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Academe: Science on the Brain

Blair Kloman — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:57:14 +0000

Academe is Middmag’s occasional check-in on what students and faculty are talking about.

Last week President Obama announced an ambitious plan called The Brain Initiative—a $100-million project to study brain function. The goal is for scientists working in the field of brain research to further their understanding and continue to develop resources that will lead to breakthroughs in treating conditions such as Alzheimer’s, autism, and stroke.

That announcement got the attention of some neuroscience faculty and student researchers here on campus. Middmag caught up with Professor Tom Root and Stephen Lammers ’13, Ben Wagner ’13, and Deirdre Sackett ’13 during a break from their studies. Here’s what they had to say about Obama’s plan—and what it might mean for the future.

Solar Decathlon ’13 Team Kicks Off Spring Construction

Stephen Diehl — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:07:30 +0000

Middlebury’s Solar Decathlon ’13 team gave students, faculty, staff, and the community a first look at their solar-powered home this week, and MiddMag was there for the fun.

Drawing On the Wall

Stephen Diehl — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:53:05 +0000

The American artist Sol LeWitt was widely known in the 1960s for the temporary wall drawings he devised for others to produce per his instructions as part of a growing Minimalism movement.

In what might be the epitome of hands-on learning, a group of art history students installed LeWitt’s Wall Drawing #394 last week as part of their class, “Minimalism: Art, Objects, and Experience,” with professor Eddie Vazquez.

The drawing came to Middlebury’s Museum of Art with a detailed set of instructions, including specifications for materials used and orientation of lines. Museum designer Ken Pohlman and preparator Chris Murray created the pencil grid guidelines, and each student could choose from a limited selection of lines to draw. The whole process took about 50 hours to complete, and the finished product will be on view in the Overbrook Gallery through April 21.

Comfort for the Lovelorn

Stephen Diehl — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:24:25 +0000

Before the meteoric rise of her second-ever short film, “The Scared is Scared” (which just passed a half million views on Vimeo), Bianca Giaever ’12.5 had already established herself as a multimedia storyteller to watch. Her first film, “Holy Cow Lisa” was a Vimeo staff pick. MiddMag sat down with Bianca and asked about the inspiration for “Holy Cow Lisa,” a short thoughtful and funny reflection on love and heartbreak, narrated by Professor Gregg Humphrey, senior lecturer in education studies. Humphrey’s own story of heartache during his years as a Middlebury student provided the narrative for the film.

More on Bianca’s second film later, but we thought this would be a fitting post for Valentine’s Day.

What Did You Do On Your “Febmester”?

Stephen Diehl — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:02:19 +0000

Last week Middlebury welcomed the latest group of Febs to campus, and here’s what some of them had to say about their semester off. From delivering pizzas and teaching children to saving endangered birds and unicycling over mountains, each and every one of them has a great story to share.

Feb Cam!

Stephen Diehl — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:17:27 +0000

This year MiddMag wanted to get a Feb’s eye view of the storied ski-down celebration at the Middlebury College Snow Bowl. So we recruited intrepid Feb (and awesome skier) Hanna Howell ’12.5 to be our photographer. Take a look at some of the things she saw today.

To read more about the Feb celebration weekend, click here.

What’s Happening at Old Stone Mill?

Stephen Diehl — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:24:16 +0000

It may boast a stoic and traditional exterior, but behind the doors of Old Stone Mill, all kinds of crazy things are happening. Crickets are a nutritional snack, origami makes great jewelry, and ten strangers get together monthly for a dinner party.

Based on the premise that students need space to explore their ideas, the OSM, as it’s known, is a hub of student-driven activity. Interested students can present their non-academic and self-designed project ideas to the all-student board, who then select tenants for each semester.

Middmag went to OSM’s fall showcase and met up with some of the current tenants, including an app developer, a clothes designer, a group opening a beauty salon for women of color, and many other creative and ambitious young folks.

A Special Look at the Dalai Lama’s Return to Middlebury

Matthew Jennings — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:28:14 +0000

When the 14th Dalai Lama visited campus for two days in October, our digital media producer Brendan Mahoney ’11 was afforded special access to His Holiness. This insightful, touching video is the result.

