World Affairs Seminar 2008 - Building a Sustainable World

As the world's population has grown and increasing numbers of people are living a lifestyle that strains the world's resources, it is up to all of us, but especially our young people, to find solutions.  This year's World Affairs Seminar "Building a Sustainable World: Educate - Innovate - Activate" addresses just that, bringing together a number of concerned citizens:  students, faculty and professional presenters to learn more about sustainability, explore solutions and encourage participants to act on these solutions.

The day began with a special panel discussion for the upper school entitled "The Heat is On: A Panel Discussion on Climate Change."  The panel, consisting of Cranbrook Kingwood Faculty Bob Cowie, Gary Gerson, Bob Greene, Joanne Parker and David Watson tackled the most compelling questions of our time: What can and can't be done in response to Global Warming?  After the assembly, students and faculty broke into smaller session groups to discuss related topics of their choice led by students and experts alike. 

The buzz for this year's WAS is "hands-on experience."  Participants used problem solving skills throughout the day through role play, discussion groups, and actual experiments.  For the first time ever, WAS collaborated with the Cranbrook Institute of Science, where institute staff ran workshops and the UM Solar Car was displayed along with a presentation by the UM Solar Car team. 

Other seminar topics included: The Art and Practice of Environmental Ethics, Drive Vegetarian: Running a Vehicle on Used Vegetable Oil, Chernobyl: Twenty Years Later and Don't Panic; It's Organic? Global Warming in Pop Culture. 

Expert presenters include:
Nick Stanger, Land and Environmental Art Department Head, Ethnobotany Research Advisor, The Cape Eleuthera Island School
Rich Wieske, Co-Founder, Green Toe Gardens and Urban Beekeeper
Herbert Smitherman, M.D., Director, DMC Center for Urban Health & Faculty Adviser, WSU
Michele Arquette-Palermo, DTE Energy Watershed Education Coordinator, Cranbrook Institute of Science
Michael D. Stafford, Ph.D., Director, Cranbrook Institute of Science

For a full listing of sessions offered, please click here.

The ultimate success story of the World Affairs Seminar is the way it facilitates students to engage and educate their fellow students on World Affairs.  "We had an unprecedented level of interest this year again," Holly Arida, faculty coordinator reported,  "WAS encourages student collaborations as they run workshops and sessions, so students learn the important life skill of working together.  Our international students are particularly active this year in leading sessions, so WAS draws on one of Cranbrook's greatest assets:  a diverse and multi-national student population, ideal for investigating global issues from various perspectives."

The World Affairs Seminar was initiated over 50 years ago by then history professor Ben Snyder.  Over the years, it has grown, using what students find engaging and building on it.  A major trend that continues to grow this year is interactive sessions and more workshops. "Some of our most compelling 1.5 hour workshops have been created by students this year," says Arida."It's amazing what Cranbrook students can do."


To listen to the Panel discussion, please click here.