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31 Traditional French Recipes. When you think of French cuisine, you probably think of complicated French food recipes and classic French dishes that require a lot of time and effort. 1. Beef Bourguignon (Boeuf Bourguignon) 2. Chicken Paillard. 3.
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Today, French cuisine has influenced and inspired various cuisines around the world. Traditional French cooking features cheese, wine, sauces, and bread as staples. For a look into authentic French recipes from the middle ages, try finding a copy of Le Viandier, one of the earliest-known French recipe collections to be printed.
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The Best French Food Recipes. The traditional french food recipes I am going to give you are specialities from all around France. In the main they are the kind of dishes you would call the food of France and eat if you were to stay with a french family or eat out in a family run restaurant called a ferme auberge I have to say that the food in France has reinvigorated my taste buds, …
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From the French verb confire, meaning “to preserve,” duck confit is a traditional means of cooking meat slowly in its own fat. Get the recipe for Gascon-Style Duck Confit (Confit de Canard
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20. French Onion Soup. Originally a humble peasant dish due to the accessibility of onions, French onion soup is now a much-appreciated dish in French cuisine. This recipe is made with rich beef stock, flavored with caramelized …
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Traditional french food recipes are famous for using seasonal and regional ingredients to create wholesome country french food we all enjoy eating. French Starters Traditional, regional recipes for french starters around France don't have to be complicated. They can range from a simple bagette with pate or soup to a fish terrine or souffle
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This classic French comfort food takes some time to prepare, but the meltingly tender, flavorful beans with sausage and pieces of duck is beyond …
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Traditional French Food & Wine. In this section, we’ll share authentic and traditional French food recipes, food-related French vocabulary, as well as tips about ordering French food, French wines …. Some of the …
The drier it is, the better! 11. French Cruller Donuts. Made with choux pastry, these donuts are crispy and sweet. Rather than the traditional …
The French Strawberry Tart Recipe (Tarte Aux Fraises) This traditional French dessert combines a sandy crust (“pâte sablée”) with fresh strawberries arranged on a layer of pastry cream (“crème patissière”). Bon appétit! Food.
The French recipe doesn’t add cream to the sauce (it really doesn’t need it). As with most fish and seafood dishes on a French menu, a glass of …
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga. French chefs are masters at creating fantastic soups that have become icons on dinner tables worldwide. A well-known favorite is the traditional lobster bisque.This seafood recipe is the epitome of a creamy-style soup, and it can easily become the centerpiece of a light meal.
Instructions. Preheat oven to 375°F and line a half-sheet pan with parchment or lightly coat with olive oil. Cut the eggplant, pepper, onion, and zucchini into a 1/2" dice and spread on the sheet pan. Add the tomatoes, garlic, thyme, olive oil, salt, and pepper and toss to coat and fully stir.
French food is considered the best culinary in the world. France is a country with exquisite and abundant culinary art. The French people are …
The ultimate in French-Canadian junk food, poutine commonly features warm fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. This side dish is quick to fix with frozen potatoes and packaged gravy but has all the traditional greasy spoon comfort.
Whether you’re looking for traditional French recipes like beef bourguignon or simple French cooking a home chef can carry out, you’ll find a collection of effortless, go-to French dishes in this section. There’s everything from easy …
Palmiers are a French pastry also known as elephant ears. The cookies are flaky layers of butter and sugar and so simple to make, but …
French Bread. ganache-topped profiteroles filled with creme patisserie. French Desserts. two Frenched lamb chops on roasted new potatoes topped with a stripe of herb sauce. French Main Dishes. beef burgundy in a stainless steel braising dish, garnished with a parsley sprig. French Soups and Stews.
Top 10 most popular French dishes:
25 Traditional French Dishes You Need to Try Once
More items... | https://www.full-recipes.com/authentic-french-food-recipes/ |
Dear Michael Jones,
As an accomplished professional with 7+ years’ experience driving food service and kitchen staff performance in a fast-paced military environment, I offer expertise that will benefit your company.
My background includes facilitating food service operations by cultivating strong team alliances, managing budgets, and ensuring regulatory compliance. During my tenure with the U.S. Army, I earned three promotions to oversee staff training, quality assurance, and base kitchen operations while creating menu items to meet the nutritional and dietary needs of up to 1,500 soldiers. Furthermore, I am highly successful at managing inventory control and operating budgets in collaboration with management.
Key achievements include:
- Preparing and serving Thanksgiving Dinner for 1,345 people, winning the Garrison Award on Schofield Barracks.
- Ensuring all meals were prepared and completed on time and within Army standards as shift leader, earning a coin from a Major General for Thanksgiving meal feeding more than 800 people.
- Improving standards for an under-performing field dining facility through sanitary improvements to provide three hot meals daily for 250 personnel with no incidents of foodborne illness outbreaks.
To complement this background, I expect to complete a culinary arts diploma from L’Academie de Cuisine in 2014.
In summary, I can make an immediate and positive impact on the operational performance of your organization. I would welcome a personal interview to discuss how my qualifications would benefit Chef and Sommeliers position.
Thank you very much for taking the time to review my resume and for your kind consideration.
Sincerely,
Joseph Moore
Dear (Mr. Rolland)
I would like to briefly introduce myself to you in order to be considered for the Chef de Cuisine position available with you at (name of restaurant/hotel etc.)
I have had extensive career experience working as a Head Chef for the last (5) years, having worked at (give examples of some of the establishments where you worked) which has allowed me to expand and enhance my knowledge of what it means to be an excellent Chef de Cuisine. My past experience has allowed me to gain fresh insight and a thorough understanding of what are the crucial elements required in order to have a successful team working closely with you and managing efficient food preparation and service.
I believe that I have gained a tremendous amount of hands on experience, working closely with the rest of the very dedicated teams of chefs, patisserie chefs, waiters and apprentices.
I wish to be able to present some of my specialties to you including some of the types of foods I particularly enjoy highlighting and developing into inspiring dishes for our customers.
I enjoy experimenting with ingredients to create innovative flavor cinations and my experience, talents and responsibilities have included the following:
(THIS CAN BE ADJUSTED ACCORDING TO YOUR SPECIFIC EXPERIENCES)
- Hiring and managing individuals on the kitchen staff team.
- Creative menu planning using seasonal ingredients,
- Cost calculations and budget forecasting for 6 months ahead,
- Dealing with our suppliers on a daily basis, keeping up with latest available products,
- Over seeing a large number of catering events, both private and corporate.
(Here mention and add some details of any awards that you have won in the past including dates.)
I enjoy building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, I believe a happy supplier means a happy Chef and a happy kitchen!
I have included a copy of my resume (USA) / C.V (UK) for you to consider further.
Thank you for your time today and I hope to be able to discuss the position with you in detail face to face.
Looking forward to hearing from you, | http://udqac.czechian.net/391-chef-manager-cover-letter.php |
As a native of San Diego, I'm able to find unique locations and background plates for visual effects. Some sites are well-known spots that are highly underrated and still underused, others are hidden gems in local haunts, surrounding areas and scattered throughout the city in various neighborhoods. I specialize in finding locations that can stand-in for other parts of the nation, foreign countries, and places that seem not of this earth. I tend to look outside the box for unique storytelling locations.
I shoot footage for my productions, so I'm always finding more places to film. I tend to keep an active eye for specific design elements that can live in any genre. I look for architectural buildings and landscapes that have multiple cinematic perspectives and visual sight-lines. San Diego is still considered virgin territory for filmmaking, even though its filming heyday dates back to silent-films, pre-code, classic cinema, and of course the latest resurgence in the 1980s and early 90s. The city is well known for its beaches, military bases, and mild weather yet there are other cinematic sides to this town that far exceed the typical sunset and surfer silhouettes commonly used in car commercials, brand advertising, tourism marketing year-round.
The city features distinctly unique architecture, beautiful historical landmarks to modern contemporary builds that draw upon bygone eras and reach into the visions of the future. Due to the varied topographical nature of the landscape, visual perspectives and sightlines can be numerous especially if you know where to perch yourself. Sometimes the best finds are when I'm out doing errands, attending local events, or just cruising through town.
I've scouted locations in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, England, and France. I keep a photographic catalog of all my sites. I post various scouting outtakes on Instagram. Locations I've used are on my Reels and Designs page. You can also check out my photo galleries for more examples of my work. I'll be posting new images throughout the year. If you're interested in my eye, don't hesitate to contact me for an appointment. I can assemble a digital location look-book for producers, directors, DPs, production designers, art directors, and location-managers.
There are many factors involved in scouting from the highly creative to overly logistical, and with good reason. Every day brings a new challenge for unique problem-solving. You need to be a quick thinker, coordinate with multiple departments all at once, and be ready to go a moments notice. It's a great feeling when things are in sync, flowing, and people are happy with conditions. I've been on the receiving end of high compliments from VIPs and top talent, and there's nothing better than making someone's day go smooth.
I'm available to scout and photograph locations for music videos, commercials, feature films, television shows, short films, video games, animated features, fashion shoots, architectural and design magazines, and real-estate.
Check out my photo galleries and Instagram and Saatchi sites for more photography.
MORE LOCATION THUMBNAILS WILL BE LOADED…CHECK BACK SOON! | https://www.sophiasegal.com/locations/locations.html |
Discover valuable information and welcoming communities among those who share similar technical interests and challenges.
Discover and Connect
ACerS membership provides you with the opportunity to inspire and collaborate with your global colleagues through participation in Divisions, Classes, U.S. Sections, International Chapters, and Technical Interest Groups.
Develop a network of ceramic and glass industry professionals with whom you can meet with to share experiences, discuss the latest industry trends, volunteer to contribute to the society, and inspire students and future leaders.
Principal disciplines of traditional and advanced ceramics and glass.
Local source of industry education, information, and collaboration for ACerS members outside the United States.
Communities that promote the advancement of the Society.
Connect with emerging ceramic experts and expand your network.
The key to your professional success
The key to career success is staying on top of the latest knowledge and trends, while creating and maintaining networks of professionals in academia, laboratories, and industry.
Join ACerS today to gain exclusive access to relevant information, comprehensive training, and targeted networking that keeps you ahead of the curve in your discipline. | https://ceramics.org/members/member-communities |
Our MA program is officially recognised by the German authorities and qualifies for the German Study Visa.
Non-EU students studying on our MA can extend their German residence permit for up to 18 months to find work relating to their studies after graduating.
Our classes are delivered in English, in accordance with the school’s accreditation with the University of West London.
Want to explore MetFilm School Berlin in person?
BOOK NOW FOR OUR NEXT OPEN EVENT ON 28 MAY 2019
- Cinematography is about understanding how to use camera and lighting techniques to tell a story, whether screened at the cinema, on TV, or through a smartphone.
- Our Cinematography MA instils an understanding of the essential links between story and image and the relationship between cinematographers, directors and crews.
The MA Cinematography is a one-year postgraduate course, which builds essential and practical skills to prepare students for the role of Cinematographer/Director of Photography (DOP).
You will create an impressive portfolio which includes a short filmed project, 35mm still life/portrait exercise, collaborative Greenscreen exercise, several shooting exercises including location, studio interiors and night exterior, advanced filmed exercise working with a professional director and a final Masters Project for film, TV or online media.
Each student will undertake a total of seven modules during their MA course, and they will be assessed on their coursework, both practical and written:
- Screen Induction Lab
- Cinematography Boot Camp
- The Mechanics of Creative Control
- Commercial Cinematography
- Crafting Narrative Through Cinematography
- Research in Screen Practice
- Master’s Project
Learn more about the craft of cinematography on the video below:
During the course, students will gain the knowledge and specialist skills required to be a cinematographer in today’s creative industries, engaging in a range of practical workshops and seminars to enhance your creative and technical skillset. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with fellow MA students across the course to create screen content for external clients, which mirrors the interrelationship of filmmaking and screen content practices in the professional world.
- Screen Induction Lab
You will participate in seminars and workshops covering a range of topics, including: practical filmmaking skills, creative brainstorming, a survey of concepts underpinning moving image theory, and the state of the creative industries. At the end of the module, you will shoot a mini-filmed project on an iPhone/Android, focusing on the primacy of content in the Say Something! exercise.
- Cinematography Boot Camp
This module introduces the fundamentals of both film and digital cameras, including: lenses, exposure control, depth of field, composition and lighting as they relate to the cinematographer’s role to creatively influence narrative storytelling.
- The Mechanics of Creative Control
You will study composition together with the mechanics of practical lighting and camera movement. During the module, you will participate in two shooting exercises designed to explore how the use of lighting and camera style contributes to the narrative of the short film form.
- Commercial Cinematography
You will investigate short form commercial cinematography encompassing advertising and corporate and web based infomercials. You will explore greenscreen and postproduction techniques that relate to cinematography and apply these to real world commercial projects. During this module, you will collaborate with other MA students to create an Industry Project by responding to a brief from external clients.
- Crafting Narrative Through Cinematography
You will study advanced technical and creative camera and lighting skills that are necessary to influence narrative filmmaking. During the module, you will collaborate with MA Directing students, exploring more sophisticated camera movement and participate in an exercise that evaluates the working relationship between the cinematographer and the director.
- Research in Screen Practice
You will begin to prepare for your final Master’s Project by exploring the key relationship of research and relevant methodologies to your own creative practice. You will engage in interactive seminars and presentations covering a range of topics, including: semiotics, transnational cinema and representation, discourse and context, copyright and ethics, etc.
- Master’s Project
This is a largely self-directed module during which you will work under the guidance of a project advisor, towards the completion of a short filmed project for which you assume the role of cinematographer.
Dates & Prices
- 07 October 2019 — 05 November 2020
-
Price€ 19,500
Course fees includes:
Tuition and 1:1 feedback sessions, production equipment and support, first aid and health & safety training, production and postproduction facilities, access to industry masterclasses and networking.
How to Apply:
We accept applications and offer places on a rolling basis throughout the year. As our MA programmes are competitive we encourage you to apply as far ahead of your intended start date as possible.
Contact our Admissions Manager Nina Hartwig on +49 (0) 30 767 333 170 or [email protected]
To apply for the MA course you will need to be 18 years of age or older at the time the course starts. Applicants must have a minimum 2:1 honours degree from a UK university or overseas equivalent. Applicants without this qualification, but possessing relevant work experience, are also invited to apply. Each application is considered on its individual merits. All applicants must submit relevant creative work that contributes towards a portfolio.
Duration: One Year, Full-Time
Please note all our courses are taught in English.
Ralph Netzer – MA Cinematography course leader at MetFilm School Berlin. Ralph is Director of Photography with over 20years experience working on more than 70 feature films, TV series, documentaries and various art installations worldwide. His feature film ‘Silent Waters’ won the Golden Leopard (Best Film) at 56th Locarno International Film Festival. | https://www.metfilmschool.de/courses/ma-cinematography/ |
International experimental film and arts festival Suspaustas Laikas. The festival first set off on its journey toward the exploration of alternative cinema and audio-visual arts in Lithuania, Nida, in the summer of 2016. Each year the programme encompasses unconventional cinematic and audio-visual arts forms and means of expression: hybrid film, non-narrative cinema, technology and process centred experimentation in art. Particular focus is laid on short film as an independent artistic medium on par with that of a feature film, yet understood as a self-sufficient form of art rather than a mere segment or a fragment of the whole, and as such related to and typical of experimental cinema. Film screenings, meetings with local and international directors and filmmakers, film workshops and artistic performances take place in the course of the festival.
Mission
The international festival “Suspaustas Laikas” strives to create opportunities and environments conducive to exploration and learning about experimental cinema and audio-visual arts. It probes the trajectory of evolution of cinematic language and the role of technologies, intercepting the novel and the archaic, that make up and are in turn remade in search of audio-visual forms of artistic expression. In so doing the festival contributes to the reach of cinema art and bolsters cultural education of youth and small-scale communities in Lithuanian regions.
Contact
Suspaustas laikas, VšĮ
[email protected]
+370 696 45809
The festival idea
The idea of the project was born out of a need and a niche to present an alternative to the widely known and screened cinema. Until recently, only small groups of people were aware of the existence of cinematic avant-garde and experimental cinema, which opposed the mainstream film industry through its dominance of non-linearity and radicalism in the cinematic language. However, with the advent of digital technologies and innovative developments in electronic media, as well as the internet, the situation in filmmaking has changed radically. | https://suspaustaslaikas.lt/en/about |
TrainingFolks is a global provider of custom learning solutions, consulting and contingent workforce services to leading organizations. Combining award winning adult learning experience with a proven engagement methodology that includes a talented network of learning professionals, we collaborate with our clients to implement change.
TrainingFolks has a strong core internal team of Project Managers, Developers and Instructional Designers that is supplemented by our team of ‘TrainingFolks Certified Training Professionals’. Our client solutions may include individuals working directly with our client, a team of learning professionals working together, or a combination with our core internal team.
Some of the typical engagements that we have provided are:
3 week contract for a documentation expert
2 month contract for an elearning designer and programmer
12 month contract for a senior measurement analyst
6 month contract for 3 bi-lingual financial trainers
3 month contract for training coordinator to help out with a maternity leave
Contract-to-permanent placement of an instructional designer
We are always adding to our TrainingFolks network of thousands training professionals with varying skills, expertise, work experience, industry knowledge and geographical locations. | https://www.trainingfolks.com/careers/how-we-work-with-consultants |
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in film and media arts is a professional degree program with a focus on hands-on production of documentary, narrative and experimental films using state-of-the-art motion picture cameras and post-production facilities. The robust curriculum includes a broad array of courses in production and post-production, as well as cinema studies, art history, screenwriting and more, designed to prepare students for roles as directors, producers, editors, special effects artists, sound designers, screenwriters and/or independent filmmakers. Elective offerings allow students the flexibility to explore coursework in their area of interests. Students create a short format thesis film as a capstone experience. A digital copy of the approved project must be submitted to the UT library's institutional repository. Find more details about the BFA in film and media arts portfolio requiement on our website.
Students have many opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to gain hands-on experience and real-world knowledge of the industry. Students work on film projects locally and around the country and participate in internships at small production companies and large movie studios alike. The program also brings in leading industry professionals to give students an insider's view of the business.
Students have access to state-of-the-art cameras, production and post-production facilities, and industry standard editing software. Facilities also include two surround-sound screening rooms, a black box studio for three-camera TV production, a TV control room, an audio edit suite and foley room, video and film production labs, 3D printing facilities, and a digital arts and 3D animation lab. | https://www.ut.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-letters/department-of-film-animation-and-new-media/film-and-media-arts-ba-and-bfa-degree-programs |
What does a grams operator do?
Grams operators play in any music or sound effects that are required when recording a studio show or outside broadcast. They work on a variety of programmes, from entertainment to sport. They report to the sound supervisor and take direction from the director. ('Grams' is short for gramophone, which is what originally would have been used to play sound cues during the recording or transmitting of live television shows.)
They prepare the sound files for use and follow the script and the director’s instructions on when to cue them. Some sound effects, like a contestant’s buzzer on a game show, will be rigged into the grams operator’s equipment so they can control the sound that comes out when it is triggered.
They need to know how to operate bespoke hardware, edit efficiently and work with MIDI and GPI software to enable sound cue relays from the vision mixer’s desk and graphics machines. Grams operators are either staff in studios with long-term or returning shows, sports units or freelance.
What’s a grams operator good at?
- Knowledge of sound effects and music: recommend or suggest appropriate material, have access to new effects and music, collate a rich and varied archive of sounds
- Technical skills: be able to operate the necessary equipment, troubleshoot any issues that arise, have an excellent knowledge of sound technology
- Communication and teamwork: respond quickly to direction and cues, collaborate effectively with the director, producer and crew
- Timing: play sounds at just the right moment, which often requires comedy timing on shows with audiences, like quiz or entertainment programmes
- Manual dexterity: have the ability to operate several items of equipment simultaneously
- Knowledge of production: understand studio and location requirements and challenges, be experienced in live and pre-recorded shows
Who does a grams operator work with?
Grams operators report to the sound supervisor and work closely with the director and other members of the crew.
How do I become a grams operator?
To become a grams operator, you might first gain experience of working in sound as a studio runner, and then as a sound assistant. Alternatively, you might transfer to this role after working in a similar position as a grams operator in radio.
At school or college:
You can take A-levels or Highers in music, physics, maths, media studies or film studies.
If you want to go straight into a job or apprenticeship, the following Level 3 vocational qualifications will equip you:
- BTEC Diploma/Extended Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- BTEC National Diploma/Extended Diploma in Music Technology
- BTEC National Diploma in Film and Television Production
- BTEC National Diploma in Music
- BTEC National Diploma in Sound Production
- BTEC National Extended Certificate in Sound Engineering
- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- RSL Subsidiary Diploma for Music Practitioners (Technology)
- OCR Technical Diploma in Digital Media (Moving Image & Audio Production)
- UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma in Music Performance and Production
Get an apprenticeship:
An apprenticeship is a job with training, so it’s a great opportunity to earn as you learn. See if you can find an apprenticeship in a role that relates to sound, such as being a creative venue technician. Even if the job is in theatre or architecture, if it involves sound, it could help you develop your skills and understanding and you could build on this knowledge and move into television at a later point.
Go to ScreenSkills information on apprenticeships for the main apprenticeship schemes in television. Check out What’s an apprenticeship? to learn more about apprenticeships and find an apprenticeship to learn how to find one in your region, or approach companies directly.
Build a portfolio:
Create work that you can show off to employers. This is essential. Go to build your sound portfolio to learn how.
Get a degree:
You don’t need a degree to do this job, but if you’d like one, consider studying sound design, music or film and television production.
Have a look at ScreenSkills’ list of recommended courses and select one in unscripted TV. We recognise courses with our ScreenSkills Select award where they offer training in the relevant software, dedicated time to building a portfolio and have strong links with the film and TV industries.
Get work experience:
Try to get work experience by writing to local production companies and asking if they offer any. Keep an eye out for work experience opportunities at the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Channel 5, Sky and the PACT Indie Diversity Training Scheme.
Look outside the industry:
Grams operators are also needed in radio. Or you might want to look for jobs doing sound for live stage productions. In these roles you can gain experience that you can later transfer to unscripted TV.
Take a short course:
Hone your skills in working with sound by taking a specialist course. Go to the list of training courses recommended by ScreenSkills to see if there is one in sound recording or sound design.
Network:
Get to know people in the unscripted TV industry by attending events. Meet professionals and ask them questions about their work, while demonstrating interest in and knowledge of the industry. Offer to provide them with your professional contact details and try to stay in touch with them. Go to how to network well to learn how to do this.
Network online:
Create a LinkedIn profile. See if there are Facebook pages or other social media groups for people making unscripted TV in your area. There might even be groups for runners and trainees. Join them. Create a ScreenSkills profile. There are a lot of crewing agencies that will charge you to be on their books. Sign up to the free ones initially. Wales Screen, Northern Ireland Screen and other areas offer free crew databases. Find a film office near you and get connected. If you do sign up to paid sites, make sure they specialise in the areas in which you’re interested.
Search for jobs:
Research unscripted TV production companies that you’d like to work for and watch the programmes that they make. Regularly check their websites and job listings websites to see if they are advertising for roles. You can also send in a short speculative letter with your CV to sound professionals with whom you would like to work. StartinTV offers tips on creating your CV and attending interviews, as well as some advice for your first day working in TV.
You might also be interested in…
Being a sound recordist or sound mixer in the unscripted TV industry. You might also be interested in being a sound mixer in the film and TV drama industry. Alternatively, you could consider being a sound designer in the games industry or a sound designer in the animation industry. | https://www.screenskills.com/job-profiles/browse/unscripted-tv/sound/grams-operator/ |
Carbon Leadership Forum
The Carbon Leadership Forum is an industry-academic collaboration hosted at the University of Washington. We are a professional community of manufacturers, designers, builders, and academics focused on reducing the carbon ‘embodied’ in building materials. Industry sponsorships fund embodied carbon research at UW and firm representatives lead initiatives. We work together to understand and reduce embodied carbon: leading by testing methods, sharing results and motivating each other to improve.
Learn more about our projects and resources and ways that both individuals and firms can get involved.
Organization
The Carbon Leadership Forum meets in person in the fall of each year and hosts monthly conference calls. We have convened the Embodied Carbon Network to help facilitate broader communication and collaboration between researchers and professionals interested in understanding and reducing embodied carbon.
Sponsor Benefits
Carbon Leadership Forum supporters collaborate with a unique peer group: building industry professionals with expertise using environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate and reduce the embodied carbon of buildings. Sponsor firms gain early access to research results and opportunities to share best practices and lead industry initiatives. | http://www.carbonleadershipforum.org/about/background/ |
Music Editor Career and Education Requirements
Find out the daily tasks performed by a music editor as well as where these professionals work. Get information about common courses offered in degree programs along with advanced training options. Schools offering Ethnomusicology degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What You Need to Know
The title of 'music editor' most often refers to a very specific position within the film and television industry. As a music editor, you will select and edit the songs and pieces of music that are used in a film's soundtrack. Several educational programs in the music field might be able to prepare you for a career as a music editor. Often, gaining experience in a lower-level position is the best way to build a career as a music editor.
|Degrees||Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degrees (certificate programs are also available)|
|Courses||Composition, Music Production, Music Engineering, Recording, Music Theory, Digital Music Production|
|Experience||Assistant Editor, Sound Engineering Technician, Sound Editor|
What Does a Career in Music Editing Involve?
Music editors are responsible for the music and soundtracks in films. They often collaborate with a film's composer and director to select this music. This position is different from that of a sound editor, who syncs the dialogue and sound effects within a film or television program; or a sound mixer, who adjusts overall audio within these projects. However, the educational requirements for all of these positions can be similar, mostly because the role of a music editor is so specific and limited that no degrees exist to cater to this exact career choice.
What Educational Programs Can Prepare Me for this Career?
You might enroll in a program in composition, music production, film scoring, music engineering or a similar subject. You will likely want to enroll in a program that covers traditional musical theory as well as modern music technology.
Many program options exist under a variety of degree titles. For example, you might pursue a Certificate in Audio Production or an Associate in Applied Science in Sound Recording and Music Technology. Additionally, you could enroll in a Bachelor of Fine Art in Cinema Art and Science or a Bachelor of Art in Filmmaking with relevant curricula for your education to become a music editor.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most editors in the film industry tend to have at least a bachelor's degree. However, it is possible to become a music editor by earning just an associate's degree or certificate in audio technology and then advancing up the editorial ranks.
What About Advanced Programs?
You could also study to become a music editor through graduate degree programs in related fields, such as film or music production. Some options may include a Master of Fine Arts in Cinema Directing or Creative Producing. An Advanced Professional Certificate in Music Production Technology or Writing and Producing Music is another graduate-level option.
What Courses Might I Take?
The courses offered in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in music technology, audio production or a similar subject should cover introductory music theory while also providing hands-on training in music technology. Some specific courses you might take include the following:
- Audio production
- Music history
- Composition
- Multi-track recording
- Studio techniques
- Sound mastering, sampling and mixing
- Soundtrack design
- ProTools
- Critical listening
- Electronic music and game audio
What Additional Training Might I Need?
According to the BLS, aspiring editors in the film industry tend to need a lot of professional experience before they can obtain such a position. You can gain experience by working as an assistant editor or by interning on the post-production side of a film or television show. You might also start out as a sound engineering technician or sound editor and then advance from there. Once you gain experience and training, you can move up to a position as a music editor.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below: | https://learn.org/articles/Music_Editor_Career_and_Education_Requirement_FAQs.html |
An Award-Winning Film about ME
Lyme disease and ME patients often live in a parallel universe. There are so many overlaps between the two conditions. How many ME patients have Lyme disease? How many of the associated co-infections and viruses which can overwhelm Lyme disease patients’ immune systems also affect ME patients? Are we one and the same? Will any research that improves outcome for ME patients also help Lyme disease patients and vice versa?
The Unrest team is attempting to bridge the gap and open a conversation with a variety of chronic illness communities through the medium of this inspirational, award winning cinema documentary.
An estimated quarter of a million people in the UK live with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Despite its often devastating impact, they often struggle with stigma, as well as lack of access to appropriate care.
Although Unrest was written by an ME sufferer, the aim of the documentary is to highlight the experiences of so many people suffering from different chronic, “hidden” diseases that remain poorly understood, both by the medical community and wider society. This film aims to explore and expose the stigma surrounding ME. Lyme disease sufferers will undoubtedly recognise the similarities and crossovers instantaneously as we face similar obstacles in our community.
Jennifer Brea was working on her PhD at Harvard and about to marry when she suffered a series of sudden viral infections that left her incapacitated. After the initial high fever, she developed many baffling symptoms including crippling exhaustion, hypersensitivity to sound, burning sensations and many more. She saw every kind of specialist: infectious disease doctors, rheumatologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists, even a psychiatrist, who told her “It’s clear you’re really sick, but not with anything psychiatric. I hope they can find out what’s wrong with you”. Bedbound, often in excruciating pain, and frustrated that medicine seemed to have little to offer, Brea began looking for answers.
As part of her journey, Jennifer was invited to give a very enlightening TED talk, ‘What Happens When you Have a Disease Doctors Can’t Diagnose.’ Then, turning a camera on herself and others with ME, she discovered a hidden world of millions confined to their homes and bedrooms. Her video diary became the feature documentary Unrest, which is being released in UK cinemas this month. It premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival where it received the Special Jury Award for editing. In the UK, it won the Illuminate Award in partnership with Wellcome at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2017.
Many of the people Brea connected with were isolated without access to treatment or care, and often disbelieved. They include 23-year old Jessica Taylor from Kent who has been bedridden since she was 15; Karina Hansen who was forcibly institutionalised and denied contact with her parents because doctors in Denmark consider ME to be psychosomatic; and Ron Davis, a Stanford Professor of Genetics who embarks on a mission to find a cure for his son.
Lyme Disease UK has been approached by the Unrest team to collaborate in helping to promote the film in the UK. Although primarily about ME, Unrest shines a light on what it is like to live with a chronic, misunderstood illness and as viewers will see, the symptoms are almost identical to Lyme disease. This film provides a tool to share what daily life can be like for those suffering with similar conditions and highlights the need for chronic illness communities to join together to push for groundbreaking research which may help us all. The film aims to change the way people think about chronic illness and to educate more people about the challenges faced by patients dealing with healthcare systems which are unable to provide adequate help.
LDUK spokesperson and talented musician, Ren Gill, is featured in Unrest and his music is also used in the film.
“Before being diagnosed with ME, I spent 7 years bouncing from doctor to doctor, the first diagnosis was bipolar, and years later I was labelled as having ME before a doctor found antibodies to the Lyme bacteria in my blood. The truth is, in all the diagnoses and labels I have been given, there is no clear-cut treatment, and there is still so much to be done in terms of research and public understanding.
This film highlights perfectly the need for better research, and exceptionally depicts what it’s like, as a struggling patient, to face neglect and sometimes even ridicule in the mainstream medical world, simply due to the horrific lack of understanding. It is an incredibly moving film which anyone with a chronic condition should watch, and it was an honour to be asked to be a part of it, and help shape the music for the film.” – Ren Gill
Unrest is a feat of disability filmmaking – when shooting began Brea was confined to her bed 99% of the time. By conducting interviews via Skype and an iPad teleprompter, she was able to see in real time what her team of film-makers was shooting on the ground. In other words, she directed the film from her bed.
The film will have its UK theatrical release on October 20th in London and cities nationwide, followed by a Q&A tour with Jennifer Brea.
#TimeforUnrest Campaign
A message from the Unrest Team:
Our #TimeforUnrest campaign has officially launched. This official launch means that the www.timeforunrest.org webpage is now live, with action and advocacy opportunities, including petitions, pledges for medical professionals, screening resources and more.
The Unrest Team needs YOUR help to take over social media with our #TimeforUnrest hashtag and why it’s #TimeforUnrest!
If possible, please do the following:
Visit Unrest’s social press kit, where you will find sample Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts. All you have to do is press “post to timeline” or “tweet” – you can also personalise the posts!
Share your story! On the Unrest social press kit you will find a download link to a prompt that says It’s #TimeforUnrest because… Share your story and/or why it’s time for unrest. Nothing has more power to change hearts and minds than a personal appeal. Encourage your friends and family to do the same!
Encourage your friends, family and colleagues to see Unrest in cinemas in the UK from Friday 20th October! If they don’t live in one of our theatrical cities, encourage them to attend a community screening or host their own! All screenings are listed on Unrest’s showtimes page.
And don’t forget to include the #TimeforUnrest hashtag on all posts!
Together, we can take the internet by storm to tell the world why it’s TIME FOR UNREST! | https://lymediseaseuk.com/2017/10/01/unrest/ |
In step with the symbiosis movement, unexpected partnerships are emerging as artisans and designers collaborate with professionals from heavy industry. As designers experiment with new materials and production processes, they are examining overlooked sources and establishing links with new industry techniques.
Sign up to one of our subscription packages and get unlimited access to a hive of insights – from microtrends and macrotrends to market reports, daily news, research across eight industry sectors and much more.
Already a member? Click here to log in. | https://www.lsnglobal.com/micro-trends/article/6412/art-dustrial-revolution |
Jump To Section
What Is Sound Design?
Sound design is the art of creating an aural environment for audiences. Holistical sound design encompasses dialogue, music, and sound effects. In some productions for television, cinema, theater, radio and podcasting, audiobooks, and video game design, a single person is responsible for all of these aural elements. More commonly, however, they are broken into different roles.
What Does a Sound Designer Do?
A sound designer is responsible for the palette of sounds that will be experienced by a consumer of cinema, television, live theater, radio, podcasts, audiobooks, or video games. In all cases, sound designers work under the purview of a director, who is the production team member responsible for the overall artistic product. Most directors provide sound designers with a great deal of autonomy. Other directors choose to deeply immerse themselves in the minutiae of sound design and may employ a heavy hand in guiding the designer. One of the most famous examples of this is David Lynch, who is so attuned to sonics that he often serves as his own sound designer.
9 Key Collaborators of a Sound Designer
The job description of any sound designer will involve at least one of the below tasks. Many sound designers will do more than one of them, and some sound designers (particularly those on low budget productions) will literally take on all of them. Otherwise, these roles will be filled by a sound designer’s most important collaborators:
- Composer of original music
- Music supervisor
- Audio editor
- Sound editor
- Sound effects designer
- Technical sound designer
- Foley artist
- Staff musicologist
- Audio recording engineer
What Do You Need to Become a Sound Designer?
The best sound designers possess a mix of the following factors:
- Education: Though it doesn’t necessarily need to be formal education, sound designers should be proficient in some combination of music, film, theater, music production, and audio engineering.
- Practical knowledge of music: If you want to be a sound designer, you should be familiar with as many genres of music as possible. Ensure that you are familiar with the available sound libraries and know the benchmark examples of sound design.
- Technical skills: Essential skills include knowledge of sound recording programs such as Pro Tools, Logic, GarageBand, and QLab, along with various audio plug-ins. Facility with audio equipment (including microphones, mixing boards, amplifiers, speakers, compressors, and graphic equalizers) is also important for live sound engineering and field recording.
- Communication: An ability to collaborate is essential to a sound designer.
- Creative drive: Working as a sound designer can be demanding work and requires a willingness to work long hours.
6 Tips for Becoming a Sound Designer
Think Like a Pro
In 6 hours of video lessons, Werner Herzog teaches his uncompromising approach to documentary and feature filmmaking.View Class
Aspiring sound designers should take whatever opportunity they can to get real world experience in their field. Here are some tips for getting started:
- Start small. There are many types of sound designer jobs in the realm of entertainment, and many a designer’s career path started modestly—perhaps in community theater or as a voiceover sound engineer on a low-budget film.
- Be patient. If your dream job is being the sound designer in residence at a video game production company or a major film studio, be aware that it may take years of experience until such career options present themselves. You won't be working full-time right off the bat.
- Work as a freelancer. Many great sound designers create a robust freelance career that may include sound editing, original music production and composition, and using audio design to create soundscape ambience (either through synth sounds or by layering pre-recorded sound effects). If you’re especially early in your career, you may need to consider volunteering for any part of the production process.
- Create your own sound library. Compiling original sound to create your own personal sound effect library. Many designers create their own sounds, and having your own library can be a leg up in the industry.
- Expand your skill set. It’s invaluable to develop a skill set in related aspects of filmmaking, video game audio, or live audio production.
- Listening to as many music recordings, film scores, and sound designs as possible.
Making a steady living as a sound designer can be tricky, but the work is creatively rewarding, which is why a lot of people pursue it throughout their professional lives.
Want to Learn More About Filmmaking?
Become a better filmmaker with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by film masters, including David Lynch, Spike Lee, Jodie Foster, and more. | https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-becoming-a-sound-designer |
Thank you for interest in filming in Douglas County, Georgia. We are excited about the opportunity to showcase our community and hope that you will find we fit your filming needs. The Film Office of the Development Authority is ready to assist you every step of the way.
For county owned properties (see locations tab for specific properties that are generally used), the application process is listed below. For all other properties, the Film Office is happy to provide you with contact information for filming approval.
Filming Requirements for Douglas County owned properties:
In 1993, the Douglas County government created a film commission to identify area locations and assist location scouts with finding the ideal location in Douglas County for their film project. The Douglas County Film Commission was organized by a dedicated group of local film industry professionals who volunteered their time and talents to making the film commission a wonderful group.
In 2013, the Douglas County Film Commission became the Film Office of the Douglas County Economic Development Authority. This change was made to provide more administrative support to the film industry professionals and because the film industry is an important aspect of economic development in Douglas County.
The goal of the Film Office is to assist with film production in Douglas County by: | http://developdouglas.com/filmtv |
News & Views
NEXTgen 2021-22 program now open.
Applications to Standards Australia’s NEXTgen 2021-22 program are now open. Standards Australia’s NEXTgen Program selects emerging industry and technical experts and provides them with an exciting opportunity to become involved in the national and international standardisation processes supporting Australian industry and government.
The goal of the program is to support the future of standards development through investing in the next generation of standards leaders and experts.
Why participate?
- Contribute to the development of important standards in your field
- Access training and gain direct exposure to the standards development process and context
- Gain skills to further increase involvement in standardisation
- Share knowledge and collaborate
- Create a valuable network of key Australian stakeholders and peers across industry sectors
- Be involved with webinars, meetings, and professional development activities
NECA encourages all Members that are eligible to part-take in this rare opportunity as you will be able to develop a deep understanding of what it takes to shape these robust standards that contribute to the industry and broader community. Applications close Friday 16 July 2021. Click here to find out more. | https://neca.asn.au/vic/content/nextgen-2021-22-program-now-open |
Kerala’s film industry has a rich history that spans several decades. Malayalam cinema has given birth to some of the most influential and memorable films of Indian cinema. But over the past few years, the industry has seen a shift in the kind of films being made. This shift is what we call the “new generation cinema,”. It has been making waves in the industry and is characterized by its unconventional themes, narrative styles, and techniques. In this article, we will discuss the relevance of new-generation cinema in contemporary Kerala society.
New-generation cinema is a term used to describe films that deal with contemporary issues and are more experimental. These films deviate from the conventional norms of Malayalam cinema and challenge the status quo. They are characterized by their realistic portrayal of characters, unconventional storytelling, and unapologetic treatment of bold themes.
The new-gen cinema has helped tackle social issues often neglected in mainstream cinema. For instance, films like “Angamaly Diaries” and “Sudani from Nigeria” explore the themes of community, cultural diversity, and migration. Both films have been widely praised for their honest and realistic portrayal of these issues, and they provide a window into the lives of people from different cultures.
One of the most significant contributions of new-generation cinema is the way it has given voice to marginalized and underrepresented communities. These films have tackled themes such as caste discrimination, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ issues. They have highlighted the struggles faced by these communities and have helped create more awareness and acceptance towards them.
Another notable example of new-generation cinema is the film “Kumbalangi Nights.” The film explores the theme of toxic masculinity and portrays the various ways it can manifest in our daily lives. Through the film, the director has given voice to women who have suffered in silence due to male domination and has helped raise awareness about the need for gender equality.
Moreover, new-generation cinema has been instrumental in changing the way people view cinema. It has created a more discerning audience that seeks films that challenge their perceptions and offer fresh perspectives. This has resulted in a more diverse range of films being made in the industry, focusing on quality over commercial viability.
In addition, the new generation of cinema has also given rise to a new wave of young and talented actors, writers, and directors. They bring a fresh perspective to the industry and have provided a platform for new voices, ideas, and narratives. Films like “Maheshinte Prathikaram,” “Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum,” and “Ee. Ma. Yau” have been widely appreciated for their innovative storytelling and unconventional characters.
Another significant impact of new-generation cinema is its contribution to the revival of the Malayalam film industry. The industry had struggled for some time with declining audiences and a lack of new ideas. However, the new generation of cinema has helped reinvigorate the industry by bringing in a new audience, creating more awareness, and elevating filmmaking standards. It has brought a new lease of life to the industry, making it relevant and contemporary for the present generation.
To sum it up, new-generation cinema in contemporary Kerala society is like a breath of fresh air – it has tackled social issues, given voice to new perspectives, and revitalized the Malayalam film industry. It’s like a superhero that swoops in to save the day, bringing with it a more socially conscious and discerning audience. Let’s hope this cinematic crusade continues in Kerala, paving the way for a more innovative, diverse, and exciting future for Malayalam cinema. So, grab your popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride! | https://pinklungi.com/revolutionizing-malayalam-cinema-the-relevance-of-new-generation-cinema-in-contemporary-kerala-society/ |
"I love telling stories, exploring characters and their headspace and expanding that world beyond the script. I love the wide range of decisions involved in production design and I see every opportunity to explore the range of emotion through architectural details, colors, patterns, lighting and furniture. My goal is to collaborate with other filmmakers with meaningful and multicultural stories that push the boundaries of the imagination."
Filipino born and raised in Manila, Berlin-based Trinka Lat, received her BA in communication Arts degree with honors at the Ateneo de Manila University in 2002. She started the film production company Brainchild Six soon after and went on to study production design at the Mowelfund Film Institute. She started her design journey with a lot of learning by doing -- designing music videos, TVCs, short films and features and series for cinema and TV.
With twenty years of industry experience as a production designer, set decorator and member of the art department, she continues to seek out projects that push the boundaries of storytelling.
Trinka Lat is also a producer, director and multi-media + sound enthusiast. She is the curator of the First Reel Philippine Film Festival Berlin, which aims to bring transformative content to the Filipino diaspora and other communities of color.
She continues to explore all kinds of adventures in sound, image and space. | https://www.pd.trinkalat.de/about |
Filmmaking with a Foundation Year - BA (Hons)
Our cutting edge BA (Hons) Filmmaking with Foundation degree course will develop your skills across key filmmaking debates and practice conventions. You will be taught by noted film scholars and established practitioners, who will provide their knowledge of international film criticism and filmmaking perspectives....
Studying with us in 2021/22 and 2022/23
The University has put in place measures in response to Covid-19 to allow us to safely deliver our courses. Information about the arrangements for the 2021/22 academic year can be found here.
Should the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continue in the 2022/23 academic year or subsequent years of your course, any additional and/or alternative arrangements put in place by the University in response will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
- Level Foundation
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City Centre
- Award BA (Hons)
- Start date September 2022
- Fees View course fees
- School Birmingham School of Media
- Faculty Faculty of Arts, Design and Media
Overview
Our cutting edge BA (Hons) Filmmaking with Foundation degree course will develop your skills across key filmmaking debates and practice conventions. You will be taught by noted film scholars and established practitioners, who will provide their knowledge of international film criticism and filmmaking perspectives.
The course is part of Birmingham City University’s Film Futures suite, designed to develop graduates with the theory, practice and industry trends that will enable them to succeed in a rapidly changing film environment.
About foundation courses
This four year programme has been specifically designed to allow you to undertake additional level 3 study, to ensure you are successful on your chosen degree course. The foundation year helps you to develop skills such as academic writing, referencing and researching, as well as important transferable skills such as project management and team work.
After successful completion of your foundation year, you will have the flexibility to either complete the undergraduate degree programme in the School of Games, Film and Animation, or switch (should you wish to change direction) onto a number of related undergraduate degree programmes within Birmingham School of Media.
What's covered in this course?
The course considers of a wide range of filmmaking conventions, from theory, practice and industry perspectives. Not only will you gain an understanding of Hollywood cinema conventions (from silent cinema to modern blockbuster spectaculars), but you will apply these storytelling techniques to a variety of production scenarios. As well as looking at American filmmaking conventions, you will also be introduced to other international traditions of cinema that range from European perspectives of documentary to Bollywood film and beyond.
A key focus of the course will be on the aesthetic and creative aspects of filmmaking, with consideration being given to both mainstream and experimental modes of film creation, as well as how these traditions are mediated by differing production and postproduction techniques. Whilst theoretical and practice based considerations of filmmaking techniques remains a central focus to the the award, the course also provides modules on on film festival programming and film entrepreneurship, which help provide core skills relevant to the film industry.
How you will learn
You will be taught in a range of lectures, seminars, writing workshops and production sessions, while regular film screenings help you contextualise cinema traditions against your own script creations.
Your formal studies will be enriched by the possibility to work on a range of external events, such as the Cine-Excess International Film Festival. This annual event attracts visiting international filmmakers, as well as hosting UK theatrical premieres on a regular basis. Having previously operated in London’s West End and Brighton, Cine-Excess has now relocated to BCU to operate as a central resource for the course.
Create cutting edge cinema productions with BCU’s new Filmmaking programme.
Xavier Mendik, Course Director
Why Choose Us?
- The course combines practice, theory and industry approaches to filmmaking, alongside training in film festival programming techniques.
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You will be taught by noted film professors, cinema scholars and established screenwriters. Staff on the programme work together to ensure that you receive a balanced understanding of theory, practice and industry skilling relevant to the field.
- You will be taught at the city centre campus, home to an impressive range of media resources, studios and edit suites.
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You will also have the opportunity to work on film projects completed as part of the Cine-Excess festival.
- You will also have the opportunity to work on film projects completed for the Cine-Excess festival. One recent production completed by BCU students and staff was the award winning documentary Tax Shelter Terrors (2017).
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You will have access to film collections that will enrich your course of studies. These include the Cult Film Archive, a collection of 4,000+ resources (including films, screenplays and promotional materials) that have been donated directly from leading filmmakers and distribution companies in the field.
Similar Courses
Entry Requirements
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
Essential Requirements
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80 UCAS points
|LEVEL 2 QUALIFICATIONS|
|GCSE||
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|Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level)||See level 3 entry under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details|
|Scottish National 5||
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|IELTS||6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band.|
|Plus one of the following Level 3 (and above) Qualifications|
|A Level and Advanced VCE||
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|AS and AS VCE||Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications (AS Levels must be in different subject to A-Levels) to obtain 80 pts|
|Access to HE Diploma||
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||MMP|
|Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design & Media)||
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|IBO Certificate in Higher Level||
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|International Baccalaureate Diploma||
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|Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers)||Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate with a minimum of 80 tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects. This must include English Language taken at either Ordinary Level (minimum grade O1-O4 (or A-C/A1-C3)) or Higher level minimum grade H1/H7 (or A-D / A1-D3 up to and including 2016|
|OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma||MMP|
|Scottish Advanced Higher||
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|T-Levels||Pass overall (C or above on the core)|
|UAL Extended Diploma in Art & Design||Merit overall|
|UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology||Merit overall|
|UAL Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts||Merit overall|
|Other qualifications|
|If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS.
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Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website.
Additional information for EU/International students
|Essential|
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Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept.
In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table.
|EU/Non-EU (International) Qualifications||Requirements|
|IELTS||
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6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band.
If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information.
Mature Applicants
Applications from mature students (21+) with alternative qualifications and/or considerable work experience will be considered on their merits.
Fees & How to Apply
- UK students
- International students
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2022
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 4 years
- £9,250 per year
- Apply via UCAS
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2022
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 4 years
- £13,500 per year
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If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead.
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Access to computer equipment
You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.
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Printing
You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.
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Field trips
All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.
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Access to Microsoft Office 365
Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.
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Key software
You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.
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Key subscriptions
Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.
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Free access to Rosetta Stone
All students can sign up to the online learning language platform for free through the Graduate+ scheme.
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Excess printing (optional)
Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.
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Field trips (optional)
This course includes the option of additional trips that may enhance your experience, at extra cost.
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Personal stationery and study materials (optional)
For this course it would be useful to have an SD card, an external hard drive and some headphones. Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials.
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Accommodation and living costs
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
Guidance for UK students
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
Register with UCAS
Login to UCAS
Complete your details
Select your course
Write a personal statement
Get a reference
Pay your application fee
Send UCAS your application
Portfolio Guidance
You are not required to submit a portfolio for this course.
Course in Depth
Foundation year
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
20 credits
The purpose of this practical production module is to explore media production techniques in film, online video, television and immersive media. The module is designed to recognise that many media professionals no longer work in specialised areas and are often asked to make use of a range of skills and platforms across different media in order to reach their audiences. Throughout the module you will be supported to develop industry-level practical skills through a range of production activities and workshops.
20 credits
The purpose of this practical production module is to explore media production techniques in journalism, public relations, music industries, radio and audio production. The module draws together the skills needed for writing and producing content for print and online, as well as developing communications campaigns that connect with audiences dispersed across digital platforms. The module is designed to recognise that many media professionals no longer work in specialised areas and are often asked to make use of a range of skills and platforms across different media in order to reach their audiences.
40 credits
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a production project in the subject specialism of your choosing, exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. The outcome can take the form of a written or a practice-based outcome. You will be able to evaluate and reflect critically on your work. Your final work will be a key step in your progression as a student of the media and as a media worker. You will be expected to work independently for the most part but you will receive one-to-one support from a supervisor as well as being able to connect with wider support within the School’s academic team.
20 credits
The purpose of this module is to introduce you to the key concepts aligned to studying media and communication. The module will focus on making connections between theory and practice and will support your wider understanding of the media industry and the context of your own work. You will have the opportunity to engage with theoretical perspectives that focus on the political economy of the media which will enable you to see how media texts are shaped by the organisation, ownership and regulation of the media industry. You will identify and reflect on political, moral and ethical issues raised by the relationships between the media, culture and ideas of power in local, national and international contexts.
20 credits
The purpose of this module is to assist you in developing the academic skills needed to succeed in higher education, and the professional skills required to support your ambitions to be a media worker. You will be introduced to the wide range of academic and practical support that the university offers.
Year one
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
40 credits
This module introduces you to Hollywood film through its early, classical and post-classical traditions. The module is structured around the examination of these three stages of development, with a range of debates that also allow you to evaluate American cinema through its stylistic, generic, industrial and historical features.