Riding the Rails Through Small-Town America

Stephen Diehl — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:57:36 +0000

Throughout the summer, we posted Dispatches from Ryan Kim’s remarkable cross-country rail tour of small towns in the U.S. Now that he’s back at Middlebury, we caught up with Ryan and asked him a few questions about what prompted him to make such an ambitious journey. Here’s what he had to tell us:

Parents: What Did You Learn in School Today?

Stephen Diehl — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:45:42 +0000

Fall Family Weekend is always a great time for families to get a glimpse of what their kids are up to here on campus, and many faculty members often open up their Friday classes as well. In our latest “Tell Us One Thing” video, Middmag caught up with a handful of parents who learned a thing or two while they were here.

Wired for Creativity

Stephen Diehl — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:26:37 +0000

Thursday September 27th marked the opening of this year’s Clifford Symposium, celebrating “Creativity and Collaboration.” With more than 30 events across multiple academic and artistic disciplines, the weekend offered everything from music and dance performances to panels on peacekeeping and entrepreneurship.

The annual occasion, which falls near the start of each academic year, is named for Nicholas R. Clifford, who taught history at the College from 1966 to 1993 and is a champion of critical inquiry. This year’s symposium was hosted by the Kevin P. Mahaney ’84 Center for the Arts in honor of its 20th anniversary.

Middmag caught the kick-off energy of the evening’s keynote speaker, Julie Burstein, and opening wire-walking event with the following video Dispatch:

More Clifford Symposium coverage:

Welcome Home

Matthew Jennings — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 17:55:30 +0000

The RV David Folger has arrived.

We hopped on board the College’s new research vessel as it entered Lake Champlain at Whitehall, New York, for the final leg of its transoceanic journey from Vancouver, British Columbia. The arrival of the Folger was keenly anticipated, as the vessel has already been prepped for use in four science courses this fall semester; the boat will be officially dedicated on October 20.

Here, we offer a glimpse of the many features of Middlebury’s floating laboratory on Lake Champlain:

The RV David Folger

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The Folger now calls Point Bay Marina in Charlotte, Vermont, home.

Welcoming the Carbon-Neutral Class

Stephen Diehl — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:27:37 +0000

How do you explain carbon neutrality to a group of first-years? Cue the carbon-shredding sharks, of course! Director of Sustainability Integration Jack Byrne did just that during an orientation barbecue hosted by President Ron Liebowitz and his wife Jessica for the class of 2016. He wanted to get their attention in a new way—and also get them excited to help the college reach its goal of carbon neutrality by the time they graduate. Take a look at how he and his group of Campus Sustainability Coordinators made it happen.

Professor Pundits: Things That Go Bump…Or Not

Stephen Diehl — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:01:32 +0000

As political convention season comes to a close, presidential debate season begins. So, did either candidate get a “bump” from the conventions? In their newest installment, professor pundits Matt Dickinson and Bert Johnson say the whole idea of a bounce in the polls from the conventions may be a thing of the past. According to the pundits, several factors, including fragmented media coverage, are responsible for this trend. See what Matt and Bert have to say in the video below, and please send any presidential election-related questions to pundits@middlebury.edu.

Previous Professor Pundits commentaries

“Summer Games” at Middlebury Language Schools

Stephen Diehl — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:07:19 +0000

Sports and activities have always been a big part of life at the Language Schools. They give students a language-specific cultural experience that truly augments the intensive immersive approach to mastering a language.

This summer, with the international flair of the London Olympics on our minds, MiddMag decided to see just what these language students were up to. From ardent competition on the fields and strategic moves at the table to athletic artistry in the dance studios, here’s a brief sampling of what we saw.

Professor Pundits: What Do You Get for $400 Million?

Stephen Diehl — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:56:53 +0000

In their latest video commentary, Middlebury political science professors Matt Dickinson and Bert Johnson look at the Obama campaign’s early massive spending spree — $400 million to date — mostly in battleground states. But despite the big spending, polls show a statistical dead heat between the two candidates. The pundits discuss this and more in their newest chat. And, as always, if you have a question about this presidential campaign for Bert Johnson or Matt Dickinson, please leave a comment below or email: pundits@middlebury.edu.

Previous Professor Pundits commentaries.

Rocking with Gratitude

Matthew Jennings — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:22:40 +0000

Sometimes a simple thank you just isn’t enough. Each year Middlebury’s annual fund team thinks of new ways to show appreciation for the generosity of donors, but this year they reached new heights. A week before finals they installed a giant gift box in the lobby of Davis Library. Adding to the mystery, signs around campus invited students to show up at the library at 10 p.m. on Wednesday during finals, for a study break. What happened next? You’ll have to watch the video to find out, but let’s just say we’ve never had so much fun saying thanks, and we hope donors to the annual fund will feel well-appreciated!

Bonus footage: Behind the scenes at the recording studio.

Professor Pundits: “Healthcare Ruling: Campaign Friend or Foe?”

Stephen Diehl — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 03:01:31 +0000

Despite Mitt Romney’s surge in fundraising immediately after the Supreme Court’s healthcare ruling, both candidates seem to be keeping their distance from the topic. But as our professor pundits Matt Dickinson and Bert Johnson point out, that does not mean the ruling won’t be important in this fall’s elections, though maybe not for the reasons you think. Join in the conversation with your comments below.

If you have a question about presidential campaigns, please email us at pundits@middlebury.edu. We’ll do our best to answer your questions in our next video or by email. And, follow the pundits on Twitter: @bnjohns and @mattdickinson44. Past episodes of the Pundits.

Professor Pundits: Watching Wisconsin

Stephen Diehl — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:20:33 +0000

Wisconsin’s Republican governor just survived a recall election. Will that have any impact on the presidential race in a state that has historically gone to Democrats? In their latest political commentary on the presidential race, the Professor Pundits offer differing views on the importance of Wisconsin events to the national political scene.

Got a question about the presidential campaign for the Professor Pundits? Send your questions to pundits@middlebury.edu.

Tell Us One Thing: Advice from the Class of ’12

Stephen Diehl — Thu, 31 May 2012 15:38:14 +0000

Before leaving town for their next big adventure, a handful of relaxed and reflective graduating seniors took a moment to tell Middmag just what they thought all first years should know. From befriending hallmates and meeting Ron Liebowitz to the Proctor panini machine and swimming hole secrets, you might be surprised by their words of wisdom.

Bark Break

Stephen Diehl — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:21:50 +0000

It’s hard not to smile in the presence of a puppy. And since it’s exam period here on campus, counseling center director Ximena Mejia thought dogs would be just the thing to help stressed-out students relax. So with the help of about six furry friends from an organization called Therapy Dogs of Vermont, Mejia and others gave a non-stop string of students an excuse to take a break this week in Coltrane Lounge. Much laughter ensued—with plenty of wet kisses shared—before the two-legged creatures slumped back to the library.

Students Make Pitch for Social Entrepreneurship Grants

Stephen Diehl — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:35:41 +0000

At the first-ever grant awards competition for Middlebury’s new Center for Social Entrepreneurship, the room was full of nervous energy. Five student teams gave short pitches to a panel of judges, trying to convince them that their summer project was worthy of a $2,000 grant. Each team had already received a $3,000 grant from the center, but they all made strong cases for how the bonus funds would help. The projects were as diverse as the students themselves: composting operations for high schools, farming insects for food, using geographic information systems to alleviate hunger, training young social entrepreneurs in Mexico, and creating a safe home for street children in Ethiopia. Professor Jon Isham, faculty director for the center, tells MiddMag that the students captured the spirit of social entrepreneurship beautifully.

Trivial Matters

Matthew Jennings — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:20:48 +0000

It has become a beloved Thursday night tradition at Middlebury.

It’s 9:00 and students are arriving at McCullough—ready for a battle over esoteric facts and tidbits. On Trivia Night, the techno is bumping, complimentary food is devoured, and the competition—often fierce—is engaged. Our digital media intern (and former trivia champ) Brendan Mahoney ’11 dropped by the other night to capture the fever on film.

Professor Pundits: Sorting Out Super Tuesday

Stephen Diehl — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:09:33 +0000

Trying to draw conclusions from this year’s Super Tuesday voting is tricky business. The only certainty is that there’s still a long road ahead for the Republican primary candidates. Middlebury’s professor pundits Matt Dickinson and Bert Johnson are back with an update about what happened on Super Tuesday and what it might mean going forward.

What’s So Special About Being a Feb?

Stephen Diehl — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:22:09 +0000

On Saturday, February 4, 113 Middlebury seniors who have completed their undergraduate academic requirements celebrated with unbridled glee while hurtling down the mountain at the Middlebury College Snow Bowl. The sun was shining brightly and spirits were high. We asked a few to tell us one thing that’s special about being a “Feb” at Middlebury, and here’s what they had to say.