MSU Tuesday Bulletin, 09/15/09

Thursday, September 17, 2009

"Unclear Silhouettes: Can South Sudan Charter a Peaceful Path to Independence?," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Loro LoLaja Kujjo, Faculty (Dept. of Radiology, MSU), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center. Friday, September 18, 2009

"The Problematics of Polycentrism: Between the Imaginaries of Local Democracy and Larger Political System Demands," a preliminary discussion with Stephen Gasteyer, Faculty (http://sociology.msu.edu/StephenGasteyer.html), 12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m., Room 106A Berkey. Friday, September 18, 2009

"Thesis/Dissertation Formatting and Graduation Requirements," Graduate School Workshop, 2:00 p.m., South Kedzie Hall, Room 105. Check-in begins at 1:30. Only offered once each semester. For information and to register, visit: http://grad.msu.edu/workships/. Wednesday, September 23, 2009

"Pray the Devil Back to Hell," documentary in celebration of International Day of Peace (a true story of women from different faiths joining together to bring peace to their war-torn country), 7:00 p.m., RCAH Auditorium (Snyder-Phillips). Will be shown two nights. Thursday, September 24, 2009

"The Global Financial Crisis in Africa: Evidence from Nigeria," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Lisa D. Cook, Faculty (Economics and James Madison College, MSU), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center. Thursday, September 24, 2009

"Study Abroad Fair," a comprehensive information event for anyone interested in learning more about the many study abroad opportunities available at MSU, 12:00 noon - 6:00 p.m., MSU Union, 2nd Floor. Thursday, September 24, 2009
"Pray the Devil Back to Hell," documentary in celebration of International Day of Peace (a true story of women from different faiths joining together to bring peace to their war-torn country), 7:00 p.m., B106 Wells Hall. Friday, September 25, 2009

"The Gendered Path of Economic Mobility of African Immigrants," GenCen Fall 2009 Colloquia Series, with Stephanie Nawyn, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m., Room 302 International Center.

Announcements
African Studies FLAS Fellows 2009-10 Academic Year

Menna-Kristina Baumann (PhD; History; Igbo)

Danielle Carter (PhD; Political Science; Zulu)

Joseph Davey (PhD; History; Igbo)

Jessica Gladden (PhD; Social Work; Swahili)

Erin Lambert (PhD; History; Swahili)

Diane Lesley-Neuman (PhD; Linguistics; Swahili)

Jeremy Norwood (MA/PhD; Sociology; Swahili)

Matthew Park (PhD; History; Swahili)

Connor Ryan (PhD; English Lit.; Yoruba)

Stephanie White (PhD; CARRS; Mandingo/ Bambara) MSU Peace Corps Information Meeting

The first of four informational meetings will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Room 303 International Center. The other three meetings will be held: Wed., Oct. 28, Nov. 18, and Dec. 9, in Room 303 of the International Center.

Peace Corps is hiring people from a broad range of fields to work internationally. This session is an opportunity to learn more about where and in what sectors Peace Corps Volunteers will serve, the benefits of serving, application process, and experiences of former Volunteers. Any questions will be answered about this incredible opportunity. Study Abroad Programs in Africa - Info Meetings

SOUTH AFRICA

University of KwaZulu-Natal

Spring 2010

Monday, September 28, 2009

5:00 pm - 204 International Center

GHANA

Agriculture, Development, Environment and Gender: NGO Internships in Ghana

Spring 2010

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

5:00 pm - 204 International Center

SOUTH AFRICA

Cross-cultural Teaching Abroad in South Africa

Summer 2010

Thursday, October 8, 2009

5:30 pm - 133D Erickson

MADAGASCAR

Paradise in Peril? Exploring Madagascar's Biodiversity Crisis

Summer 2010

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

5:30 pm - 338 Natural Resources

MADAGASCAR

Paradise in Peril? Exploring Madagascar's Biodiversity Crisis

Summer 2010

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

5:30 pm - 555 Baker

KENYA

Behav! ioral Ecology of African Mammals (BEAM)

Summer 2010

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

5:30 pm - 203 Natural Science

MADAGASCAR

Paradise in Peril? Exploring Madagascar's Biodiversity Crisis

Summer 2010

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

5:30 pm - 338 Natural Resources

Direct inquiries to Chris Barden, Office of Study Abroad, 109 International Center, (517) 432-8785; or e-mail: barden@msu.edu. On Exhibit at the MSU Museum

Threads of Change: The Transformation of West African Textiles, Main Gallery...through November 29, 2009.