20 credits
This module reviews today’s global film marketplace, examining the scale, scope and structure of this multi-billion dollar industry. The aim is to help you navigate the current and emerging landscape for film, in a rapidly evolving industry, developing your appreciation of key players, the impact of the global market on the value chain and sustainability of the sector in consideration of social, cultural, economic and political influences.
20 credits
A key aspect to understanding filmmaking, is the actual process. This module will provide you with an introduction to conventional filmmaking techniques, such as lighting, camerawork and sound recording. This also includes an introduction to pre-production operations. This will be in the form of visual and sound acquisition techniques, as well as strategies to plan for this. You will be expected to operate a range of equipment, reflecting typical processes to do with narrative and documentary filmmaking. This foundation can be built upon to support future production endeavours.
40 credits
In this module you will explore the development of the film and television documentary by critically investigating the medium through a range of lectures, readings and screenings, and applying this to produce your own short documentary. We will consider different genres of documentary, such as direct cinema, mockumentary, investigative, ethnographic, docu-soap, experimental, docu-drama, reconstruction and the music documentary, as well as some of the contemporary issues facing documentary film makers. We will engage with a variety of academic debates that relate to the documentary, which include realism, representation, ethics and ideology, and the social, political, economic and technological contexts in which documentary can be critically located.
Year two
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):
20 credits
This module will examine the role film festivals play in garnering critical acclaim, enabling audience access and acting as a trade hub for film, playing a part in the financing, distribution and marketing of independent titles. The aim is to unpack the culture of film festivals from the lavish, major international affairs through to grassroots events. You will examine the drivers, objectives and investment that underpins them and their strategic importance for relationship building, launching and generating PR for film.
40 credits
This module follows on from the year one module and helps move you further towards your professionalism. Whereas introduced you to fundamental operations, this module introduces you to ways in which you can utilise filmmaking equipment to consider and enhance the aesthetics of production. Through the study of Light, Colour, Area, Depth, Time, Movement and Sound, you will be expected to consider these as a way to further enhance your production skills.
20 credits
The module is an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of collaboration by enabling you to create an interdisciplinary project with students from complementary disciplines, or with academic staff. Collaboration is a vital employability skill within the Creative Industries and this module allows you to develop these skills, making use of University facilities and with the support of academic staff. Within this module framework, several kinds of collaborative opportunities are available. For example, with the approval of your supervisor, you can determine a project based on your own interests; your supervisor may set you a predetermined project to enable you to work with other students in a way that is appropriate to your subject area; or there may be opportunities for you to collaborate with staff on research projects. In all cases, you must apply your subject skills to an interdisciplinary project which will be agreed in advance with your supervisor.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules:
20 credits
This module will provide students with an overview of the cultural relevancy of 1970s cinema. Initially exploring the context of the decade and the fragmented nature of film narratives at the time the module will discuss the emergence and demise of ‘American New Wave/New Hollywood’ but also explore further the style, substance and aesthetics of the varying sub-genres of the time as well as the cultural and creative impact they had on both cinematic presentation and other aspects of the media industry.
20 credits
This module builds on the work you have been doing on other areas of the course by expanding your knowledge on the details of film and film production. It will explore the concept of film music as an integral part of film, including how music is used in film to guide audience perceptions and emotions and as an interpretive layer. The module will also continue the work of integrating the theory and practice of film. Through a range of teaching approaches, which include lectures, workshops, and practical exercises, you will investigate the techniques, processes and practices of film music. Each week will also include viewing examples of scoring appropriate to the week’s theme.
20 credits
This module follows on from Foundations of Filmmaking, but introduces you to the key elements of cinematography in greater detail. Whereas Foundations of Filmmaking introduced you to fundamental, wider aspect of production and associated operations, this builds upon these, yet purely focusses on the duties within the field of cinematography.
20 credits
This module will teach you the essential skills of, and principles behind, the writing of short films. Although these principles apply primarily to screenwriting for film and television, this module will instead be concerned with the writing of short films. You will study a number of freely available short guides to screenplay layout and formatting and be trained in the practical application of screenplay formatting software. You will write three short scripts, given as fortnightly writing exercises, and receive detailed formative feedback on one of the scripts, which you can use to improve and develop your work for your final portfolio. You will focus on visual storytelling, layout conventions, and the issue of writing to scale (budget). You will also be encouraged to analyse, but also critique, dramatic construction in terms of character function, motivation and genre.
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Year three
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):
20 credits
This Module focuses on the post production element of filmmaking. Specifically areas concerning editing techniques, colour correction and grading to aid narrative. Students will learn both the technical skills of audio and video editing as well as the grammar and structure that belong to the art in order to become better storytellers.
60 credits
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and theoretically informed research project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. It is important that we can support you appropriately, so you will be guided towards choosing a research topic which is relevant to your discipline and in which your lecturers have expertise. The outcome may take the form of a written dissertation or a practice-based portfolio.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
20 credits
This module builds on previous film textual analytical skills and theoretical studies undertaken at previous levels of the course and applies them to the critical, historical and theoretical study of Bollywood cinema (aka popular Hindi cinema) and related cultural industries. This is an option module for all students with an academic interest in the analytical and theoretical field of reading films closely, and will prepare students who wish to develop expertise and knowledge in areas that focus on historical and contemporary issues of culture, diaspora and globalization.
20 credits
The module introduces you to the key debates related to the discipline of cult film studies, which has emerged over the last twenty years as a distinct aspect of critical interest within film and media theory.
20 credits
Gaining a working knowledge of current film business trends and practices is at the core of this module. It combines taught seminars dedicated to current film employment practices with an industry guest speaker programme in order to provide a crucial toolkit that will assist in working within the contemporary film sector.
20 credits
This module provides an opportunity to engage with and consider films that explore the perspectives and experiences of minority groups in western societies. The module will consider the intersectional barriers faced by those attempting to work within the film industry (both historically and in the current context) as well as the ways in which technology has democratized the form. The core consideration of this module will be who has been excluded from mainstream cinema, or had their work overlooked, and how in the current context this can be addressed. Further to this we will also focus on experimental film and video work and how non-mainstream contexts may provide an alternative place for film practitioners to explore their ideas.
20 credits
This module will enable you to build upon your current reading and writing of short films, and to develop your range, technique and sophistication as a contemporary screenwriter, applying your knowledge to the writing of a short film script of 10 minutes in length. You will study a guide to writing short films and build on your practical application of screenplay formatting software. You will write one ‘Academy’ short screenplay of 10 pages, on which you will receive detailed formative feedback, enabling you to rewrite towards your portfolio assessment. You will focus on visual storytelling, layout conventions, the issue of writing to scale (budget) and will work collaboratively on writing, planning, shooting and editing a short film of 3-minutes’ length. While a group mark will be given for the collaborative component of the assessment, your moderator reserves the right to mark individually if it is apparent that individuals have contributed more or less than others.
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
As part of your Foundation Year you will be studying alongside Media, Journalism, Music Industries and PR students and you will be taught by staff from these disciplines.
Film as a subject requires skills from (and a critical awareness of) a wide range of media forms. By interacting with staff from different disciplines and working on projects across a wide variety of media, you will have the opportunity to develop a broader skillset going into your degree- ultimately making you a valuable team member for filmmaking and screenwriting projects, or a more informed film critic.
During the first year of the BA (Hons) Filmmaking course, you will be introduced to key film debates and production practices through modules such as Foundations of Filmmaking. This unit presumes no prior knowledge, and your introductory skilling here will be further expanded through the module Hollywood: Early Film to Blockbusters, which considers the filmmaking conventions in a range of Hollywood film formats, while the industrial practices of American cinema will be further explored complimented by a Film Industry Primer module that is also undertaken in this first year of study. Alongside a focus on U.S. based filmmaking practices, a Documentary: Theory and Practice module also undertaken in the first year offers you the opportunity to create your own short films based on documentary techniques in the field.
The second year of the course lets you expand your knowledge of filmmaking conventions through more detailed modules such Filmmaking Practices. As well as being able to undertake a range of optional modules around topics such as Screen Cultures, Cinema of the Seventies and Foundations of Screenwriting, this second year of study also provides a dedicated module on Festival Festivals, which outlines the key industry skills required to stage cinema events.
During the final third year of study, your knowledge of filmmaking considers both post-production techniques and national cinema traditions. A module on Postproduction Techniques considers a range of mainstream and experimental practices of cinema, while optional modules on Bollywood Cinema and Cult Film outline the importance of both non-Western and subcultural traditions of film. In addition, an optional module on Film Entrepreneurship allows you to assess key business practices that are relevant to the current cinema industry. As the culmination of your final year of study you will also undertake the Major Project module, which allows you to carry out an independent study of an aspect of cinema theory, film practice or an industry convention that has interested you as a result of your studies on the BA (Hons) Filmmaking course.
Classroom projects
During your studies there will be practice-based opportunities to engage with a regional film festival such as Cine-Excess, an annual international film festival and conference on global cult film cultures. You will also be able to access film collections such as the Cult Film Archive during the course of your studies.
The Birmingham School of Media also has an established and inclusive research culture that promotes dialogue and collaboration between staff and students. The Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research (BCMCR) in the School of Media welcomes visiting researchers from across the world and holds regular research seminars which mix presentations from staff, PG students and speakers from a range of our collaborative partnerships. BCMCR welcomes all students to research seminars, which are free to attend.
Employability
The BA (Hons) Filmmaking course is located within the Birmingham School of Media, which has an excellent track record for graduate employment.
Within the School, the majority of graduates going into media-related roles. The course builds upon the School’s employability driven reputation, by opening avenues for students interested in potential careers in film research, film journalism, film archiving, marketing & PR, advertising and teaching film/media studies.
As well as gaining course-specific skills, you could also gain broader tools through our Graduate+ programme, which will help enhance your employment options by helping with careers development, employability activities, volunteering and part-time work experience.
Allied with this course-specific experience, you will also have access to a range of support staff and services from the University’s Careers Service, who can help with:
- Reviewing CVs, covering letters and application forms
- Career planning and decision making
- Preparing for interviews and assessment centres
- Developing portfolios
- Networking with employers
- Advice about self-employment and entrepreneurship
Placements
During your second year, you will have the opportunity to work as part of a mixed discipline team to respond to a brief, as part of an in-house placement element of the course.
In addition to this, there are regional opportunities for visiting and volunteering at film festivals, such as Cine-Excess, and for networking with producers and distributors who function as guest speakers at such events.
OpportUNIty
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
International Students
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities and Staff
Our Facilities
When you join Birmingham City University, the first thing you will notice is the high standard of our campuses.
With an investment of £340 million across our buildings and facilities, we are committed to giving you the very best learning environment to help shape your experience.
State-of-the-art facilities
You will learn in our state-of-the-art facilities - including the £62m fully-digital Media Centre - located on the City Centre Campus. You will enjoy access to extensive studio and workshop space including four TV studios, six radio studios and broadcast-standard edit suites, as well as cutting-edge equipment and software.
Facilities include the largest TV floor of any university in the UK, a ‘green screen’ and the MILO motion control camera - we are one of just two universities in Europe to offer MILO technology.
Our staff
Ellie Tomsett
Lecturer – Course Director for Foundation in School of Media
Ellie is a lecturer in media and course director for the School of Media's Foundation Programme. Before joining BCU Ellie worked in Higher Education for four years. Ellie taught film studies and screenwriting students at Sheffield Hallam University and contextual studies to filmmakers, animators and photographers at Manchester School of Art. Before teaching in HE Ellie worked in the UK film education sector, during this time she delivered training to teachers, youth workers and professional filmmakers across the country and organised filmmaking and theory activities for large organisations such as The BFI, The Industry Trust and Transformation Trust.
Ellie's research is focused on contemporary feminisms and stand-up comedy and she has been Researcher in residence with the UK Women in Comedy festival since 2014. In 2017 she co-founded Mixed Bill a comedy and gender research network which seeks to engage comedy industry professionals, researchers and members of the public in discussions and activities that address the under-representation of minority groups within the comedy industry. She has published on feminist and post-feminist stand-up comedy, self-deprecatory comedy and body positivity as well as more recently exploring comic reactions to the BrexitMore about Ellie
Robin Kay
Lecturer
Robin is a Lecturer in Media and Communication with a New Media specialism. He has a background within the music industry having worked for several notable record labels and industry organisations including: Ministry of Sound Recordings, Defected Records, Sanctuary Records and PRS. He has extensive experience within education and teaches creative and digital media subjects focused around web authoring, visual communication and immersive media. With an interest in interactive and immersive media, he is currently working on several projects involving emerging and innovative technology within an educational context. Robin is currently working with BCU’s STEAMhouse as an Academic Coordinator to support their immersive media provision and is engaged with the Reality Enhanced Augmented Learning Faculty Learning Community (REAL FLC) situated in the Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences.More about Robin
Dave Harte
Deputy Head of School and Associate Professor in Journalism and Media Studies
Dave Harte is Associate Professor in Journalism and Media Studies. He researches the emerging trend of local community ‘hyperlocal’ news websites and has published widely on the subject. Within the School of Media he leads on teaching and learning initiatives and teaches modules on Journalism Studies, Social Media, and Alternative and Community Media. He supervises PhDs in the areas of journalism and community media.More about Dave
Dr Sarah Wood
Head of Birmingham Institute of Media and English
Sarah Wood holds degrees from JMU, the University of Liverpool, and Birmingham City University, where she gained her PhD. Her research interests are in feminism and science fiction. | https://www.bcu.ac.uk/games-film-animation/courses/filmmaking-with-foundation-ba-hons-2022-23 |
Steve Thweatt retired as the Vice Chancellor for Administration at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2015 after 18 years of service as the campus architect and Assistant VC of Facilities Management, and has previous design and architecture experience at Emory University and Duke University. Steve has been a faculty member of the APPA Institute since 1998 and continues to teach in the Planning, Design and Construction track. He is also a member of the NCARB, APPA, RMA, SCUP and past President and Fellow of the Association of University Architects. Steve also has over 20 years of combined experience as an adjunct faculty member at the U of Colorado, The U of Denver and North Carolina State U.
Value management is a concept that embraces the design of facilities while balancing appropriate but sometimes competing program, quality, performance, and cost requirements. For an institution to realize the best overall value for its capital investment in new or renovated facilities, the total cost of ownership must be considered continuously throughout the design process. Making good decisions related to true value during design does not happen without a focused effort; but rather is the result of procedures introduced in the process that ensure its consideration and implementation.
This chapter will cover (1) designing for maintainability, (2) the evaluation of designs using life-cycle cost techniques and value management review processes, (3) the use of organized project design reviews, and (4) the development of a facilities maintenance impact statement. Although many needs compete for inclusion in all capital projects, a long-term view of capital assets represents a continuing investment in education facilities. Without the utilization of a value management process, the long-term view is often neglected and those assets are jeopardized.
In addition to facilities, the design process, along with the facilities themselves, has continued to increase in complexity, with many factors influencing that process. Coupled with these complexities is an ever-increasing awareness of the built environment and the need to conserve all natural resources. Sustainability has become a focus for many areas of facility development, including the design process. The continuous development of new products and the ability to store and retrieve data also give the designer more alternatives and information to consider for design solutions. The overlapping of these often-competing needs with the various professional disciplines involved in the ever-expanding design team requires even greater coordination and evaluation during the entire design process.
Figure 1 illustrates the fact that the owner's requirements and the architectural discipline have the greatest impact on the cost. The figure also shows the significance of early decision making on a project's cost and how each discipline overlaps the others. Significant savings typically occur earlier in the process and in the overlapping areas. The owner's requirements may not fit the budget, or if one discipline dominates the design input, then the design will be out of balance and may not provide an optimal solution.
Note: Figure based on typical office building. Impact will vary by type of structure.
Source: Dell'Isola, Alphonse J. Value Engineering in the Construction Industry, third edition. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1988.
Management is not something that occurs late in the design process when budget issues begin to appear; rather it is something that must be an integral part of the process from the beginning. To that end, there is no more important time for decision making on a project than the beginning. Decisions that are made in the early stages of a project have the greatest impact on the outcome of a project and must be carefully considered. Figure 2 appropriately illustrates this with the 90/10 rule, which states that “decisions made during the first 10 percent of a project’s effort determine 90 percent of a project’s outcome, particularly as it relates to cost and schedule.”?
Both life-cycle cost and value management methodologies have proven to be invaluable tools for making cost-effective decisions throughout the entire design process. Owners increasingly are concerned about the continuing costs of ownership as energy and labor costs continue to escalate. The use of new materials and systems in building designs often results in new maintenance problems for the facilities organization. Therefore, a statement of maintenance impact is useful in the complex economic evaluation of the building project.
Designers are faced with an array of complex decisions during the process of designing a building. They must deal with issues ranging from space and program requirements, functional adjacencies and relationships, site context, budget constraints, schedules, regulations, material and systems selections, and aesthetics and then must put it all together into a satisfactorily executed project. The final solution may satisfy some of the requirements of a project, but it rarely satisfies all of them, primarily because of budgetary constraints. Programmatic needs may be met and initial costs may be contained within the budget, but the total cost of ownership is often neglected in the process. In designing facilities for maintainability, the owner should prepare a maintenance profile, including the budgets for staffing, energy, building systems upkeep, and replacement costs.
As described in the definitions, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is the dollar per square foot value associated with a facility. It is a calculation of all facilities-specific costs (not including furnishings or nonfacility-specific equipment) divided by the estimated life span of the building (30 or 50 years), and then divided by the total gross area.
Over the life of a building, the original capital costs and the maintenance and operational costs are almost equal, but when recapitalization costs are added to the TCO, the final cost of owning and operating a facility often exceeds its initial cost. This comparison is articulated in a recent CFaR2 study titled "Buildings, the Gifts That Keep on Taking."
When the building is occupied by a high-energy user, such as a research laboratory, building systems should be designed for minimum energy demand. If the occupancy demands flexibility, then systems should be selected for minimum energy use coupled with minimum cost to change the functional use in the future. Systems should be designed respecting the class of operating personnel and philosophy of the owner. Today’s sophisticated mechanical systems can produce some highly efficient building systems, yet without the ability to properly maintain them, their value and effectiveness is diminished. If funds are difficult to obtain for replacement costs and regular maintenance, then materials and systems must be selected with a focus for long life and minimum regular care. This means that balance must be achieved between initial costs and continuing maintenance costs.
To design an economically balanced project, the designer must make decisions early in the design process to be the most cost-effective. Value management and life-cycle cost methodologies will assist the designer and owner in making cost-effective decisions for maintainability as well as design quality.
Value management is a creative, function-oriented, organized approach to optimizing the total cost and performance of a facility or service. Value management is rooted in the more traditional value engineering approach to project budgeting and review, yet value engineering has been used more as a cost-cutting tool for projects that are in financial trouble than as a good decision-making tool (its intended use).
Value engineering should be performed by the entire project team supplemented by specialty consultants not associated with the design team. The practice draws on the individual viewpoints, experience, and knowledge of its members. The review should be led by a certified value specialist and follow a "job plan" of specific steps: information gathering, functional analysis, speculation (creativity), analysis (judging), development, and presentation. Value engineering is a systematic process relying on the use of analysis concepts and techniques that identify and analyze the function of the project components and systems. Creative techniques, especially brainstorming, are used to identify and consider various alternatives. The value management process embraces value engineering principles to ensure that the appropriate people are involved in the evaluation and decision-making process. As explained with the 90 /10 rule, value engineering is most effective during the early stages of design, because the ideas are still conceptual, and the owner and the designer can be flexible with their decisions without incurring delays in the project schedule.
Value engineering tools and methodology are appropriate for any project. They produce optimal results in layout, structural bay sizing, floor-to-floor height, exterior closure, finishes, mechanical and electrical systems, day lighting, furnishings, net-to-gross floor areas, systems integration, roofing systems, energy conservation, and constructability. Value engineering techniques are also useful in deciding whether to renovate, expand, replace, substitute, or eliminate present facilities. Project cost information is organized in a cost model following the UniFormat system, as illustrated in Figure 3. The cost model indicates that architectural and mechanical areas offer the best potential for savings and should be the subject of in-depth studies.
Source: Dell'Isola, Alphonse J., and Stephen J. Kirk. Life Cycle Costing for Design Professionals. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1981.
Evaluation of the alternatives during the analytical phase of the value engineering job plan is accomplished using the weighted evaluation form illustrated in figure 4. Each criterion is compared against the others and evaluated as to which has preference and to what degree. This results in weighted criteria against which each alternative is judged. The alternative receiving the highest score is the preferred solution at this time in the value engineering process.
Using value engineering, design professionals identify required functions, develop alternatives, and select the most long-term cost-effective solution, thereby better satisfying overall project requirements and achieving functional performance, while ensuring that owners receive the optimal return on investment. Value engineering, when applied correctly, results in optimal cost and design excellence. Value engineering invariably produces savings that greatly exceed the cost of the process itself. The ratios vary according to the job and the areas of work, but savings in a ratio of 2:1 are routine, and 20:1 is not uncommon. As a rule of thumb, value engineering should identify savings of 5 to l0 percent of total project costs, while the typical cost of value engineering is 0.2 to 0.5 percent of the construction cost.
Value management takes the value engineering process and ensures that the right people are involved in the entire process. For example, studies should be conducted through the leadership of a certified value specialist with extensive experience in this type of work. A key to developing meaningful proposals is to use an experienced multidisciplinary team that was not involved in the original decisions to supplement the project team efforts. This approach brings to the process an objective design appraisal that can significantly improve many traditional designs.
The primary business of some consulting firms is to perform value engineering studies in addition to conducting value engineering training. If the institution is actively involved in projects of significant size, or in significant numbers of projects, it may be desirable to have a value engineering officer on staff. As an alternative to a permanent staff person, however, open-ended contracts with a consulting firm are used for an established value engineering program. It is equally important to have the facilities staff, project manager, design team, prospective occupant, and other affected stakeholders represented in the value management process.
Value engineering is only one of the tools available in the value management process and should not be used to simply reduce costs. Although it usually identifies opportunities for savings, it should be performed as a part of the overall value management strategy to ensure the best value by identifying unnecessary costs or wasteful expenditures.
As value engineering identifies alternatives for better value, the methodology of analysis includes economic assessment, considering all the significant costs of ownership over an economic life expressed in equivalent dollars. Significant costs of ownership include initial costs, financing, operational (energy), maintenance, alterations and replacement, tax elements, and salvage value. To assess the economic value of the alternatives, all costs are brought back to a baseline to develop equivalent costs, and the project life and discount rate (borrowing rate) are established using proper economic procedures.
To reduce time and complexity in using life-cycle cost methodology, the elements that will be the same in any of the options are identified and removed or fixed during the analysis. The significant costs associated with each alternative are isolated and grouped by year, or time spans, appropriate for the user. All costs are converted to current dollars by present-worth calculations, using a reasonable discount factor. This is done because a cost incurred in the twentieth year or the fifth year is not the same present value as one incurred in the first year.
Decisions made early in a project have the greatest impact on the cost of construction and conversely are the most important in terms of savings potential (the 90/10 rule). It is equally important to focus on the appropriate level of decision making to ensure that the greatest impact is realized. For example, the selection of a major building system type, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), is more important than selecting the specific manufacturer of the equipment. A decision made late in the design process with regard to systems type has increasing cost implications, and savings naturally will be reduced. The major impact of life-cycle cost occurs in concept, schematics, and, to a lesser degree, design development.
Life-cycle cost can also be used during the predesign phase to help determine project feasibility. It has been shown that $1 saved from operating costs through better planning or design is equivalent to a $10 to $12 reduction in construction costs. It is often easier to take $1 out of operating costs than construction, and considering that the savings potentially can be multiplied by 10 or 12, life-cycle costs are more important than project construction costs. Figure 5 graphically illustrates the comparative costs associated with each building system. This helps to identify the areas that are high in cost and the systems where continuing costs are a major portion of the life-cycle cost.
As shown in Figure 6, life-cycle costs are evaluated in tabular form, including initial costs, replacement and salvage costs, and annual costs in present value. This procedure provides a comparative analysis between alternatives to the original system design. Figure 6 illustrates the life-cycle cost of an HVAC system. The initial costs are made up of the equipment, related electrical cost, and owner-supplied equipment. The salvage and replacement costs show the equipment replacement cost required by each alternative and the salvage value for each. The annual cost portion of the life-cycle cost includes maintenance and operation costs for each alternative. Other annual costs include licenses, permits, and insurance. All these costs are then added for a total life-cycle cost for each alternative.
Present and future costs are brought to a common point in time. Two methods are used in life-cycle cost. Costs are converted to current cost (present worth or net present value) or converted to annual payments (annualized). Either method makes it possible to compare the economics of alternatives. Life Cycle Costing for Design Professionals, by Alphonse Dell'Isola and Stephen Kirk, is an excellent source for life-cycle cost economic methodology.
For a discussion of Net Present Value (NPV), see the chapter in Part 1 on financial analysis. In value decisions, however, one common mistake in using NPV is using incremental, marginal NPV results to determine whether it is appropriate to make a marginal investment in the next level of a mutually exclusive alternative. In some circumstances, the resulting NPV calculation can tempt the evaluator to prematurely halt their effort and not fully explore the NPV relationship with the base alternative and a seemingly more expensive alternative. When an investment decision is mutually exclusive, it means that you forego one or more choices if you select another. For example, selecting one specific type of roof is a decision that is fundamentally independent of the type of window that you might select, and therefore the choices surrounding these two independent building systems are not mutually exclusive. However, a choice related to the thickness (or R-value) of insulation (1 inch, 2 inches, or 3 inches) on the roof is an example of a mutually exclusive choice. If you select 1-inch insulation, you have foregone a decision on 2- or 3-inch insulation. The problem with using only the NPV calculation to decide which is the best insulation thickness (or on any mutually exclusive decision) is that the “marginal” present value does not always lead to the best answer. Going back to the roof insulation example, the marginal NPV improvement of going from 1- to 2-inch insulation may dictate going ahead and designing the roof system for 2-inch insulation without any further examination. This is because the labor cost to install the insulation is about the same for any thickness, but the gain in energy efficiency is far greater than the added costs of the materials. If you then check to see whether it makes sense to go from 2 inches to 3 inches using NPV, you may find that it is not a good decision when, in reality, the NPV of going directly from 1 inch to 3 inches has the best NPV. Thus, on mutually exclusive choices, it is always important to calculate NPV against the original choice, not against other mutually exclusive choices.
Review of any design by a construction contractor can add innumerable benefits to any building project. The constructability of a particular design will have a profound impact on the cost and the time required to build the facility. Evaluation of the proposed building systems can be a valuable contribution during the design process. However, the experience and expertise of contractors will determine the actual value of their review.
The review should occur early in the design to provide the greatest benefit, and making it a part of the value management process will yield the greatest results. If it is a part of the value engineering study, project issues related to ease of construction would be evaluated along with other affected disciplines. Some common project delivery approaches, such as Construction Management and Integrated Project Delivery, encourage this type of early involvement by the contractor as a natural by-product of their processes and are used as one of the cornerstones for their use.
Some government agencies that must operate in a publicly competitive bid environment include in their construction contracts a prescribed procedure for providing savings during construction. This process is sometimes called a value engineering change proposal and as described in chapter six of the Value Engineering Program Guide for Design and Construction. It gives the contractor on public works projects the opportunity to offer alternatives for better value that will produce savings in project cost. This opportunity is important because many public works projects prohibit contractors from working with the agency before the award of the bids for technical and professional advice. This approach often includes an incentive for the contractor by sharing the savings with the owner. Although this alternative approach provides opportunities to engage in the value management process in a public environment, this type of review is most successful when the contractor is a member of the team from the start of the project.
Maintenance information can be found in various forms, but one source has compiled the information in a format for use with value engineering and life-cycle cost forms. A sample of this information is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. The form is organized in seven categories: structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, equipment, site, and other. Each element is identified by its UniFormat code number. Data are provided for annual maintenance cost (labor, material equipment), energy demand, replacement life in years, and percentage replaced.
Source: Alphonse, J., and Stephen J. Kirk. Life Cycle Cost Data. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1983.
These forms identify unit of measure of maintenance and describe the maintenance performed. The institution's historical information could be substituted for the data. This information typically is included in life-cycle cost evaluations as a part of the value engineering project study. Therefore, if value engineering is included in the design process, the statement is made as a part of the proposed alternatives.
To receive the best value in the design process, institutions should incorporate the proven methodologies of value management through appropriate value engineering principles and life-cycle costing as a part of the early phases of design. The issues related to the maintenance and operation of facilities must be part of the overall cost considerations and a necessary part of the program requirements to ensure its consideration in the design process. The minor additional expense will be returned many times in the economics of the total cost of ownership. An economic survey of a typical office building illustrated in Figure 9 shows the dramatic results of a small reduction in the construction cost and operation cost over the life of the project. The return on investment in this example increased from 18.1 percent to 30.2 percent.
Source: The Smith Group Building Cost Index. "Economics to Optimize ROI during Project Design." Fourth Quarter. 1983.
Dell'Isola, Alphonse, and Stephen J. Kirk. 1981. Life Cycle Costing for Design Professionals. New York: McGraw-Hill. This book describes procedures for the designer to use in evaluating various energy and other life-cycle ideas with respect to economics and other noneconomic criteria. It leads the designer through each step of the analysis.
Dell'Isola, Alphonse J. 1988. Value Engineering in the Construction Industry. 3rd ed. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. This third edition demonstrates how to use advanced value engineering techniques to isolate, control, and reduce costs on all aspects of design and construction.
Kirk, Stephen J., and Kent F. Spreckelmeyer. 1993. Enhancing Value in Design Decisions. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. This book provides the design professional with a systematized framework that will enhance decision-making skills. The process in this book addresses a wide range of design concerns, including cost, energy use, aesthetics, and behavioral factors, while considering the viewpoints of owners, users, builders, building managers, and the community.
The Smith Group Building Cost Index. "Economics to Optimize ROI During Project Design." Fourth Quarter. Washington DC, 1983.
1. Dell'lsola, Alphonse J. 1988.Value Engineering in the Construction Industry. 3rd ed. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. The third edition demonstrates how to use advanced value engineering techniques to isolate, control, and reduce costs on all aspects of design and construction.
2. The Center for Facilities Research (CFaR) was established in 2002 by APPA to organize and consolidate research in facilities management issues. | http://bokcms.appa.org/subchapter_view.cfm?chap_id=53&part_id=4 |
How to choose the right conveyor belt - factors to consider.
1. Performance
Simple, although easy to overlook. Will your conveyor carry the size, weight and composition of your product, between levels if needed, at the required speed?
2. Maintenance and Reliability
What level of maintenance is required to achieve the reliability level needed for your entire process?
For example - if your line runs for 23 hours a day, at maximum speed, is a one hour maintenance window sufficient to keep your conveyor running?
Think about tolerance to a problem on the conveyor or elsewhere in the process. Your designer will be able to advise what features are available to help you cope with problems.
Are maintenance and spare parts readily available?
Your designer has data available to forecast maintenance requirements, based on usage.
3. Cost Effectiveness
Over the expected lifetime, does the cost of the conveyor make financial sense when compared to other handling options?
Scalability and Basis for Growth
How likely is it that your requirements will change over time? Will the conveyor be able to adapt, and if so, at what cost?
4. Safety and Hygiene
What equipment and skills are required to keep your line clean and safe?
Ensuring your line is operator safe is a legal as well as a moral duty and keeping your line free of contamination from debris, bacteria or dust is a critical part of many operations.
Since the advent of COVID 19, minimising human contact with conveyors, products and each other has become a top priority. Conveyors can be built with materials and features designed to enhance operator and line safety. Your designer will advise you how to choose materials which are, for example, resistant to bacteria and resilient to high pressure water and cleaning chemicals.
5. Integration
Your conveyor may need to fit with other elements of your handling process. You should consider how easy it is to transfer product to and from the conveyor. Will your conveyor control integrate with your process control and provide the information you need to operate the complete process? | https://www.autarky.com/post/how-to-choose-the-right-conveyor-belt |
Domestic wind turbines, also known as residential wind turbines, are quickly becoming a viable alternative energy source for homes.
These systems utilize the power of the wind to generate electricity and help reduce monthly utility costs while decreasing dependence on traditional fossil fuels.
This article will delve into the advantages of residential wind turbine systems; touch upon factors influencing their overall cost; review available small-scale models suitable for home use; and outline the steps involved in successfully installing a domestic system.
Types of Small Wind Turbines for Home Use and Maintenance
Different types of small wind turbines are available for residential use.
The two most commonly used models are horizontal-axis and vertical-axis turbines, which feature blades rotating around a horizontal or vertical axis.
Although either type can be employed in private households, horizontal-axis turbines tend to be more prevalent due to their relative efficiency.
1. Horizontal-Axis Turbines
Horizontal-axis turbines are the most widely used type of small wind turbine for residential applications.
Their blades rotate around a horizontal axis, making them more efficient than vertical-axis models with higher power output and better ability to capture wind energy.
An example is Bergey Excel 10, an optimal choice for residential use delivering up to 10kW rated power output.
2. Vertical-Axis Turbines
Vertical-axis turbines feature blades that rotate on a vertical axis, making them typically less efficient than horizontal-axis models.
Despite this, they offer some advantages, including smaller size and greater compactness, which facilitates installation, and increased versatility due to diminished sensitivity towards wind direction.
An example of such a turbine is the Darrieus model utilizing lift force for power production.
Steps Involved in Installing a Domestic Wind Turbine
Let’s take a look at a few steps involved in installing a domestic wind turbine here :
1. Site Assessment
Assessment involves determining the wind resource in the area and assessing the site’s suitability for a wind turbine. The wind resource is an important factor to consider when installing a wind turbine.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a wind resource of at least 6.5 miles per hour is needed for a small wind turbine to be cost-effective.
Additionally, the turbine’s location should be free of any obstacles that may interfere with the turbine’s operation, such as tall buildings or trees.
2. Obtaining a Permit
Once the site assessment is complete, it will be necessary to procure relevant permits and approvals from local governing bodies. This could involve obtaining a permit from the local zoning board and building permits issued by the municipal building department.
Such steps are critical to guarantee that turbine installation adheres to all applicable regulations, laws, and safety protocols established for such activities at this location.
3. Installation Process
Following the acquisition of all necessary authorizations and permits, installation may commence.
Installation typically includes setting up a concrete foundation for the turbine, assembling it, and connecting it to an electrical grid.
To ensure optimal performance following local wind conditions, care must be taken when designing said foundations and positioning them at sufficient height to capture available wind energy adequately.
4. Maintenance
Proper maintenance of a small wind turbine ensures its longevity and optimal performance.
To begin, we should conduct regular inspections to detect any signs of damage or wear, including checking the blades for cracks or other damages and examining the control system and components.
We must lubricate moving parts regularly to ensure smooth operation.
To keep up with cleanliness standards, debris accumulated on blades or elsewhere within the turbine area needs to be removed frequently.
It’s important to check that air filters are clean at all times, too, so they can function properly.
Regularly monitoring power output and system performance can help diagnose potential issues early, which assists in carrying out repairs/fixes more quickly if required.
To ensure the turbine is functioning properly, it may be necessary to consult with experts such as manufacturers or installers specializing in turbines during scheduled maintenance checks.
Factors Affecting the Cost of a Home Wind Turbine
The cost of a home wind turbine can be affected by several factors, including:
1. Size and Type of Wind Turbine
The size and type of wind turbine are major factors in determining its cost. The expense for a small wind turbine can range from $10,000 to $50,000, depending on these two characteristics.
2. Cost of Installation
The cost of installation is a major consideration. The procedure usually involves constructing a concrete foundation, assembling the turbine, and connecting it to the electrical grid, which can increase expenses.
3. Cost of Permits and Approvals
The acquisition of permits and approvals required to install a home wind turbine is an additional factor that we must factor into the total cost.
This could involve procuring authorization from local zoning boards and obtaining building permits through city or county departments.
Such requirements typically add thousands of dollars in expenses for homeowners looking to purchase a residential wind turbine system.
Key Tips to Save Money on the Cost of Domestic Wind Turbines
Despite the cost, there are several ways to save money on the cost of a home wind turbine.
1. Federal and State Tax Credits and Incentives
Homeowners may be eligible to take advantage of Federal and State Tax Credits and Incentives.
The U.S. Government offers a 30% tax credit on installing wind turbines, which could result in substantial savings on taxes paid. Certain states provide further credits or incentives for residential wind turbine installation projects.
2. Install a Smaller Turbine
Utilizing a smaller wind turbine is an effective way to save money on installing a home energy system. While larger turbines can generate more electricity, they come with increased installation costs.
Utilizing a smaller turbine will still provide significant savings and require lower installation fees overall.
3. Group Purchase Discounts
Group purchase discounts may be available from certain communities, co-ops, and organizations to help reduce the cost of purchasing a wind turbine.
Homeowners can benefit by joining forces with others to negotiate better prices for both turbines and installation This could include financing options offered directly by installers or manufacturers, making investing in home wind energy more affordable.
Benefits of Installing a Domestic Wind Turbine
Before installing a domestic wind turbine, it is essential to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the local wind resource and site suitability. We should consider cost-effectiveness and potential shortcomings before making a final decision.
Now let us review some advantages associated with having such turbines installed:
1. Environmentally Friendly Energy
Unlike fossil fuels which release pollutants into the atmosphere, wind turbines do not emit any harmful emissions, making them a much more eco-friendly alternative to traditional sources of electricity generation.
2. Reduce Energy Costs
Utilizing domestic wind turbines can help reduce energy costs by providing an alternative source of power that is not subject to the volatility of traditional energy markets.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, households may save up to $500 annually on their electricity bill by utilizing a residential wind turbine.
3. Economic Benefits for the Community
Installation of domestic wind turbines can benefit the local community economically.
Small wind turbines present rural farmers and landowners with a lucrative source of income. Furthermore, job creation is possible to manufacture, implement, and upkeep.
4. Increase Energy Independence
Wind turbines can increase energy independence and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
By generating electricity locally, wind turbines can diminish demand for power plants fueled by non-renewable sources, thereby lessening greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change effects.
Drawbacks of Domestic Wind Turbines
While domestic wind turbines can provide many benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider, such as:
1. Cost of Installation
The installation cost of residential wind turbines is one of its major drawbacks.
The price for a small-scale turbine can vary from $10,000 to $50,000 depending on size and model. Furthermore, they tend to be loud and require regular upkeep.
2. Negative Impact on Wildlife
Wind turbines may have negative impacts on wildlife, particularly birds and bats. Wind turbines can create a collision hazard due to their size and disturb sensitive habitats during construction processes.
Furthermore, they are large in stature, which could alter the surrounding landscapes’ visual aesthetic.
To sum up, domestic wind turbines can be a great alternative energy source for homes. They can reduce expenses on electricity bills and decrease reliance on fossil fuels.
Nevertheless, there is a need to consider some drawbacks, like the price tag attached and the noise generated.
Therefore, before installing one in your home environment, ensure you thoroughly assess its suitability according to available wind resources around the area and evaluate all potential cons before coming into any decision-making process.
Reference: | https://climatecafes.org/can-you-get-domestic-wind-turbines/ |
Ground source heat pumps are a greener alternative to conventional boilers, offering a more sustainable method of heating a home and providing hot water. These systems extract heat energy from the ground using a network of pipes buried beneath the surface (we’ll explore how they operate in greater detail below).
This guide covers everything you need to know about ground source heat pumps. Along the way, we’ll explain:
- What ground source heat pumps are;
- How these devices work;
- The various types that can be installed;
- The pros and cons;
- The costs of installing and running them;
- The grants available for homeowners;
- Planning permission requirements;
- The installation process;
- Typical maintenance requirements.
What is a ground source heat pump?
A ground source heat pump is an eco-friendly setup that can be used to provide hot water whilst heating radiators and underfloor heating systems. These devices are similar to air source heat pumps. Instead of drawing heat from the air, however, they use a buried network of pipes known as a ‘ground loop’ to extract heat energy from beneath the surface.
There are several different types of ground source heat pump, each of which uses a unique type of ground loop (more on this below).
How do ground source heat pumps work?
Ground source heat pumps operate using the following process:
To extract heat from the ground, a liquid mixture of cold water and antifreeze is pumped through a network of pipes buried beneath the surface. The ground around the pipes has a year-round temperature of between 8 and 12°C due to energy from the Sun. As the liquid travels through the pipes, it absorbs this low-grade heat from the surrounding earth.
The warmed antifreeze mixture then passes up out of the ground and into a heat exchanger known as an evaporator. The refrigerant liquid within the heat exchanger absorbs heat energy from the mixture, evaporating to form a gas. The cooled liquid antifreeze mixture then returns to the ground loop system to extract more heat. Meanwhile, the warmed refrigerant gas rises.
The warmed gas is fed into a compressor, which increases its pressure and causes its temperature to rise even further. Hot refrigerant gas then feeds into a second heat exchanger known as a condenser. Once inside, the gas heats up water contained in pipes – the heated water then travels into the home, where it can be used to power radiators and underfloor heating systems and provide hot water to showers and taps.
Having transferred its heat to the water, the refrigerant gas reverts to a liquid. This liquid passes through an expansion valve at the end of the cycle to reduce its pressure and lower its temperature. Finally, the liquid refrigerant returns to the evaporator, ready to be heated up once more by the antifreeze mixture from the ground loop system (and the cycle continues).
For a visual explainer of how ground source heat pumps work, take a look at this useful video.
Types of ground loop system
Ground source heat pumps can use four different types of ground loop systems for exchanging heat:
- Horizontal
- Vertical
- Pond/lake
- Open loop
Let’s take a look at each of these varieties.
Horizontal
This is the standard type of ground loop system. A horizontal loop consists of a network of pipes buried in trenches around two metres beneath the ground, parallel to the surface – the antifreeze mixture travels through the pipes and draws heat from the adjacent earth.
Vertical
Vertical ground loops are used in cases where garden space is limited as they cover a much smaller area. As the name suggests, the pipes are buried in a vertical position perpendicular to the surface, requiring a borehole of up to 200 metres deep – the pipes gather heat energy from the ground surrounding the borehole.
Pond/lake
In some areas, you’ll find bodies of water underneath the ground. If there is a large enough underground lake available, then a pond/lake ground loop may be used. In this setup, the network of pipes goes down into the body of water at least three metres below the surface. The antifreeze mixture in the pipes absorbs heat energy from the water and carries it back to the heat exchanger.
Open loop
Open loop systems are the least common type and operate differently from the other setups. Instead of using an antifreeze mixture carried in pipes, water from an underground lake or well is circulated directly through the ground source heat pump system to the heat exchanger.
Pros and cons of ground source heat pumps
One of the main benefits of ground source heat pumps is their efficiency – as the temperature underground remains relatively constant throughout the year, they can produce four times as much heat energy as is required to operate them (providing greater efficiency levels than air source heat pumps).
Other advantages to ground source heat pumps include:
- They provide hot water as well as heating your home;
- Your heat pump could provide a source of income through the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
- Minimal maintenance is required;
- Depending on which fuel you switch from, a ground source heat pump could lower your fuel bills;
- If a renewable energy source is used to power them, they produce zero carbon emissions;
- They produce much less noise than conventional boilers and air source heat pumps;
- The components last much longer than other heating systems (up to 25 years).
These systems are not without their drawbacks. It’s important to be aware of the following disadvantages:
- The high initial installation costs can be prohibitive;
- Installing a ground source heat pump causes disruption to your garden (horizontal ground loops require a large area of earth to be dug up);
- The antifreeze mixture can be damaging to the environment, so the ground loop system must adhere to regulations and be installed securely to prevent this from happening;
- Ground source heat pumps provide heating at lower temperatures than conventional systems, meaning large radiators or underfloor heating systems are required to provide the same heating effect.
- Certain types of ground loop system may not be suitable for the area: horizontal systems require a lot of garden space, vertical systems need a certain type of bedrock, and water-based systems require a large underground body of water to be present.
The cost of ground source heat pumps
When considering the overall cost of a ground source heat pump, it’s important to consider both the price of installation and running the system.
Installation costs
Installing a ground source heat pump accounts for the bulk of the cost. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that a typical system will cost between £14,000 and £19,000 to install.
The two key factors when calculating the installation cost are the size of the home that needs to be heated and the area of garden space that’s available. As you’d expect, the more rooms that require heating, the greater the size of the ground loop and the higher the costs.
Horizontal ground loops are the cheapest option from an installation standpoint. However, they usually require at least half an acre of land. If a vertical ground loop is required due to limited space, the ground source heat pump borehole will cost two to three times more than the groundwork for a horizontal system.
Running costs
Once the system is installed, a ground source heat pump still requires some energy input to pump the various heat-exchanging fluids around the system. That said, the running costs are typically lower than a conventional system if the home is insulated effectively.
For a typical well-insulated four-bedroom detached house, the Energy Saving Trust estimates the potential yearly savings when replacing the following types of system as:
- £530-£570 for an average LPG heating system;
- £400-£440 for a typical solid fuel heating system;
- £25-£30 for an average gas boiler system;
- £20-£30 for an average oil heating system;
- £1000-£1090 for a typical electric heating system.
Grants for ground source heat pumps
Grants are available for households heated via ground source heat pump systems through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The payments will be made over the course of seven years and vary depending on the size of the home:
- £11,580 for a one-bedroom semi-detached property;
- £17,774 for a two-bedroom semi-detached house;
- £25,180 for a detached house with three or more bedroom.
Use the Government’s RHI Calculator to get an estimate of how much you could receive based on the details of your property.
Planning permission requirements
Ground source heat pump planning permission requirements vary depending on your local authority. In most cases, these systems are classed as permitted development and will not require permission. That said, you must check with your local authority before installing a ground source heat pump.
Ground source heat pump installation process
The process of installing ground source heat pumps is as follows:
- The home and garden space will be assessed to determine the type and size of ground loop that is required.
- The underground area required for the loop will be excavated: for horizontal systems, this involves digging trenches two metres deep across the required area; for vertical systems, a deep borehole of between 15 and 200m will be created.
- The pipes will be installed in the loop fields.
- The existing heating system will be modified if necessary (this could include installing larger radiators or underfloor heating systems).
- The heat exchangers and heat pump will be installed, connecting the ground loop to the heating system.
Maintenance requirements
In most cases, the maintenance requirements for ground source heat pumps are minimal. The manufacturer and installer will be brief you on this, but it’s likely that you’ll need to check the water pump, external pipes, and electronics once a year. A professional should also check over the system once every three to five years.
This guide has explained all of the key information about ground source heat pumps, from the different types that are available to the installation and running costs.
