big picture environment studies

Long term readers (all two of you) will know that I tout my Dad on this blog from time to time. In that light I thought I would point out the recent initiative by the University of Washington, his employer, to create a College of the Environment. It would include the departments of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences, Marine Affairs, Oceanography, and Forest Resources as well as members of other departments who might be particularly interested in environmental issues. This would foster a broader dialogue with voices from across disciplines, including scientists and policy experts. A Seattle Times op-ed says the effort “catches up with the seamless view students have of the world they are studying, experiencing, and preparing to manage.” Dad’s been a part of this push from the beginning, and I’m glad it’s moving forward. Addressing the environmental issues of today requires input from researchers, policy makers, economists, political scientists, historians, and many more. In a recent article on the ethics of climate change, Richard Somerville makes this point, suggesting scientists cannot and should not work alone at addressing climate change. Perhaps UW’s College of the Environment can widen the conversation just a bit more.

deferment

I think "defer" is a funny verb. It literally means to put off or delay, but it has some strong connotations for me. The first thing that comes to mind is Vietnam, specifically that coveted 2-s student deferment. There's the student loan angle - deferring payment on those things. And then there's Langston Hughes and his poem "Dream Deffered." It all combines to give me a decidedly negative feeling about deferring anything (unless it's military service, of course).

I bring this up because I am, in fact, deferring my acceptance to PTS for a year. The last month has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride, and I've gone back and forth about this. A one-year position at the Campus Chapel in Ann Arbor fell into my lap, but it obviously meant postponing everything else for a year. I managed to get over the mental deferment hurdle by focusing on how the job will eventually contribute to my success at Princeton. I'll be a better sem student for having spent a year working at the Chapel.

So, I'm Ann Arbor bound (only 2.5 hours from Cleveland!). No dreams drying up like raisins in the sun - just another stop along the way.