Mini-College Faculty Sessions
Family Weekend offers mini-college faculty lectures, which are a popular tradition! You can select one of the following lectures to attend without specifically indicating your preference on the registration form.
All Mini Colleges are scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 7, at 11 a.m in Thwing Center.
Below is a listing of the 2009 Mini-College Faculty Sessions.
The Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering of Plastic Beer Bottles
Dr. David Schiraldi, Associate Professor of Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Meeting Location: Bingham 103
In the 1970s, glass soda bottles gave way to plastic ones; the same process has begun for beer bottles. The demands for packaging beer are greater than for water or soda. We will discuss how chemistry, physics, and engineering come together in what looks like a simple object.
Moral Emotions
Dr. Bill Deal, Severance Professor of the History of Religion, Department of Religious Studies
Professor of Cognitive Science (secondary), Department of Cognitive Science
Meeting Location: Bingham 304
How do you know what is morally right and wrong? Do you decide on the basis of philosophical reasoning, or on what you believe is religiously commanded, or on some combination of the two? While traditional philosophical and religious perspectives on ethics have focused on the role that rationality plays, we will consider the role that human emotions play in guiding our sense of right and wrong. This seminar explores these issues through discussion of the famous “trolley problem.”
Shoot What You Love: 7 Steps to Better Photography
Betsy Banks, Assistant Director for the Center for Civic Engagement & Learning (CCEL)
Meeting Location: Bingham 204
Since the arrival of digital technology, photography seems easy – but want to kick your photos up a notch? Photography is an amazing art form and an understanding of its fundamentals can take your work to a new level. We’ll explore ways to improve your photography, including tips for creating visual impact, dynamic composition, use of the frame, point of view, rule of thirds, and more. Become a better photo-grapher and transform your images from simple “snapshots” to great photographs!