Skills Training Group provides a range of gas safe courses for adults with no knowledge or experience. To find out more, get in touch today. | https://www.skillstg.co.uk/blog/guide-to-ground-source-heat-pumps/ |
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Presented by Joe Soroka
RAMPS© Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Predictability, Scalability Presented by Joe Soroka For additional information visit
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SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY AVAILABILITY
While budgets may be tighter the requirement for maximum uptime has not gone away The design of your facility is only one piece of the pie that will effect your site’s uptime It is important that we are aware of how Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Predictability and Scalability all affect your site’s uptime SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY MAINTAINABILITY AVAILABILITY RELIABILITY
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RELIABILITY Reliability is the ability of a system to perform and maintain its functions in routine circumstances, as well as hostile or unexpected circumstances
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Reliability What is reliability? Modeling Equipment selection Weibull
Markov Reward modeling Modeling IEEE Gold Book Procedures: accurate, confirmed/tested Equipment selection Generator UPS Systems EPO Systems Switchgear Monitoring systems For additional information visit
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Reliability Reliability Reliability modeling Equipment Commissioning
Operations & maintenance For additional information visit
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Reliability Bathtub curve of reliability Infant mortality Useful life
Burn in/load testing Commissioning Useful life Proper maintenance End of life Identify and replace prior to entering this period For additional information visit
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Reliability The reliability of a system is no greater than the weakest component in a system series In a complex system you need to identify and quantify the importance of each component in the system A reliability block diagram is a graphical representation of the components of the system and how they are related to reliability For additional information visit
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Reliability Many of the reliability design ideas share a common philosophy with those recommended for availability This is because there is a very close relationship between reliability and availability While reliability is about how long an application runs between failures, availability is the ability of a system to tolerate failures and how long it is accessible to the users Obviously, when a system's components and services are highly reliable, they cause fewer failures from which to recover and thereby help increase availability For additional information visit
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Reliability Equipment Major manufacturers
Past experiences Local maintenance support Parts distribution centers Fine line between leading edge and bleeding edge Formal submittal review meetings For additional information visit
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Reliability Equipment Generator’s isolation valves ATS bypass
TVSS indicators and alarms Lightening protection EPO systems Wiring Control relays Covers Diagrams Testing Day 2 changes For additional information visit
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Reliability Equipment Generators Redundant batteries
Battery monitoring Fuel level monitoring Water heater jacket isolation valves Silicon heater hoses Coolant level pre-alarms, both cores Water separators (Racor Filters) with alarms Engine diagnostic link For additional information visit
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Reliability Equipment UPS systems Dual input
Maintenance bypass cabinet Advanced monitoring Battery monitoring Redundant battery strings for VRLAs Site specific procedures For additional information visit
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Reliability Equipment Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS)
Maintenance bypass or wrap around breakers Phase sync monitoring Pause Neutral/dual solenoids Monitoring Transient Voltage Surge Suppression (TVSS) Indication of operation Surge counter For additional information visit
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Reliability Equipment EPO systems
Wiring in conduit and not open plenum Control relay coils should not be energized until activation Secondary covers installed over the EPO buttons Detailed and accurate schematics diagrams System should be designed so it can be tested System should be capable of making day 2 changes without risk Part of an engineered drawing and not a cloud saying “by others” For additional information visit
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Reliability Equipment Thermal runway
Increase heat density Reduce time to thermal runway Increase the need for a reliable HVAC system Specialized HVAC systems Possibly switching from emergency to UPS power Long UPS battery runtimes may be unclear Rack layout, equipment airflow direction Cold/hot aisle Enclosed hot aisles Type rack Doors Vents Fans For additional information visit
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Reliability Equipment Water storage Chilled water Makeup water
In the event of power outage or temporary chiller failure, do you have the capability to ride through Makeup water How reliable is the city water supply Do you have diverse sources Water storage tanks Well Other water sources For additional information visit
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Reliability Commissioning
Commissioning – With each project being unique, there is a need to determine how much commissioning is appropriate for the project. Factors that influence this decision include: Building’s mission-criticality Facility’s use or purpose Complexity of the building’s systems Building type and size Project type, whether existing building system or retrofit, or both Building tenant or occupant demographics System reliability requirements Owner’s objective in commissioning the building; IAQ, system reliability and/or energy efficiency Project budget For additional information visit
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Operation and Maintenance
Reliability Operation and Maintenance Use a pilot/copilot approach Commercial airplanes do not fly with just one pilot - why would you Standardize as much as possible Standard procedures Standard process Use a Computer Maintenance Management System (CMMS) Timely reports and schedules Accurate information Archive past performance Instant access to information For additional information visit
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AVAILABILITY Availability is the ability of a system to tolerate failures Refers to the time that a system is available to its users This means the process continues to be served through the failure and that, ideally, the failure is transparent to the user For additional information visit
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Availability Availability Design Resources Procedures
For additional information visit
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Availability Availability is typically expressed by the number of nines Downtime per year Availability # of nines Downtime 90% 1-nine days/year 99% 2 nines days/year 99.9% 3 nines hours/year 99.99% 4 nines 52 minutes/year 99.999% 5 nines 5 minutes/year % 6 Nines 31 seconds/year For additional information visit
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Availability Failures can be attributed to the following causes:
Design failures This class of failures takes place due to inherent design flaws in the system. In a well designed system, this class of failures should make a very small contribution to the total number of failures Infant mortality This class of failures cause newly manufactured hardware to fail. This type of failure can be attributed to manufacturing problems like poor soldering, leaking capacitor etc. These failures should not be present in systems leaving the factory as these faults will show up in proper factory system burn-in tests For additional information visit
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Availability Random failures Wear out
Random failures can occur during the entire life-cycle of a system. These failures can lead to system failures. Redundancy is provided to recover from this class of failure Wear out Once a hardware module has reached the end of its useful life, degradation of component characteristics will cause hardware modules to fail. These types of faults can be weeded-out by preventive maintenance and routing of hardware For additional information visit
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Availability Design Designing systems with sufficient levels of redundancy Eliminating single points of failure Availability design guidelines Consult your engineer TIA Standard - TIA 942 Uptime Institute – Tier Definition For additional information visit
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Availability Design System design should have multiple paths
Active or passive, depending upon the site reliability requirements If redundant paths need to be VE? out to meet the project budget, consider adding the breaker or valve now or later; when budget allows add the actual feed By adding the breaker or valve up front you will be able to install temporary cable or piping when an emergency arises For additional information visit
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Availability Design When performing maintenance, and decreasing the availability of system redundancy, move the reduction of availability away from the critical load and toward the utility as much as possible i.e. If you had a system plus system design and you are going to take the UPS out of service for maintenance, do not just open the UPS system and allow downstream dual cord devices and static transfer switch handle the loss of redundancy (?) Place the UPS in maintenance bypass to continually feed the second source with stable power Better yet, place the UPS on generators or alternate UPS supply to avoid sending unprotected utility power to the critical load For additional information visit
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Availability Resources Technical resources Parts Onsite spares
Operation staff Response staff Maintenance & repair staff Parts Onsite spares Manufacturer spares Vendor spares Supply houses For additional information visit
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Availability Operation Staff Resources Operation staff
Whether you are using in-house or contracted staff, it is important to ensure they have the proper resources Proper access to the facility If using key card system what happens when the card readers lose power? Who has the keys? Do you have all of your operation staff’s phone numbers Cell numbers and home numbers Company and personal s For additional information visit
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Availability Response Staff Resources Emergency response
Types of emergency responses Additional operation staff Electrical, mechanical & plumbing contractors General construction Testing and repair firms Fire and security Hazardous material spill List of suppliers and vendors Emergency contact information Alternate contact information Contracts in place to execute after hours support Meet them before an emergency arises, have them at the site for lunch For additional information visit
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Availability Maintenance & Repair Staff Resources
Do you have the necessary contracts in place? Is there maintenance your operation staff can perform in house? Do you have alternate contact numbers for your maintenance providers? Do they have proper access to the facility? Do you have a second string waiting on the sidelines in case of an emergency? For additional information visit
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Availability Parts Resources Parts and supplies
Define and assess critical parts Stock critical parts onsite Have an annual budget for spare parts that increases a little each year Verify that your vendors and contractors have spare parts handy Identify supply houses and suppliers that have parts you need Have after hours phone number(s) to get parts from supply houses Have contracts in place and make sure they are active For additional information visit
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Availability Procedures Operation Maintenance Emergency
Troubleshooting For additional information visit
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Availability Operation Procedures Operation procedures
Have detailed procedures that are specific to your developed site Procedures should be tested and verified Procedures should be inventoried and updated regularly Operating procedures should be placed at the point of use and not locked-up in the building manger’s office For additional information visit
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Availability Maintenance Procedures Maintenance procedures
Have detailed procedures for maintenance Ask your maintenance provider to furnish all of the required maintenance procedures prior to performing maintenance, so you can review and comment on them Use detailed procedures during your maintenance activities Review procedures after the maintenance has been completed For additional information visit
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Availability Emergency Procedures Emergency procedures
In case of an emergency, where are your procedures Can you access them Are they at multiple locations During an emergency is not the time to try to figure out how to restore a system Perform dry runs on the procedures at least once a year Update and change, as required For additional information visit
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Availability Troubleshooting Procedures Manuals Drawings
Available Correct Drawings Available and complete As-builts Develop troubleshooting flow diagrams For additional information visit
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MAINTAINABILITY Maintainability is defined as the probability of performing a successful repair action or preventative maintenance within a given time In other words, maintainability measures the ease and speed with which a system can be restored to operational status
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Maintainability Design Equipment Staff Location Maintenance program
Training Coordination Maintenance windows For additional information visit
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Maintainability Design Goals of Maintainability
Maximize efficiency and accuracy of on-line replacement of system components Facilitate and minimize troubleshooting time at each level of maintenance activity Allow test, checkout, troubleshooting and repair procedures to be unit-specific and structured to aid in identification of faulty units, then sub units Reduce downtime Provide easy access to malfunctioning components Allow for high degree of standardization Minimize time and cost of maintenance training Simplify new equipment design and shorten design time by using previously developed, standard building blocks For additional information visit
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Maintainability Design Equipment Access Labeling
Minimize troubleshooting time Monitoring Procedures Standardization Test and service points For additional information visit
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Equipment Accessibility
Maintainability Equipment Accessibility Design Accessibility refers to the relative ease with which a system can be accessed Sufficient clearance to use the tools needed to complete the tasks Adequate space to permit convenient removal and replacement of components Adequate visual exposure to the task area Adequate safety and working clearances Adequate space for required rigging equipment Adequate hallway, corner and door clearances back to loading dock For additional information visit
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Maintainability Ease Removal and Replacement Design
Equipment rooms should be designed so that rapid, safe and easy removal and replacement of malfunctioning components can be accomplished by one technician, when possible With space at a premium in a data center the tendency is to design the equipment room to the minimum code requirements. This saves space in the design and meets the minimum code requirements but in many cases increases the time required to maintain and repair a system. These minimum clearance spaces will cost more in the long run. For example; 1. safety is hampered when dealing with minimum clearance. Backing into another panel and tripping a breaker or tripping on a housekeeping pad and landing on a rotating pump. 2. increased downtime, either a part is not changed in time because of its difficulty of replacing it, or during an outage the time to repair is increased do do space limitations. For additional information visit
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Maintainability Labeling Design Labeling should:
Identify a specific device Identify the purpose or function of a specific device Present critical information Present safety Information Should be legible Should use contrasting colors Ensure that your labeling is controlled to ensure its accuracy and standardization Periodic inspections and examinations Accuracy of Identification required Time available for recognition Location and distance at which identification must be read Level and color of illumination Criticality of the function identified Label design and identifying information used within and between systems For additional information visit
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Maintainability Minimize Troubleshooting Time Design
Comprehensive monitoring Procedures Standardization Test and service points For additional information visit
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Maintainability Monitoring Design Monitoring capabilities
Event notification Event reconstruction Event mitigation Determine maintenance frequencies Allow for accurate and efficient communication of events For additional information visit
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Maintainability Monitoring Design
What type of monitoring system do I need? No monitoring Not recommended for any mission critical facility Remote Alarm Status Panel (RASP) No trending or time stamping Gives visual and auditable notification Usually for one device or system Monitoring with dry contacts Limited number of points Limited time stamping Status is either on or off Serial interfaces Comprehensive data Data points with values rather than on/off Flexible and expandable For additional information visit
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Maintainability Procedures Design Emergency Operating Procedures (EOP)
Developed for failure modes Readily available for use – locate at point-of-service Should be developed and tested during the commissioning phase Detailed – switch level Update any changes discovered Method Operating Procedure (MOP) Developed for all operations Have back-out procedures included Use with pilot/copilot approach For additional information visit
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Maintainability Procedures Design Trouble-shooting procedures
Trouble-shooting flow charts Restoration procedures Maintenance procedures Detailed procedures Include measure points for future trending Used and completed during maintenance For additional information visit
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Maintainability Procedures Design Common procedures error traps
In-field decisions Vague instructions Undefined or uncommon terms Burdensome or complex instruction Multiple actions Inconsistent statements or actions Misleading or missing critical information Interfacing with external procedures Lack of ownership Lack of quality assurance review For additional information visit
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Maintainability Standardization Design
Standardization ensures consistency and comparability of knowledge and parts Acronyms Reduce confusion Manufacturers Reduced spare part counts Familiarization with operations and maintenance Layouts Increase ease-of-use Labeling For additional information visit
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Maintainability Test and Service Points Design
Test points provide a means for conveniently and safely determining the operational status of equipment and isolating malfunctions Test points, strategically placed, make signals available to the technician for checking, adjusting or troubleshooting Service points provide means for lubricating, filling, draining, charging and similar functions For additional information visit
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Maintainability Test and Service Points Design
General principles for test and service points Avoiding need for frequent testing and service Standardization Test and service point compatibility Labeling dangerous test and service compatibility Distinctively different connectors and fittings Location of test, service and adjustment points For additional information visit
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Maintainability Equipment
Ordering the right accessories with your equipment can make a big difference when it comes to the maintainability of your equipment When ordering equipment or reviewing design documents, solicit input from your operations and maintenance staff involved It’s much cheaper to order it right the first time, than to upgrade it later in the field For additional information visit
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Maintainability Generators Equipment Water separators for fuel
Radiator water level Isolation valves on water jacket heaters Generator-mounted circuit breakers Battery cables Battery monitoring Fuel-level monitor For additional information visit
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Maintainability Switchgear Equipment Annual infrared thermal scanning
Protective relays Breaker testing PLC Code Hard copy Up-loadable copy Beware of small UPS systems Station batteries Internal cleaning Mimic bus For additional information visit
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Maintainability Automatic Transfer Switches Equipment
Maintenance bypass Order it with a maintenance bypass or design the system to have a manually operated breaker bypass to wrap around the ATS to both sources For additional information visit
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Maintainability UPS Systems Equipment AC filter capacitors
3-5 years DC filter capacitors Transfer circuits Capture the transfer between UPS and bypass Procedures Detail PM procedures Capture before and after readings Calibration/maintenance Capture details Don’t just do a “dust and clean” PM For additional information visit
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Maintainability Batteries Equipment VLA (flooded) VRLA (sealed)
Vented lead acid Quarterly maintenance VRLA (sealed) Valve-regulated lead acid Semi-annual maintenance Float voltage Room temperature Proper maintenance Water as required Battery monitoring Batteries found UPS systems Generators Switchgear PLCs and breakers Telecom equipment For additional information visit
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Maintainability PDU’s Equipment Shutdown alarms EPO circuits
Identify and understand them EPO circuits If used, is it maintainable? Monitoring Main Sub-panels Branch circuit breakers Snap-in vs. bolt-in breakers Use bolt-in breakers only Transformers K-rated For additional information visit
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Maintainability Load Banks Equipment Permanently installed load banks
Generator testing Annual load test Troubleshooting UPS system testing Paralleling gear Set-up and calibration For additional information visit
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Maintainability Water Source Equipment
Alternate water source needs to be capable of supplying water, so that the primary water source can be removed for maintenance Usage metering should be on each water source Types of alternate water source City water Wells Storage tanks For additional information visit
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Maintainability Pumps Equipment Alignment Bearings
Will reduce wear and tear on shafts, bearings and seals Reduce vibration Decrease current draw Bearings Accessible grease fittings Grease as required Infrared thermal scanning Motor problems Alignment issues For additional information visit
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Maintainability CRAH/CRAC Equipment
Temperature and humidity set points Should be set the same Humidifiers Have replacements for bulbs and canisters Filters Use a pre-filter in dirty locations Make sure your dirty filter Differential Pressure (DP) switch is set correctly Alignment Proper alignment will reduce wear on the shaft and bearings Bearings Grease when required Infrared thermal heat scan Refrigerant leaks can activate fire alarms For additional information visit
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Maintainability Staff Dispatched service
Verify your vendors qualifications as a company Request resumes of the people performing work at your site Review their technical aptitude Verify your vendors training programs Onsite operation and maintenance staff Verify that they are managed correctly (in-house or contracted) Verify your staff’s resumes and qualifications Verify training programs For additional information visit
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Maintainability Location
Location and access of valuable resources is important when situations arise 3:00 am Sunday morning is not the time to try to locate fuses required to get your site up and running There are various resources you should consider before the need arises; Equipment Technicians Parts Procedures Manuals Drawings For additional information visit
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Maintainability Training
It is important that your operation and maintenance staff is adequate and regularly trained When an emergency occurs they should have the confidence and experience to complete the task at hand Available training methods; Self paced Classroom Web based Manufacturer’s training On-the-job training Procedure development Training module development Test beds Simulators For additional information visit
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Maintainability Coordination
Work activities – it is important to closely coordinate maintenance activities, to maintain a reliable, efficient and safe working environment During outage windows we have the tendency to plan too many activities at once. Make sure you don’t have too many people working in the same space at once For additional information visit
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Maintainability Coordination
Pay particular attention to planning of your maintenance activities CRAC units – refrigerant leaks will activate the fire systems; make sure you disable the fire system* prior to charging a system Under floor cleaning – can activate the fire alarm system; make sure you deactivate the fire alarm system* before you start to clean under the floor There are other maintenance activities and tests that could mistakenly set-off the fire alarm system *When you disable a fire alarm system, make sure you follow the required procedures by OSHS, NFPA, local authorities, your company and your insurance underwriter. This could include, but is not limited to; additional fire extinguishers, posting fire watch, notification, special procedures, and tagging For additional information visit
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Maintainability Coordination Maintenance activities
If you are planning to transfer your UPS to a generator maintenance bypass to perform maintenance on the UPS, PM the generator first If you are planning to perform an open transfer to the building electrical system, inspect your UPS batteries first Be aware of maintenance activities of building-wide systems that can effect the data center’s Chillers Pumps Electrical service For additional information visit
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Maintainability Maintenance Windows Maintenance windows
Downtime vs. reduced reliability Reduction in reliability Design system to have various maintenance capabilities Move away from critical loads and towards utility “Make sure you plan your maintenance windows carefully between IT and Facilities.” For additional information visit
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Maintainability Maintenance Windows
IT maintenance windows are often loaded with IT tasks and therefore are not completely available for facilities tasks Need to clearly define the true window for facility maintenance Maintenance window is midnight to 6 am IT takes an hour to shut down and an hour to start-up Real outage is limited to 1 am to 5 am For additional information visit
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PREDICTABILITY Predictability is the ability to detect the onset of a failed system before it happens Predictive analysis can be performed by: Reviewing PM data Conducting failure analysis Monitoring systems Trending Advance diagnostics
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Predictability Reviewing PM data
PM should not only be a time to complete preventative maintenance tasks, but also be used as a diagnostic tool Use detailed PM guides and complete them so they can be reviewed later Review your PM task list and add additional items that can be used to perform predictive analysis Record before and after data. This is important to set baselines and conduct trending For additional information visit
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Predictability Conducting failure analysis Event occurs
Complete an incident report Incident report should only contain facts of what happened during the event Stabilize the system Repair the system Take accurate and specific notes Take before and after readings Document For additional information visit
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Predictability Conduct root cause analysis Recommendations
It is not necessary to prevent the first, or root cause from happening It is merely necessary to break the chain of events at any point and thus final failure cannot occur Recommendations Make recommendation to prevent future failures Implement those changes in the failed system and other similar systems When the fault leads to an initial design problem, redesign is necessary Where the fault leads back to equipment failure, develop ways to improve the component wear, quality and life Where the fault leads back to a failure of procedures, it is necessary to either address the procedural weakness or to install a method to protect against the damage caused by the procedural failure For additional information visit
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Predictability Monitoring systems Install a monitoring system
Monitor as much as you can, as long as you do something with the points you select Know what you are monitoring and what effects the points Develop your point list to assist you in predictive analysis Comprehensive monitoring systems will provide you with the best information For additional information visit
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Predictability Trending
Once your monitoring system is installed, select key points to trend Use your trends to develop replacement and PM intervals Items you can trend: Temperatures Pressure Flow rates Usage Time Consumption Load For additional information visit
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Predictability Advance diagnostic techniques Infrared thermal imaging
Oil analysis Coolant analysis Fuel analysis Ultrasonic analysis Power quality testing Battery impedance testing Vibration testing Motor analysis Eddy current analysis Laser alignment Balancing For additional information visit
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Predictability Uses for an IR camera Belt tension Pump alignment
Bearings Electrical connections Turbo chargers Roof leaks Poor insulation Room seals For additional information visit
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Unless you are the Predator you will need to use an IR Camera
Predictability Unless you are the Predator you will need to use an IR Camera Infrared thermography Is the process of developing visual images that represent variations in the IR spectrum Any object that is above absolute zero omits IR energy IR spectrum is between 2.0 and 15 microns IR spectrum falls outside the range of the human eye IR cameras detect the temperature changes that can potentially mean the presence of conditions or stressors that act to decrease the life of the equipment design The IR camera can have many uses in a data center For additional information visit
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Predictability Overloaded Breaker Fuse Connection Loose Cable
Defective Breaker For additional information visit
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Predictability Pump Alignment Water Under Roof Tank Level
Missing Insulation For additional information visit
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Predictability Oil analysis
Oil analysis is used to define three basic machine conditions Condition of the oil can determine lubricate viscosity, acidity , etc. Lubrication system condition: Have physical boundaries been violated? i.e. fuel in oil Machine condition by looking for wear particulars For additional information visit
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Predictability Oil analysis
Oil condition is most easily determined by measuring the viscosity, acid number and base number Additional tests can determine the presence and/or effectiveness of oil additives such as anti-wear addictiveness, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, and anti-foam agents Component wear can be determined by measuring the amount of wear metals such as iron, copper, chromium, aluminum, lead, tin and nickel, and can identify when a particular part is wearing Contamination is determined by measuring water content, specific gravity, and the level of silicon. Change in specific gravity typically indicates presence of other oil or fuel contamination For additional information visit
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Predictability Metals Engines Gears Iron Chrome Aluminum Nickel Copper
Cylinder heads, rings, gears, crankshafts Gears, bearings Chrome Rings, liners, exhaust valves Roller bearings Aluminum Pistons, thrust bearings, turbo bearings, main bearings Pump, thrust washers Nickel Valve plating, steel alloy from crankshaft, camshafts Steel alloy from roller bearings Copper Lube coolers, main and rod bearings, bushings, turbo bearings Brushings, thrust plates Lead Main and rod bearings, bushings, lead solder Bushings, grease contamination Tin Piston flashing, bearing overlays, bronze alloy Bearing cage metal Silver Wrist pin bushings, silver solder from lube coolers Silver solder from lube coolers Titanium Gas turbine bearings. Hubs, turbine blades N/A For additional information visit
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Predictability Coolant analysis
Regular coolant testing and routine maintenance can help you achieve maximum system efficiency and save you time and money in less downtime A cooling system is subject to pitting, corrosion, cavitations, erosion and electrolysis Although coolants are formulated to help prevent these problems from occurring, coolant analysis will identify if they are present and determine if the coolant you're using is providing adequate protection For additional information visit
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Predictability Fuel analysis
Fuel analysis can point to solutions for filter plugging, loss of power or poor injector performance Testing bulk fuel storage tanks can verify compliance with required supplier specifications For additional information visit
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Predictability Ultrasonic inspection
Ultrasonic or ultrasound are sound waves above 20kHz to 100kHz that can not be heard by humans Unlike IR, ultrasound travels a short distance from the source Ultrasonic detectors can be used to detect component wear, fluid leaks, vacuum leaks and steam trap failures Even though such a leak may not be audible to the human ear, ultrasound will still be detectable with the appropriate tool For additional information visit
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Predictability Pressure and vacuum leaks can occur in various locations Compressed air Heat exchangers Boilers Condensers Tanks Pipes Valves Steam traps Ultrasonic inspections can detect these small leaks For additional information visit
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Predictability Mechanical systems suffer from wear through constant operation, and ultrasonic inspection can detect wear in these systems Mechanical applications Bearings Lack of lubrication Pumps Motors Gear/gearboxes Fans Compressors For additional information visit
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Predictability Mechanical devices are not the only devices that omit ultrasonic sound. Electrical equipment will also generate ultrasonic waves if arching, tracking or corona are present Electrical applications Arching, tracking and corona Switchgear Transformer Insulators Circuit breakers For additional information visit
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Predictability Power quality testing
Hardware and software are frequently blamed for all types of problems that may actually originate from within your building’s electrical distribution system; poor power quality In many cases, the number one indication that you have a power quality problem is intermittent, unexplained technology equipment or process failures Responding service technicians may complete a work report with the words “no trouble found" For additional information visit
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Predictability Impedance testing
A substitute to performing a full load test The internal resistance of a cell can be determined by how that cell responds to a momentary load The instantaneous voltage drop and load current applied are used to calculate the resistance Most cell testers can check the impedance with the battery online or offline For additional information visit
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Predictability Vibration analysis
The level and frequency of the vibration of rotating machinery are not distinguishable to the human touch Can be used to discover and diagnose a wide range of problems related to rotating equipment For additional information visit
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Predictability Vibration monitoring can detect;
Unbalance Eccentric rotors Misalignment Mechanical looseness or weakness Types of systems that vibration analysis should be performed on; Generators Cooling tower fans Chillers Pumps CRAH/CRAC Air handlers For additional information visit
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Predictability Tests used to perform motor analysis
Infrared Vibration analysis Surge comparison Motor current signature comparison Motor faults or conditions can be detected Winding short circuits Open coils Improper torque settings As well as other mechanical problems For additional information visit
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Predictability Types of motor analysis
Surge comparison testing identifies insulation deterioration by applying a high frequency transient surge to equal parts of a winding, and by comparing the resulting voltage waveform Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA) provides a non-intrusive method of detecting mechanical and electrical problems For additional information visit
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Predictability Eddy current analysis
Detects surface and subsurface defects Detects variations in alloy, heat treatments, hardness, structure and other physical metallurgical conditions Should be done on chillers each year when the tubes are being cleaned For additional information visit
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Predictability Alignment inspection
Shafts and pumps should have the proper alignment, and is best accomplished by using laser alignment When machines are improperly aligned there are added loads to the bearings and couplings which can result in early and unplanned failures For additional information visit
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Predictability Balance
Reduce wear and tear on bearings, shafts and motors Can be detected with the use of infrared cameras and vibration meters Requires balancing equipment to verify and correct balancing For additional information visit
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SCALABILITY Scalability is a desirable property of a system which indicates its ability to either handle growing amounts of work in a graceful manner, or to be readily enlarged without impact to operations For example, it can refer to the capability of a system to increase total throughput under an increased load when resources (typically hardware) are added
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Scalability What do we want… a flexible, scalable, reliable, highly performing, and highly available computer infrastructure that adapts to a wide range of continuously evolving and challenging demands For additional information visit
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Scalability What does it take? Requirements analysis
Basis of Design (BOD) Design Modular approach Avoid excessive equipment Pay as you go Expansion techniques For additional information visit
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Scalability Good planning and decisions are the foundation of a highly scalable facility At no point in the lifecycle of a mission-critical facility can you have greater impact on scalability then during the design phase Start with a Requirements Analysis (RA) of your data center needs Use the results of your RA to develop a Basis of Design (BOD) The RA and BOD are living documents and you need to update them as changes occur For additional information visit
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Scalability Requirements Analysis Requirements analysis
Growth modeling takes the hardware platform requirements and turns them into space, power and cooling requirements Considers both current and future technology impacts on space, power and cooling Typically done for 3+ year planning This leads to the critical infrastructure’s BOD For additional information visit
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Scalability Basis of Design
Roadmap to a reliable and quality-designed site More often then not, the BOD is lacking in detail Define the requirements of the site Defines the reliability, availability, maintainability, scalability and operational parameters Should be updated regularly For additional information visit
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Scalability Designing with scalability in mind Scalability
Reduced initial cost Reduced time to install equipment Reduces the requirements of purchasing large systems Not an advantage for fast-growing facilities Modular design can be more precisely matched to reflect; Lower capital investment “Pay as you go approach” Budget/capital constraints Controlled growth Unanticipated growth For additional information visit
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Scalability Equipment rooms
When possible, design equipment rooms with space for expansion Design hallways, corridors and doors to allow access for new equipment Conserve wall space for future panels and equipment For additional information visit
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Scalability Switchgear Expansion breakers Expansion cells
Be aware of bussing configuration, use fully-rated bus throughout Use larger frame breakers with adjustable trips Have expansion in your Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Have access to programming codes Have current backup For additional information visit
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Scalability UPS systems Remember
Size parallel cabinet and static switch for full build-out If modules are upgradeable, size feeders to full build-out If equipped with sync control cabinet, size for full build- out Remember When you start to add more then 3 modules in parallel, the redundancy begins to drop For additional information visit
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Scalability Critical distribution Dual main input Spare breakers
Allow for the possibility of a second source to supply load during cutover or expansion activities Could be used to connect temporary equipment for emergencies Load bank testing Spare breakers Allow for additional PDU and expected new load Up-frame the breaker so that larger loads may be added i.e. use 400A frame breakers with 225A rating plugs to power PDUs For additional information visit
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Scalability Power Distribution Units (PDUs)
Typically you run out of circuits before capacity Install junction box below floor to allow for additional power whips. Bottom plates usually do not have enough knock-out Order PDU’s with additional 225A sub-fed breakers to support additional Remote Power Panel (RPP) Consider in-row PDU’s to save space For additional information visit
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Scalability EPO systems
Plan on the fact that the EPO system will have items added and removed from it EPO should be an engineered device and not a cloud stating ”by others” System should be documented Should have an Active, Test and Off mode of operation Installed with isolation relays Centrally located in an EPO control cabinet with room for expansion For additional information visit
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Scalability Chilled water systems When possible, up-size piping
Have additional valves installed under the floor so you can add CRAH units as needed Have valves installed for additional pumps and chillers Have a valve connection that can be easily hooked-up to a temporary chiller For additional information visit
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Scalability Monitoring systems Make sure that the system is expandable
Some systems are not up-gradable, while others require adding another module to the communication trunk Make sure you will not be locked in with an uncooperative manufacturer Have access to the programming function and required passwords For additional information visit
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Scalability Expansion techniques
Implementation of new systems while the facility is in “production” is a business reality The need for hot cutover occurs more often. For safety reasons, hot cutover should be a last resort With proper upfront planning, the need for hot taps and cutovers can be reduced or eliminated For additional information visit
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UPTIME Uptime (Ŷ) is a measure of the time a system has been "up“, running and available. It came into use to describe the opposite of downtime, times when a system was not operational ρ = Reliability ά = Availability ц = Maintainability ∏ = Predictability ∑ = Scalability
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SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY AVAILABILITY
Reliability (ρ) is the ability of a system to perform and maintain its functions in routine circumstances, as well as hostile or unexpected circumstances SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY MAINTAINABILITY AVAILABILITY RELIABILITY
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SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY AVAILABILITY
Availability (ά) is the ability of a system to tolerate failures Refers to the time that a system is available to its users This means the process continues to be served through the failure and that, ideally, the failure is transparent to the user SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY MAINTAINABILITY AVAILABILITY RELIABILITY
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SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY AVAILABILITY
Maintainability (ц) is defined as the probability of performing a successful repair action or preventative maintenance within a given time In other words, maintainability measures the ease and speed with which a system can be restored to operational status SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY MAINTAINABILITY AVAILABILITY RELIABILITY
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SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY AVAILABILITY
Predictability (∏) is the ability to detect the onset of a failed system before it happens Predictive analysis can be performed by: Reviewing PM data Conducting failure analysis Monitoring systems Trending Advance diagnostics SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY MAINTAINABILITY AVAILABILITY RELIABILITY
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SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY AVAILABILITY
Scalability (∑) is a desirable property of a system which indicates its ability to either handle growing amounts of work in a graceful manner, or to be readily enlarged For example, it can refer to the capability of a system to increase total throughput under an increased load when resources (typically hardware) are added SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY MAINTAINABILITY AVAILABILITY RELIABILITY
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UPTIME ρ * ά *ц * ∏ * ∑ = Ŷ
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SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY AVAILABILITY
Be sure to look at more than just the design of your facility… don’t miss a step. Use RAMPS to achieve maximum uptime! SCALABILITY PREDICTABILITY MAINTAINABILITY AVAILABILITY RELIABILITY
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Presented by Joe Soroka
RAMPS© Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Predictability, Scalability Presented by Joe Soroka For additional information visit
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Have you ever wondered how data is transferred from one system to another? Or how large amounts of data are processed quickly and efficiently? The answer lies in an essential process called ETL. ETL, or Extract, Transform, Load, is a powerful data integration technique used in modern businesses. In simpler terms, it’s the process of extracting relevant information from a source system, transforming it into a usable format, and then loading it into a target system. ETL has become increasingly popular as companies have more complex data needs.
If you’re interested in the world of big data, it’s crucial to understand the basics of ETL. In this article, we will cover the fundamentals of How to Build an ETL Process, why it’s important and how it works. You will also learn about some key tools commonly used in the ETL process. So let’s dive in and begin our journey into the world of ETL.
Designing Your ETL Process: Considerations to make before building your process, including scope and scalability
Designing your ETL process, which stands for Extract, Transform, and Load, is a critical step in ensuring that your data is accurate and reliable. Before building your process, it’s important to consider several key factors to ensure scalability and success.
- Clarify the Scope of Your Process
Before you start designing your ETL process, it’s crucial to understand the scope of the data that you’ll be working with. What data sources will you be pulling from? What types of transformations will need to happen before loading the data into its final destination? Understanding the answers to these questions early on can help prevent delays and errors down the line.
- Consider Scalability
As your organization grows and your data needs evolve, your ETL process must adapt accordingly. When designing your process, make sure to consider the potential growth of your data volume and complexity. It’s also essential to take into account how frequently you will need to update or refresh this data.
- Choose a Suitable ETL Tool
Choosing an appropriate ETL tool depends on various factors such as budget available, skillset within team members or availability of 3rd-party libraries. Choosing a good tool can alleviate many potential headaches when it comes time for actual implementation.
- Consider Data Security
When working with sensitive information, such as personal or financial records, it’s essential to prioritize security in your ETL process design. You should carefully consider what measures are necessary to keep information secure during extraction from source systems as well as during processing/transformation phases.
- Plan for Testing and Maintenance
Even with careful planning upfront, issues can arise during implementation that may require modifications or updates over time. You need a testing plan in place- which includes functional tests as well as stress tests- at each stage so that bugs or defects are identified before they become problems.
In conclusion, designing an effective ETL process requires careful consideration about the scope of work involved along with scalability concerns amongst others mentioned above such as available tools etc. Once implemented correctly thereby placing emphasis on expected quality requirements including securing any sensitive information present throughout the entire pipeline/processes then proper testing plus maintenance plan ensures operations remain smooth in future.
Building Your ETL Process: Tips for creating an efficient and effective process
ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) is a process of extracting data from various sources, transforming it into a desired format, and loading it to a destination database. Efficient and effective ETL processes are essential to ensure accurate and timely data processing for an organization. In this article, we will discuss some tips for building an efficient and effective ETL process by Aimprosoft:
- Understand Your Data Sources
Before starting an ETL process, it is important to have a clear understanding of the data sources that you will be working with. The nature of the data such as its structure (relational or non-relational), volume, velocity and variety should be well understood to develop the appropriate approach. | https://techbuzzireland.com/2023/03/09/what-is-the-etl-extract-transform-load-process/ |
Sonication and Microwave Processing of Material Feedstock (SIMPLIFY) is an innovation action in which leading European industries and university groups in process intensification, ultrasound, microwave, multiphase processes, polymerization and crystallization team up to address the domain of electrification of chemical industry. In four years, a consortium of 11 European organizations, led by KU Leuven, will focus on intensified processes, where alternative energy sources enable flexible continuous technologies to achieve localized ultrasound and microwave actuation of multiphase, flow reactors powered by electricity from renewable sources for the purpose of high-value product synthesis.
The LIBERATE project aims at designing of an electrochemical plant to demonstrate the commercial opportunities of converting low cost lignin feedstock in high value bio sustainable chemicals such as vanillin, antioxidants or polyamide.
The DESTINY project aims to realize a functional, green and energy saving, scalable and replicable solution, employing microwave energy for continuous material processing in energy intensive industries. The target is to develop and demonstrate a new concept of firing for granular feedstock to realize material transformation using full microwave heating as alternative energy source and complement to the existing conventional production. The DESTINY system is conceived as cellular kilns in a mobile modular plant with significant advantages in terms of resource and energy efficiency, flexibility, replicability, scalability and a reduced environmental footprint. | https://performproject.eu/related-initiatives |
ocation selection - be it for a corporate headquarters, a manufacturing facility, a lab or a shared services center, is an important decision that must weigh numerous factors, meet business requirements and satisfy the long-term objectives of the company. Selecting a data center location is no different and may actually be more complex than traditional site location in that the decision by a company to build its own data center vs. leveraging that of a third-party provider, or perhaps the Cloud, must also be considered.
While data center site selection must be tailored to the company's strategies and requirements, there are several locational considerations that are universally fundamental to choosing an appropriate site: environmental conditions, power sources and reliability, wide area network (WAN) capabilities, socioeconomic statuses, labor pools, real estate/land availability, costs, infrastructure and proximity to resources.
When examining a location's WAN capabilities, Intel Corporation suggests that there are three components that should be considered: capacity, reliability and redundancy.
One of the most critical aspects of selecting an optimal site is ensuring a detailed understanding of the business initiatives driving the location need and decision. These factors must be defined, documented and communicated so that the location criteria (e.g., cost, access, labor quality [if required], availability) are given proper weight in the decision-making process and the success of the project can be measured.
Step by Step
For data centers, it is essential to recognize the environmental factors associated with the locations under consideration. First and foremost, a region's climate is strongly linked to the effectiveness of the data center cooling process. By avoiding warm climate locations, a firm will drive down sustaining costs, thereby maximizing efficiency and realizing economies of scale. Second, a region's historical propensity toward natural disasters should be considered. While it may seem obvious to steer clear from regions that experience the catastrophic effects from floods, hurricanes, tornados and earthquakes, it is just as important to consider more minor environmental conditions, such as ice, high winds, or bad air quality. By minimizing facility exposure to harmful environmental elements, the firm will mitigate any systemic risk and potentially realize cost savings stemming from lower insurance costs.
A site's power source - specifically the accessibility of the surrounding electrical power infrastructure - is an important consideration. Preferably, the data center should be powered by two mature utility providers, as this structure supports long-term competitive pricing of power, as well as a readily available alternative for the firm should one provider's service begin to falter. Moreover, this structure enables redundancy and reduces risk, as the distribution of power is more reliable. Irrespective of the provider network, locating a data center proximate to the source of power generation helps support lower electrical costs, because power is easier to access from the grid.
The effectiveness of a data center is measured by its ability to communicate. Therefore, the network to a potential site is an important aspect of the selection process, because the availability and price of fiber infrastructure and communications will impact a data center's performance. When examining a location's WAN capabilities, Intel Corporation suggests that there are three components that should be considered: capacity, reliability and redundancy.
A capacity analysis measures how much fiber is already in place and ready for use, and assessing the current and future needs of the data center. Similar to the ideal competitive structure for a data center's power source, having multiple WAN service providers that use separate points of entry is also preferred. Last, the firm should assess the diversity level of the communications paths being used by the providers, thereby gauging the reliability of the network in the midst of a localized outage. Ultimately, these three aspects should be evaluated with the sole goal of minimizing costs and network latency between the data center and its respective business units.
It is also important to consider a location's resource availability from a labor perspective, as the operational maintenance of a data center requires specific technical skills. By choosing locations that are proximate to an IT industry hub and/or near a university known for its IT program, the firm will increase its chances of recruiting top talent. The cost of IT resources, as well as historical and projected wage inflation, should also be considered.
Locations should be analyzed on their construction and land acquisition environment as well as their proximity to resources. Fundamentally, it is important to select a parcel of land that is large enough to accommodate the current and future activities of the data center, while still being within proximity to modern infrastructure and available resources. The ideal location will strike a balance between the two requirements.
The trend towards the greening of data centers prompts a greater focus on choosing sites that are closer to bodies of water, as the proximity to hydroelectric power allows data centers to operate on alternative, renewable resources.
State-Specific Data Center Incentives
Another important criterion not to be overlooked is incentives that exist specifically for data centers. Approximately 15 states have enacted specific data center incentives to entice companies to build or expand in their state (see matrix chart).
Data center incentives have traditionally been available to the owner of the data center, the party that actually builds a data center from the ground up and makes a large initial investment in both real and personal property. As co-location becomes a more popular option for companies, some states have recently gone through the process of amending their programs to allow not only the data center owners to be eligible for the incentives, but also the tenants that are co-locating in the space.
Typically, the construction of a data center requires a large investment in real and personal property and few to no permanent jobs. However, there are at times job creation requirements to be able to qualify for such incentives programs. Such criteria should be carefully considered. Not meeting such commitments could result in clawbacks/penalties.
Expanding or constructing a data center may be the right time to incorporate green initiatives. A "greener" data center not only has a positive environmental impact, but may offer financial returns as well. A large number of utility companies offer rebates to data centers using best practices and working to improve upon energy efficiencies.
In addition to utility rebates, many companies have introduced the use of fuel cells as a building-level power source. Fuel cells convert energy from a fuel (usually hydrogen) into electricity. The result is a reliable energy source with low emissions. While advances in technology are lowering costs, fuel cells remain expensive. However, several states, as well as the federal government, offer credits or incentives.
Outsource or Build
When considering data center needs of a company, there may be some thought given to outsourcing the data center by way of co-location or using "the Cloud" versus building a new facility. Co-location outsources the peripheral data center infrastructure (cooling, power distribution and backup, building space, network bandwidth, site security, etc.). The Cloud is a complete outsource of all physical and virtual IT resources.
On its face, it seems that outsourcing would be much cheaper and less maintenance, and in some cases, that may be true. However, upon taking a closer look at costs, risk, and incentives that may be available to build a data center, it may not be such an obvious answer. A detailed analysis of these components along with federal and state tax impacts must be conducted to reach a final decision.
The risk of non-compliance that may come with outsourcing may be greater than the cost of building a data center.
No doubt, building and maintaining an in-house data center requires significant up-front costs including, but not limited to, high capital costs, full-time staff dedicated to IT, backup generators, cooling infrastructure, staff to support the equipment, etc. Having an "owned" data center does have its upside though: complete control over operating environment and all IT resources, convenient/conducive location, low risk of losing the lease, and the ability to leverage and share existing space.
Co-location trades some or all of the benefits of in-house infrastructure, but it offers its own benefits. First, there are no capital costs for facilities. There is a shorter time to market - with an agreement in place with a co-location provider, a business can be up and running in a few days versus the months it would take to build a data center. The company would still retain ownership (and control) of IT equipment, and have the opportunity to leverage provider experience to reduce errors during IT deployment. Additionally, the company would also have stronger security due to economies of scale the provider can obtain. Last, co-location allows for increased mobility - if your business is moving or relocating, there is the flexibility to do so without having to consider data center relocation.
The downsides to co-locating include sharing facilities, which may lead to risks when it comes to data security. Costs can vary from month to month depending on usage of resources (like network bandwidth). Location of the facility could be anywhere, so deployment of resources to fix IT equipment can prove to be costly. Great effort should be expended to ensure that a good service level agreement (SLA) is negotiated and in place to avoid service issues and interruption. When it comes time to change service providers for whatever reason, it may not be easy to move IT equipment from one provider to another.
The Cloud retains some of the characteristics of co-locating when it comes to pros and cons, except that with the Cloud, all of the IT resources in addition to the facility are under the provider's control, including the IT equipment (unlike co-locating). Pros in this model include not having to bear any direct capital cost. Also, cost amortization across customers helps keep costs low. If more or less scalability is required at some point, it can simply be ordered; there are no equipment consideration to be undertaken. Because there have been no major investments made in equipment or resources, switching or using multiple providers is an easy option to consider.
In terms of cons, there is lack of control of the infrastructure and resources when using the Cloud. Also, since the Cloud is relatively new, there are still questions as to who owns the data once it is uploaded. In that respect, security becomes a concern. As mentioned above, outsourcing may seem like an inexpensive option, but network costs can quickly add up and outweigh any perceived initial savings. Last, because it is the "Cloud," the provider is essentially ethereal, and therefore not able to provide "hands on service."
When considering whether to build or outsource, a major risk needs to be considered that could outweigh all financial costs: the risk of non-compliance. Being compliant should be thought of from a service and regulatory perspective. If outsourcing, consider whether the SLA with the provider matches the SLA that is in place with customers. If the company's SLA states 99 percent availability and the provider can only provide 95 percent availability, then the company will be running a risk of not complying with the agreement that it has with its customers.
There are providers that say they are operating at 95 percent availability, but in reality they are between 50 percent and 60 percent availability, again putting the company at risk at high volume times. Being able to measure the provider's service levels is, as a key performance indicator, a good first step in mitigating service interruptions or failures.
Security and regulatory compliance are imperative. A breach in security may cause a business or trade secrets to be compromised and can be detrimental in itself. Moreover, similar to a security breach, a regulatory breach can cost reputation, customers, careers and in some cases, the business as a whole. When outsourcing, it is important that the provider is able to meet all of the security and regulatory requirements for which the company must be compliant. For these two reasons, the overall cost of building a data center may pale in comparison to the risk of being non-compliant.
In looking at the decision from strictly a financial point of view, outsourcing seems to be an inexpensive option compared to building a facility. The key costs chart outlines the key costs of outsourcing versus building a data center. Five of the 10 major costs are not applicable for outsourcing a facility, thus indicating a huge overall savings to outsource. However, if incentives and credits are considered, at least five items can be partially or fully offset depending on where the data center is located - size, amount of capital expenditure (including operational expenditure), type of power, and if there are any employees associated with the build. Cost/benefit analyses often do not layer in credits and incentives and therefore skew the actual cost of the project at hand. These items are large considerations and should be a part of the cost evaluation.
Understanding the differences between building or outsourcing data center operations and being able to layer on top site selection considerations and available incentives is important when companies are making data center decisions. Evaluating each one of these items separately and then as a whole can considerably change the initial perception of a data center project. What may seem obvious at the outset with regard to cost, risk, security, etc., may be drastically different upon considering the full range of factors. | https://siteselection.com/issues/2014/jul/data-centers.cfm |
Project description:
This PhD project aims to develop new a generation of redox flow batteries based on the development of new organic redox active materials.
Redox-Flow Batteries (RFBs) have emerged as relevant candidates to address sustainable energy generation. Their unique capability to decouple power and energy has driven the attention of companies and the scientific community based on modular design and operation, excellent scalability, moderate maintenance costs and long-life cycling. However, the scarcity of both lithium and vanadium has promoted the search for alternative chemistries. Aqueous organic redox-flow batteries (AORFBs) stand as the most promising solution to meet global energy demand based on the use of earth-abundant elements as C, H, N and O. Besides, organic molecules, based on their high tunability, could overcome technical hurdles of the state-of-the-art (VRFBs). Thus, molecular engineering will allow defining both physico-chemical and electrochemical properties of electrolytes to enable robust, long-life cycling, cost efficient and sustainable batteries.
This multidisciplinary project, involving experimental physical chemistry and organic synthetic chemistry, aims at broadening the scope of suitable organic compounds to overcome limitations of AORFBs. Thus, an approach based on bioinspired materials aiming at non-toxic, environmentally friendly electrolytes is proposed. First, suitable chemistries will be identified based on redox-processes occurring in nature, i.e. coenzymes, vitamins, etc. Then, design and synthesis of new active materials will be carried out based on identified core structures to achieve solubility and stability whilst selectively defining the redox potential. Finally, physico-chemical and electrochemical evaluation of developed materials will be performed prior to implementation of the materials in a redox flow battery as electrolyte. Operando spectroscopic techniques and computational studies will be considered to support the study of degradation mechanisms and structure modifications.
The selected candidate will be part of a team of researchers in close collaboration with other institutions and secondment of 3 months in another institution is foreseen.
Techniques to be used:
- Standard operating procedures for organic synthesis
- Structural and physico-chemical characterization: NMR, FTIR-Raman, UV-Vis, Mass-spectroscopy, chromatography, ICP, X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
- Electrochemical characterization: diffusion and kinetics evaluation (CV, RDE), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)
Requirements
- Holding a Master’s degree with academic background in synthetic chemistry, electrochemistry or materials science.
- A good team player who can collaborate with other scientists.
- Highly motivated person and interested in research. | https://cicenergigune.com/en/employment-opportunities/67181990 |
Learning Outcomes In this chapter, you will learn how to:
Identify the skills, functions, and job roles needed for a successful web development project Describe the standard System Development Life Cycle Apply the System Development Life Cycle to web development projects Describe other common system development methodologies Describe web hosting alternatives Evaluate web hosting alternatives
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Skills and Functions Needed for a Successful Large-Scale Project
Project Manager Information Architect Marketing Representative Copy Writer & Editor Content Manager Graphic Designer Database Administrator Network Administrator Web Developer
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Skills and Functions Needed for a Successful Small Project
The skills and functions are essentially the same as on a large project Each person may wear many “hats” and juggle their job roles Example: The web developer may also be the graphic designer. Some job roles may be outsourced Most Common: An external web site provider is used so there is less (if any) need for a Network Administrator.
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Project Staffing Criteria
Finding the right people to work on a project is crucial Consider: work experience Portfolio formal education industry certifications Alternative: Outsource all or portions of the project to a web design/development firm
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The Development Process
Life cycle
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Web Development: Conceptualization
Determine the intended audience Determine the goals or mission of the web site Short-term goals Long-term goals Develop measurable objectives such as: Number of visitors Percent of product sales Main Job Roles Involved: Client, Project Manager, Information Architect, Marketing Representative, Senior Web Developer
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Web Development: Analysis
Determine the following: information topics functionality requirements (high-level) Determine “what” a site will do – not “how” it will do it environmental requirements Content requirements If a redesign, compare the old approach with the new approach Review competitor’s sites Estimate costs Cost/Benefit analysis
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Web Development: Analysis
Main Job Roles Involved: Client, Project Manager Information Architect or other Analyst Marketing Representative Senior Web Developer Network Administrator Database Administrator Content Manager
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Web Development: Design
Determine the site organization Prototype the design Determine a page layout design Document each page Main Job Roles Involved: Information Architect or other Analyst, Graphic Designer, Senior Web Developer, Content Manager, Client, Project Manager, Marketing Representative Main Navigation Area
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Web Development: Production
Choose a web authoring tool Organize your site files Develop and individually test components Add content Main Job Roles Involved: Project Manager, Senior Web Developer, Web Developer, Graphic Designer, Database Administrator, Content Manager
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Web Development: Testing
Test on different web browsers and browser versions Test with different screen resolutions Test using different bandwidths Test from another location Test, Test, Test Main Job Roles Involved: Project Manager, Web Developer, Tester (sometimes web developer, sometimes Quality Assurance person), Client, Content Manager
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Web Development: Types of Testing
Automated Testing Tools and Validation Software packages exist that will test a web site in an automated manner W3C offers XHTML and CSS validation tests Usability Testing Testing how actual web page visitors use a web site Can be done at almost any stage of development Early –- use paper and sketches of pages Design – use prototype Production & Testing – use actual pages
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Web Development: Approval & Launch
User or Client Testing Client will test site before giving official approval for site launch Approval & Launch Obtain sign-off form or from client Upload files to web server Create backup copies of files MAKE SURE YOU TEST THE WEB SITE AGAIN!
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Web Development: Maintenance
Maintenance – the never-ending task… Enhancements to site Fixes to site New areas added to site A new opportunity or issue is identified and another loop through the development process begins.
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Web Development: Evaluation
Re-visit the goals, objectives, and mission of the web site Determine how closely they are being met Develop a plan to better meet the goals, objectives and mission
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Checkpoint 10.1 Describe the role of the project manager.
Explain why so many different roles are needed on a large-scale web project. List three different techniques used to test a web site. Describe each technique in one or two sentences.
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Web Hosting Some organizations administer a web server in house and host their own web site. Many companies use a web host provider. A good web hosting service will provide a robust, reliable home for your web site. A poor web hosting service will be the source of problems and complaints. Do not use free web hosting for a commercial web site.
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Types of Web Hosting(1) Hosting Needs: Small to Medium Web Site
Virtual Hosting The web host provider's server is divided into a number of virtual domains and multiple web sites are set up on the same computer. Consider: Future growth and scalability of web host Operating System Types of server-side processing supported Bandwidth of Internet connection Both local and national web host providers Guaranteed uptime – service level agreement (SLA) Technical support
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Types of Web Hosting(2) Hosting Needs: Large to Enterprise Web Site
Dedicated Web Server Co-located Web Server Consider: National web host providers Guaranteed uptime – service level agreement (SLA) Bandwidth of Internet connection Technical Support
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Dedicated Web Server Dedicated Web Server
The exclusive use of a rented computer and connection to the Internet that is housed in the Web hosting company's premises. The server can usually be configured and operated remotely from the client company or you can pay the web host provider to administer it for you.
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Co-Located Web Server Co-Located Web Server
A computer that your organization has purchased and configured. Your organization effectively rents space at the web host provider's location. Your server is kept and connected to the Internet at their location. Your organization administers this computer.
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Choosing a Virtual Host
See the Web Host Checklist (Table 10.1) Operating System Web Server Software Bandwidth Technical Support Service Agreement Disk Space Uploading Files Canned Scripts Scripting Support Database Support E-Commerce Packages Scalability Backups Site Statistics Domain Name Price
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Checkpoint 10.2 Describe the type of web host that would meet the needs of a small company for their initial web presence. Describe the difference between a dedicated web server and a co-located web server. Explain why price is not the most important consideration when choosing a web host.
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Summary This chapter introduced you to the system development life cycle and its application to web development projects. The job roles related to web site development and issues related to web hosting were also discussed.
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AIRPORT TROLLEY MANAGEMENT BY BLE
What can we analyse?
1. The trolleys will be permanently under control by means of BLE (BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY) active beacons. It allows you to know how many people are in each area of the airport, so you can anticipate needs in each area of the airport.
2. How many trolleys are in the queue for the counter as a whole or one at a time.
3. The location of trolleys in terminals and car parks.
Main functions
Dynamic management: Real-time trolley monitoring data
Identity, sending and receiving: Data on entry and exit of airport trolleys
Statistics and analysis: Trolley data stored in the cloud and statistics based on the preferences and requirements of each airport.
Breakdowns and maintenance: Airport trolley maintenance data and condition records.
Scalability: Very few antennas are needed. Installation is very simple and allows you to quickly expand new areas of the airport where you want to control trolleys, both baggage and duty free. | https://carttec.com/en/cartteclab/airport/ble-bluetooth-low-energy/ |
Network planning consists of the following steps:
1. Identifying the applications that you intend to use: Computer networking may be required diverse environments such as Enterprise Resource Management (ERM), Internet telephony, Instant Messaging (IM), eMail and others.These in turn are used for estimating the software, hardware, and traffic requirements.
2. Traffic Requirements: Computing traffic requirements include several factors. A few point to consider include-
Identification and documentation of major traffic sources.
Categorization of traffic as local, distributed, client/server, peer-to-peer, terminal/host or server/server.
Estimation of bandwidth requirements for each application.
Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for each application
Reliability requirements.
3. Scalability Requirements: Scalability refers to the extent of network growth that should be supported.Provision must be made to add users,applications, additional sites,& external network connections.
4. Geographical considerations: Consider the LAN and WAN links that may be required.Offices that are separated by large distance can be linked together by a WAN(Wide Area Network). Similarly, building complexes with a compound can be linked by a LAN(Local Area Network) link. Typically, the LAN links are high band width (100Mbps) and WAN links are of lower bandwidth (64 Kbps - 2Mbps). The LANs fall within the premises of a Company whereas WANs are typically leased and maintained by the Telecom. Hence, WANs are costly and need to be planned and designed with utmost care to minimize resource consumption.
5. Availability: The availability of a Network need to be given careful consideration while designing a network.It is the amount of time a network is available to users over a period of time and is often a critical design parameter. Availability has direct relation with amount of redundancy required.The factor considered while computing availability is the business loss to the Company due to unavailability of the network for a given amount of time.A right balance needs to be arrived at such that profitability is maintained.
6. Security and Accessibility: A security plan needs to be devised that meets the required security specifications. You must specify:
a list of network services that will be provided such as FTP, Web, e-mail, etc.
Who will be administering the security of these services
How the people be trained on security policies and procedures
Recovery plan, in case a security breach does take place.
7. Cost considerations: For LANs, the tendency is to minimize the equipment cost. That is minimizing the cable cost, minimizing the per port cost, and the labour cost. For WANs the primary goal is to maximize the usage of the bandwidth. This is because, the recurring costs for bandwidth are normally much higher than the equipment or labour cost. Therefore more weightage is given to reliable equipment, and efficient utilization of bandwidth. Some factors that influence cost are:
Improve efficiency on WAN circuits by using features such as compression, Voice Activity Detection etc.
Use technologies such as ATM that dynamically allocate WAN bandwidth.
Integrate both voice and data circuits
Optimize or eliminate under utilized circuits. | https://www.anandsoft.com/networking/network-planning-design.html |
Cloud computing refers to the newly emerging practice of allowing users to access software applications that are stored in a central location, usually by a vendor, rather than buying licenses and installing the software on their own machines. They would pay for the use of the software, as well as for storing any data in that central location. The important functionalities most people (as a user), usually seek are:
- High availability: All time access to information on a device with no or less configuration limitation
- Accurate information: Access to latest information updated dynamically
- Management issues: Minimum dealing with maintenance of supporting software/hardware
It is Cloud Computing that always provides a real time information to any user (irrespective to location) with minimal access specific conditions, be it hardware or software. Data storage is a major component of cloud computing, both for individual users and companies. Microsoft's Windows 7 offers a cloud storage option called SkyDrive. It also offers the ability to synchronize data - between computers, or between computers and other devices such as mobile phones.
Most users are familiar with some form of cloud computing. Web-based email services like Yahoo and GMail are a form of cloud computing, because the application and data are not stored on the user's local machine but at central locations. Paying for using computer applications that are stored in the cloud is a concept that is not so familiar for the majority of users.
Background
Writing on the web site CloudTweaks.com, author Sourya (sic) notes that 'the general idea behind the technology dates back to the 1960s, when John McCarthy wrote that “computation may someday be organized as a public utility”.' McCarthy is a professor emeritus at Stanford University, and is also credited with coining the term 'artificial intelligence.'
Sourya continues: The term “cloud computing” was most probably derived from the diagrams of clouds used to represent the Internet in textbooks...The first time the term was used in its current context was in a 1997 lecture by Ramnath Chellappa where he defined it as a new “computing paradigm where the boundaries of computing will be determined by economic rationale rather than technical limits alone.”
History
Sourya again: One of the first movers in cloud computing was Salesforce.com, which in 1999 introduced the concept of delivering enterprise applications via a simple website. Amazon was next on the bandwagon, launching Amazon Web Service in 2002. Then came Google Docs in 2006 which really brought cloud computing to the forefront of public consciousness. 2006 also saw the introduction of Amazon’s Elastic Compute cloud (EC2) as a commercial web service that allowed small companies and individuals to rent computers on which to run their own computer applications.
This was soon followed by an industry-wide collaboration in 2007 between Google, IBM and a number of universities across the United States. Next came Eucalyptus in 2008, the first open source AWS API compatible platform for deploying private clouds, followed by OpenNebula, the first open source software for deploying private and hybrid clouds.
2009 saw Microsoft’s entry into cloud computing with the launch of Windows Azure in November.
The sequential development in IT can be viewed as shown below:
Objectives
Cloud computing offers some obvious advantages - and concerns - for both businesses and individuals. Prominent among these is economy and flexibility. In 'The New Age of Cloud Computing and GIS' Victoria Kouyoumjian writes that: 'The pay-as-you-go pricing model is often quite flexible when renting cloud applications or infrastructure, allowing prospective cloud clients to "try before they buy," while existing cloud consumers can pay in advance to take advantage of volume discounts and satisfy budget forecasting requirements. Renting assets shifts the duty of maintaining on-premises data centers to the cloud vendor, alleviating the customer's responsibility for software and hardware maintenance, ongoing operation, and support.'
GIS on Cloud Computing
|User||Component||Example|
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||SaaS - Software as a Service||
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|PaaS - Platform as a Service||
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|IaaS - Infrastructure as a Service|| Providers:|
Risk
Security and privacy are the two concerns that come up immediately when cloud computing is discussed. There have been well-publicized breaches, including at Salesforce.com and Google. In addition to beefing up security measures, businesses may also consider the possibility of setting up private cloud computing, or a hybrid model that has both private and public components. As valid for each technology, a user should be aware of areas of concern and their logical answers before switching over to Cloud Computing:
- Security and Privacy:
- How to set security on confidential data, shared and accessed by multiple users, when source of information is not known
- Transparency as far as security is concerned – “Hybrid” cloud is possible
- How to set security on confidential data, shared and accessed by multiple users, when source of information is not known
- Financial Benefits:
- Savings compared with current and future business requirements and cost
- Savings compared with current and future business requirements and cost
- Scalability:
- Cost and other technical issues to use additional resources
References
- ↑ Sourya, A History of Cloud Computing, 2011, www.cloudtweaks.com.
- ↑ GIS and Age of Cloud Computing
- ↑ Basics of Cloud Computing
- ↑ About SaaS Paas Iaas
- ↑ GIS in the Cloud
- ↑ esri-cloud computing
Notes
There needs to be a separate topic on cloud computing and GIS. | http://www.wiki.gis.com/wiki/index.php/Cloud_Computing |
The key in selecting the most efficient HVAC system when using an integrated project delivery (IPD) approach is taking full advantage of all team members’ expertise early in the project to evaluate first cost, energy cost and operating and maintenance (O&M) costs.
Evaluating each of these costs should include areas not normally considered in selecting system types. Facilities professionals should start with a full IPD team “blue sky” session involving the owner, engineer, architect and construction manager early in the project and put all possible system types on a board.
There are no bad or wrong ideas; team members should allow the process to vet them out. For example, a site may be limited for geothermal. In that case, the team should consider a combination of system types, such as geothermal and DX dedicated outdoor systems to address the limitations. All team members should be allowed to provide pros and cons of each system. The session should finish with a list of system types for further evaluation.
The engineer and architect then develop pricing narratives for each system, including factors that affect the complete cost picture: mechanical room square footage cost, building floor-to-floor-heights, water usage, electrical cost for central vs. distributed HVAC system, full-time equivalent (FTE) staff cost required for each system, and preventive maintenance cost. The engineer provides an energy model analysis of each system. The construction manager enlists subcontractors to provide more detailed pricing input, and the construction manager utilizes a database to provide detailed O&M cost. The owner provides input on FTE staffing costs for any staffing requirements that are different for each system.
After all the cost data are in place, the team should conduct a life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) based on the hospital’s specified time frame. Each system is ranked according to LCCA, and the entire IPD team provides input for the hospital to make the final decision on system selection. | https://www.hfmmagazine.com/articles/3379-selecting-hvac-systems-in-an-ipd-environment |
Students use their school and/or community as the context for learning about the Commons. They explore what defines a Commons, categorize spaces and things as examples, and walk their community to discover its visible and hidden Commons. Finally, students select one Commons to focus on, and create a “State of the Commons” report as a way of increasing school and/or community awareness about the Commons.
In this lesson, students explore the ways in which humans use hydropower to fuel society. First, they learn how we harness hydropower to generate electricity, and then they build a hydropaddle to simulate a turbine. Next, they examine the pros and cons of hydropower by choosing an issue, conducting an investigative analysis to discover a story of real-life impact, and sharing that story with the class. Students also reflect upon why facts alone are often not enough to communicate the importance of sustainability issues; asking questions and doing research can often lead to surprising changes in perspective and new understandings.
In this lesson, students learn about alternatives to fossil-fuel energy resources. They take on a challenge from the community’s “mayor” to serve on an Energy Task Force and research whether the most common alternative energy resources are appropriate for their community. Working in groups, they research five alternative energy sources and present their findings to the mayor. Then the groups evaluate the experience and the implications that each of these technologies has for both their local community and the larger global community.
In this lesson, students consider the various ways we illuminate our world. They conduct a scientific experiment to determine how much thermal energy various types of lightbulbs emit and consider the pros and cons of each light source. When they see that some types of bulbs are far more energy efficient than others, they consider the environmental implications of those more efficient options—hazardous waste. As students review the cost, energy use, lifespan, and disposal requirements of different kinds of bulbs, they learn that making thoughtful, considered choices about the products we use is an important aspect of sustainable intelligence.
In this lesson, students learn that framing our energy habits and choices in terms of a “carbon footprint” can help us understand our individual impact on the global environment. They conduct a personal eco-audit to investigate how their own energy usage results in carbon being released into the atmosphere. After tracking their habits for one 24-hour period, students calculate their personal carbon footprint and then compare the results to averages for other countries and communities. As students frame their choices in a global context and come to understand the importance of making sustainable choices for a healthier future, they also look for ways to support each other and create exciting and innovative changes for the future.
In the Great Energy Debate, student teams learn about all of the energy sources, then are assigned to represent one specific energy source. Working cooperatively, students develop arguments on the merits of their source over the others.
By now students have collected a drawing or photograph of the meter(s) they will be tracking. Getting an initial reading correct sets students up for being able to collect accurate and meaningful data. But, few of us are trained meter readers. Therefore, this mission provides students an interactive, and non-intimidating, way to learn make a first accurate reading of their unique meter. Students will be successful thanks to lots of examples, by working together with their peers, and even the ability to get their reading verified by an expert. | https://learninglab.usgbc.org/grade-levels/7 |
Although a variety of options for traction voltage, both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) do exist, budgetary economic analysis shows that 25 kV AC will be the most cost effective standard system for the Peninsula Corridor as described below. Table E-2 presents cost comparisons for standard electrification systems for a typical 50 mile double track corridor.
Compared to the DC schemes, the 25-kV system will have a lower number of electric traction power supply substations along the route with a minimum number of connections to the utility network, the smallest overhead contact system conductor sizes and the use of well-proven standard electrical equipment. A 25-kV AC system will have the lowest initial costs and annual maintenance costs and will not cause electrolytic corrosion of underground utilities (e.g. pipes and steel pilings, etc). However, this system may cause electromagnetic interference in trackside signaling and communications circuits, and adjacent telephone circuits, which will require mitigation.In the case of this commuter corridor, with many existing fibre optic communication circuits, and a signalling system due for renewal anyway, the costs of mitigation are expected to be small compared to the overall cost of electrification.
With the level of service proposed for CalTrain, 25-kV substations would be typically spaced 15 to 30 miles apart depending upon the type of 25-kV system selected. This spacing allows for one substation to be out of set-vice between two operating substations with no impact on train operations. 'Me incoming primary power is readily obtained by taking supply from electric utilities at 34, 69 or I 15 kV 3 phase and by means of transformers producing 25-kV single phase in CalTrain's own substations, These substations would have all the various protection isolation and monitoring features typical in traction power supply substations. PG & E has indicated that a cursory review of the proposed traction power system discloses that power could probably be supplied to the proposed substations without major alteration to their existing facilities, except to construct an approximately one mile long transmission line as a feeder near Redwood City.
F. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
Table E-3 presents a summary of environmental changes related to conversion of CalTrain from a diesel powered commute service to an electrified service.
One of the most significant impacts resulting from electrification of CalTrain would be the overall improvement in regional air quality, by eliminating the fumes and smoke from diesel locomotives (particularly nitrogen oxides - NOx) and attracting patrons to the service, thereby decreasing auto trips. The most substantial improvement would be the I % decrease in regional NOx. Although seemingly small, this decrease is a significant air quality improvement because it results from the implementation of a single project. Air quality policies often stress the usefulness of many "one percent solutions' to attain air quality and replacing diesel locomotives with electrified rolling stock on CalTrain can effect just such an improvement. Locally, however, pollutant emissions around CalTrain stations would increase minimally as a result of more auto trips to station parking lots. Conversely, while autos will be forced to wait at grade crossings more often with the increase in the amount of trains operating, thus creating pollutant "hot spots', electrified trains with their faster acceleration will reduce the amount of time motorists are forced to wait while crossing gates are down compared to diesel powered trains.
Another significant impact is the reduction in noise from locomotives. The sound level of a diesel locomotive averages 87 dBA 100 feet from the locomotive versus 69 dBA for an electric locomotive. There will be some noise from substations - 40-50 dBA at 100 feet, but this can be mitigated by sound walls, or by placement of the substations in areas where there are no sensitive receptors.
An improvement in energy usage would result from electrifying CalTrain. Diesel locomotives are dependent entirely on fossil fuels. 'The operation of an electrified CalTrain will result in the conservation of between 550 and 1,318 million BTU of energy per day from #2 diesel oil. The significance of this savings lies in the fact that only a small amount of #2 diesel fuel can be refined from any given barrel of crude oil, a nonrenewable source, and ultimately limited in supply. In contrast, electricity for CalTrain can be obtained from hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal, and nuclear fission sources as will as fossil fuels, such as coal or heavier petroleum fuels. In addition, generation of electricity in a central location and distributed to users is considered a more efficient utilization of energy.
Electrification may have modest negative impacts also. The catenary system associated with an 25-kV electrification system may be perceived as resulting in visual clutter, depending on the complexity of the network of wiring needed for the overhead catenary system, and the obtrusiveness of the catenary support poles and the substations. It is difficult to mitigate for the visual effects created by these wires. One possibility is to place trees and other vegetation at the edge of the right-of-way to screen the catenary wires from view, but only if this could be accomplished without interfering with train operations and maintenance.
The use of aesthetically pleasing support poles could help minimize their visual obtrusiveness. Although the prime concern in designing poles is making them strong enough to support the catenary wiring, a variety of different types of poles have been used in rail systems.
The traction power substation would typically be of a size approximately 60 feet by 80 feet to 100 by 150 feet depending on the supply voltage from the utility and be surrounded by a wall or fence 9 feet high. Some substation hardware can be placed into steel or brick buildings to conceal it. Substations can be completely hidden behind walls and trees, if so required.
25-kV AC electrical systems generate electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of all equipment carrying an electric current. Electromagnetic fields create electrical interference in communication and railroad signal cables that run parallel. This phenomenon is commonly known by its acronym, EMT (electromagnetic interference). There is also concern with potential interference with the operation of private appliances, such as TVs and radios. Some public concern recently has been focused on the suspected public health effects of these electromagnetic fields.
The strength of an electromagnetic field diminishes rapidly with increasing distance from the 25-kV source be it catenary or substation. Therefore, the extent of effects mentioned in this section will depend mainly on the distance of the affected person or cable from the equipment generating the field, in other words, those people and utilities within the near vicinity of the rail system within the PCS right-of-way. It is @ possible that electromagnetic fields produced by an electrified rail system could affect electrical communications equipment outside the right-of-way. EMT can be mitigated by the shielding of cables or by other proven techniques.
During the construction of facilities for use in the electrical operation of CalTrain, construction would occur at various sites along the CalTrain corridor. The required construction will include building up to four electric substations, placement of support poles (60-70 per mile) and the wiring of 120 miles of catenary; construction should take approximately 2 years. However, it should be noted that the length of time of actual construction activities at any one location would be of a shorter duration.
During the construction period the following impacts may occur:
G. MAINTENANCE
In comparing the maintenance requirements of diesel powered and electric powered systems, for the purposes of this study, only the items of locomotive/MPC and gallery servicing, and maintenance of the electrification system need to be considered for costing. Other railroad maintenance requirements, such as permanent way maintenance, and signal/communications system maintenance, would be the same for diesel or electric traction, and are not included in this section of the study.
Less maintenance is required on electrified motive power than on a diesel locomotive. This is because much of the equipment on an electric locomotive or MPC, such as the transformer, rectifiers, inverters, etc. are static components compared to the diesel engine/alternator combination, fuel and lube oil pumps, etc. on a diesel locomotive. FRA regulations do require, however, the same level of periodic inspection for either type of vehicle.
Other cocommuter rail systems have found electrified rolling stock to provide more reliable operation, with a higher availability compared to diesel locomotives, particularly because there are fewer components to malfunction and because they do not have to be removed from service for fueling or to add engine cooling water.
An electrification system, however, with its overhead catenary system, substations, and supervisory control system, does entail an additional maintenance item not found on a diesel system. On the other hand an electrified service will not require a facility for diesel fuel storage and pumping equipment, lube oil tanks and the special safety requirements attendant to such facilities.
H. ECONOMICS
Capital costs for each alternative were determined in a line item fashion. The unit cost, number of units and total cost for each cost item was determined. Engineering, design and contingency costs were also calculated by using a percentage of facility and equipment capital costs. Capital facilities and equipment needed for both dual mode and electric operations can be categorized as either vehicles, or alignment facilities.
An evaluation of capital costs for the two alternative electric modes indicates that electric locomotive capital costs are considerably less than EMT (using MPCS) costs. At a 66 train schedule, electric locomotive costs are approximately $53 million less. The cost difference is $89 million at the 114 train schedule and $62 million at the 158 train schedule. The cost difference at the 158 train schedule is less, for the EMT fleet requirement is assumed to be the same at both the 114 and 158 train schedules because equipment utilization is increased with the more frequent schedules, A comparison of EMT and electric locomotive capital cost projections is presented in Tables E-4 and E-5.
Operating and maintenance (O&M) costs were also determined in a line item fashion. The analysis of O&M costs is based on spreadsheet cost models which calculate staffing requirements, labor costs and non-labor costs for the projected quantity of service supplied (e.g., peak vehicles, revenue vehicle-miles) and the physical size of the system (e.g., route-miles, number of stations). Separate cost models were developed for diesel/dual mode and electric operations.
Cost estimates for the 66-train schedules (diesel operations only) are based on the cost model developed from the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board's (JPB) proposals for a 60-train schedule. Dual mode cost estimates are based on a modified version of this cost model. The introduction of electric operations is anticipated to increase costs in three cost categories: Maintenance of Rail Lines; Maintenance of Service Equipment, and Power Costs.
Annual O&M costs for electric operations were estimated by developing a second cost model. This model is also a variation of the diesel cost model built from the JPB cost proposals, with modifications to account for electric operations. It differs from the dual mode cost model in that there are no costs associated with diesel operations.
Table E-6 presents a comparison of O&M costs for the alternative modes,
While estimated capital costs and O&M costs have been identified, a complete comparison of diesel/dual mode and electric costs cannot be made until potential farebox revenue is considered.
Passenger revenue has been projected by applying an average fare/passenger to the ridership projections for each alternative train schedule. The current average fare collected per passenger is $1.56. For purposes of this analysis, it has been assumed that the average trip length will remain similar to today's average trip length, thus resulting in the current average fare per passenger.
Ridership under electric operations is anticipated to be slightly higher than ridership under diesel operations due to slightly improved travel times. When applied to the average fare per passenger, annual passenger revenue projections are as follows:
It is important to note that the above revenue projections assume the same annual ridership for both electric operating scenarios (Gilroy versus Lick electrification).
The cost effectiveness of electric operations was measured by evaluating the net cost associated with each alternative train schedule and mode of operation. Annual operating costs were added to annualized capital costs to arrive at total annualized costs. Passenger revenue was then subtracted from the total cost to arrive at the net cost. This methodology is used by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as a measure of cost-effectiveness in Alternative Analyses and other planning reports. Because capital funding is more obtainable than operating subsidies, net costs were also calculated without annualized capital costs. Table E-7 presents the annualized net cost associated with each alternative.
Costs associated with the 66 train schedule under electrified operations are anticipated to be $13.6 to $14.4 million higher than costs associated with diesel operations, depending on the electrification scenario. The difference in costs for the 114 train schedule ranges from $1.6 to $2.3 million, depending on the electrification scenario. At the 158 train schedule, annualized costs for electric operations are $3.1 to $3.8 million less than costs for dual mode operations. A comparison of net costs for each train schedule and mode of operation is illustrated in Figure E-3. This figure illustrates two important findings: a) at the 114 train schedule, the net cost for all three operating scenarios is within $2.5 million); and b) total costs for track electrification to Lick is slightly less than total costs for electrification to Gilroy (approximately $750,000).
The cost effectiveness evaluation is significantly different when annualized capital costs are not included. At the 66 train level of service, diesel operations are $0.7 to $1.0 million more than costs for either electrification scenario. The cost savings at the 114 train level are $4.5 to $4.9 million, depending on the electrification scenario. The cost savings at the 158 train level are $9.0 to $9.4 million. Figure E-4 illustrates the cost savings obtained by electrification, should capital costs not be included as wi annualized cost. Over 80 percent of the O&M cost savings is in reduced power costs and maintenance of service equipment costs.
The most significant cost savings provided by electrification is in O&M costs. Over 80 percent of the O&M cost savings is in reduced power costs and maintenance of service equipment costs.
There are also environmental benefits associated with electrification. If these, benefits were financially quantified, electrification could be determined to be more cost-effective than dual mode costs at the a lower train service level, possibly with the 1 14 train schedule. At this level of analysis, however, it is not possible to quantify environmental benefits in monetary terms.
I. CONCLUSIONS
To summarize, the analysis provided in this report has evaluated the cost-effectiveness of electrified CalTrain service at three alternative levels of service and two alternative electrification scenarios (electrification to Gilroy versus the San Jose area. Key findings in this evaluation are as follows: | https://www.arch21.org/0800part4.html |
NYSDEC to Propose Emission Limits for Distributed Generation Sources
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is proposing new regulations to impose air emission limits and operating requirements on distributed generation (DG) sources. The proposed rules will respond to the New York Public Service Commission’s recognition of the need for such rules as the State implements its “Reforming the Energy Vision” (REV) initiative.
The regulations would apply to sources that have the potential to emit oxides of nitrogen at less than major source thresholds, but above certain power ratings. In New York City, sources of 200 horsepower (150 kilowatts) or greater, or sources outside the city of 400 hp (300 kW) or greater, would be regulated. A DG source is a “stationary reciprocating or rotary internal combustion engine that feeds into the distribution grid or produces electricity for use at the host facility or both.”
A subset of distributed generation sources would be subject to registration and emission limitation requirements if they are used as “economic dispatch sources,” meaning sources used to reduce energy costs or to ensure a reliable electricity supply for a facility. Economic dispatch sources would need to comply with NOx emission concentrations specific to the source’s engine and fuel type; these standards are equal to NYSDEC’s existing NOx RACT standards for major sources. Particulate matter emission limits apply to economic dispatch sources firing diesel fuel.
Economic dispatch sources will generally have until May 1, 2016, to come into compliance with the new regulations. Economic dispatch sources participating in demand response programs have until May 1, 2017, to meet NOx emissions limits, subject to certain conditions. NYSDEC may also extend the compliance dates for sources in demand response programs that the New York State Department of Public Service determines are needed to preserve grid reliability.
The proposed regulation provides alternative compliance options, including potential source-specific emission limits where compliance with the default emission limits is economically or technically infeasible. Alternative compliance options also include commitments to shut down existing units by May 1, 2017, conversion from diesel to natural gas, or lowering the effective emission rate by factoring in electricity generated from renewable sources used by the facility owner or operator.
DG sources that are solely “emergency power generating stationary internal combustion engines,” and are not economic dispatch sources, would only be subject to maintenance timeframe limitations, tune-up requirements, inspection, recordkeeping, and data recording.
