Digital Civic Engagement
A Global Mercury Cycle
Mathematics Meets Robotics
Speaking Our Social Identity A Briefing on Research and Its World Impact • Fall 2010
scotch roman
How we UNITE, Ways we DIVIDE
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Contents Message from the Dean
CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR Robert Nichols ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tricia Long There is nothing better than finding Research, scholarship, and DESIGN DIRECTOR a comfortable spot and getting lost creative work are essential compo- 04 2118 Kurt Hansen in a good book—whether you read nents of today’s universities. CAS ADVISORYscotch BOARD roman a bound book printed on paper, Research generates the sparks of Anne S. Meltzer, dean or one viewed digitally on a Kindle discovery that drive creativity and 26 Augustine Ripa, Jeffrey Sands, 12 Michael Stavola, associate deans or IPad. A good book draws you innovation and is integral to the DESIGNERS in, captures your imagination, and educational process. We close Beth Murphy can influence the way you view with Robotic Dimension, which Dave Q. Pryor yourself and the world around shows how the abstract work PRODUCTION you. A compelling narrative has in the field of mathematics can come
Kayley LaFaiver to fpo the power to give voice to hopes create a link with the practicali-
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS C redit and fears as well as tensions ties of robotics development. ON THE COVER: Kathleen Bittner and conflicts within society. While many point out that Red Cross workers escort Erica Klarreich Conflict both unites and divides conflict keeps us apart, conflict new immigrants in Spain. 22 Tricia Long Genevieve Marshall and these notions run throughout also provides us with opportuni- Rob Nichols the stories as a common theme in ties to find ways in which we PHOTOGRAPHER Finding Insight this issue of Acumen. Each story come together. It forces us to UP FRONT FEATURES Douglas Benedict presents faculty who come together look at alternative points of view, and contribute to the research to confront our fears, and to find MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN HOW WE UNITE, WAYS WE DIVIDE Acumen is published annually by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Communications and Hope and creative work in their respec- those connections that create a tk Literature has the power to persuade 01 12 and Public Affairs at Lehigh University. tive disciplines. Our cover story, collective good. Universities play and shape thought, expose injustices and COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES How We Unite, Ways We Divide, a fundamental role in finding the THE ARTS bring to light cultural fears and concerns. Lehigh University This issue of the annual 9 West Packer Avenue examines how identity, solidarity, connections that bring us together 02 Fresh perspectives ... virtual space ... Bethlehem, PA 18015 research magazine and political and social processes rather than drive us apart. http://cas.lehigh.edu a constant voice THE SPECTRUM OF LANGUAGE explores how faculty are communicated through 18 Researchers examine how language OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS literature, media, and political Lehigh University research, scholarship THE HUMANITIES represents a fundamental expression discourse. Our second feature, 125 Goodman Drive and creative work are The intruder ... the metaphysics of of social identity. Bethlehem, PA 18015-3754 The Spectrum of Language, 04 610-758-4487 sensuality ... learning from the landfill making a difference. shows how language is not MAN OR NATURE? READER FEEDBACK: Please send comments to: only an avenue for expressing [email protected] THE NATURAL SCIENCES 22 Three scientists look to water to determine our thoughts and perceptions, © Lehigh University 07 Gene expression by the numbers ... whether man or nature is impacting our but also a powerful element processing sound ... Darwin’s boulders natural environment. FSC/environmental info goes here in defining social identities. ... focusing light on HIV The impact of human ROBOTIC DIMENSIONS development on the environ- ment has been at the fore as THE SOCIAL SCIENCES 26 A mathematician discovers an unexpected application for his research. the Gulf Coast struggles with Napoleon and the shaping of the CREDIT TO COME 10 an oil spill and the resulting Atlantic ... the role of tipping ... digital consequences. Water is a natural Enjoy this issue of Acumen. civic engagement resource that many of us take I look forward to sharing our for granted, yet clean water is a contributions and accomplish- THE LAST WORD resource that is beginning to shrink ments with you and welcome 29 Learning in a Research Environment, rapidly worldwide. The feature, Man your thoughts and comments. by Michael Stavola, associate dean for or Nature?, takes a look at the research and graduate studies work of three Lehigh faculty and Anne S. Meltzer issues surrounding clean water. Herbert and Ann Siegel Dean
LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 1 The Arts
New HR tk
Art museums in Spain and Central “in time of daffodils/who know.” new work was exciting and THE CROSSING , 1991 and South America. The process Chanticleer performed “in time of” humbling,” says Sametz. Fresh Perspectives he developed in the classroom as well as the premiere of the newly “That the members of Ricardo Viera, professor of art in is the base of his integrated commissioned work “Not an End of the Choral Union chose to LUIS CRUZ-AZACETA, the department of art, architecture research for solving museum Loving” at an April concert at Lehigh. honor our work together with and design, traveled to Guatemala issues in diverse cultures. and ethnographic scholars as well “in time of” was originally the creation of a new piece Images from Nik Nikolov’s in July to assist and advise a young Viera, who is also director and as museum interns and students. composed in 1995 for Choral Arts speaks to our commitment over the “Implicit Geometrics” show para- metrically generated surfaces and group of artists and art administra- curator of the Lehigh University Art “I have to constantly change as a version for multiple choirs and years to not only study and present structures that use real-time
tors who established a photog- Galleries/Museum Operation, has hats. I work with artists and I work orchestras. Sametz later “distilled” it the finest in established choral- modeling and editing in 3D. new technology come raphy festival in Guatemala City. established a visual laboratory and with the business, social, commu- for the 12 voices of Chanticleer. In orchestral repertoire, but to add allows architects to to In its inaugural season, teaching collection program as well nity and communication aspects an interesting reversal of the creative our own contribution to the future edit in real time and the C redit Guatephoto Festival celebrated as a nationally recognized collection of museums. It is an embryonic process, Sametz took the title of choral arts. That they commis- interested in the perception and scale of the space is parallel both contemporary art and a of Latino and Latin American photog- process that involves everyone, section of the new work premiered sioned it for such a world-renowned conception of space and centers his to the scale of the human body. panoramic overview of local raphy and video. He has organized, because I don’t teach museum by Chanticleer and re-worked it for group as Chanticleer also attests research on virtual building design “You’re no longer looking at a and national photography. As a curated, co-curated and served as professionals; I teach museum Choral Arts with orchestra, which to our own very high standards. processes. Much like the worlds computer screen or a set of prints. member of the board of advisers, consultant to important exhibitions consumers,” says Viera. “But unlike was then performed at their final Chanticleer’s performance was created in the latest video games, A door handle is the same size as Viera helped shape the concept throughout the world. He has served many other museums, the univer- concerts on April 30 and May 1. tremendous, and reworking the architects can use virtual tech- a true handle. A table is the size of of this international event by on many occasions as a cultural sity museum students are involved The three sections of “Not last movement for all our choral nologies to address the challenges an actual table,” he says. “You have conducting interactive talks and envoy for the U.S. Department of throughout the process. And like an End of Loving’’ examine three artists—both regular members and found in any building process. a more innate, inherent relation- photographic portfolio reviews at State, recently in the Dominican anybody working in a museum, phases of love. The first section, returning members who were on Virtual reality offers designers the ship to what you are representing. La Fototeca and Museo Nacional Republic, conducting workshops they encounter difficulties while “Where I Become You,’’ based on a hand for our alumni reunion—gave opportunity to work with the same It allows an architect to move a de Arte Moderno Carlos Merida. and master classes, and presenting developing an exhibition and find text by the South African poet Antjie the piece special resonance. Going legitimacy as in the real world, window or to make the window Guatephoto Festival is just one seminars and lectures. As an envoy, ways to solve them. They grow from 12 singers to almost whereas conventional plans present larger in real time instead of waiting of many events Viera, curator and he often works with museum direc- while they are with me in situ.” 300—and adding orchestra— an impossible set of viewpoints. weeks for plans to be redrawn. university museum professional, has tors, professional staff and govern- was something that could only “Virtual design gets architects Architects will be able to experience Professor Ricardo Viera integrates his work in been tapped for internationally. He ment officials, negotiating significant happen at Lehigh: the various much closer to experiencing how the space with their clients and the museology and exhibition often consults with small commu- administrative, museographic Music aspects of the commission and a space will act in its environ- builders. It centralizes the role of
DOUGLAS BENEDICT design into his classroom. nities in the Caribbean or major (exhibition design) and conserva- performances demonstrated ment and change over time,” he the architect, yet at the same time tion issues of national importance. A Constant Voice the very highest commitment says. “Virtual and physical space makes the design process more “I often work to motivate Steven Sametz, professor and to the creative process and are both temporal. We experience inclusive. That’s very empowering.” people, to make them think in Ronald Ulrich Chair in the depart- how that process brings us space through movement and Nikolov is working with his another way, to facilitate solutions. ment of music, was commis- together and shapes our lives.” change over time. Our perceptions students to develop a test environ- I love this process because it’s sioned by the Lehigh Choral Union Sametz’s works have been are based on movement. A lack ment for a prototype. Ultimately, different than when I work as an to compose a new work for the performed throughout the of movement leads to a lack of he says, architects will be able to artist. When you are in a studio, internationally renowned choral world and are included on perception. The virtual gets us much define construction parameters, you are doing a solitary thing, ensemble Chanticleer, which was Steven Sametz numerous recordings, including closer to that temporal experience test them in a virtual environ- THEO ANDERSON but when you take it out of the performed at a special concert Chanticleer’s Grammy-award than line drawings, because in the ment, make changes and output studio you involve other people. last spring in Lehigh’s Zoellner Arts Krog, represents the white heat of winning CD Colors of Love. Sametz virtual you can put yourself in a full-scale building materials for When you are in museums, you Center. The commission recog- love’s first encounter. The second also serves as artistic director of space. You can manage an environ- testing in their working environ- don’t work alone; you must be nized Sametz for his contributions movement, “We Two Boys Together The Princeton Singers, a profes- ment. You can traverse, fly, edit. ment. The technology will stream- part of a team. You have to take to the choral arts at Lehigh. Clinging,’’ based on a text by Walt sional a cappella ensemble. You can assume multiple vantage line the design process and help a holistic approach because, just The Lehigh Choral Union, Whitman, portrays the maturation points, not just a single one.” eliminate major mistakes. like with students, each situa- the community outreach arm of and commitment of a relationship. To address these design situa- Nikolov sees the development of tion is different and everybody Lehigh Choral Arts, was founded Eternal love is the theme of the final Architecture tions, Nikolov is advancing current these new technologies as intimately learns differently,” he says. by Sametz 25 years ago and is section, ‘’Not an End of Loving,’’ a computer-aided design and devel- related to his other line of research, Viera views each project as an composed of 150 students, faculty, translation of a Latin clerical letter Virtual Space oping a truly immersive environ- which investigates the relationships opportunity to facilitate new ways staff and community members by the eighth-century monk Alcuin Nik Nikolov finds that the traditional ment. Borrowing graphics software of geometry, building units and of approaching challenges, and who come together to rehearse of York, in a translation by Helen architectural practice of two- systems from the gaming industry, methods of construction involved his work in museology and exhibi- and perform major works from Waddell. Sametz has a fondness dimensional drawings is lacking. he is working to create an interac- in the use of masonry veneer wall tion design finds its way into his the choral-orchestral repertoire. for medieval Latin texts and he has He is convinced that the future of tive design environment that is not systems. He is in the design devel- classroom. The Lehigh Teaching Sametz has a 20-year history used Latin clerical letters in the past architecture lies in virtual space. a representation of the space but opment stage of a “mortarless” Collection is designed to be used composing for Chanticleer. This as components of his compositions. Nikolov, an assistant professor a true habitation. Driven by motion ventilated masonry facade system by faculty-at-large as an alterna- season, its tour program included “The entire experience of the of architecture in the department sensors and 18 projectors that wrap that has particular implications tive to the formal classroom, for art his setting of the e.e. cummings text, commission and composition of this of art, architecture and design, is the space around the architect, this for the architectural profession.
