x-posted to 8040.

According to a Guardian article, Strathclyde University now offers a course in Human Ecology. (via Rebecca’s Pocket)

This article caught my eye for a couple of reasons. First, because of the blurb of text from the article, which I have inserted below regarding emotional engagement with course material.

Emotional engagement with one’s work has often been looked down on in university circles, as if the purity of the intellect might be contaminated by strength of feeling, but for Miller’s course it is a core requirement. “Our motto is head, heart and hand,” he says. “The academic cannot exist in an emotional and practical vacuum. Students must not only be passionate about what they are doing, they must also understand how to translate that passion into action.”

Second, because of Donna’s question last week on the blog about hacking things to live a better life, it occurred to me that if a few professors united around a common cause, they could “hack” the curriculum and offer courses around a particular theme. The courses themselves wouldn’t have to be overtly emotional (or political)–just offering particular course content up for discussion would raise awareness and bring attention to issues that deserved it.
Oh, yeah, but then I also envision a speaker’s circle filled with professors and students talking about issues that matter.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead