1. ADSP Infusing Institute Final Presentation Dr. Eric J. Fitch, Assoc. Prof. Chair, Biology & Environmental Science Marietta College Marietta, OH

2. Marietta College has several existing Interdisciplinary Programs which I participate in: Environmental Science/Studies ENVR 210 Intro. To Environmental Science ENVS/RELI 233 Religion and Nature ENVS/POLS 310 Environmental Policy and Law ENVS/POLS 311 Politics of Global Ecology ENVR 330 Environmental Sustainability

3. Leadership and Asian Studies Leadership – LEAD 308 Science and Public Policy and ENVS 320 Science, Technology and Society Asian Studies ENVS 394 Natural and Social History of Oceania - An experimental course – A study of the lands and peoples of arguably some of greatest feats of navigation and colonization in the history of human civilization.

4. Oceania from Australia through Polynesia to Hawai’i follows a unique set of paths – physical, social, spiritual and cultural – to unique and vulnerable Natural environments.

6. Oceania (aka Oceanica; Australasia)

7. Inclusion in the Asian Studies curriculum Geographic location of the Nations involved should be sufficient prima facia for inclusion But…..

8. Modern migrations to the archipelagos of the Pacific Nikkei Chinese SE Asians Etc. Represents a significant dispersal of culture as well as Population.

9. Reason for being part of Infusing Institute #1 Have the Science and the Social Science components of this new course mostly nailed down. The cultural elements of the “indigenous peoples” as well as the immigrant populations are currently deficient. This is where the Institute comes in. Objective: fulfilled: Japanese and Chinese religion, art, literature and culture have had incredible influence throughout Oceania. I came to learn and I have. Now it is time to do the heavy lifting and incorporate material into the experimental course and make it ready for review as a permanent part of the curriculum.

10. Reason for participating in the Institute #2: Upgrading content of current coursework ENVS/RELI 233 Religion and Nature The narrow focus of the course allows for a considerable breadth of faiths that are covered. Given this, the weakest areas of my knowledge base are Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism (esp. Chan and Zen), and Shinto. Objective: fulfilled. Religion components of the Institute were very strong providing much useful material.

11. Reason for Participation in Institute #3 Potential supplemental material for other courses Was hoping for material for ENVS 320 Science, Technology and Society Hoped that some of the literature coursework would deal with contemporary popular culture esp. Japanese popular culture Anime, Manga, Mecha, Kaiju, etc. 2 out of three

12. Conclusion: Good News: The Institute provided even more information and inspiration to augment the content of these aforementioned courses.

13. Conclusion part 2: Bad news: lots of time and effort needed to integrate useful information and follow leads for further material.

14. Conclusion part 3: The institute provided enough material and inspiration to keep me going for at least a couple of years, and maybe by that time I’ll be ready to apply for round two. In the meantime, it’s time to fly back to my regular duties. Aloha, Mahalo and A hui ho!