2 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 3 The Humanities
and postcolonial interpretations of close your eyes, plunge into the of sensuality—the sensuality of English displacement and exile. He argues flavors—‘mmmm.’ That’s my target: things, but also the sensuality of that these narratives about or by floating sensual in liquid corporeality. language, a sensual semantics. Learning from the Landfill illegal immigrants constitute a “clan- “What you enjoy when you “Many people think of language Discussion regarding the current state destine” argument that interrupts plunge into the soup is the soup. as a tool. We habitually think of a of our environment is not limited to mainstream discussion regarding Losing track of time, word as a series of scientists and policy makers. Some transnationalism and notes that you feel the thick- phonemes, a complex noted contemporary authors focus they demonstrate a need to reas- ness of the soup type of sound, arbi- on the waste produced by society. sess the idea of migration between in your mouth, the trarily associated with Mary Foltz, assistant professor France and North Africa. France has passage between its significant use. It of English, studies 20th-century traditionally upheld the values of textures and flavors. might be arbitrary writers and examines their depic- freedom, human dignity and under- I think that blurring but it is not there- tions of waste—representations of standing, and these writers bring to of all the sensual fore, as a phoneme, landfills, sewage systems and other light ethnic and religious intolerance. things together, the without significant methods of disposal—in fiction. Her “They question the idea of univer- passage between Henri Bergson expressive force.” research finds that these writers
salism in France, that everybody is what we habitually BETTMANN / CORBIS The long sound are deeply committed to depicting equal, free and fraternal. It doesn’t separate, is the key “a” is made way society’s destructive practices work that way because it’s a French to sensual enjoyment,” he says. down the throat. Learning about of disposal through fiction. sense of universalism,” he says. Normally, said Bergson, we don’t the way our bodies resonate to Whether it is the parodic works BETTMANN / CORBIS really see things at all, we just read different phonemes is learning of Thomas Pynchon or the depic- North Africans arriving at Marseille have their papers checked by French Immigration inspectors. Philosophy labels attached to them. Sensual about the expressive sources of our tions of marginalized communities The Metaphysics enjoyment will only be ours if we language, for example: “mmmm.” by Toni Morrison, Foltz argues that Modern Languages and Literature French literature, film and graphic in a novel, a foreign language in a resist intellectualizing and catego- And enjoying words both as signifiers many postmodern novelists not only novels. These French or African country, an image in a film, a box of Sensuality rizing our experience of the world and and as resonators can be sensual, provide a critique of waste-disposal The Intruder writers have long discussed the in a graphic novel or simply a word, Henri Bergson was perhaps the most if we break our habits of practical he says. Moreover, there is no stop- practices, but they also speak to the In the late 1950s and early 1960s, impact of French colonial rule on the represents the person who does not influential French philosopher at engagement. Bearn enjoys putting ping the expressive force of sounds. value and pleasure society finds in France experienced large-scale formation of subjectivity, selfhood, fit in or does not belong to a partic- the beginning of the 20th century. this as: If it ain’t broke, break it. The singular utterance will always waste. Environmental authors such immigration from its former North memory and narratives in postco- ular space or a particular discourse. Bergson wrote that intuition, as Although the supposed require- precipitate feelings and thoughts as Reinaldo Arenas or William Gaddis DOUGLAS BENEDICT African colonies such as Algeria, lonial North Africa and in the North While the commonly seen “Other” the discoverer of truth, reveals the ments of a conformist morality have that resonate in variously expressive depict representations of waste that Tunisia and Morocco. The influx African diaspora in France today. is outside society, the Intruder is real world, not intellectual analysis. mostly forced sensual enjoyment ways with the surroundings of the connect to issues such as race, Mary Foltz, assistant professor of English, of these postcolonial immigrants Berrada examines how North challenging norms from within. Gordon Bearn argues there is a beyond the horizon of philosophy, utterance—semantical and material. gender and class. They construct (bottom) explores waste created a social and racial clash African writers recall their memories Following the figure of the Intruder, striking similarity between Bergson’s philosophers do admit that sensual “To see the world, we need alternative subjects like scaven- produced by society through that France is still addressing. Many and experiences North Africa is inside notion of metaphysical intuition enjoyment exists. But the sensual to exercise the painful violence gers and trash artists who refuse authors such as Thomas of these immigrants are now French through text and France as much as and the concept of sensuality. enjoyment of linguistic life, if it of sensation to reach Bergsonian to bury or to forget the wretched. Pynchon and Toni Morrison. citizens, some for generations, and film. While critics France is inside North Bearn, professor of philosophy, is even conceded existence, is intuition. The logic of sensation is Rather than indulging in a routine France must adapt to these citizens have historically Africa when it comes to began his examination of sensuality almost never interrogated. Bearn the logic of metaphysical intuition. call for recycling, Foltz says these and respect their identities. Yet, to believed that areas such as culture, in 2008. It is easy to misconstrue is interested in both dimensions It can provide heterogeneous writers show that discussing waste many French, these immigrants are there is a clear, language and history. pleasure as a subjective sensation sensual enjoyments, linguistical and claiming things that others
too culturally, socially and racially distinct division “French citizens of like pain, but this error is avoided JUDY UNGER / GETTY IMAGES no less than material,” he says. discard leads to the development different to be immersed into society. between French North African descent if we consider enjoyment. What we of truly sustainable communities. Because these immigrants and North African are intruders, because enjoy is the peach, not the effect She finds that many postmodern have been kept on the cultural histories, Berrada they are not considered of the peach on us. He has been authors are primarily concerned and societal boundaries, a genera- argues that French by mainstream examining sensual enjoyment, a with why human civilizations are tion of immigrants lacks a sense French and North France. They represent definite way of enjoying some- attacking the world with waste. GONZALO FUENTES / CORBIS of belonging. They are not viewed African writers Muslim immigrants in Paris a threat because they thing, and enjoying it sensually. Many of the authors Foltz as French, yet they are no longer show in their are shifting the percep- “Take a spoonful of soup and studies are more interested in why viewed as Moroccan or Algerian. works that France and North tion of French society which has suppose you are the cook. You can humans consume and dispose in Taïeb Berrada, assistant professor Africa share a colonial past and become multicultural, multiethnic, taste the soup to see if there is too such an aggressive manner. Their of French in the department of therefore a common history. multireligious, etc.,” Berrada says. much cumin, too much salt, or not waste-focused ethics illustrate modern languages and literature, To address these issues, Berrada Expanding on this work, he is enough. You’re not really enjoying that the continuation of human studies these issues by examining has borrowed a figure from French now looking at different aspects the soup. You’re just freezing that life lies with addressing our 20th- and 21st-century postcolo- philosopher Jean Luc Nancy—the of illegal immigration in France experience as a cumin experience waste and refusing to imagine a nial narratives about or from the Intruder. The Intruder, whether it by analyzing novels and films and or a salt experience. But you can separation between the natural Algerian and Moroccan diasporas in is a character or a narrative voice critiquing the current postmodern also hold the soup in your mouth, world and ourselves, says Foltz.
4 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 5 The Humanities (continued) The Natural Sciences
“Many current literary texts to put landfills or incinerators. picture of Scotus’ relationship Mathematics theory regarding classification of encourage the reader to avoid Foltz’s current effort brings to modernity emerges. Peirce high-dimensional data for DNA participation in the ecological into the mix Fluxus art, or art made himself read Scotus carefully and Gene Expression microarray. Working with gene disaster by finding value in the from waste, and connecting it to regarded him as one of the most by the Numbers expression vectors in four types of waste of both the individual and novels like Don Delillo’s Underworld important philosophers who ever cancer, Wu, in collaboration with society. These authors create or Pynchon’s postmodern novel, lived. Raposa’s project attempts to In cancer research, scientists Hans-Georg Müller at the University fictional communities and indi- The Crying of Lot 49. These provide a clear sketch of theosemi- attempt to build better predictive of California-Davis, developed a viduals who find pleasure in artists are important in contem- otic, not only as Peirce conceived models of diagnosis and therapy connection between the functional materials that might appear porary fiction because they are it, but as it might be understood for patients and drug development data analysis (FDA) and multi- worthless to society,” she says. exemplary in their rethinking and further articulated by contem- based on gene expression profiles. variate analysis (MVA) approaches come
Examining the works of post- and reimagining of how to work to porary philosophers of religion. Yet one of the challenges is a low for cases in which the dimension
modern writers gives Foltz opportu- and interact with the world. C redit He argues that there is a common sample size of available data as of the multivariate data is much nities to explore the importance of “It’s an important ethical theme that runs through the work compared to a very huge number larger than the sample size. Wu has contemporary fiction in addressing question for all of us as readers. Religion Studies of these American thinkers. of genetic entities. The latest work introduced a functional embedding today’s environmental challenges. I can examine these issues while “It is a notion that the created by statistician Ping-Shi Wu, assis- technique that uses the crossing “I can work with environmental maintaining a primary focus on the Theosemiotic universe is a system of signs, signs tant professor of mathematics, points between multivariate and scientists, work with legal theory fiction. I think fiction can reflect a Pragmatism is perhaps America’s that religiously trained people is expanding our understanding functional data, aiming at borrowing or study the works of people like contemporary subjectivity—a violent most significant contribution to can read and interpret, even as and analysis of gene expression strength across the sample James Fullard, who is working in subjectivity of disposers—and yet the history of philosophy. Charles others would fail to recognize in medical research. He proposes through FDA techniques in order environmental racism—choosing it can push us to imagine alterna- S. Peirce (1839–1914), who lived them,” he says. “From a pragmatic a new technique to resolve the to resolve the difficulties caused impoverished communities in which tive ways of being in the world.” the last 30 years of his life to the perspective, the way that we test complications caused by high- by the high-dimensional data. north of Lehigh University in Milford, the validity of our interpretations dimension and low sample-size data FDA techniques are commonly Penn., is often recognized as being is by evaluating the impact that and has demonstrated its excel- used to assist researchers with Postmodern authors are concerned with why the founder of pragmatism. they have on our ongoing behavior lence in the classification of gene developing models and analyzing “Functional embedding is prom- humans attack the world with waste. In 1989, Michael Raposa, and practices. Peirce believed our expression data as an example. curves. However, these curves ising compared to other methods professor of religion studies and human experience of the world is Current technologies present vary over a continuum, typically that have been proposed for the E.W. Fairchild Chair in American also always a matter of interpreta- investigators with the task of time, space, or both, making classification of high-dimensional Studies, coined the term “theosemi- tion. Even the simplest perceptual extracting meaningful statistical estimates necessary to create data. The method has potential to otic” to serve as a label for Peirce’s judgments take the form of infer- smooth curvatures or slopes be more widely useful for the anal- basic metaphysical perspective ences, albeit often ones that are between X and Y coordinates. ysis of very high-dimensional data.”
on the world, as well as to identify unconscious and not subject to “When analyzed, especially DOUGLAS BENEDICT his highly original philosophical immediate self control. The impli- when the sample size is much less Michael Burger, assistant methodology for addressing reli- cations of such a view for the than the dimensionality, the multi- Biological Sciences professor of neuroscience, gious questions and understanding philosophy of religion are profound.” variate technique doesn’t work. The examines structures in the brain religious truth claims. Two decades As with the other American intuitive solution is to use functional Processing Sound (above) called the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). later, Raposa, in his latest project, pragmatists, Peirce insisted on the data analysis. If you want to apply Michael Burger, assistant The MNTB is a major source continues to explore the religious continuity between theory and prac- FDA to multivariate data, the ques- professor of neuroscience in the of inhibition to other auditory dimension of Peirce’s pragmatism. tice, thought and feeling, interpreta- tion is how to convert it to functional biological sciences department, centers in the brain. In this Theosemiotic is a distinctive tion and behavior. Experiences and data. For whatever multivariate data is interested in how the audi- image, the red labels microtu- bules, or proteins that are highly tradition in American religious practices labeled as “religious” are is a vector, originally the order of tory system processes sound enriched in neurons, while the thought that can be traced back not simply raw data to be subjected Ping-Shi Wu entries is not meaningful,” says Wu. information. His research, titled green labels receptors for inhibi- through Ralph Waldo Emerson to to careful philosophical scrutiny, DOUGLAS BENEDICT Wu has developed a connec- “Efferent Inhibitory Mechanisms tion. Thus, the inhibitory MNTB Jonathan Edwards. It came to its says Raposa. They themselves tion between the FDA and MVA in Binaural Processing,” has been nucleus is itself inhibited. zenith with Peirce, and then influ- have a fundamentally interpretive data from spaces where the dimen- approaches. He proposes an funded through a five-year grant enced the work of William James, dimension and function, so that the sion of the data vectors may be ordering of the variates by means from the National Institutes of Josiah Royce and others. Raposa meaning of religious ideas is signi- much larger than the sample size. A of multidimensional classical Health’s National Institute on suggests that theosemiotic also fied by and embodied in certain new tactic is needed for very high- scaling. Once the components of Deafness and Other Communication has some medieval roots, most habits of feeling and patterns of dimensional data, and in particular high-dimensional data have been Disorders. The Deafness Research especially in the thought of the conduct. For Peirce, our disciplined the need for effective classification ordered and embedded into a func- Foundation also funded Burger’s 13th-century Franciscan John practices display a logic that more procedures for such data, says Wu. tion space, FDA approaches can be earlier work in this field in 2008. Duns Scotus. Raposa argues that effectively exposes the meaning of The properties of high dimen- applied in subsequent analysis. This To process sound, the ear if one traces the legacy of Scotus religious beliefs and ideas than any sionality are often poorly understood bridge allows researchers to bring and the brain work in tandem to to its modern development in carefully articulated verbal argu- or overlooked in data modeling the whole array of FDA methodology determine its location, relying on
JENNIFER ESPERANZA / GETTY IMAGES Peirce’s thought, then a different ment or explication ever could. and analysis. Wu proposes a new to bear on high-dimensional data. a specialized neural circuit in the
6 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 7 The Natural Sciences (continued)
brain devoted to the process. The hearing at a bat auditory neurosci- Physics diagnostic techniques. Focusing on It’s logical that those boulders brain is able to compute where ence lab at The University of Texas detecting HIV viral particles in blood, are large granite rocks and they sound comes from by determining at Austin and later started working Focusing Light on HIV Ou-Yang believes this new method all came from the same spot. You when a sound wave strikes each with birds as a senior postdoc- The data are clear and sobering. may be an alternative for quantifying can see they are rather angular. ear. Auditory neurons can detect toral fellow at the Department Although a small-but-growing nano-scale colloidal parameters in They haven’t been eroded. What’s the tiny microsecond differences in of Otolaryngology—Head and number of countries are beginning general, as it is easier to operate happened is they slid on top of arrival time of a sound between the Neck Surgery at the University to contain the spread of the AIDS than conventional methods, and the a glacier and they rode passively two ears. This system also has to of Washington. In 2005, he was virus, the epidemic is expanding in experiments can be performed with across Tierra del Fuego out onto the function over a wide range of sound awarded a prestigious Alexander all areas of the world, outpacing lower concentrations at a sensitivity plains. As the glaciers retreated, intensities, making this computa- von Humboldt Research Fellowship the response. Many of the affected unattainable before. One particular the boulders were all lowered and tion particularly challenging. at the University of Munich. countries lack the financial and benefit of this technique is the dropped in one spot,” he says. While this research may be staffing resources to effectively test reduced number of false positive Taking samples from the fundamental in nature, its contri- for HIV, but the solution might lie in cases during HIV diagnoses, he says. boulders, Evenson dated them butions could play a significant the laboratory of Daniel Ou-Yang. Typically, the viral concentra- using cosmogenic nucleide dating. role in clinical applications. Ou-Yang, professor of physics tion in a blood sample is extremely Boulders absorb atomic particles Understanding how normal brain and bioengineering and director low, so clinicians concentrate Charles Darwin (below) believed called nucleides, from the sun’s circuits function can help develop of Lehigh’s Emulsion Polymers the virus to the extent that it can that ice rafting may explain how the rays. These particles go into the Tierra del Fuego boulders came to or improve prosthetic devices, Institute, uses light to collect and be detected. The current method rock and cause spallation, a their present location. such as cochlear implants. These study the behavior of nanopar- requires that blood samples be process that produces new isotopes electronic devices substitute for ticles. Using polystyrene spheres, taken and clinicians measure the DENNIS COX / GETTY IMAGES that don’t normally exist in rocks. damaged structures in the ear that he uses a laser to catch particles quantity of ribonucleic acid (RNA) If you start with some blemish in that goes into the sea, boulders fall Measuring how many nucleides may not function properly, and can measuring less than 100 nano- fragments that are believed to be the original, then the original keeps off the hillside onto a glacier. The have accumulated in the rock restore hearing to deaf patients. meters in a football-shaped focal specific to HIV present in each getting amplified. Using this alterna- glacier produces icebergs, or calves, helps geologists gauge how long a LIBRARY OF CONGRESS / GETTY IMAGES DOUGLAS BENEDICT Although much is known about point he calls an “optical bottle.” milliliter of a person’s blood. Then tive technique gives us greater sensi- when its tongue extends into the boulder has been sitting in the sun. Postdoctoral research fellow William Coleman and graduate student the process of how information In an optical bottle, light triggers the RNA is augmented exponentially tivity in detecting the HIV particles water. Some of these calves have Evenson determined that the Sonia Weimann prepare tissue for flows from the ear to the brain, or alters the interactions of colloidal by a string of replications. Then a directly instead of those RNA.” boulders on them. The calves drift boulders were all the same rock type immunohistochemical analysis in less is understood about efferent nanoparticles, allowing researchers complex mathematical estimation is Ou-Yang’s technique traps around until the iceberg runs aground and based on the quantity of rocks Michael Burger’s lab. feedback—the information that to study and analyze these viral particles to more accurately and the ice melts and deposits the present, Evenson and Burkhart, now travels from the higher regions of interactions or control enumerate their presence. He has boulder on the seabed until uplift an assistant professor of geology at The research centers on the the brain back to lower processing their transport behavior. determined that optical bottles raises them out of the water. Slippery Rock University, concluded question of how cellular, synaptic centers. Burger says that current “Particles much induced improved concentration In the fall of 2009, Ed Evenson, that that the boulders were the and systems-level properties prosthetic devices don’t take into smaller than one micron levels. Using optical bottles, he professor of earth and environ- result of a landslide. He was able to are integrated to allow sensory account any such feedback. cannot be tweezed, but hopes to develop a simple, reli- mental sciences, visited the site of pinpoint the source of the rockfall to neurons to extract and represent Some of the work he is you can entice the parti- able and affordable diagnostic these boulders as part of a mapping an area nearly 200 kilometers away. features of the acoustic environ- researching today stemmed from cles with light and you technique that uses light to project. Several years earlier, Patrick Darwin was incorrect, but ment. Burger is exploring how questions he began investigating can ask questions about isolate and detect HIV particles. Burkhart, one of Evenson’s graduate Evenson notes that Darwin the inhibitory components of during his time in Munich. Burger particle activity,” he says. students, had mapped the region wasn’t completely wrong. the circuit influence processing and the scientists in his lab recently “You can’t trap individual and discovered the banana-shaped “Darwin was a good geologist. in each brain area involved in finished a major investigation into nanoparticles, but you can Earth and Environmental Sciences distribution. Evenson realized he He had a good idea of where
computing sound-source location. the role of synaptic modulators in study their interactions come could use these boulders to date the boulders came from. He Burger and the other members the processing of sound location inside the optical bottle. to Darwin’s Boulders the age of the glaciation that put just didn’t realize they were of his lab work with chickens, cues funded through a Howard Using light, we can manip- C redit In 1833, Charles Darwin stopped in them there. He hypothesized that carried by a glacier.” which have brain circuitry similar to Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)— ulate how particles behave Light is used to trigger and alter the dynamics of particle the Tierra del Fuego region of South the boulders had been carried interactions within an “optical bottle.” human brain structures. Chickens sponsored program at Lehigh. in surrounding media.” America to study a strange collec- across Tierra del Fuego riding on a also serve as good developmental Moving forward, Burger says Using optical bottles, tion of granite boulders located on glacier during the Ice Age. Evenson models because researchers that questions which have already researchers can assess the interac- used to try to ascertain how many the coast of Bahía San Sabastian. proposed that the boulders were not are able to study hearing at come out of the HHMI research are tion energies between the light RNA fragments were present in Darwin was puzzled by the distribu- the result of icebergs but of glaciers. any stage. Over the long term, helping to broaden his inquiries and the nanoparticles in the bottle the original sample of blood. Each tion of the rocks, which numbered “In the Andes, due to glaciers Burger hopes to use the find- as he focuses on the NIH-funded as well as the osmotic interaction one of these steps introduces the approximately 500 and spread out eroding the sides of the valleys, you ings gleaned from his work with research. “You have to let the between the particles by measuring potential for inaccurate results. in a banana shape. The region was get oversteepened mountainsides. chickens to build a mechanistic science drive you to branch out the extent to which they fill or leave “Eventually you get enough of a flat plain, so Darwin wondered Then you get earthquakes, because understanding of sound localization and explore new things,” says a bottle. Originally conceived for a concentration, but it’s not very how they came to lie there. Chile is an earthquake-prone area circuitry in vertebrate systems. Burger. “That’s one of the most engineering applications, the tech- accurate,” says Ou-Yang. “Imagine Darwin proposed that ice rafting and down out of the mountains Burger first began studying exciting parts of being a scientist.” nology can be applied to finding new it’s like a copy machine copying. was the explanation. On a glacier come rock from a mountain face.
8 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 9 The Social Sciences Social media, such as Twitter, are encouraging people to use social capital to create and foster relationships.
History of plantation society, while criminal revolution of 1848, following slave light on workplace contentment. tip them less, and say it’s because cases especially reveal the undercur- uprisings in the colonies. Meanwhile, The co-author of Gratuity: they’re not as good with people. In Napoleon and the rent of resistance that was often part Napoleonic legal forms took hold A Contextual Understanding of addition, the behavior of different Shaping of the Atlantic of daily life. Historians of slavery through the Atlantic world. The Tipping Norms from the Perspective people is classified and judged In 1804, France enacted the in the American South have long co-editor of Napoleon’s Atlantic, a of Tipped Employees, Ochs and disparately. When some people Napoleonic Code, a document that been interested in how the legal new volume in Brill’s Atlantic World Richard Seltzer of Howard University barter, they are deemed miserly or would serve as a major influence system shaped slavery, by looking series, Savage is also researching interviewed 425 people in 50 shrewd, but when servers expect on 19th-century legal structures at issues like how enslaved laborers the way Napoleonic models of occupational categories, from reciprocity—free drinks for example— throughout Europe, Latin America often earned wages and a degree of government, administration, warfare restaurant staff to adult enter- from other servers for higher tips, and beyond. The Code was meant to independence while being “leased” and power became the most tainers. Respondents gave their it is described as an ‘ethic’” “Social media takes people who be a whole legal system in a single by slaveowners, or how criminal copied form of governance among perspective on their work and Because tipping is a poor are already civic minded and gives volume, and the standardization of acts forced judges to recognize the later Latin American autocracies. compensation. The act of tipping indicator of performance, manage- them avenues for participation, laws it entailed dramatically increased legal will and intent of slaves and He shows how Napoleonic law is an act of the client trusting and ment must create an environment foster relationships and ties. but it’s not turning a generation state control over the courts. John admit slave testimony during court disseminated throughout Latin investing in another’s expertise, says of trust with employees, she Littau examined groups of into civically minded people.” proceedings. But little comparable America and was reproduced and Ochs, but she adds that with tips, says. Tipped employees are more heavy online community users, People use traditional media work existed on the case of the imitated in North America, particu- the price is set by the customer contented when they feel they people who are part of blogging like newspapers and television French colonies of the Caribbean. larly in Quebec and Louisiana. and not necessarily connected to are trusted by managers and that communities, discussion boards to gather information about local Savage has been piecing together “What may be of interest is the the quality of service but confor- their work quality is not judged on or virtual communities that center issues, while social media gives a picture of how French colonies way colonial legal systems adapted mity to a social code, reinforcing gratuity amounts. The absence of on topics of common interest. them another means by which to like Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. to local circumstances in a way that the existing status hierarchy. trust contributes to a work environ- Surveying nearly 2,000 users, he act on that information. Information Domingue balanced the demands often seemed to ignore supposedly “People appear to obey the ment that imposes unnecessary asked about media habits, including seekers might be connected enough of modern metropolitan law with fundamental legal principles. Law rules of tipping norms for social costs on employees and likely use of social networks. From the in their real-world community, so the realities of slave society. “There is largely a product of local social and emotional reasons rather affects the customer experience. survey he extracted which social they do not need the online connec- is a tremendous amount of mate- forces, and that tension between than strictly rational reasons. “Management strategies that media factors had the greatest tion. Yet, users seeking connec- rial that has to be worked through social realities and legal texts is Tipping demonstrates status and provide employees with effective influence on people’s engagement. that will tell us about the nature one that we can compare in other is part of economic redistribu- training and support are more likely Social media can lead to a of slave society,” says Savage. times and places,” he says. tion in the market. People adhere to facilitate a work environment more engaged public, but it is While French mandates worked to tipping norms because of the that compensates for the emotional limited in scope, says Littau. Being in Europe, colonial bureaucrats feelings evoked by conformity or cost of their labor,” says Ochs. involved in causes over distance, throughout the Caribbean ultimately Political Science to avoid social disapproval.” which is facilitated by online refused to implement them. Savage The Role of Tipping The narratives reveal a general involvement, is not linked with argues that the demands of the new trend in the experiences of tipped Journalism involvement in local politics and Napoleonic legal system caused Tipping. It’s one of life’s great employees regarding demographic Digital Civic Engagement issues. This “Web-network” social BETTMANN / CORBIS a rift between metropolitan and social mysteries. Why tip musi- differences in compliance to tipping capital that binds communities colonial authorities that led to the cians in the subway and not at norms. In some ways, the most Whether it is Facebook, Twitter, online thus can spur involvement in Savage, associate professor of gradual implosion of France’s slave the Met? Whether it’s gratuity fascinating aspects of these narra- BrightKite or FourSquare, faraway causes such as campaign history, explores the invention of the society, even before the final aboli- for our stylist or the server at our tives are the perceptual errors momentum has been gaining for donations or membership in national DESMOND BOYLAN / CORBIS modern sovereign legal subject under tion of slavery in 1848. Savage is favorite restaurant, we wonder how themselves, she says. The trend is social media as it reshapes the advocacy organizations. But a Napoleonic law in a novel way, by especially struck by how, in this much is enough or too much. that tipped employees take more way we communicate. But in the better predictor of local activism tivity are in search of resources considering how the civil law system period, enslaved people used the Holona Ochs, assistant note of demographic differences arena of open communication, and civic engagement is someone that let them become engaged. dealt with those deemed unworthy of legal system in an effort to pursue professor of political science, finds among clients than they notice does social media make us better, who has both the Web-network as “In essence, social media and this subjectivity, the enslaved people their own interests. “Even though that tips are a weak signal of quality differences in service quality. more engaged civic citizens? Not well as social capital built in his traditional media combine to create of France’s colonial territories. The the odds were against them and and not an effective monitoring “One of the ways people act out according to Jeremy Littau, whose or her local community. Together, better and more powerful tools for DOUGLAS BENEDICT transformation of the French legal they rarely got positive outcomes, mechanism. Her research addresses biases is through tipping. If a person research examines social involve- they amplify local civic behavior. people to become engaged, but
Francois Dominique Toussaint system in the early 19th century we have a whole series of enslaved tipping customs and sheds new DORLING KINDERSLEY / GETTY IMAGES doesn’t like you, they don’t neces- ment in online virtual communities. “Someone who is just using social media isn’t creating good L’Ouverture led enslaved blacks in reveals the unique characteristics people who were pursuing lawsuits sarily have to say it’s about race or An assistant professor of social media but unengaged with civic citizens among people who the struggle for independence from in civil courts in the French colonies. weren’t yet involved,” he says. the French (above). John Savage of French slavery, while the law of class. One may dislike a person, journalism, Littau’s work reveals the local community is not going examines how Napoleonic law dealt slavery illustrates fundamental prin- It gives us a tremendous sense of a new measure of social capital to be politically active locally. It’s Social media use generally with enslaved people. ciples that guide Napoleonic civil law. what their concerns were and what for users of online communi- not going turn people who were is tied to desktop and laptop Court cases involving enslaved their voice was. You have a more ties. Social capital involves the previously unengaged into civic devices that keep people in one people provide an extraordinary complicated view of slave society.” various connections within and actors, but it is a good bridge to place. Littau says mobile social window onto the social experience Slavery was abolished in among social networks. In these help them find other connections media use might yet help create of slavery. Civil cases bring out the Martinique, Guadeloupe, French communities, people use this with people in their town who better citizens as people are complex realities of economic life Guiana and Réunion after the type of capital to create and want to be politically active. freed from those constraints.
10 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 11 Feature
How we UNITE, BACKGROUND IMAGE: TO COME Ways we
DIVIDE (left to right) IRA WYMAN / CORBIS; MARIANA ELIANO / GETTY; KEREN SU / CORBIS; SEBASTIEN DESARMAUX / CORBIS; ANTON MERES / CORBIS.
Carlos Fuentes When Spain clinched the 2010 World Cup victory over the Netherlands, soccer fans took to the streets, waving flags, donning official team jerseys groups against one another. Establishing an identity or and shouting “I am Spanish!” in support of their national team, La Roja or feeling a sense of unity is a struggle “The Red.” This sense of unity is commonplace in many other nations, that is not unique to the people of Spain. How people and groups but the outpouring of national pride in Spain raised eyebrows and added of people view themselves and another dimension to a storied history of Spanish identity. those around them in the context of social, political and religious climates has caused personal trauma, shaped history, and BY TRICIA LONG altered how individuals, govern- ments and entire nations co-exist. Three Lehigh faculty members are pain faces great challenges in presenting exploring ways in which identity, solidarity, Sa unified nation outside of international and political and social processes are commu- soccer competition. At home, Catalans and nicated through literature, media and govern- Basques seek greater autonomy. Muslims ment discourse. Literature in particular has and Jews seek to find their place alongside the power to persuade and shape thought, to a Catholic majority. And hundreds of years expose injustices, and to bring to light cultural of history have pitted religious and cultural fears and concerns.
12 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 13 she’s actually criticizing the politics of integra- “Literature affects us in a variety of very Writing Social Crises tion in Spain through different characters in meaningful ways. It doesn’t just provide infor- Bush’s research examines the work of authors the novel. It’s a very current topic in Spain,” says mation or translate complicated concepts. It who use melodrama—an aesthetic form and Portela. “The media stereotypes the Muslim has different levels. Maybe it changes the way narrative structure that uses plot and char- woman because if she doesn’t wear the veil, if you look at the next Muslim woman on the acters to appeal to readers emotionally—to she speaks and writes in Catalan, then she’s street,” says Portela. “If you’re a scholar, then express the political and social issues of the perfect. They appropriate her image and shape you can do a lot with a novel. You know what time. His focus is on melodrama in social it into what they want.” effect it can have and you can try to get those narratives written in the first half of the 20th Over the last 15 years, there has been a aspects that have moved you while reading it century, particularly from the Latin American heavy migration from Morocco to Spain, which and do something with it … maybe use it to countries of Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil has created a lot of social struggles that under- explain a complex reality, like what it is to be and Argentina. “Literature affects us in a variety of very score the tensions between Spain and Northern Spanish today.” “With these specific countries, I can Africa. Portela says the media’s reading of Portela’s colleague Matthew Bush agrees connect several different literary genres to meaningful ways. It doesn’t just provide El-Hachmi’s novel is a misrepresentation of that narratives can aid in making complex social illustrate a thematic or aesthetic structure that information or translate complicated the current cultural, political and social climate and political processes understandable. By using works across these different schools,” he says. in Spain, where there is still a rejection of particular narrative models, he says, authors “That’s an attractive part of the project, to concepts. It has different levels. Maybe the Muslim communities, particularly among have a means to better explain how things be able to present a paradigm of reading that Moroccan immigrants. happen. These narrative tools also help authors connects different things that we wouldn’t it changes the way you look at the next “There are so many words in Spanish that elicit an emotional response from readers in a think are necessarily integrated.” come from Arabic,” Portela adds. There are way other forms of communication may not. Historically, melodrama has been viewed as Muslim woman on the street.” traces of North African and Arabic culture and Bush, an assistant professor of Spanish in a conservative genre that celebrates the status history all over Spain. We need to remember the department of modern languages and liter- quo. But Bush finds that the —Edurne Portela that most of Spain was Muslim for many centu- ature, finds it is important for a reader to have ries. It’s a matter of saying, first we have to know a reaction. our history and then we have to take responsi- “Art produces emotional reactions in us, but bility for that history. We can’t negate it and say what is the purpose of that emotional reaction, BACKGROUND IMAGE: TO COME Spain is only a territory for the Catholics and or what do we do with an emotional reaction tions surrounding how they react to that process of othering. In pure Spanish blood, whatever that means.” to art?” immigration, assimi- this case it’s a woman who is not only a woman, Through her research, Portela is also inves- “Literature offers a very rich way of commu- Writing the Immigrant lation, and cultural but a woman of Muslim background,” says tigating the work of another female Spanish nicating with people and a good novel can really and religious conflict Portela, who also serves as director of Lehigh’s author, Esther Bendahan, who as a child immi- change how you look at others,” adds Portela. Experience in modern-day Spain. Humanities Center. grated from the Morroccan city of Tétouan to Edurne Portela, an associate professor of Portela, whose The Last Patriarch expresses the constant Spain. Bendahan is a Jewish woman, and her Spanish in the department of modern languages own book, Displaced tension that arises as a woman of Muslim origin story reveals a similar yearning to understand and literature, has noticed that a relatively young Memories: The Poetics of Trauma in Argentine attempts to become part of mainstream Spain her place and the place of the Jewish people in crop of authors are exploring their identities Women’s Writings, was published in 2009, found at the same time that she becomes conscious of mainstream Catholic Spain. through autobiographies and fictional narra- a strong connection between El-Hachmi’s her “otherness” in Spanish society. El-Hachmi A grant from Lehigh’s Center for Global tives. While browsing through a bookstore in work and her latest research project which also plays off the character of the Muslim father Islamic Studies allows Portela to dig deeper her native Spain, Portela stumbled upon one focuses on memory and trauma in the context who does not practice his religion because he into the long and storied history between book that inspired her latest research project. of second- and third-generation writers like desperately wants to integrate into society. North Africa and Spain. She spent the summer The book, L’últim patriarca, or The Last El-Hachmi. These contemporary authors, El-Hachmi’s novel, however, prompted an of 2010 in Spain meeting with some of the Patriarch, was written by Moroccan-born many of whom are in their thirties, grew up at unexpected reception from the Spanish media. authors, like El-Hamchi, who have piqued author Najat El-Hachmi. El-Hachmi immi- the end of Argentina’s Dirty War and the fall Rather than acknowledging the conflicted feel- her interest. Portela also visited Spain’s Jewish grated to Catalonia with her family as a child, of Francisco Franco’s regime in Spain, and they ings these Muslim characters experience during and Moroccan cultural centers, which provide and this work of fiction shares her experience are reworking their first-generation experience their time in Spain, they held the book up as an a place for collaborations and networks to of growing up as a young woman in a Muslim into fiction. example of integration. form between groups of people and artists
immigrant family. El-Hachmi looks at ques- “I want to learn how people are othered and “It’s a manipulation of the novel, because (left to right) JEAN-PIERRE LESCOURRET / CORBIS; INDIA PICTURE / CORBIS; ANTON MERES / CORBIS; DON MASON / CORBIS; BUDDY MAYS / CORBIS. and authors.
14 ACUMEN • FALL 2009ACUMEN • FALL 2010 15 form is also used to express a radical narrative Argentina. Using these narrative models Writing a Shared Identity or to celebrate revolutionary politics. Bush can help explain things that are politically Communicating a sense of identity and soli- notes that many of the authors who use this complicated. darity, however, are not unique to domestic form invert the scheme. For instance, people Bush’s work focuses on prominent Latin issues. They play into foreign policy issues as who are typically viewed as “bad” because they American writers such as Mexican novelist well. Political scientist Vera Fennell is looking upset a society’s traditional power structure are and essayist Carlos Fuentes and Peruvian at how complicated concepts of identity are instead portrayed as “good” because they are César Vallejo, along with Argentine author addressed in the political sphere. represented as idyllic models of social rebellion. Roberto Arlt, the Venezuelan novelist Rómulo Fennell, associate professor of political Essentially, these authors are reworking the clas- Gallegos, and Brazilian author Jorge Amado. science, is conducting research that focuses on sical reading of how melodrama functions. We see this technique at work in our own identity and the struggle to articulate solidarity “The authors in my investigation position contemporary discourse, he adds. In American between two diverse groups of people that characters as either good or bad within the politics, for example, Republicans and simultaneously acknowledges disparity and story. Narrative is based on conflict, so I tried to Democrats may hold views on the opposite difference and has a common political agenda. read or discover how these polarized figures are ends of the spectrum, but each party uses the However, instead of researching literature to associated with political programs. And those same techniques in presenting their cases. explore issues of individual identity, she is Premier Zhou Enlai of China at the political programs vary greatly,” says Bush. “I can be as dogmatic as I want to be investigating the official discourse and narra- Badung Conference. Melodrama figures among specific writing on the left or on the right. But in doing that, tives that create a unified identity between styles that marked the literary history of the I’m putting myself in an all-or-nothing type China and various African nations. first half of the 20th century, as seen in the of argument,” says Bush. “And that’s really a “Here there’s a global political arena where novel of the Mexican Revolution and the novel characteristic of melodramatic narrative—this you can have political solidarity that explicitly events and how they have contributed to a of the Spanish American Boom. It is also used all-or-nothing, good versus evil. Melodrama acknowledges race but sees it as something sense of shared identity between China and to speak to societal problems, such as regional doesn’t do well with gray area. It’s black that enhances the solidarity as opposed to how Africa that continues to evolve today. cleavages in Venezuela, the representation of and white. some in the West see it as leading to conflict,” The first event, the Badung Conference, the indigenous people of Peru, socialist realism “The works that I examine are inherently says Fennell, who has a joint appointment in also known as the Afro-Asian Conference, in Brazil or societal marginality found in urban political and they speak in varying degrees to Lehigh’s Globalization and Social Change brought together representatives from African a specific socioeconomic landscape in each Initiative. and Asian nations in Indonesia to promote context. There is very much an attempt to China and Africa have a long history of African and Asian economic coalitions and represent a specific reality and a path to do economic and diplomatic ties. For her research, decolonization. The conference, held in 1955, Francisco “Pancho” Villa something about it.” however, Fennell is looking primarily at two was one of the first major efforts of African
and Asian cooperation. COLLECTION INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL HISTORY, AMSTERDAM The other project of interest to Fennell A poster expresses “The Deep Friendship of Chinese and African Peoples”. is a railroad built by the Chinese that “These authors position characters as either linked Tanzania to Zambia. The railroad, fastest-growing economies in the world, the between propaganda and media. I look at constructed in the 1970s, linked Zambia to Communist leadership continues to mine this these media representations, which is where good or bad within the story. Narrative is the port of Tanzania, where it could export story as what unites them with African states, the Chinese Communist party presents its its goods without having to cross through and what makes their strategic partnerships official narrative about both domestic and based on conflict, so I tried to read or discover white-supremacist nations like Rhodesia or not exploitative. foreign policy. Some of this is for domestic these polarized figures that are associated South Africa. “I’ve begun to think that that may be how consumption and some of this is for foreign By examining these historical milestones, the Chinese Communist Party, at least on an consumption.” with political programs.” Fennell is better able to understand the stra- ideological level, defines race—as this political Fennell says that from an economic tegic partnership between China and Africa experience,” says Fennell. “Because China and perspective, both China and Africa see the —Matthew Bush BACKGROUND IMAGE: TO COME that exists today. This political alliance explic- Africa both experienced colonialism, semi- benefits of such an alliance. For those who itly acknowledges race and uses it to create colonialism and the extraction of resources, argue that this is another form of colonialism, political solidarity rather than allowing it to they see what that does to the social order, and Fennell points to Africa’s interests in using create conflict. the economic order, and how it orients your China as a development aid, which gives them “I look at how China conveys this message economy to the benefit of someone else and leverage against the International Monetary of what its interests are and the connection not to the benefit of the people within the Fund or the World Bank. among China and various African states and nation state. Along with that comes a sense of Like Portela and Bush, Fennell recognizes African leaders,” says Fennell, who researches racial hierarchy and white supremacy. China the power in articulating messages in a way newspapers, posters and other forms of visual sees itself sharing this experience with various that is understandable to the people, be it media to determine how China creates this African states.” within a cultural, religious or, in this case, shared identity with African states. Even During a visit to Shanghai, Fennell spent political sphere. movies and songs that come out of China, she time in a poster museum that provided infor- “In order to construct any kind of unity says, talk about the “righteous struggle of our mation and examples of the artists who have or solidarity, you need some kind of powerful African brothers.” created works to promote unity and mobilize structure or persuasive group to articulate that Fennell says the common political experi- support. this narrative of similarity is more important ence that each shares is one of experiencing “This is the kind of stuff people dismiss as than this narrative of difference,” she says. HULTON-DEUTSCH COLLECTION / CORBIS; DANNY LEHMAN / CORBIS; BETTMANN / CORBIS; BETTMANN / CORBIS. colonialism, colonial exploitation and imperi- propaganda,” says Fennell. “The more I do this “That’s what the Chinese Communist Party ● (left to right) alism. Despite the fact that China is one of the research, the less clear I am on the distinction was able to do.”
16 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 17 Feature
by Kathleen Bittner producing words in different languages. Researchers disagree as to how syllables are represented in word memory. To address this and related questions, O’Seaghdha and his colleagues compare performance of the same simple tasks in different languages such as English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish. For example, in a set of experiments recently published in the journal Cognition, participants rapidly produced words that sometimes shared certain properties, such as beginning with the letter D in English. Participants were familiarized with pictures such as a ball of dough, a dew-covered leaf, or a bowl of dye and asked to name them with single words (dough, dew, dye). The images were shown in a random order so participants did not know in advance which initially retrieved from Padraig O’Seaghdha, associate professor word they needed to say next. Shared elements memory are different of psychology, has conducted research that helped speakers produce words more in Mandarin and in using a cross-linguistic approach, by rapidly, such as the D in this case, demonstrated English, they may serve investigating the role syllables play that those properties were important for plan- similar pivotal roles in in language processing. ning and initiating speech. But it turns out planning and prepara- that speaking English requires us to prepare to tion of speech. produce words differently than Mandarin. In his current “English speakers love to have the same project, O’Seaghdha sounds in the beginning of their words,” says is addressing ques- O’Seaghdha. “In contrast, Mandarin Chinese tions of language and thought by exploring speakers don’t show any benefit from words conceptions of immediate time with English with the same first sound. However they and Mandarin Chinese speakers. Together Language is a fundamental tool in human interaction. It’s not do benefit if the words share the entire first with collaborators Jenn-Yeu Chen and Jui-Ju syllable. This suggests that Mandarin is funda- Su at National Cheng Kung University in only a means of communicating our thoughts and ideas, but also mentally different from English. Mandarin Taiwan, he is investigating how grammatical helps forge friendships, relationships and cultural ties. Throughout uses the syllable as the starting point for differences between English and Mandarin history, researchers have examined the importance of language. turning a word that is in mind into a sound may influence perceptions of the duration of Legend has it that an ancient Egyptian king once had two babies raised pattern, but English uses individual sounds pictured events, and perhaps even the actual as the starting points and actually builds the experience of the present moment of time by in isolation to see what language would naturally emerge. (He was disap- syllables rather than retrieving them directly speakers of these languages. English has tenses, pointed to find that their first word-like sounds resembled the language from memory.” while Mandarin does not, and this absence of of the Phrygians rather than the Egyptians.) More recently, the prominent Because English speakers start with the tense may lead speakers to expand their defi- individual sounds of words and then combine nition of the present. “If so, what the neuro- American scholar Benjamin Whorf proposed that language shapes our them into syllables, the syllables are present scientist Michael Gazzaniga calls ‘the thin thoughts and emotions, influencing our perceptions of the world around us. in the spoken output, and it may seem that edge of the present’ could be a little wider English and Mandarin follow the same proce- for a Mandarin speaker than for an English dures. However, the research suggests that this speaker,” speculates O’Seaghdha. Language is not only a vehicle for the The foundation of speech is not the case. expression of thoughts and perceptions; it Not only do languages differ in how they “We are always looking for universal prin- Language and thought also represents a fundamental expression of encode thoughts and perceptions, they also ciples, but in practice, theories are actually While much of O’Seaghdha’s work is social identity. By using speech, humans are differ in the basic building blocks they use to very language specific,” said O’Seaghdha. To concerned with the how sounds are organized able to use language to convey ideas about the map word meanings onto the forms of words. resolve this problem, he proposes that theories and used in language, Barbara Malt investigates world around them—whether it is in their Padraig O’Seaghdha, associate professor of need to be more abstract, addressing general how people use language to talk about the native language, heritage language, or a learned psychology and director of Lehigh’s Cognitive principles of language processing rather than world around them. language. Research at Lehigh addresses a wide Science Program, uses a cross-linguistic attempting to fit the same account to all “There was a common idea in the literature
sampling of this vital research domain. approach to explore the role syllables play in ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOEL HOLLAND/PHOTOS BY DOUGLAS BENEDICT languages. Although the units of language that humans have mental categories of things
18 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 19 in the world such as objects that are tables, or perceives. Because if Chinese and Spanish compared how these speakers named objects that are chairs.” said Malt, professor of speakers are dividing the objects differently objects. psychology. “The idea was that when you look than English speakers are, and differently from “If the Whorfian hypothesis is right, around the world you perceive things in terms each other, what does that mean about the when you learn to speak one language it of those categories. There has been a tradi- objective reality of these categories of things really changes the way you think about tion of research in what is the composition of in the world? things.” said Malt. “It is hard to imagine those categories. How do we put things into Malt’s research now looks at speakers of what bilinguals do in that case, because if categories? What makes things be perceived as other languages and other sets of objects. you have two different languages, and they belonging to a coherent category?” Different languages draw very different are giving you two different ways of seeing To explore this concept, Malt developed boundaries among objects or other types of the world, how do you live with two, or a project where English speakers looked at a things: body parts, colors, or ways of moving how can you juggle two, or can you really set of 60 pictures and gave each one a name, such as walking, running, hopping, skipping, have two different ways of seeing the world? words like bottle, jar, and container. She then or jumping. It’s easier to think of what a bilingual could Other than looking at different naming do if you think of it in the terms of what patterns, English, Chinese, and Spanish we have been finding: Maybe there is just speakers made additional judgments about one main way of seeing the world, but two the objects. In a recent project, speakers were different ways of talking about it.” asked put the 60 pictures in groups according In fact, bilinguals may not even have to which items were similar. totally different ways of talking. If a speaker “Generally we found that the other kinds is bilingual, he or she could follow the same of judgments people make about the objects naming patterns of monolingual speakers are much more consistent across the speakers of each language. Another possibility is that Japanese do they have Kiri Lee, associate professor than the way they label them.” said Malt. “So it might be hard to do that, and the bilingual a low self esteem, and of Japanese, conducts research what they see as being like each other or having speaker’s two languages somehow influence how do they view them- in Japanese heritage schools in New Jersey. similar properties isn’t really changed by the one another. Malt and her Belgian colleagues selves in this setting?” fact that they name them in different ways.” found the second outcome—Belgian bilinguals Language profi- “The Whorfian hypothesis suggests that if used their French and Dutch words in ways ciency is an impor- you have different ways of talking about some- that were more similar than the speakers of just tant component in thing, the language itself may create different one language did. remaining connected to ways of thinking.” said Malt. “That would one’s culture. Studying imply that when you are looking at speakers Bilingual heritage a group of students of different languages, who have different These findings are important as bilingualism at a New Jersey Japanese language school, ways of naming things in the world they and often multilingualism continue to be the Lee found that throughout the four years would have correspondingly different ways norm rather than the exception in cultures they were followed, students’ perspectives on Barbara Malt, professor shared this project of thinking about them. So when we look around the world. Another aspect of bilin- their connection to Japan changed as their of psychology, examines how with a student who at the Chinese speakers—their actual way gualism concerns the distinction between proficiency and maintenance of their heritage different languages draw very was a native speaker of of thinking about the world would fall into native and heritage languages, as children of language increased. Although they weren’t different boundaries Chinese, to conduct these Chinese categories, whereas for English immigrants encounter the languages of their “native speakers” they could now be labeled among objects. in China. The student speakers they think about the world in terms parents’ native countries. Kiri Lee, associate as “heritage speakers” and they found their showed the same 60 of the English categories. professor of Japanese in the department of own identities as heritage speakers. In general, pictures to native “Our research supports a different perspec- modern languages and literature, has been when they become more proficient linguisti- Chinese speakers. tive, which is that people perceive and under- conducting research for the past six years cally and culturally, they feel more connected “Where we had a stand the world in pretty much the same way. on the role language plays in preserving to their Japanese heritage, notes Lee. range of things English Differences emerge only when a speaker must cultural identities. Understanding how we use language is speakers called bottle, or jar, or container, the communicate; then they must use the naming With an extensive background as a crucial to understanding ourselves and others. Chinese speakers split them up differently.” patterns of their language. Our data favor linguist, Lee is examining the language profi- Our ability to represent thoughts and percep- said Malt. “Later, we found that Spanish the idea that thought is more universal than ciency of children for whom English is a tions through words possibly makes humans speakers had a third way to divide the objects Whorf believed,” Malt said. second language and how language impacts unique among terrestrial species. Questions up by name. The things that Spanish speakers While initially this research studied mono- children’s sense of identity and their percep- about the fundamental nature of the human called botella only partly overlapped with the lingual speakers, the study expanded to include tion of themselves. mind form one of the last uncharted frontiers things English speakers called bottle.” bilingual speakers. Conducted in Belgium, a “We are interested in how the children of science. Research on universal principles With this, doubts were raised about geographic region with monolingual Dutch identify themselves—are they a native speaker of language, on language and thought, and whether there really are abstract categories speakers, monolingual French speakers, or are they a heritage language speaker?” on the cultural importance of language is an of things in the world that everyone simply and bilingual Dutch/French speakers, Malt said Lee. “Depending on their proficiency in important part of meeting this challenge. ●
20 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 21 Feature By Genevieve Marshall Man or The Link to Mercury In recent years, the three researchers’ interests have converged on projects related to the global mercury cycle, which can be affected by natural processes and human activities. Nature? Conventional wisdom says that most of the Scientists Look to Water for the Answer mercury in the atmosphere is from the burn- ing of fossil fuels. It can disperse widely and be transported thousands of miles away from In recent months, the BP oil spill has hurt he is looking at whether the level of mercury its origin. When it comes down to earth with aquatic life, closed recreational beaches and transported from unlogged watersheds is high- rainwater, mercury can be emitted back to the damaged the fishing industry along the Gulf er or lower than that from forested watersheds. atmosphere as a gas or with other particles and Coast—and its long-range impact remains to Morris and Hargreaves, also an associate redeposited elsewhere. be seen. professor of earth and environmental sciences, But mercury doesn’t travel by itself in This is one instance in which human have combined their understanding of carbon water. It binds strongly to DOC. Peters and action is clearly the reason for environmental cycling in aquatic ecosystems and ultraviolet Morris, with graduate student Tara Redding, change, and it is easy to pinpoint. But there light penetration in lakes to study how natu- are examining the amount of organic carbon are many other examples of environmental rally occurring dissolved organic carbon, or and mercury transported during storm events, change in which science can help answer the DOC, can influence aquatic ecosystems and and how this process affects land use. question “Has nature or human interaction climate change. When dissolved organic matter “Naturally, that water will have DOC with altered an ecosystem?” is converted to carbon dioxide (a greenhouse mercury bound to it,” says Morris. “Because Understanding environmental processes gas) by sunlight or bacteria, the CO2 can enter this water might be used for drinking water, provides researchers with needed information the atmosphere and contribute to global warm- anything that mobilized the mercury increases as to how humans affect the environment. ing. But if the carbon is buried underground the potential to hurt humans.” Donald Morris, an associate professor in the via stream or ocean sediments or transported DOC efficiently absorbs UV radiation, and department of earth and environmental sci- to lake bottoms or the deep ocean as either that’s where Morris’s expertise comes in. The ences, and his colleagues Stephen Peters and organic matter or carbonate rock, it cannot high-energy light can damage cells and DOC Bruce Hargreaves are currently exploring that enter the atmosphere, which in turn can help absorbs it like a natural sunscreen, a process question as part of several projects, some of reduce global warming. known as photobleaching. which involve their joint efforts. What does the work of these three research- Morris has been examining the way that Petroleum, for instance, is a natural prod- ers have in common? Morris says it can all be carbon alters penetration of UV light in uct. It’s all organic material—the residue of life boiled down to a cup of tea. aquatic ecosystems. His work has taken him that existed millions of years ago. “But the spilled oil is there because When it comes down to earth with rainwater, mercury can we tapped it. It wouldn’t have risen to the surface or spread underwater natu- be emitted back to the atmosphere as a gas or with other rally in such huge quantities without particles and re-deposited elsewhere. drilling and the application of disper- sants,” says Morris. PIER / GETTY IMAGES; NICK KOUDIS / GETTY IMAGES Oil isn’t the only contaminant that impacts The tea that Morris is talking about is from the Poconos in Pennsylvania to Alaska, communities. Peters, an associate professor not in a mug. It is a metaphor for the dis- Argentina and Antarctica, among other (top to bottom) of earth and environmental sciences whose solved organic carbon derived from decom- destinations. One of Morris’s current projects research focuses on quantifying and under- posed plants and algae that is present in lakes, could help scientists understand photobleach- standing geochemical processes in water above streams, and oceans. ing of DOC by UV light, which speeds up and below the ground, studies how unsafe “Think of plant material and rain filter- microbial processes and makes them a better levels of arsenic and other contaminants seep ing through it,” Morris says. “The mate- food source for bacteria. He is attempting to into the water supply through natural degrada- rial is worked on by microbes in the soil, then better understand photobleaching, when it tion of bedrock and human activities such as extracted and leached in ground waters or might be important, and why some carbon
(opposite page) MAJA HAUSMEISTER / GETTY IMAGES. mining. Working in collaboration with Morris, surface waters.” photobleaches faster than others.
22 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 23 “Lake Tahoe has become less clear as the area has become more urban and people have debated why.” —Bruce Hargreaves
When bacteria are able to respire carbon could help us determine the contribution to The state now requires all homeowners to about how to manage the envi- area has become more urban, molecules more easily, they produce more global warming from deforestation associated test for arsenic. ronment. Understanding these and people have debated carbon dioxide, which can enter the atmo- with human settlement.” “There are entire areas of the country that environmental processes helps why,” Hargreaves says. “It has sphere as a potential greenhouse gas when it For Peters, the work has practical applica- no one has ever looked at for arsenic in this people make responsible and come down to two theories: leaves the water. tions. Seven years of his research on the low way,” says Peters. intelligent decisions. a lot of fertilizers from lawns “A lot of people think greenhouse gases levels of arsenic in the water supply in New Peters’ work also takes him to Lake Hargreaves is developing new and golf courses lead to algal only come from the burning of fossil fuels, Hampshire encouraged the state to change Lacawac in the Poconos region, where, electronic field instruments and blooms, or clay and sand but that’s really not the case,” Morris says. “As its testing policy. He determined that the with Hargreaves, he has been measuring new research applications for particles from rivers that it turns out, the warming of the earth (natural amount of arsenic was dependent on the natural mercury emission that occurs when those instruments. As part of his used to get trapped before or through the burning of fossil fuels) makes types of rocks and their pH and iron content photobleaching turns brown DOC to more work studying lake transparency they reached the lake have microbes more active, leading to positive that came in contact with the water supply transparent water and the altered mercury in Pennsylvania, Oregon and been diverted into it because feedback and increasing emissions of carbon rather than landfills or industrial sources. follows carbon dioxide into the atmosphere South America, he has devel- of human-built channels to dioxide to the atmosphere.” With Morris, he has oped new methods for gauging control flooding.” For the past several years, compared the natural lake the amount of light absorbed The solution to clearing Morris has also been conduct- output of mercury with the and DOC-produced by algae. began, scientists had raised the alarm that a up Lake Tahoe could be to ing field work in the Poconos, output from experimental With a California-based company, he is lodge on Crater Lake might be degrading the modify the streams or reduce the amount of examining the export of DOC chambers set up to mimic developing a fluorometer sensor that is highly famously clear blue lake. A federal monitor- fertilizers used on nearby lawns. But Har- from different watersheds. He the lake’s water columns. sensitive to algae-produced organic matter. ing program was started in the early 1990s greaves is throwing a third hypothesis into is comparing forested, agri- Some of the chambers were The device measures fluorescence (how much and the lodge’s sewage, which was believed to the mix. “I think it could be that Lake Tahoe cultural and urban watersheds made of a plastic that ex- light is emitted by a substance after some be responsible for the potential degradation, has more colored organic material,” he said. to characterize the different cludes UV light while others light is absorbed) by shining a bit of UV light was diverted away from the lake. But Harg- “Sometimes nature is the culprit.” transport rates and compositions let it enter. The chambers into water and measuring the amount of reaves’ analysis of years of monitoring showed Understanding ecological processes of organic material. that allowed more UV light longer-wavelength light produced by DOC that human pollution was not what affected provides insights into how humans affect the “We’ve looked at some in had more bleaching and that comes back to the instrument. It could the water clarity of Crater Lake. Measuring environment. Peters explained that although
virgin watersheds that haven’t more mercury emission. (this page) JIM VECCHI / CORBIS have commercial appeal to operators of major UV-radiation penetration, he determined the their work is primarily focused on ecology, been cut since European settle- “We’re all trying to reservoirs and water treatment plants, and culprit was the lake’s normal cycles—decades they are always looking for ways to apply ment,” he says. “The trees are “There are entire understand fundamental owners of private lakes who value clarity. where algae were in greater abundance—and their research to social problems. very old and very rare. If carbon areas of the country biogeochemical processes,” Some of Hargreaves’ ideas for particle turbidity from rain that stirred up sediment. “We need to understand things,” Peters was once readily stored in these Peters adds. spectrophotometers came as a result of his More recently, Hargreaves’ research has says. “Once you understand a process, you watersheds and not released that no one has ever looked The team hopes this field work at Crater Lake, Ore., which his taken him to Lake Tahoe, which local resi- can make predictions. Then you can assess as carbon dioxide as fast as it at for arsenic in this way.” might allow them to make research confirmed as the clearest in the dents are trying to save from destruction. the impact of your actions on what’s going to is from the cut watersheds, it more intelligent decisions (opposite page) DAVID MAITLAND / GETTY IMAGES. world. A decade before Hargreaves’ research “Lake Tahoe has become less clear as the happen down the road.” ● —Stephen Peters
STEPS: An Interdisciplinary Approach energy and climate change, as identify solutions, to view the chal- collaborative interdisciplinary Beyond a building, the STEPS to Meeting Global Challenges efforts to find more efficient, clean lenges we face as opportunities, research and teaching. Housed initiative also creates endowed energy sources and to mitigate and and to turn theory into practice. under one roof, faculty and chairs for faculty, fellowships We face significant challenges in and technological implications. In adapt to rising temperatures become Through STEPS (Science, Technology, students from the natural sciences, to support graduate research, gauging the human impact on our the last decade we have witnessed growing drivers of global business. Environment, Policy, Society), engineering, social sciences, and and programmatic support for environment and in balancing the the geopolitical impact of energy and The major challenges we face as Lehigh is catalyzing interdisciplinary humanities come together to find research and innovative curriculum. finite resources of our planet as more recently the human tragedy a society in the areas of energy and research and education in the area innovative solutions to global chal- Undergraduate students work populations grow and standards of and economic impact of devastating the environment require an interdis- of energy and the environment, lenges in the areas of energy and closely with faculty and graduate living increase. These challenges floods in Pakistan, large earthquakes ciplinary approach that goes beyond by bringing students and faculty the environment. The STEPS building students across disciplines on play out on local, regional, national, in Haiti and Chile, and the BP oil traditional boundaries to integrate from diverse fields together and Incorporates the best principles of research projects—inspiring and global scales; they leave no spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In the fields in the sciences, engineering, providing them with the programs, green design and in recognizing the and nurturing a next genera- one untouched. They are major poorest regions of the world an and the social sciences. In almost facilities, and resources required to power of art to educate, inform, and tion of citizens, innovators, and factors in determining human well- estimated one in five children will all areas, advances are coming at address the challenges of today and inspire incorporates original works of leaders with invaluable skills in being and quality of life and will not see their fifth birthday because the intersections of disciplines, in a tomorrow in all their complexity. art into the structure of the building. solving complex problems using remain so for decades to come. of environment-related diseases. setting where people from diverse The cornerstone of the STEPS Ample public space invites students interdisciplinary approaches. These challenges have extraor- Financial institutions have begun perspectives and areas of expertise initiative is a new 135,000-square- from across campus to make STEPS You can learn more about STEPS
JOE CRAIG dinary economic, social, political, responding to the challenges of interact to frame the issues and foot building designed to facilitate their first choice to come and study. online at www.lehigh.edu/STEPS.
24 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 25 Feature
ROBOTIC DIMENSIONS by Erica Klarreich o when Davis learned that researchers had forged Sa connection between his own esoteric field of research and robot motion-planning, it was like “a shot in the arm” for his research program, he says. A professor of mathematics, Davis studies a family of shapes called projective spaces, objects that are hard to mathematicians can ask about manifolds: What do they look like Back when Don Davis used to teach “Introduction visualize but are nevertheless defined by elementary rules. The when sitting inside Euclidean space? More specifically, what is simplest such space, the projective plane (P2), is formed out of a the smallest (that is, lowest-dimensional) Euclidean space that a to Mathematical Thought,” he liked to emphasize sphere by gluing together each pair of antipodal points. There is no particular manifold can fit inside nicely? way to do this physically without twisting and tearing the sphere, “Fit inside nicely” could have a variety of meanings. To Davis, but mathematicians can nevertheless study the space abstractly, it refers to immersions, ways of putting a manifold into Euclidean the unexpected applications of mathematics. Again using equations and mathematical functions. space that allow the manifold to cross through itself here and there, Mathematicians don’t shy away from shapes with more dimen- but don’t allow any parts of the manifold to get too crumpled, in and again, Davis would tell his students, math that was origi- sions than the three of our physical world. Thus, for any dimen- a precise mathematical sense. P2, for example, can be immersed in sion n, they define the n-dimensional projective space, Pn, to be ordinary three-dimensional space (see drawing on opposite page), nally done for the sake of its intrinsic beauty turned out to have the shape obtained by gluing together antipodal points on an even though there’s no way to place P2 in space without it ever n-dimensional sphere. The projective spaces are among the simplest crossing itself. examples of the mathematical objects called manifolds, shapes that It’s possible to visualize an immersion of P2 in three-dimen- applications that its creators never dreamed of—to relativity are made by patching together small pieces of ordinary—though sional space. But what if you want to know whether, say, P24 possibly high-dimensional—Euclidean space. can be immersed in 38-dimensional space (currently an unsolved theory, cryptography and fractals, to name just a few examples. DOUGLAS BENEDICT. (Opposite page, top to bottom) JAC DEPCZYK / GETTY IMAGES; DAN MCCOY-RAINBOW / GETTY IMAGES; ARTHUR SASSE / CORBIS Davis’s studies focus on one of the most fundamental questions problem)? To tackle high-dimensional projective spaces, Davis
26 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 27 The Last Word
turns to a branch of mathematics called other than circles. Mathematicians have proved, horizons. Similarly, students have their process, develop his or her own algebraic topology, which uses numbers and in fact, that every manifold defined by equations— lives enriched by the broad range of unique perspective and skills. algebraic tools to describe the attributes of a shape, such as including the projective spaces—is the configuration space of some activities that they enjoy. The College Graduate and undergraduate how many holes, bubbles or higher-dimensional features it has. robot. Thus, for a certain class of robots, planning their motion of Arts and Sciences is a place where students are a critical part of the Over several decades, Davis has used algebraic topology to prove involves understanding paths in projective spaces. a science student can act in a theat- university research enterprise who a wide range of results about the “immersion dimension” of a projec- To plan a robot’s motion, engineers must specify a collection of rical production or a history professor share and shape the learning envi- tive space—the dimension of the smallest Euclidean space in which rules that tell the robot how to move from any position to any other can host a research colleague whose ronment. For graduate students, it can be immersed. In particular, in a key finding, he has established position. Ideally, engineers would like these rules to be continuous, lecture on city building in Latin America interactions with undergraduates in a lower bound on the immersion dimension of certain projective meaning that small tweaks in the robot’s starting or ending position finds students majoring in civil engi- the classroom or research laboratory spaces—a dimension below which the projective space definitely result in only small tweaks in the resulting motion. Otherwise, the neering and history sitting side by side. strengthen their own understanding. cannot be immersed. program will have instabilities—situations in which if you enter The classroom environment builds Explaining a concept is a terrific way The question of a projective space’s immersion dimension might a starting position or ending position with even a slight error, the a foundation of knowledge; however, to learn it. Undergraduate students seem to belong firmly to the realm of pure mathematics, far removed robot’s motion will change drastically. this environment is artificial, and, in benefit from the synergy that arises from any possible application. However, in recent years, mathemati- Unfortunately, robots whose motion can be planned with many important ways, does not mimic from attending lectures crafted and cians have connected such immersions to a basic problem in robot- continuous rules are the exception. For most robots, the best engi- the real world. Students are taught delivered by their professor and then motion planning. neers can do is to partition the configuration space into chunks such concepts, theories and methods that being able to revisit and discuss To see how robot-motion planning involves manifolds, imagine that each chunk has a continuous rule. A natural question is, how are central to their discipline. With confusing issues with a teaching a robot arm in the plane with two independent joints at these tools, students solve various assistant who is close to their age. separate spots along the arm. Each joint can rotate through “FOR THESE IDEAS TO BECOME USEFUL, THERE’S kinds of problems or perform well- Undergraduates are sometimes a full 360°, so the possible configurations of that joint are directed tasks that exercise their new less intimidated by their graduate- described by a circle. The circles corresponding to the two GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LOT MORE INTERACTION skills. Problems in textbooks can student colleagues and may be joints can be seen as the latitudes and longitudes, respec- be challenging, but it is clear from willing to ask questions that they CREDIT TO COME tively, on a doughnut shape, or torus (see above). Each BETWEEN MATHEMATICIANS AND ENGINEERS.” the start that these problems have fear might be too simple to ask the solutions and involve the lesson just professor. These “easy” questions point on the torus sits on exactly one latitude circle and —DON DAVIS one longitude circle, so the point’s coordinates specify a taught. What can be missed is the are often central to understanding. particular configuration of the two joints. Thus, the torus is Learning in recognition that the most interesting The interactions between under- known as the “configuration space” of this robot arm. Each possible many chunks are needed? In other words, how many fundamentally challenges in real life do not have neat graduate and graduate students motion of the robot arm corresponds to a path between two points different rules do engineers have to come up with to program the solutions. Sometimes, it is not even provide windows to the many on the torus. robot’s motion? This number of chunks is called the topological a Research clear what the important questions are possibilities for future careers. A robot arm with more than two joints requires a higher-dimen- complexity of the robot’s configuration space. or from what direction a fruitful strategy Some graduate students find that sional manifold as its configuration space. And, depending on the In 2003, a research team headed by Michael Farber, of the for attack will come. Research experi- they love helping others to learn, features of the robot, this configuration space may involve shapes University of Durham in England, proved that for projective Environment ences in any discipline can teach these and their experiences as teaching spaces, the topological complexity is simply equal to the immersion lessons in ways that textbooks cannot. assistants provide a foundation for dimension plus one. “This shows the importance of the immersion by Michael Stavola An outstanding way to get to their future careers as teachers. dimension of projective spaces, from an applied engineering point Associate Dean for Research know someone is to work together on Undergraduate students, in addi- a shared challenge. Scholarly work tion to the assistance they receive of view,” Farber says. and Graduate Programs The result instantly translated all of Davis’s findings on the creates bonds between professors with learning course material, can immersion dimension into facts about robot motion planning. For and their students. The faculty mentor see close up how the next level of example, Davis’s lower bound on the immersion dimension provides learns the strengths and interests of the educational process works. The a lower bound on the topological complexity of projective spaces An important scientific paper, a new the student and can offer valuable idea of earning an advanced degree as well. Engineers trying to program a projective-space robot using technology, or an elegant work of guidance and advice about career suddenly becomes an interesting fewer rules than this lower bound will simply be wasting their time. music or poetry each advances society. choices. The student can learn how possibility to consider. Even if this A lot of work remains in order to make these findings applicable But what are the benefits of research research projects are initiated and is not the path a student chooses, to real-world problems. At present, projective-space robots are not to the students at a university where conducted. How does someone this choice is made with open eyes. being used in any actual physical systems, although it’s quite plau- creative work is an everyday activity? choose a new creative activity to In a learning environment sible that they could prove useful, Davis says. And thus far, his work At an institution like Lehigh, the work on? How do you develop strate- that is enriched by creative work, on immersion dimensions doesn’t actually spell out how engineers research environment is an exciting, gies to move forward? What do students (and teachers) experience should program a robot—his findings can only specify, in some dynamic learning environment for the results of your work really tell what physicist Richard Feynman cases, how many rules the ideal program would have. faculty and students alike. I am an you about the question you have called the pleasure of finding things “For these ideas to become useful, there’s going to have to be a experimental physicist, and that was chosen? What remains ambiguous out. The excitement that comes lot more interaction between mathematicians and engineers,” Davis the only viewpoint I really knew before I and what is proven? By working with the success of any creative says. Someday, he hopes, his work might indeed prove to be one of joined the Lehigh faculty. Having close as a partner to a faculty mentor, a endeavor can ignite the fervor in a To plan a robot’s motion, engineers must specify a collection of rules that tell the unexpected applications of mathematics in which he delights. In friends from across the College of student can see how these chal- student that becomes the inspira-
the robot how to move from one position to another. the meantime, he says, “it’s a beautiful subject to think about.” ● ALBERT KLEIN / GETTY IMAGES; WILLIAM WHITEHURST / CORBIS Arts and Sciences has broadened my lenges are addressed, and, in the tion for a lifetime of creative work.
28 ACUMEN • FALL 2010 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 29 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY Non-Profit Org. College of Arts and Sciences US Postage 9 West Packer Avenue PAID Bethlehem, PA 18015 Permit No 230 Bethlehem, PA
DOUGLAS BENEDICT
“The unexpected applications of mathematics … it’s a beautiful thing to think about.” see page 26