow-up discussions call for some level of self-disclosure and sharing of personal experiences of conflict. Every participant will be
asked to keep the content and details of shared personal experiences confidential. Enrollment limit: 18.
Cost to student: approximately $40 for books and photocopying.
Meeting time: Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
CHRISTOPHER GOH (Instructor)
L. PARK (Sponsor)
Dr. Christopher Goh is a life and leadership coach, and currently also has a part- time position at the Williams Outing Club, facilitating ropes course programs and contributing to the organization of WOOLF. He was trained as a volunteer community mediator at Foothill College, Mountain View, CA, and through Community Boards in San Francisco, CA. He has completed the life coaching core curriculum and the year-long leadership program at the Coaches Training Institute, San Rafael, CA. Before pursuing his current career, Dr. Goh worked as a senior researcher for a materials research company in Silicon Valley. He has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University, and has co-authored multiple journal articles and patents.
CHEM 17 Introduction to Research in Archaeological Science
An independent experimental project in archaeological science is carried out in
collaboration with Dr. Skinner whose research involves two types of studies:
dating fossil material and establishing the sources of ancient artifacts.
A 10-page written report is required.
Prerequisite: variable, depending on the project (at least CHEM 151) and permission of the Department. Since projects involve work in a faculty research lab,
interested students must consult Dr. Skinner and with the Department Chair before electing this course. Non-science majors are invited to participate. Enrollment limited to space in faculty research lab.
Cost to student: none.
Meeting time: mornings.
ANNE SKINNER (Instructor)
L. PARK (Sponsor)
Anne Skinner is a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at Williams.
CHEM 18 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.
A 10-page written report is required.
Prerequisite: