Faculty Brown Bag Scholarship Series Continues posted 10/6/08
October dates announced

ADRIAN, Mich. – Adrian College is pleased to announce that the Faculty Brown Bag Scholarship Series will continue throughout the month of October. The three dates offered are Monday, Oct. 15 at 4 P.M., Friday, Oct. 24 at 12:00 P.M., and Monday, Oct. 27 at 4 P.M.

Dr. Robin Bott, associate professor of English, will start the October series on Oct. 15 and will be speaking about “Fortification to Reformation: Studying in Medieval York.” This session will introduce a new study abroad opportunity unique to Adrian College. Students will live, study, and do service learning in the medieval walled city of York. Bott received her PhD from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and specializes in Shakespeare, Medieval and Early Modern Literature, Hawaiian and Pacific Literature.

The second presentation will be given on Oct. 24 by Dr. Deborah Field, assistant professor of history who specializes in Modern Russian and European History. Field will discuss “Noble Savages and European Despots: Russian Views of American Slavery and American Views of Russian Serfdom.” It describes how Russians and Americans discussed each others’ slave systems during the 18th and 19th century. It suggests that whereas American abolitionist interest in Russia was, in part, connected to a larger anti-racist agenda, Russian critiques of American slavery combined abolitionist arguments with contemporary racial stereotypes. Field received her PhD from the University of Michigan.

The final presentation of the month will be given on Oct. 27 by Dr. Paul Rupert, assistant professor of chemistry. Rupert will be presenting “Analytical Techniques for Wine Analysis” which is also in conjunction with the Chemistry Department Seminar Series. The process of commercial wine manufacture consists of five basic steps, i.e., harvesting, crushing and destemming, pressing, fermentation and purification. All five steps will be discussed, with a focus on the chemical constituents and changes that occur during production, in particular during the fermentation process. The secondary fermentation process known as malolactic fermentation will also be discussed.

The 2008-2009 Faculty Brownbag Scholarship Series is focusing on scholarly work that discusses and extends the mission of Adrian College with a particular emphasis on social justice issues. All presenters are Adrian College faculty and staff members. This year’s series is focused on the College’s 150th anniversary which takes place in 2009. Each presenter will incorporate the College’s mission statement in some way into their presentations.

The Adrian College Faculty Brown Bag Scholarship Series was announced as a new initiative in August 2006 by Dr. Dale Nesbary, dean and vice president of academic affairs. Scholarship is being broadly defined as publications, conference presentations, compositions, exhibition or performances.

Knight Auditorium is located in Valade Hall off of Williams St. All sessions are free and open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch if they so choose. More information may be obtained by visiting http://www.adrian.edu/faculty_staff/accet/brown_bag.php