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A week "without borders"
Variety of events fills International Education Week agenda
By ERIC COMINS
Reporter Contributor
What do bird flu, volcanoes in Latin America, business practices in China and post-industrial architecture in Europe have in common? They are all part of International Education Week (IEW) 2005 and represent areas in which UB research, education and service have a global reach and impact.
UB's fifth annual celebration of IEW, being held Monday through Nov. 18 on the North and South campuses, will showcase some of the ways the university operates across and beyond national and disciplinary borders. The week's "without borders" theme highlights the increasingly global nature of many UB activities.
For example, Pavani Ram, research assistant professor in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Health Professions, will kick off the series with "Viruses Don't Need Visas." She will discuss ongoing concerns regarding a potential pandemic of avian influenza (H5N1) and recent outbreaks of SARS and monkey pox. She will also cover the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for health and the environment, targets set by the United Nations for improving the health and quality of life for billions of people living in the developing world.
In "Living Beneath the Volcanoes of Latin America," Michael Sheridan, UB Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geology, College of Arts and Sciences, will draw upon his and his students' experiences in volcanic hazard work in Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru. He will address such issues as the safety of people living on the slopes of volcanoes and the steps scientists and government agencies are taking to protect these people and their property. He also will explore the role and pitfalls of technology in volcanic hazard work.
The "Without Borders" series will continues with "MBA Students Build Bridges from WNY to China." Alumna Olivia Hooper will recount the trip that 25 MBA students recently took to China. She will highlight the places and companies they visited, the history and culture of China, and the many lessons they learned about conducting business in China. Hooper also will explain how UB MBA students prepare themselves for successful careers in a world where business is no longer confined by geographic and political boundaries.
In "Dental Medicine Without Borders," Jude Fabiano, clinical associate professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, and director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Program in the School of Dental Medicine, and dental students Yi-Ping Liu, Marc Malatesta, Jennifer Nauman and Amy Nguyen will talk about their experiences with the Buffalo Outreach and Community Assistance (BOCA) program, an organization started and managed by students of the School of Dental Medicine. To date, more than 60 students have provided free dental care in Buffalo, Appalachia, Alaska, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Guatemala and Mexico. This session will focus on the recent educational and cultural experiences of several dental students.
The School of Architecture and Planning has invited Louisa Hutton of Sauerbruch Hutton Architects in Berlin, Germany, to give a talk on "Design, Sustainability and the European Post-Industrial City." The firm is noted for its emphasis on integrated solutions based upon design intention, materials and ecological sustainability. The award-winning architects recently completed a scheme for the headquarters of Germany's Federal Environmental Agency. Buildings designed by Sauerbruch Hutton have received numerous international design prizes.
Other events during the week include cultural displays, food, documentaries and performances by international clubs. Some of the topics covered range from folk art to cultural diversity to work opportunities abroad. Angela Ling, a student interning at the United Nations, will talk about her experiences and impressions there.
Study Abroad Programs is also hosting a past participants' Photo Contest and Exhibit. In addition, there will be a walking tour of "The Wall: Reshaping Contemporary Chinese Art" in the UB Art Gallery in the Center for the Arts. The tour will be led by Bingyi Huang, assistant professor, Department of Art History, CAS.
The week also will feature two film offerings. "Devdas," an Indian Bollywood film, will be shown on the North and South campuses. The anime (Japanese animation) film entitled "Spirited Away" will be screened on the North Campus. All events are free and open to the public.
A full schedule of events is available online at http://wings.buffalo.edu/intlservices/iew2005.pdf. For more information, contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at 645-2258 or intlservices@buffalo.edu.