Tanzania in Deep Time: A View from the Rift Valley, West Gallery...through December 31, 2009.

Coming soon:

Unpacking Collections: The Legacy of Cuesta Benberry, An African American Quilt Scholar, Heritage Gallery...Opening December 6, 2009.

Dear Mr. Mandela, Dear Mrs. Parks: Children's Letters, Global Lessons, Main Gallery...Opening December 20, 2009. Professor & Matrix to build Online Library on Islam

An MSU professor of history, David Robinson, is teaming up with professors from Indiana University and colleagues at MSU to build an online library about Muslims in West Africa with a $250,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The three-year grant will allow Robinson and MATRIX: The Center for Humane, Arts, Letters and Social Studies Online to build a digital repository of information for scholars, researchers, teachers and students.

The gallery will focus on Senegal and Ghana. Senegal has a 90 percent Muslim majority, and Ghana has a Christian majority with Muslims constituting 20 to 25 percent of its population. "We picked two countries with contrasting situations as far as numbers but the same as far as pluralism," he said. In both countries, Robinson said, it's not uncommon for Muslims and Christians to live in the same family.

MATRIX digital librarian, Catherine Foley hopes the online library will ease the exchange of ideas among scholars and help the public gain a better understanding of the Islamic faith and Muslims.

Read more at:

http://news.msu.edu/staff-faculty/story/6668 and

http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2009/08/msu_professor_builds_online_west_african_muslim_library_. Other Announcements
African Journal of Biotechnology: Call for Papers

The African Journal of Biotechnology (an ISI indexed journal; Impact factor 0.456) wish to invite scientists and researchers in all areas of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology to submit their review articles for the 2009 SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY REVIEW. The reviews and perspectives should be in the author's area of research or specialization.

The articles in the African Journal of Biotechnology (AJB) December Special Review Issues continue to be the most sought after papers. Prospective authors should submit their manuscripts by 31st October, 2009. Submissions of regular articles are also welcome.

Direct questions to

Dr. N. J. Tonukari, Editor, African Journal of Biotechnology; e-mail: ajb_acadjourn@yahoo.com; or visit the website at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB. Fellowships IIE Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF)

Call for applications for the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF). Fellowships support temporary academic positions at safe universities and colleges anywhere in the world for threatened academics whose lives and work are in danger in their home countries. Professors, researchers, and lecturers from any country or field may apply. Students or professionals seeking funding to pursue academic studies or training are not eligible.

Information and application materials may be downloaded from:

http://www.scholarrescuefund.org/pages/for-scholars.php; for universities and colleges interested in hosting an SRF scholar,

visit: http://www.scholarrescuefund.org/pages/for-hosts.php. For questions, contact SRF@iie.org.

Fellowships are awarded for visiting academic positions ranging from three months to one calendar year. Awards are issued for up to US $25,000, plus individual health coverage. Fellowships are disbursed through host academic institutions for direct support of scholar- grantees. In most cases, host campuses are asked to match the SRF fellowship award by providing partial salary/stipend support and/or housing, material support for researching/ publications, and other in-kind assistance.

Applications are accepted at any time. For a decision by late November please apply by October 12, 2009. Visit http://www.scholarrescuefund.org for more details. Conferences
International Symposium - Univ. of Botswana

Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre Library (HOORC) will host the international symposium, Wetlands in a F! lood Pulsing Environment: effects on Biodiversity, Ecosystem F! unction and Human Society in Maun, Botswana, 1-5 February 2010 with international participation of the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park, Ohio State University, the Howard T. Odum Centre for Wetlands at the University of Florida, the Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS), Charles Stuart University, Australia, and the Global Wetlands Consortium.

The symposium will aim to provide an exchange of international scholars on the importance and effects of pulsing hydrologic cycles (floods, seasonal rainfall and stream-flow, for example) on the functioning of wetlands. Emphasis will be on inland wetlands with focus on the importance of pulsing in carbon and nutrient cycling, biological productivity, biodiversity and human livelihood, history and culture. Pre and post conference field trips into the nearby Okavango Delta will be arranged.

The first call for submission of proposals for special sessions, papers and abstracts can be found on the conference web site:

http://www.orc.ub.bw/floodpulse/index.html. Also contact: OkavangoConference@orc.ub.bw; or Symposium Secretary, Ms. Lore Mosimi; Tel. +267 -6817202, Fax. +267- 6861835; or Lars Ramberg, lramberg@orc.ub.bw.

Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre Library, University of Botswana P/Bag 285, Maun, Botswana tel. +267-6867260, 7261.

Page Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.