Every spring, I find joy in tracking whale migrations, particularly the right whales moving from the Carolinas into New England. There's a pleasure in following whales during what tends to be a turbulent time in the academic year, when we balance the chaos of finals season with making summer plans. By comparison, whale watching feels straightforward: it's refreshing to know that you're looking for a spout or a fin, and to be able to devote your entire attention to such details.
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As an avid student of environmental literature, whale watching brings me back to the multifaceted pleasures of scholarship–while I love Moby-Dick for its detailed descriptions of right whales, it's a lot easier to share this fascination with my family when we're all hoping to spot a whale than it is to read them a conference paper. I like whale watching because it reminds me of the rich payoff of helping students see the value of their learning outside of a grade. Even if the whales never appear and all we get is an expanse of water and a sunburn, for a moment, we are probing at the same mystery. The whales are beautiful, but the experience is so much richer when we get a glimpse of something we weren't guaranteed to see. And in a time when questions about the 'use' of a university education abound, having the opportunity to look out at the sea and know what I am looking for is both a privilege and a gift.
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Coming Up in the Faculty Hub
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Tuesday, April 21 & Wednesday, April 22
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As the weather improves, staying focused on work when I could be outside with a good book feels like an uphill battle. To keep myself at least somewhat on task, I've taken to organizing my break time by reading a poem or two before getting back to work. Given that April is National Poetry Month, I invite you to do the same. I'm partial to Dylan Thomas' "Fern Hill," but if you're in the mood for something lighter and seasonally appropriate, a good place to start is Linda Gregg's "Praising Spring."
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Program Spotlight: End-of-Semester Events
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Looking to round out your semester on a high note? As the end of the semester quickly approaches, the Faculty Hub has a full roster of events coming up to celebrate and reflect on your accomplishments from this past year, as well as transition into summer.
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We are always looking for new and exciting projects and collaborations. Feel free to contact us.
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