Evolution and Society

ANTH 4953

Brian M. Kemp - Department of Anthropology

This course will explore a simple question — Is it important for members of our society to understand evolution? A cursory answer to this question might be “Maybe,” depending on one’s own experiences. However, upon further inspection, there are extremely important and legitimate ways in which a sound understanding of evolutionary theory could, in principle and/or practice, lead to an improved society. This is whether it is applied to improving public health, better understanding human behavior, or solving crimes. Six guest experts have been carefully chosen to enhance students’ understanding of the wide-ranging applications of evolutionary theory to everyday life.

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Rematriation of Indigenous Epistemologies in Education

EDS 5970/EDAH 5970

Sabina Vaught, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies

Heather Shotton, Native American Studies

There is an ongoing movement toward, and a new recognition of, Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) within U.S. institutional education contexts. Indigenous women have always been and continue to be at the forefront of these movements. These movements are framed, in part, as a rematriation of knowledge. “Rematriation is a powerful word Indigenous women of Turtle Island use to describe how they are restoring balance to the world...it means ‘Returning the Sacred to the Mother,’ ” (rematriation.com). Rematriation of knowledge in educational contexts pushes back against the heteropatriarchal underpinnings of the term repatriation. It works to reject narratives and theories that have been used against Indigenous peoples by restorying ontological and epistemological knowledges that are sites and subjects of Indigenous sovereignty. Specifically, rematriation challenges the reductive notion of the “return” of objects by focusing on the assertion of Indigenous Knowledges that cannot be made by settler logics into artifacts or taken and returned. This course takes up Rematriation to consider how Indigenous Knowledges powerfully shape educational contexts and institutions. 

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The Listening Project

JMC 4970/5970

Julie Jones - Gaylord College of Journalism

Listening is key to being a good leader, storyteller or journalist. Yet, only about 10% of people have the ability to listen effectively.  Technology does not help. The constant ‘ding’ of phone notifications, DM messages and social media posts disrupt our conversations all the while interrupting and speaking without thinking is becoming a norm. The Listening Project will teach you active listening and ways to practice these skills in your life.

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