Social Science Department

Katherine Donahue gave a presentation on the first summer cruise in 1886 of the revenue cutter Bear in the Arctic on October 24 at the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock, VT.

Khuan Chong led a discussion on Indonesia for the NH World Affairs Council on October 16 in Concord.

The Department of Social Sciences held its second “College Access Summit” on October 28. The Summit brought a diverse group of Manchester high school students, including refugees from Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Plymouth State University to explore the college application process and develop skills for writing essays for college admission applications. Sheryl Shirley and PSU alum, Thato Ramoabi, Director of Young Organizers United and a youth organizer with Granite State Organizing Project, organized the workshop.  Bob Heiner provided a keynote talk and Sandy McGarr explained the admissions process.  Krisan Evanson, Katherine Donahue, Sheryl Shirley, and PSU students (Kathleen Rosse, Jamie Marker, Jonathan Raymond, Simon Gahungu, Simon Ciza, Ava Tyler, Meo Ramberg Pihl) facilitated writing activities.

The Laconia Citizen ran an article about the recent release of the 4^th edition of Bob Heiner’s book Social Problems: An Introduction to Critical Constructionism.  The article, “PSU professor writes textbook on corporate power and democracy,” appeared in the October 10 issue of the paper.

Brian Eisenhauer co-authored an article published in the journal Society and Natural Resources based on research conducted as part of the Newfound Watershed Plan entitled, “Environmental Concern: Examining the Role of Place Meaning and Place Attachment.”  Thanks to both the Social Science Department and the Center for the Environment (CFE) for their support of this work.  (Citation – Joan M. Brehm, Brian W. Eisenhauer & Richard C. Stedman (2012): Environmental Concern: Examining the Role of Place Meaning and Place Attachment, Society & Natural Resources: An International Journal, DOI:10.1080/08941920.2012.715726)

Brian Eisenhauer presented,  ”Eco-Friendly Living: Every Little Bit Helps - Practical Steps Towards a More Sustainable Lifestyle” at Pease Public Library on Thursday, November 1 as part of the “Healthy Living” series of lectures sponsored by the Young Ladies Library Association and PSU’s Center for Active Living and Healthy Communities.  Brian also presented,  ”Sustainability at PSU: Current Events, Aspirations, and Challenges,“ offered tours of EcoHouse, and hosted a National Keynote Broadcast by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), ”Educating Students for a Changing Climate,” at PSU on National Campus Sustainability Day, October 24.

John Houston, Canadian film maker known for his work on movies set in the Arctic such as Never Cry Wolf and The Snow Walker, returned to Plymouth State in October. Houston, who delivered the Fall 2005 Convocation speech at PSU on the topic of “Living Lightly,” spoke this time about the importance of understanding indigenous peoples’ concepts of interaction with the land that sustains them. He also met with students and faculty and toured the Museum of the White Mountains.

Patrick May, Mark Okrant and Bryon Middlekauff attended the New England-St. Lawrence Valley Geographical Society annual meeting at the University of Maine – Farmington on October 19-20. Patrick served as a World Geography Bowl contest moderator, Mark attended many paper sessions and the business luncheon, and assisted with World Geography Bowl.  Bryon helped set up the Bowl, served as PSU team coordinator, presented a paper entitled “Globalization of the United States Automobile Industry,” and served as Regional Councilor for our organization.

Katherine Donahue presented a poster, “Vessels of Freedom?: How Sustainable is Recreational Boating?” at the annual meeting of the Society for Environmental Anthropology and the American Anthropological Association (AAA) November 14-18, 2012 in San Francisco. Also, she organized with a colleague from the Society for the Anthropology of Europe a tour titled “Finding Italy in San Francisco” in the North Beach area of the city for members of the AAA.

David Starbuck’s book, The Archaeology of Forts and Battlefields (University Press of Florida), sold out in hardcover, and this fall it has just now appeared in paperback.  Also, David just edited and produced the latest issue of The New Hampshire Archeologist, entitled Water-Powered Mill, Dam and Canal Sites in Wakefield, New Hampshire, which is all in color and available through The New Hampshire Archeological Society.