42 might enjoy reading a little about three Jeff Folzis examining ilarities and ferences in the research practices of in the sciences and the humanities Scientists can claim withsignificant philosop ID: 843869
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1 42 The BulletinThe Western ProgramMessag
42 The BulletinThe Western ProgramMessage from the Dir
2 ectorall Semester Update: Western is hos
ectorall Semester Update: Western is hosting the 35th
3 AnnualConference for the Association for
AnnualConference for the Association for Interdiscipli
4 nary Stud-ies (AIS) in November and we a
nary Stud-ies (AIS) in November and we are verybusy or
5 ganizing this event in PeabodyDr. Willia
ganizing this event in PeabodyDr. William Newell, Prof
6 essor ofInterdisciplinary Studies in the
essor ofInterdisciplinary Studies in the WesternColleg
7 e Program, was one of the found-ing memb
e Program, was one of the found-ing members of the ass
8 ociation.Meanwhile, seniors in today’s
ociation.Meanwhile, seniors in today’s West-ern Prog
9 ram are embarking upon theircapstone pro
ram are embarking upon theircapstone projects, and I t
10 hought that you might enjoy reading a li
hought that you might enjoy reading a little about thr
11 ee Jeff Folzis examining ilarities and f
ee Jeff Folzis examining ilarities and ferences in the
12 research practices of in the sciences a
research practices of in the sciences and the humanit
13 ies. Scientists can claim, withsignifica
ies. Scientists can claim, withsignificant philosophic
14 al support, that the only way of know-in
al support, that the only way of know-ing anything wit
15 h a high degree of confidence is to test
h a high degree of confidence is to test alter-native
16 ideas by experimentation. Objectivity is
ideas by experimentation. Objectivity is the ethic in
17 ith recent publicity about widespread er
ith recent publicity about widespread er-rors in biome
18 dical studies, , it is evident that are
dical studies, , it is evident that are problems with
19 the application of this method. Many ent
the application of this method. Many entists assume th
20 at scholars in the humanities use ferent
at scholars in the humanities use ferent approaches fo
21 r answering questions. Our f, is not con
r answering questions. Our f, is not convinced that th
22 ere are fundamental differencesin practi
ere are fundamental differencesin practice and is look
23 ing for evidence of similarities in quir
ing for evidence of similarities in quiry between, for
24 example, me, as a biologist Another maj
example, me, as a biologist Another major, Jacie Nowl
25 and, is interested in the psy-chology of
and, is interested in the psy-chology of happiness and
26 is exploring different therapeutictechn
is exploring different therapeutictechniques used to
27 enhance a patient’s sense of well-bein
enhance a patient’s sense of well-being.There is, of
28 course, no universal definition of happ
course, no universal definition of happiness, andhapp
29 iness may be most evident to us when it
iness may be most evident to us when it is absent. Thi
30 sis interesting given the emphasis place
sis interesting given the emphasis placed on cheerfuln
31 ess inour Declaration of Independence. J
ess inour Declaration of Independence. Jacie is lookin
32 g at researchon happiness — you may be
g at researchon happiness — you may be surprised to
33 learn that there is apeer-reviewed perio
learn that there is apeer-reviewed periodical titled J
34 ournal of Happiness Stud-ies— and is p
ournal of Happiness Stud-ies— and is particularly in
35 terested in Buddhist ideas aboutA third
terested in Buddhist ideas aboutA third student, Kyle
36 Sauerbrunn, is studying geo-graphical il
Sauerbrunn, is studying geo-graphical illiteracy, whic
37 h is viewed as a common character-istic
h is viewed as a common character-istic of Americans.
38 The inability of a middle-school student
The inability of a middle-school studentto find Spain
39 on a map may seem relatively unimportant
on a map may seem relatively unimportant giv-en other
40 educational deficiencies, but speaks to
educational deficiencies, but speaks to a much wid-er
41 isolation from national and global conce
isolation from national and global concerns. Kyle is c
42 on-ducting an experiment to see whether
on-ducting an experiment to see whether some simple le
43 ssonscan increase geographical literacy.
ssonscan increase geographical literacy.We have 11 sen
44 iors this year and all of them have com-
iors this year and all of them have com-pelling subjec
45 ts for their projects. We are looking fo
ts for their projects. We are looking forward tohearin
46 g about the results of their studies nex
g about the results of their studies next spring. —
47 Nicholas P. Money Western Prog
Nicholas P. Money Western Program Director,
48 Professor of Botany Last Year’s Gradua
Professor of Botany Last Year’s Graduation Class . .