CA7

July 17 - 21, 2008, held at Monterey/Big Sur

Course fee $125

About Monterey, California, John Steinbeck writes:

It seems to be one of those pregnant places from which come wonders. . . I was born to it and my father was. Our bodies came from this soil—our bones came . . . from the limestone of our own mountains and our blood is distilled from the juices of this earth.  I tell you that my country—a hundred miles long and about fifty wide—is unique in the world.

The wonders of this landscape—from the yellow hills of the surrounding valleys to the roiling tide pools of the peninsula--are more than just a backdrop for the social dramas of Steinbeck’s early fiction.  The natural history of Steinbeck’s country is inextricable from its human history. This course is inspired by the interdisciplinary relationship of Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts, whose book Between the Pacific Tides (1939) radically altered the scientific approach to classification of his time by using a holistic approach to the study of inter-tidal habitats.  Steinbeck and Ricketts—a fiction writer and a scientist—did not merely merge their approaches, but forged a collaborative bond with the goal of “breaking through” the limits of empiricism and humanism. In this course we will follow their lead and explore the inter-tidal zone of the Monterey coast, learning about its natural history and collecting data for projects in marine biology and oceanography.  At the same time, we will move beyond and through the scientific disciplines by conducting innovative mathematical analysis and reading selected works of regional fiction, poetry, and writings that defy conventional categorization.  Taking this next step in integration, eschewing the traditional exercise, adds meaning, authenticity, and a sense of the bigger picture to the curriculum. Creating a unifying, hands-on experience of scientific, mathematical, and literary discovery, our 4-day adventure in the inter-tidal zone becomes an opening for a holistic apprehension of nature. Our course will model successful educational programs that synthesize seemingly disparate disciplines to enhance delivery of material as well as student enthusiasm for multiple subjects. 

There will be assigned reading for the course. Course details will be available at http://web.mac.com/redifiori in April, 2008.

For College and Secondary Teachers of: Biology, Geology, Oceanography, Math, English, Environmental Studies

 Prerequisites:

Participants must read the assigned material before the course.

 Notes:

Participants will be responsible for their own lodging in the Monterey / Big Sur area where accommodations can run from $15-$300 night, ranging from camping to hotels. Early reservations are highly recommended.  Activities will run from early morning low tide field work, to data analysis and evening discussions. 

 Dr. Krista Walter has a Ph.D. in American Literature from UC Irvine and has taught interdisciplinary-paired English and Science courses for the past 4 years in central and southern California. She is the cofounder of the Environmental Studies Program at Pasadena City College. Richard Johnston has an M.S. in Bioinformatics from UCLA and has been teaching Bioinformatics and field data analysis using excel for the Baja Science Program for Pasadena City College for the past 6 years. Russell Di Fiori has an M.S. in Zoology from UC Davis. He has been teaching Evolution, Ecology and Marine Biology at Pasadena City College for 12 years.  For the past 10 ears he has led summer interdisciplinary field programs in Baja and spring courses in Big Sur.  Sara Di Fiori has an M.S. in Geology from UCLA and teaches Geology and Oceanography at Mt. San Antonio College and interdisciplinary field courses (Biology and Geology) around the south-western U.S. and Mexico.