The College of the Environment Think Tank is inviting proposals for creative work on the theme of “Disaster” and the ways in which humans confront or survive disasters, to be shared with the public on Friday, March 2, 2018 in the Memorial Chapel as part of an event hosted by the COE Think Tank.
Below is the description of the themes we are working with.
Proposals can be submitted for the creation of new work, or for existing work. We are able to offer $200 honoraria. In addition to sharing the work at the March 2 event, we will ask you to talk about your project in 8-10 minute presentation with time for audience to respond and ask questions.
Proposals are due by Thursday, February 1, midnight, to Katja Kolcio – Kkolcio@wesleyan.edu
Selection will be determined by Tuesday, February 6. Work must be completed by Monday, February 26 and the event will take place Friday, March 2, afternoon-evening.
Please include:
Your full name Wesleyan University Email Address Your Wesleyan University P.O Box # (for payment purposes only) Your Wesleyan University ID # (for payment purposes only) Your class year and major(s) if you have declared. Are you an international student? (for payment purposes only)A 300 word (maximum) description of the work. A sample of the work or other relevant work if such exists. A description of the format and technical requirements (Performance? Exhibit? Video? Music? Etc?)
THEME: FROM DISRUPTIONS TO DISASTERS: A LENS ON THE HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIP
Since its inception, the Earth has had a violent history of disruption and disasters. Volcanic eruptions, transformations of the atmosphere, meteoritic collisions, mass extinctions, moving glaciers, plagues, disease, wars, politics and belief systems are but some of the perturbations, natural and otherwise, that disrupt the dynamic processes of the earth and all life that has lived on it. Natural and anthropogenic perturbations across a range of scales set the Earth, ecosystems and human communities onto different courses. While disruptions and disasters have been an integral part of the history and evolution of the planet, the relationship between humans and their environment continues to evolve as perturbations shift in frequency, magnitude and type. These perturbations arise from both non-anthropogenic and anthropogenic sources. But there is also a growing human-environment interaction that leads to disruptions and disasters at a variety of scales. While some of the anthropogenic factors depend upon technological advances (e.g., nuclear radiation) other factors are ancient (e.g., the use of fire to clear large areas for agricultural purposes, such as in Ukraine, Indonesia or South America).
Our current world offers a series of profound challenges to humanity. We are pushing our world towards a tipping point of climate change by our changes to the carbon cycle and use of fossil fuels. The social-political-ethnic-religious theater of rivalries and conflict intensifies as the environmental stage rotates. The biochemical machinery of humans and the biological world is now constantly challenged by exposure to a bewildering array of microbes, chemical, and other disturbance agents—to which, humans and other Earth inhabitants must continually adapt. In all of this, the human-environment relationship is cyclical. Both parts of the relationship manifest change in the other setting up an ever changing dynamic.
The 2017-2018 College of the Environment Think Tank will focus upon how humanity will confront and take measure of the human-environment relationship from diverse perspectives of biochemistry, ecology, socio-political-religious, somatics, art, and embodiment.
Thank you, 2017-18 Think Tank Members
Katja Kolcio, Chair and Professor of Dance
Ishita Mukerji, Professor of Integrative Science and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Marguerite Nguyen, Assistant Professor of English and East Asian Studies
Eiko Otake, Menakka and Essel Bailey ’66 Distinguished Visiting Scholar in the College of the Environment
Helen Poulos, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Environment Studies
The Green Fund Committee is responsible for allocating over $85,000 each year to environmental initiatives led by students, faculty, and staff. The committee meets every Tuesday from 6:30-8:30pm. You can find more information about The Green Fund and examples of projects we have funded on our website: