Chaos Matters!

Vol 1 No 25

Our Guest Blogger this week is Sam Samanta, Professor of Science and Technology. He is offering an Honors Studies event on April 26th and sent along the following flyer to serve as this week's blog. Hope to see you there!

What is Chaos and Complexity Theory? 
Does it matter in our lives?

Honors House Workshop       Sam.Samanta@flcc.edu    @InvariantChaos    
Thursday April 26, 4:30 pm – 5:50 pm

Participants will be introduced to elements of Chaos, Fractals, Self-organization and Complexity Theory through use of interactive activities and software.  We will draw fractals by hand, see a demonstration of self-organization, chaos and complexity. Interests of the participants will determine how many of the following questions and elements will be addressed.
          How does chaos different from randomness?
          What is the “Butterfly Effect?”
          Does Chaos in physical world make long-term predictions impossible?
          How is science of parts different from the science of the whole?
          Does the principle of causality need to be modified?
          How do these new concepts related to our personal and communal life?
          What has been the role of technological advances; what are the implications for the future.

The event is an open invitation for developing creative insights through understanding of hidden patterns in the dynamic world around you. We will use visual mathematics to explore art, biology, business ecosystems, music, mountains, clouds, rivers and streams, solar-flares, weather, ecosystems, forest fires, stock-market crashes, flooding, earthquakes, cities, traffic-jams, internet, social-networks, galaxies, crimes, politics, wars, tornados, hurricanes, and dynamics of human relationships. You will come to see natural fractal shapes such as trees and network of blood vessels; and chaos in heart-beats as source of adaptability and sustainability. Through writing, discussion, and demonstration, this event will explore the relevance of Chaos theory to our lives its impact across scientific disciplines as well as non-science areas such as the social sciences, the arts and humanities.

Other Contacts for More Information:

trista.merrill@flcc.edu 

Curtis.NehringBliss@flcc.edu

David.McGuire@flcc.edu

Nani.NehringBliss@flcc.edu

Sarah.Blank@flcc.edu

Mary.Delmastro@flcc.edu

Dinner Report - Spring 2018

Vol 2 No 24

Last night was the Spring 2018 Honors Studies Dinner where students, faculty, and staff gathered together to share stories of what Honors meant to them and what they were doing in and for Honors. As is tradition, I will post my opening remarks below...but before I do that, I wanted to share some highlights - sound bites, if you will - of things I heard that really stood out to me.

...I found my voice...
...I was an Honors student before I ever knew it had a name...
...We will cry together in Honors...
...Inclusive...
...I have few regrets in life, but one will always be that I didn't find Honors earlier...
...a sense of belonging...
...discussions and passion...

...a sense of discovery...

...I learn differently...

...sharing passion and curiosity...

So many good stories and experiences - reminding me again how special Honors really is. So much more was said, but these struck me as being themes that carried through what students said and so I wanted to share them here. And now the speech I gave...

***

Honors means home and family to many students and that is something about which I’m immensely proud. I knew that Honors was about building community, but I never really appreciated just how much that was happening until last semester when I handed the microphone around to various students to hear what they had to say about their experiences. It was eye-opening in the best of ways.

Lately, I’ve been noticing that Honors is also about opportunity and is often referred to as a best kept secret at FLCC, known to a select few who love it and talk about it and celebrate it. Their voices are not always heard outside the metaphorical walls of the Honors House (which extend far past that amazing building across the street). Honors is anywhere that you find fellowship and conversation that pushes your own ideas further and farther.

Opportunity comes in many forms and takes many shapes. We will hear a little bit about our fall course offerings this evening as well as our brand new Honors Club, which you will hear about shortly as well. It’s also worth mentioning the growing number of Honors Studies Events popping up – activities on campus that celebrate what it means to be an Honors thinker. The Human Library, which we will hear about shortly, asks us to potentially face our own prejudices. Another activity on Laker Day will help us learn what to look for to help prevent violence while a third will challenge us to rethink what it means to take a selfie. Other upcoming events in April include one that turns our gaze to history and what we can learn about current events through the lens of past presidents and another that explores the forces of chaos in our universe. One more on the calendar is coming up quick – one week from today is the 16th Annual Campus Authors reading that Curt will tell us about in a few minutes. In short, it seems that more and more faculty are realizing that the Honors experience is a valuable one and I hope that you agree with them. I hope that all of you will consider not only participating in these events, but also challenge yourself to take the few extra steps it takes to earn Honors points for them. Take your learning and reflection outside the classroom and out into the world you inhabit.

And that brings me to one of the most powerful and visible ways you can fly your Honors flag.

On May 4th of this year, we will be celebrating our second Honors Convocation. This event is designed to celebrate the work that Honors students are doing in any of their Honors courses. It is an opportunity to show case to a wider audience the things you have so passionately dedicated yourself to this semester. You pour so much into the work you do and your ideas are so grand that they, like you yourselves, are larger than the classroom in which they were birthed. Therefore, I challenge each of you to consider creating a poster that shows us what you’ve been working on this semester. Choose from a project, an assignment, a paper, a concept; in short, anything that shows what you have been doing as an Honors student this semester. We know it’s a busy time of year, but this is worth it for the excitement of celebrating your hard work and your vision. To encourage you to walk down this path, I invite you to join us at Study-a-Thon on April 26th. This event, with its vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere (not to mention the free food) is a great time to come hang out, make a poster, and talk with other Honors students about what THEY are working on. You may even be asked to be one of our four presenters at the speaking portion of the event.

We created the Convocation because at the end of each semester, without fail, I found myself bursting with pride at the work my students were doing. Every semester, I desperately attempted to convey the various projects to other faculty and staff, to friends and family and, frankly, I always feel wholly inadequate to do so. I am so proud of all of you who have taken on the Honors challenge and I want the world to see what you are doing and I want them to love and appreciate you just as much as I do. Other Honors faculty feel the same way, and so the Convocation was born.

For those of you who are inclined to argue because you’ve heard the passion and enthusiasm with which I talk about Honors….well, you are still seeing it second hand. Why should I try to tell the stories when THE STUDENTS are the ones who are living them? Why should I fall short of show casing everything you are doing when you are the ones who are living and breathing that work (along with so much other work) in every moment you are awake?

I know that we are asking you to do something extra, but I also know that many of you are up to the task. I know that we are adding to the immense burden you are already carrying, but I cannot think of a more fitting way to share the secret of Honors with the FLCC Community. You are all gems and you should all be celebrated; you should all be, if you’ll excuse the pun, honored.

If you are brand new to Honors or came here tonight to learn about it, welcome. Next semester, I will think and feel these same things about you if you can join us in Honors. I will make the same pleas of you as we move forward and, in the meantime, come see it. See what your fellow students are working on and share their excitement. Let them ignite your imagination and your curiosity even more than they already have.

And speaking of honoring you, I want to encourage you to do two other things. First, join the Honors Club – regardless of whether or not you have taken any Honors courses (….yet). You’ll hear more about that from Jill Bond in a moment. Second, did you know that there are scholarships JUST for Honors students? Go, apply. You DO like money, yes?

You know, this may be the strangest speech I’ve ever written. It’s a speech of imploring. A speech of encouragement. A speech that is designed to move you to help us share the Honors story with the wider FLCC Community and to help Honors to thrive and grow OUTSIDE of the classroom. We are a group that is always changing as students come and go but one thing remains the same: Honors means home and family. Honors is worth our time and energy. And Honors is something that we need to promote and share. Our world is a tumultuous and chaotic one and I cannot think of a better collection of characteristics to celebrate than what we’ve built here: critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, lifelong learning, and a sense of belonging. Celebrate it with me.

FREE FOOD Matters

Vol 2 No 22

Invitation!

Come have dinner with us! 

When:  April 4th, from 5:00 – 7:00

Where:  Stage 14

Who: ALL STUDENTS interested in or curious about Honors

What:  TACOS!

What else:  shirts, coloring books, and this semester's gift

Come eat, and fellowship, and hear about important Honors matters such as…

Faculty and Staff reflecting on Honors

Students reflecting on Honors and asking questions

Spring 2018 Honors Convocation 

Poster making at Study-A-Thon 

What is Chaos Honors event

Presidential Greatness Honors event

Honors Club news 

Human Library - Honors Approved!

Fall 2018 Honors Studies classes

Spring 2018 Honors Graduation Ceremony 

Unique Spring Opportunity!

Vol 2 No 13

Looking for a fascinating course this Spring that won't require a huge chunk of classroom time but still gets you that Honors experience?  Consider the Spring 2018 hybrid course on....CHAOS.

Or, more specifically, SCI 137-01 - Chaos:  The Self-Organizing Universe.  Fridays from 2:00 - 4:50 in the Honors House.  Take a look at this amazing course description from Sam Samanta:

Do you ever wonder if the physical world and life seemingly driven by random events makes long-term predictions impossible? The course is an open invitation for developing creative insights through understanding of hidden patterns in the dynamic world around you. We will use visual mathematics to explore art, biology, business ecosystems, music, mountains, clouds, rivers and streams, solar-flares, weather, ecosystems, forest fires, stock-market crashes, flooding, earthquakes, cities, traffic-jams, internet, social-networks, galaxies, crimes, politics, wars, tornadoes, hurricanes, and dynamics of human relationships. You will come to see natural fractal shapes such as trees and network of blood vessels; and chaos in heart-beats as source of adaptability and sustainability. Through writing, discussion, lab experiences, and computer modeling, this course will explore the relevance of Chaos theory to our lives and through individualized research projects demonstrate its impact across scientific disciplines as well as non-science areas such as the social sciences, the arts and humanities.

Honors Under Advisement...

Vol 2 No 6

It’s that time again!  We are moving into those weeks and months where everyone seems to be looking towards next semester – deciding what courses to take and what paths will lead them to their ultimate goals.  Or to determining what those goals are.  Here at Honors Studies, we want to encourage you to come explore what we have.  So many fun things are coming and while you COULD just look them up on WebAdviser, we thought it might be easier to list them here for you!  So, without further ado, here are the Spring 2018 offerings in Honors:

HONORS SEMINARS

HON 200-50 – A Writer’s Retreat -- This course provides a unique opportunity for aspiring, and accomplished, writers to gather in a supportive community to practice and discuss craft and aesthetics. We will meet for four weekends (10:00 am Saturday through 1:00 pm Sunday) at FLCC's inspiring Muller Field Station at the south end of Honeoye Lake where we will nurture, nourish, and revitalize our individual writing practices through weekend workshops and feedback sessions. With an emphasis on poetry and creative non-fiction the semester culminates with the creation of individual manuscripts, a course anthology, and a final public reading. (February 3 & 4, March 3 & 4, April 7 & 8, May 5 & 6 – Nehring Bliss / Palzer)

HON 200-90 – Women Who Kill -- Society seems darkly fascinated and quick to misunderstand the motives and minds of women who kill; we seem to think that murder is a predominately masculine crime. Studies reveal, however, that it is not gendered and female murderers have been around as long as male ones. But there are differences, and so we will spend this semester exploring what drives a woman make this choice and why it seems to enthrall, fascinate, and sometimes amuse society. We will look into positive and negative images connected to the feminine and also explore the psychological links between our myths, the collective unconscious, and the human brain. Opportunities for self-reflection will add context to student thoughts and feelings related to their experiences as critical readers and thinkers. (Tuesdays @ 6:00 – Ross/Merrill)

HONORS IN THE DISCIPLINES

COM 115 – Interpersonal Communication Honors – The course focuses on the development of the interpersonal communication skills necessary for building and maintaining positive relationships in both a personal and professional environment. Topics of study will include an orientation to interpersonal communication, verbal and non-verbal communication in career and personal relationships, perception of self and others, listening, managing conflict, response skills, cultural and gender considerations, characteristics of leadership and effective work groups, and job interviewing. Students will study various theories and practice skill development. (MW @ 2:00 – Flager)

ENG 101 – Composition I Honors - The goals of Composition I are to develop students' abilities to write at a college level and to think critically. Students will learn to make decisions based on rhetorical concerns of a writer's purpose, the readers' needs, and the context in which documents are read. As using sources effectively is one of the goals in the course, research will be interwoven into documents as a way to support ideas and connect with the audience. The course emphasizes process-based writing, student reflection of their learning progress, and it culminates in a learning portfolio.  (MW @ 11:00  - Murphy)

ENG 102 – Introduction to Literature -- ENG 102 introduces students to a range of literary genres that may include poetry, drama, fiction, and creative non-fiction and develops skills in reading, interpreting, and evaluating literature. Students will learn and practice the skills of close reading through discussion and writing.  (MW @ 11:00 – OR- TTH @ 11:00 – Nehring Bliss)

ENG 103 – Composition II Honors -- Continuing the educational goals of Composition I (critical reading and thinking, focused research, reflective writing, and process-based writing), Composition II shifts the focus to the rhetorical concerns of persuasion and argument. The course provides students with increased practice in research, analysis, and genres of writing done throughout college as well as in the professional realm. The course emphasizes academic research-based writing and culminates in a best-works portfolio.  (MW @ 9:30 – Gillio)

MUS 117 – Master Composers II Honors - The complimentary study (with MUS 111) of canonic pieces of Western Music Literature as well as critical issues involved in the assertion of canonicity or "greatness" (MW @ 3:30 – McGuire)

PSY 100 – Introduction to Psychology Honors – This course is a comprehensive overview of the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It will familiarize students with the scientific methods used in the field of psychology. It will also introduce various topics within the field, such as consciousness, motivation, learning, memory, cognition, development, personality, psychological disorders and their treatments, social psychology, and the biological bases of behavior.  (TTH @ 3:30 – Ross)

SCI 137 -- Chaos Hybrid Honors – An innovative introduction to Chaos which brings the new scientific paradigm to the undergraduate curriculum. Starting from geometric fractals describing trees, leaves, and snowflakes the quantitative understanding of fractals is achieved through laboratory exercises including modeling on computers. Relevance of the Chaos theory is explored across scientific disciplines, and extended to non-science areas such as communications, economics, and arts. This course fulfills a science elective course requirement for students whose primary area of study is other than the sciences; however, interested science/mathematics students can take this course as an elective.  (F @ 2:00 – Samanta / Strieter)

SSC 215-01 Topics in Social Science: Gender and Women's Studies Honors – Gender and Women's Studies examines the social forces that shape our lives by gender, with a particular emphasis on women in the contemporary United States. The course emphasizes awareness of the many forms of diversity among women, and explores issues of race, class, and sexuality, as well as gender. The course will cover areas such as "gender and the body" (including beauty, sexuality, and interpersonal violence),"gender and social institutions" (including family, economy, politics, education, and religion), and "gender and social change" (including feminist, anti-feminist, LGBTQ, and other gender-related movements).  (MW @ 3:30 – Whisman)

Three things to remember:

1. GO SEE YOUR ADVISER!
2. Check Webadvisor for more details
3. If you declare Honors as part of your program, you can gain an Honors adviser who can help even more!

 Come to Wednesday's dinner to learn more!  Check your registration date and then come explore (more) Honors in the Spring!

Chaos Matters! (Guest)

Vol 1. No. 13 - Guest blogger:  Dr. Sam Samanta

This week, as the Fall 2016 semester winds down, I thought it would be fun to look ahead to a whole new semester, a whole new year, and a whole new world of Honors courses to explore.  So, I give you a sneak preview of one of the best kept secrets at FLCC - a class in Chaos.  I don't know about you, but I have a lot of Chaos in my life, and it would be amazing to learn how it works in our world!  Consider taking this class which, Dr. Samanta assures me, should not be looked at as "too hard" for any of our students.  If you can Honors, you can do it.  Give it a try!

SCI 137 01 CHAOS: The Self-Organizing Universe  (Writing Intensive)

Dr. Sam Samanta: Fridays 2-4:50 pm Honors House  (Plus 2 hours On-line work) 

Sam.Samanta@flcc.edu    https://twitter.com/InvariantChaos 

Check out #SCI137 and #ChaosDuJour            

CHAOS MATTERS!

Do you ever wonder if the physical world and life driven by random events makes long-term predictions impossible? Scientists have found hidden patterns in solar-flares, weather, forest fires, stock-market crashes, flooding, earthquakes, cities, traffic-jams, internet, social-networks, galaxies, crimes, wars, tornados, hurricanes, and dynamics of human relationships. The temporal patterns of chaos are characterized by equations that can explain the apparent randomness. Through writing, discussion, lab experiences, and computer modeling, this course will explore the relevance of Chaos theory to our lives and demonstrate its impact across scientific disciplines as well as non-science areas such as communications, economics, the arts and humanities.

Now, more than ever before, we need a unified quantitative universal framework for making sense of the world; in order to communicate across disciplinary boundaries and undertake actions through which we affect change in our lives and world at large. We will identify Complexity as intersection of Chaos, Fractals, and Self-organization.

The core values focused at our college are: Inquiry, Interconnectedness, Perseverance, and Vitality. You will exemplify best practices of Inquiry through exploring Interconnectedness of issues that relate your major and/or life-long interests to the concepts and techniques of the Chaos course. We will exhibit Perseverance through the steps we undertake to overcome barriers to quantitative understanding of models and improving articulation of our synthesis through cycles of feedback on both written papers and verbal presentations (using PowerPoint/Prezi.). Through final public presentations to the community at large; we will exhibit Vitality of our intellectual journey and present actionable prescriptions for addressing the concurrent challenges we face at multiple scales: form personal lives, to lives of institutions, nation and world at large.

Your individual project work on this course could become basis for individualized major for baccalaureate and graduate studies or unique specialization in your professional career. This course is not about any singular destination. Your individual journey begins here for discovering new patterns of orderly disorder in the mind and the world; and finding effective strategies for harnessing creative forces from the chaos of life!

    

           

Honors Spring 2017

Vol. 1, No. 7

SPRING INTO HONORS!!

Look at all the amazing offerings we have in Honors for the Spring!  See WebAdvisor for more details and remember....STAY CURIOUS.

TOPICS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE: GENDER AND WOMEN'S STUDIES

(SSC 215-01)

This course will lead students in an examination of the social forces that shape our lives by gender, with a particular emphasis on women in the contemporary United States. The course emphasizes awareness of the many forms of diversity among women, and explores issues of race, class, and sexuality, as well as gender. The course will cover areas such as "gender and the body" (including beauty, sexuality, and interpersonal violence), "gender and social institutions" (including family, economy, politics, education, and religion), and "gender and social change" (including feminist, anti-feminist, LGBTQ, and other gender-related movements).

***

TOPICS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE - LOVE AND ROMANCE: SCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY

(SSC 215-02)

This course is an exploration of the psychology of love and romance. We will focus on romantic or love relationships with particular attention to adolescent and emerging adult romantic relationships. Students will have the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of romance/love and likely will find that the literature contains unexpected findings that can change the way they look at relationships, both from academic and applied or real-life perspectives.

***

SEMINAR – ANALYZING ALICE: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY LOOK AT THE WORK OF LEWIS CARROLL

(HON 200-01)

The lasting influence and power of Carroll's Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There is undeniable - from Disney and Tim Burton to Jefferson Airplane and American McGee, Alice seems to have a firm hold on popular imaginations from all corners of the arts and beyond. The purpose of this course is to engage in traditional literary analysis and also explore a variety of disciplines such as art, psychology, math, theater, and history. Guest speakers and student presentations will foster an interdisciplinary and multi-faceted look at the power Alice has held over us ever since she first followed the White Rabbit in 1865.

***

SEMINAR – PRESIDENTIAL GREATNESS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

(HON 200-02)

In what presently would seem to be one of the most contentious Presidential elections in American History, it is very important that our students understand and participate in the political process. With that in mind, this course is based upon a study and analysis of the evolution of the office of the Presidency from George Washington to George Herbert Walker Bush. No one individual is perfect or without ever experiencing failure, frustration, tragedy, loss, and embarrassment. All whether Presidents, Senators, or everyday normal people have experienced or will experience in their lifetimes moments of victory, mediocracy, and failure. Together, we will examine the office of the Presidency of the United States and the lives and careers of those who led our country. By doing so, we will reinforce that we are all mortal and capable of experiencing in our lifetimes “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

***

PLUS, MORE HONORS IN THE DISCIPLINES!

· ENG 101 – COMPOSITION I

· ENG 102 – INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

· COM 115 – INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

· PSY 100 – INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

· PHL 101 – INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

· PHL 103 - ETHICS

· MUS 117 – MASTER COMPOSERS II

· SCI 137 – CHAOS THEORY

Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why” – Bernard Baruch