CONTEXTS.ORG...UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE IN THEIR SOCIAL WORLDS

See the GLORY PAGE for Most Recent Faculty/Student Activites

Summer fellows can have big payoff (read on...)

Animal Studies: Social Science & Humanities Perspectives Graduate Specialization (click here)

MSU Researchers Study Globalization with NSF Grant

By Andy McGlashen
10/23/08

MSU researchers have received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s program in Coupled Natural and Human Systems to study the effects of globalization on remote communities.

The researchers will conduct a five-year study of “globalization from the perspective of households,” said principal investigator Dan Kramer, an assistant professor jointly appointed by Fisheries and Wildlife and James Madison College.

Also working on the project are Andrea Allen, Anthropology; Aaron McCright, Lyman Briggs College and Sociology; Jiaguo Qi, Geography; and Gerald Urquhart, Lyman Briggs College. (read more)

 

Three committees: Science, Mitigation, and Adaptation to conduct a six million dollar study on "America's Climate Choices." Dr. Tom Dietz (below), along with Pam Matson, Dean of the School of Earth Sciences and member of the NAS, as chair.

The chairs and co-chairs of the committees will form a leadership group that will oversee the process. A summit will be held March 30, 31 and April 1, 2009. Given the change in administration, and that both Obama and McCain take climate change seriously, everyone is confident that this study will set the direction for climate research for the next decade and will have substantial influence on U.S. policy.

Consistent with MSU's approach to climate change, and reflecting the future direction of climate research, about one third of the panel will be social scientists, one third physical scientists and one third from ecology, engineering and other fields.

Dr. Tom Dietz photo by Kurt Stepnitz

(9/08) Sociology professor and crop and soil sciences and director of the university's Environmenetal Science and Policy Program, chaired the panel that discussed environmental issues.

Anything from cleaning up a polluted river to dealing with Superfund sites--public input, when handled correctly, can make the process smoother and lead to better outcomes, says a new report from a National Research Council panel that was chaired by Dr. Dietz.

But critics claim that including people with limited scientific knowledge can slow the process and lead to poor decisions. (read more)

More than 60 Funding Sources for International Dissertation Research and Writeups

***Deadlines for Important Awards***

RECENT PH.D.'S IN SOCIOLOGY

(August 11, 2008) The health of people who never marry is improving, narrowing the gap with their wedded counterparts, according to new research that suggests the practice of encouraging marriage to promote health may be misguided.

Hui Liu, assistant professor of sociology at Michigan State University and lead researcher on the project, said sociologists since the 1970s have emphasized that marriage benefits health more so for men than for women.

“Married people are still healthier than unmarried people,” Liu said, “but the gap between the married and never-married is closing, especially for men.” (continued)

TEAM AWARD...

Professor Jualynne Dodson, Sociology faculty and Director of the African Atlantic Research Team, received a Sustained Effort Toward Excellence in Diversity award.

The team's mission is to ensure African American students, other racial ethnic students and those engaged in studies of people of African descent will have the needed specialized mentoring, advising and career information to become strong graduate students in programs that lead to achieving a doctorate.

The team, a mentoring collective and research group made up of faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and community members, strives to help increase the number of American Indians, Chicanos and Latinos, African Americans and Asian Americans who have successful academic careers.

NEW SOCIOLOGY MINOR EFFECTIVE FALL 2008 - This Fall 2008 the department will launch a new academic minor in Sociology.

The Academic Minor, which is administered by the Department of Sociology, provides a fundamental understanding of the linkages between agency and structure in society. Students obtain knowledge of the principles of sociology, sociological inquiry, diversity in society, and, the ways in which global forces are transforming modern society.

This academic minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology.

With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

News Archive

The Department will hold the third annual SOC and the City during the ASA annual meeting in San Francisco August 8-11, 2009.

THE HONORS AND AWARDS BANQUET was held on April 23, 2009 in the Lake Superior Room, Union Building.

HONORS/AWARDS BANQUET...to be held on Wednesday, April 23rd, from 4-6 p.m., Lake Superior Room, Union Building. The banquet recognizes the accomplishments of fellow professors, students and staff of the Department of Sociology. (list of honorees)

Dr. Harry Perstadt was Master of Ceremonies. He as well as Dr. Nan Johnson and Chair Jan Bokemeier presented awards to undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff within the department.

Stephanie Nawyn accepting her award for Excellence in Teaching from Chair Jan Bokemeier

Events Archive

Harry Perlstadt receives Fulbright Teaching Award (click here...)

On Thursday, May 14th, Dr. Caig Harris was interviewed on the program “Am Lansing” on the radio station WILS on the subject of federal and state food safety policy and programsa recording of the interview is available at: http://www.amlansing.com/amLansing/Harris_5.14.html

ALPHA KAPPA DELTA (AKD) HONOR SOCIETY, GAMMA OF MICHIGAN INITIATES NEW MEMBERS, MARCH 26, 2009 (read more, see photos)

KALOF'S ANIMAL VOLUMES WIN BOOK AWARD

Having edited more than 1,500 pages covering 4,500 years of the history of human-animal interactions, " A Culture History of Animals,"Linda Kalof's and co-editor Brigitte Resl's, of the University of Liverpool, six volume work was named a 2008 Outstanding Academic Title by Choice, a magazine published by the American Library Association. Bernd Huppauf of New York University called the project "an invaluable contribution to our understanding...A combination of surprise and entertainment with serious research gives these volumes a place in the best tradition of accessible science." Dr. Kalof is the founder and director of MSU's Animal Studies Program.

See the PUBLICATIONS PAGE
for Faculty/Graduate publications.

MSU Professor David Wiley with his family at a reception held to honor his years of service as director of the MSU African Studies Center.

New Graduate Specialization in Animal Studies: Social Science and Humanities Perspectives (click here for details...)

Faculty/Staff Recognized for Excellence at Sociology Honors/Awards Banquet...On April 23, 2008, the department held its annual Honors/Awards Program in the Lake Superior Room at the Union Bldg. on campus.

Drs. Stephanie Nawyn and Ralph Pyle were the recipients of the Excellence in Teaching Award for the Graduate and Undergraduate Programs.

Shannon Davis was honored with the Sociology Employee Excellence Awards, on April 23, 2009.

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Staff member Erik Selke has recently completed his M.A. in Telecommunication. Congratulations Erik!

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Spotlight Archive