NYSDEC plans to post an official version of the proposed rules and commence public comment, on December 23, 2015. The comment period is planned to last through February 18, 2016. Interested parties should consider commenting on the rules, or attending one of the public hearing sessions that NYSDEC has planned in various locations during February 2016. | https://www.bdlaw.com/publications/nysdec-to-propose-emission-limits-for-distributed-generation-sources/ |
The architecture style of microservices is an approach to developing a single application as a set of small services, each operating according to a distinct process and interacting with lightweight mechanisms, often using a HTTP source API. These services are based on business opportunities and can be deployed independently using fully automated deployment equipment. There is an absolute minimum of centralised management of these services, which can be written in different programming languages and using different storage technologies.
James Lewis and Martin Fowler (2014)
Introduction
The global market for microservices in the cloud is expected to grow by 22.5% in 2020, while the US market is expected to maintain its growth rate at 27.4% . The trend is that developers are giving up local applications in favour of the cloud. It will help companies minimize downtime, optimize resources and reduce infrastructure costs. Experts also predict that by 2022 90% of all applications will be developed using the micro-services architecture . This article will help you discover what micro-services are and how companies currently use them.
What are micro-services?
Micro-services are widespread all over the world. But what are micro-services? A microservice is an architecture model where an application is based on a set of small interconnected services. They are based on the principle of a single responsibility which, according to Robert C. Martin, brings together things that change for the same reason and shares things that change for different reasons . The micro-services architecture has also been expanded to include freely connected services that can be designed, deployed and maintained independently of each other .
Moving away from monolithic architecture
Microservices are often compared to traditional monolithic software architecture. In a monolithic architecture, the software is designed to stand on its own, i.e. the program components are interconnected and interdependent rather than just interconnected. In a closely related (monolithic) architecture, each component and its associated components must be present to execute or compile the code . If an element needs to be updated, the entire application also needs to be rewritten.
This does not apply to applications that use a micro-services architecture. Since each module is independent, you can change it without affecting other parts of the program. This reduces the risk that a change in one element will lead to unexpected changes in other elements.
Companies may encounter problems if they cannot scale monolithic architecture, if their architecture is complex to modernise, or if its maintenance is too complex and costly . The solution to this problem is to split a complex task into smaller, independently functioning elements.
Monolith of architecture versus microservices. The picture is from .
How developers around the world build their microservices
Microservices are known to improve scalability and performance. But are these the main reasons why developers around the world build their microservices? The research project State of Micro Services 2020 discovered how developers around the world build their microservices and what they think of them. The report was prepared with the help of 660 microservice providers from Europe, North America, Central and South America, the Middle East, South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The table below shows the average valuation of emissions related to the maturity of micro-services .
|Category||Average valuation (of 5)|
|Creation of new projects||3.8|
|Maintenance and troubleshooting||3.4|
|Work efficiency||3.9|
|scalability issues||4.3|
|Dealing with performance issues||3.9|
|Teamwork||3.9|
As can be seen from the table, most experts are satisfied with the micro-services to solve scalability problems. On the contrary, maintenance and problem solving seem to be a challenge for them.
Although there are many possibilities for using micro-services, most experts use Amazon Web Services (49%), followed by a dedicated server. In addition, 62% prefer AWS Lambda as a serverless solution.
Most of the micro-services used by the experts use the HTTP protocol for communication, followed by events and GPRPC. In addition, most experts use RabbitMQ to work with messages, followed by Kafka and Redis.
In addition, most people work with Continuous Integration (CI) micro-services. In the report, 87% of respondents used IC solutions such as GitLab CI, Jenkins, or GitHub Actions.
The most popular debugging solution for 86% of respondents is magazine maintenance, with 27% of respondents using journals ONLY.
Finally, most people believe that micro-services architecture will become the standard for more complex systems or upstream development.
Cases of successful use of microservices
Many companies have converted their monolithic architecture into micro-services.
Amazon
In 2001, development delays, encryption problems and interdependencies between services prevented Amazon from meeting the growing scalability requirements of its user base. Faced with the need to rethink its monolithic architecture from top to bottom, Amazon has dissected its monolithic applications into small independent and service-oriented applications .
In 2001 Amazon decided to switch to micro-services, years before the term became fashionable. This change has forced Amazon to develop various solutions to support micro-services architectures such as Amazon AWS. Thanks to rapid growth and adaptation to micro-services, Amazon has become the most valuable company in the world, with the first market capitalization in the world to reach the highest level of profitability. July 2020 is estimated at $1,433 billion .
Netflix
Netflix launched its film streaming service in 2007 and faced scale problems in 2008. They faced significant corruption in the database and were unable to send DVDs to their members within three days . This was the starting point when they recognised the need to move from a few failure points (such as relational databases) to a more scalable and reliable distributed system in the cloud. In 2009 Netflix started the migration of its monolithic architecture to micro-services. They started migrating their non-usable film encoding platform to work as independent microservices in the cloud . The transition to micro-services has enabled Netflix to solve scale-up problems and service interruptions. Nevertheless, they have been able to reduce their costs because the cost of a cloud per stream has been replaced by the cost of the data centre . Today Netflix transmits about 250 million hours of content per day to more than 139 million subscribers in 190 countries .
More than
After running Uber, they had trouble developing and implementing new features, fixing bugs and quickly integrating new changes. They therefore decided to switch to micro-services and split the application structure into micro-services in the cloud. In other words: Uber has created a micro-service for every function, such as passenger and travel management. The switch to micro-services has brought many advantages, such as a clear vision of each service owner. This has improved speed and quality, allowing teams to focus only on the services they need to develop, update virtual services without disrupting other services, and achieve more robust fault tolerance .
It’s all about scalability!
China is a good example of how scalability can be guaranteed. With its huge population, China has had to adapt, create and test new solutions to meet new challenges to some extent. Statistics show that China currently serves around 900 million Internet users . On a single day in 2019 (the equivalent of Black Friday in China), Alibaba’s various trading platforms recorded a peak of 544.00 trades per second. The total amount of data processed by the Alibaba cloud was about 970 petabytes . So what is the impact on the technology?
Many technologies arose from the need to solve the problem of scalability. For example, Tars was founded by Tencent in 2008 and made available to the Linux Foundation in 2018. It is widely used and has improved over the last ten years . Tarsus is free software, and many organizations make important contributions and expand the capabilities and value of the structure . Tars supports multiple programming languages, including C++, Golang, Java, Node.js, PHP and Python, and can quickly build systems and automatically generate code, so the developer can focus on business logic to achieve operational efficiency Tars is used in Tencent’s business areas, such as QQ, WeChat social networking, financial services, IT, automobiles, video, online gaming, cards, application market, security and many other key companies. In March 2020, the Tars project was transformed into the TARS Foundation, an open source fund for micro-services, which aims to support the rapid growth of contributions and membership in a community focused on creating an open platform for micro-services .
Don’t forget to check out the new free Linux Foundation Building Microservice Platforms with TARS training.
About the authors:
Isabella Ferreira is a supporter of the TARS Foundation, an open source fund for cloud-based microservices under the Linux Foundation.
Mark Shan is Chairman of the Tencent Open Source Alliance and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the TARS Foundation.
References:
2] https://medium.com/hashmapinc/the-what-why-and-how-of-a-microservices-architecture-4179579423a9
https://www.leanix.net/en/blog/a-brief-history-of-microservices
5] https://www.charterglobal.com/five-microservices-trends-in-2020/
https://martinfowler.com/articles/microservices.html#footnote-etymology
https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/monolithic-architecture
https://ycharts.com/companies/AMZN/market_cap
9] https://thenewstack.io/led-amazon-microservices-architecture/
https://media.netflix.com/en/company-blog/completing-the-netflix-cloud-migration
https://blog.dreamfactory.com/microservices-examples/.
https://www.linuxfoundation.org/blog/2020/03/the-tars-foundation-the-formation-of-a-microservices-ecosystem/
https://medium.com/microservices-architecture/top-10-microservices-framework-for-2020-eefb5e66d1a2
https://www.statista.com/statistics/265140/number-of-internet-users-in-china/
https://interconnected.blog/china-scale-technology-sandbox/
This platinum sponsor of the Linux Foundation was sponsored by Tencent.
Related Tags: | https://www.mp3-plus.net/the-state-of-the-art-of-microservices-in-2020/ |
|Animation of differential flow|
performance metrics include accuracy, precision/repeatability, turndown ratio, resolution, ease of installation, straight pipe run requirements, on-going operations and maintenance, and costs.
Accuracy
Accuracy is the difference between a measured value and the actual value. No flowmeter is 100% accurate and most manufacturers provide a range of accuracies in their product line - tighter accuracy requirements are typically more expensive and may also be more restrictive to specific applications.
Precision/Repeatability
The precision or repeatability of a measurement entails the ability to reproduce the same value (e.g., flow rate) with multiple measurements of the same parameter, under the same conditions.
Turndown Ratio
|Rotameter|
(ABB)
Resolution
The resolution is the smallest increment of flow that can be incrementally registered by the meter. For example, a water meter designed for a small diameter pipe may be able to provide a resolution of 100 pulses per gallon (or more) as a signal output, but a meter designed for a larger pipe or higher maximum flow may only be able to provide 1 pulse per 100 gallons. Further, a very large flow meter may only be able to provide 1 pulse per 1000 gallons. The metering system may have limitations with regard to peak signal frequency or minimum time between pulses to properly register the data signal.
Ease of Installation
Select make-and-model decisions considering size and weight constraints, specific electrical and communications needs, and the overall environment the flowmeter will operate in.
|Magnetic flowmeter|
(TECO)
Applicable to some types of fluid (gas, liquid and steam) flowmeters, straight-pipe run requirements relate to the length of unobstructed straight pipe required leading up to and immediately following the flow meter’s location. Obstructions in the fluid flow (such as elbows, tees, filters, valves, and sensor fittings) cause changes in the flow pattern (flow regime and velocity profile). Straight-pipe runs allow the flow pattern to normalize/stabilize making measurements by velocity-type and differential-pressure-type flow meters less prone to measurement error. Straight-pipe run requirements are usually expressed in terms of the number of pipe diameters.
The straight pipe requirement is in addition to the length of the flowmeter itself. The straight-pipe run requirements can be reduced with the addition of flow straightening or flow conditioning devices installed upstream.
Ongoing Operations and Maintenance
|Vortex flowmeter|
(ABB)
Installation Versus Capital Cost
In some situations, the cost to install a flowmeter can be greater than the capital cost; this can be true where system shutdowns are necessary for flowmeter installations, or where significant redesign efforts are needed to accommodate a flowmeter’s physical size, weight, or required connection. In these cases, decision makers should consider alternative technologies that may have a higher capital cost but a much lower installed cost. A good example of this is the use of non-intrusive flow metering technologies (e.g., ultrasonic flowmeters) that typically have a high capital cost but often a significantly reduced installed cost. It is recommended that meters be installed with isolation valves or switches making it easier to remove, replace, or service the meter in the future.
Reprinted and abstracted from US Department of Energy paper titled "Metering Best Practices: A Guide to Achieving Utility Resource Efficiency, " | https://blog.teco-inc.com/2018/06/important-flowmeter-performance-metrics.html |
There are five key steps in the mini-grid technical design process:
Key Steps in Mini-grid Technical Design
- Define the geographic scope of the project
- Assess the available energy resources
- Size the system
- Select system configuration
- Design distribution system
Successful design is an iterative process, not a linear one. In each technical design step, project developers must consider tradeoffs in cost, operations and maintenance (O&M) requirements, ability to provide power on demand, grid connection potential, load efficiency and load flexibility. Decisions in later steps influence choices made in earlier steps. In particular, project developers will need to revisit availability and cost of energy resources after sizing the system.
Further Explanation of Key Points
Define the Geographic Scope of the Project
The first step in mini-grid design is to define the project’s geographic area, including the total number of customers to be served. A mini-grid may supply power to multiple communities, a single village or a cluster of buildings. The number and type of customers (i.e., residential vs. commercial/industrial) are key factors in selecting the resource and power generation technology. Geographic features such as terrain, and ease of accessing resources, will also influence system design.
Finally, developers need to consider policies and grid extension plans that may affect the mini-grid in the future. Rural electrification plans and other potential grid expansion or power projects impact the viability of a mini-grid in a particular area.
Assess Available Energy Resources
After defining the geographic scope of the project, developers need to assess local energy resources, including quantity, availability, cost, sustainability and potential conflicting uses. Mini-grids require reliable, affordable supplies of energy resources that can meet local power needs—and different resources have distinct benefits and drawbacks. For example, a mini-grid in an area with seasonally available biomass resources could provide on-demand power for an anchor commercial customer such as a mill, but not year-round electricity for a community. Similarly, in drought-prone areas, hydropower may not be a reliable year-round resource.
During the assessment process, developers need to work closely with local communities. The women and men who use local natural resources can provide valuable information about availability and potential conflicting uses.
After identifying the most promising resources, developers select the energy generation technology (or technologies). Developers can choose from among different technologies for each energy resource. The following section introduces the most common technologies for biomass, diesel, hydropower, photovoltaic (PV), wind and hybrid energy generation, including where each technology works best.
Most Prevalent Mini-grid Generation Technologies
- Biomass
- Biomass power generators can use solid biomass (including wood chips from timber milling and solid crop waste from agricultural processing), liquid biofuels (such as biodiesel) or gaseous fuel (such as methane from organic liquid waste) to produce electricity. Biomass-based electricity can work well in areas with reliable sources of inexpensive biomass, where electricity is expensive, and where industry must pay to dispose of biomass.
- Diesel
- Diesel generators have historically powered mini-grids, particularly in remote areas. Diesel can provide power on demand, but fuel is expensive, and burning diesel produces greenhouse gas emissions. Diesel gen-sets require periodic maintenance and overhaul, but because the technology is so prevalent, many rural areas have skilled technicians who can maintain them. Integrating renewable energy into existing diesel mini-grids can improve system performance, decrease costs and reduce environmental impacts.
- Hydropower
- Hydropower converts the power of flowing water into electricity. Hydropower is a site-dependent energy source: The power produced is directly proportional to the amount of water and the height from which the water falls. In rural communities with adequate water resources, mini-hydro may be the least-cost option. Developers can choose from among a wide variety of turbine types and designs that maximizes performance under different conditions.
- PV
- PV power systems convert energy from sunlight into electricity. PV is becoming more financially viable for mini-grids. Once very expensive, the cost of PV panels has decreased by more than 80 percent from year to year, and costs are continuing to fall. PV systems, which provide intermittent power supply, often integrate well into hybrid mini-grids that can co-generate with diesel systems.
- Wind
- Wind power turbines generate electricity from wind energy. Wind is available on a variable basis, but the resource is dependable and easy to monitor and forecast over time. Wind conditions vary significantly by geography, so wind-based mini-grids are only good options in areas with proven wind resources. Good locations for wind-powered systems include mountain ranges and coastal areas with persistent trade winds. Wind is commonly used in hybrid mini-grids.
- Hybrid
- Hybrid-power generation systems use more than one source of energy. Combining technologies with different energy sources provides operational and reliability advantages compared to using a single technology. Integrating diesel power with PV, for example, combines PV’s low- maintenance requirements with power on demand from diesel.
Size the System
A mini-grid’s size dictates its maximum power output. The power generation system should have sufficient installed capacity to meet loads. To size the system, planners must calculate variations in loads in half-hour intervals and estimate future load growth. Estimating and planning for current and future loads are critical steps, especially for financial viability.
Mini-grid developers can estimate current loads by surveying and assessing current and potential customers. Anticipating future loads is more difficult. Demand for electricity grows in conjunction with demographic changes and economic expansion, which are difficult to predict. Developers and planners can use a tool like Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software to model and define a system’s expected loads, network design, consumption and cost. Well-developed models give planners insight into how to best use different fuel sources and those decisions’ impact on resource usage, consumption and cost.
Ideally, mini-grids should be scalable, allowing operators to add generation capacity as demand for electricity grows. A mini-grid that can meet increased demand over time is more financially sustainable. The best size for a mini-grid also depends on whether it is likely to connect to the national grid in the future.
Select System Configuration
Mini-grids can have three basic configurations: alternating current (AC) coupled, direct current (DC) coupled or hybrid (both AC and DC). Energy generation technologies, system sizing and battery use are the primary factors in deciding which configuration to use.
Different energy generation technologies favor different configurations. Hydropower, geothermal energy, diesel power and biomass-based power generate AC, so they generally use AC configurations. Solar PV systems produce DC, and wind turbines can be configured to produce either AC or DC. System designers therefore have to decide which configuration to use. Cost, expected usage, and plans to eventually integrate into a larger (typically AC) network are factors that influence decision making.
Each configuration has tradeoffs in costs, maintenance requirements, efficiency, safety and end-use versatility. For example, it is easier to transport electricity long distances using AC systems, but AC systems are more complex and expensive. While DC systems require less equipment to condition and transform power, there are very few consumer appliances that function using DC technology. And converting from AC to the DC generates losses in energy (and therefore in money).
System Configuration Tradeoffs
- DC-coupled Systems
-
- Generally, more compact with fewer pieces of equipment and controls (no inverter, for example)
- More efficient power generation due to lack of inverter losses but less efficient power distribution
- Limited to smaller system sizes
- Fewer appliance and equipment options for end users (most available appliances are AC)
- Greatly impacted by the distance between power generation and use due to voltage losses and construction costs
- AC-coupled Systems
-
- Higher cost
- Require inverters, which need more space and system controls
- More complicated to control and operate
- More appliance and equipment options for end users
- Hybrid AC/DC-coupled Configurations
-
- Increased system complexity
- Advantages of both AC and DC systems
DC configurations are typically used for shorter distances, lower voltages and systems generating less power (W rather than kW). AC configurations, which transmit power more efficiently, are more commonly used for longer distances, higher distribution voltages and systems generating more power (MW). Small grids of only a few kilowatts, however, can also use AC.
In addition to choosing a current type, developers must choose between a single-phase or three-phase system. Single-phase systems cannot serve as many load types as three-phase systems. Single-phase systems normally serve lighting and resistive loads. Three-phase systems can handle more diverse loads, including large motors. To connect to the national grid, mini-grid systems generally need three-phase systems.
In terms of cost, single-phase systems require less expensive inverters and have simpler wiring, but they require more expensive transmission cables. Three-phase systems, on the other hand, require more expensive inverters and switches.
Design Distribution System
To design the distribution system, developers first need to design the system layout and select system attributes. The next step is to model system performance based on the preliminary layout and system attributes. Once developers have defined the model for the distribution system, they can evaluate different conductor sizes based on the load allocated across the distribution system. Once project developers have completed the base case model, they can model variations in line routing, single- versus three-phase service and loads.
When planners have finalized system layout and attributes, design crews determine the structural (as opposed to electrical) design features of the distribution system. The design crews produce a list of materials based on benchmarks for the type and number of pole-top structures required for the line length and then determine the total length of the distribution line. Crews perform a final survey of the distribution system alignments to determine pole locations, structures and other requirements.
Mini-grid distribution systems are often more complex than those of standard grids. Unlike standard grids, mini-grids may have bidirectional power flows and multiple energy sources. This operational complexity requires extra controls and software. In hybrid systems, each power source requires separate controllers, and the mini-grid must have an overall management control to integrate the different power sources.
Developers should consider the end-user system, including meters, while designing the distribution system. Tariff collection and the business aspects of the mini-grid project are the primary factors in selecting metering technologies. Developers can select the payment system during one of several parts of the design process. Depending on the required controls, some developers may design metering and payment systems prior to the technical systems. The end-user system should accommodate loads and tariffs while respecting the local cultural context and user preferences.
Distribution System Design Impacts on Efficiency and Cost
- Voltage
- The higher the voltage, the greater the distance energy can be transmitted. Accordingly, power is run through transformers to increase voltage in preparation for long-distance transmission. At the destination, it must pass through another transformer to drop the voltage back down. The higher the voltage, the more dangerous it is.
- AC vs. DC
- AC can run at higher voltages more easily, reducing distribution losses for longer runs, but converting between DC and AC also results in losses. In general, shorter distribution lines favor DC, and longer runs favor AC on the scale of mini-grids.
- Single-phase vs. Three-phase Distribution
- Three-phase AC power distribution is more efficient and requires smaller conductors compared to single-phase distribution. Because three-phase AC power provides constant power transfer, longer distribution lines tend to use three-phase. Single-phase AC power is commonly used at the household level, where loads are typically lighting. Three-phase distribution is better for industrial enterprises using larger motors. Single-phase distribution uses less wire and costs less but cannot run large electric motors.
Resources
Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (2000). Mini-Grid Design Manual.
This resource provides detailed guidance on mini-grid technical components, the design process, tariffs, operations and maintenance and more. Written in 2000, this document remains a key resource for mini-grid developers.
Tenenbaum, B. et al., World Bank (2014). From the Bottom Up: How Small Power Producers and Mini-Grids Can Deliver Electrification and Renewable Energy in Africa.
This guide focuses on the decentralized approach, providing practical guidance on how small power producers and mini-grid operators can deliver both electrification and renewable energy in rural areas. | https://www.usaid.gov/energy/mini-grids/technical-design/key-steps/ |
Native Tree Nursery
Peter Donaldson, a Graduate Student from The University of Arizona’s Online Graduate Programs in Human Rights Practice, met Rashid Iddrisu (Wari) in Barcelona Spain in 2019 and got interested in all of the agricultural projects that “Wari” was doing.
And so he visited Sawla with his wife, Magdalena. Both have strong agricultural career backgrounds. The visit to Savannah region was to decide on a capstone project for Peter's M.A. in Human Rights Practice.
They had a great visit, and after seeing the deforestation issues in Savannah Region, decided that Peter would begin a native tree nursery on WIACT/CEHDA grounds in Sawla. From that nursery, tree seedlings would be provided to K-12 schools across Savannah region for replanting by school children.
Unfortunately, Coronavirus has delayed his return to Ghana but the friends he made while there built the nursery. The plot was staked, fenced, cleared and plowed with Peter’s supervision from afar, seeds collected, and seven species have germinated and are growing. Meanwhile, Peter and anthropologist Mette Brogden interviewed Gonjas by Zoom about traditional uses for the trees. They made fact sheets for students to refine and use to interview other regional tribal members for their traditional uses: this is a work-in-progress that will be shared as curricula with schools in Savannah Region where native tree seedlings are being planted, and that will build native tree nurseries onsite so that children grow with the trees and learn about their natural heritage.
Peter returned to Ghana in April 2021 to oversee the start of replanting of seedlings to schools and other places, with the help of local chiefs, school officials, and kids. The plan to to reforest Savannah Region with native tree species, the first of which are shown and described, below.
Preparing the native tree nursery
Sawla, Apr-June, 2020
Dawa Dawa Tree
About Dawa Dawa tree: This tree is well known for the smell that the paste from the seeds produces. If you have dawa dawa in your house, you may have a problem with rats. The paste used in soups and sauces may need to be stored outside of the house. The fleshy part covering the seed that is not yellow can be mixed with dirt to form a cement like substance for use as the floor in traditional houses. Most of the tree has traditional uses but also is used as a shade tree. The long stems that are attached to the red ball are used by the children in games to tickle one another.
[Rashid Iddrisu, 6.20.2020 interview via zoom]
Engaging kids, volunteers, school teachers, and women in growing and transplanting trees, June 2020-May 2021
ROSEWOOD TREE, Jenkklia
About Rosewood tree: This tree has been exploited by foreign interests due to the value of the wood. It is not found now near roads or towns due to the extensive logging. Wood has been used for beams in the roofs of houses due to the strength of the wood. Leaves are used in traditional medicine. The seed is called the rabbit show.
K'CHE (ANKYE) TREE
More info coming soon! This is the fruit...
The white part is what is eaten, and the black seed is used in the k'waribi [awari] game.
COTTON TREE, Kaklia
About the Cotton tree: This tree is vital for funeral procession of the Yagbonwura. Wood used in the procession must come from Kaklia trees on the grounds of the Traditional Palace at Nyaηε. This makes tree propagation and planting on this location urgent. The seeds are very important to make an oily sauce for new mothers to aid in milk production and return strength to the mother. The fibers are used for cushions. The wicks for lanterns are made from the cotton and used in combination with shea oil. Traditionally clothes were made from the fibers of the tree.
BAOBAB TREE Kalar yi (Kalar dibi)
“Sogle” [Sawla—a village in Savannah region] The first person who settled in that area settled under the baobab tree, so “sogle” means “under the baba tree.” K’ fruma [kuka] soup is made with the dried leaf of the baba, and the soup is called K’ fruma. It means something that falls on your body while you eat because it is a bit starchy and you drip it on you accidentally. “Spread on me” is what k’ fruma means. “Earth gets on you.”
[Rashid Iddrisu, 5.13.2020 interview via zoom]
About the Baobab tree: If you are leaving your family to resettle with a new wife, your father will give you materials to plant in your next area. The K' lara seed is one of these. Hunters also take the fruit with them to eat and then plant the seeds if they will be hunting in an area for a long time or regularly.
Normally you find them in the old settlement areas…it lives around humans because people would plant it when they were moving around or settling somewhere. Thus it mostly lives in neighborhoods and old settlements. It does not permit big trees to come under it, so you do not often find it in forests. When you do find it in the forest, often it was because there was a settlement or farm or a hunter living there long ago. People who migrated brought the seed with them, and then they planted it because the tree shelters you from the rain.
Bees always make honey in these trees if the tree is outside of the town center because the bark and tree trunk itself are soft, and there are little breakages that enable bees to establish a nest. Bees are always around baobabs. The tree makes holes and gives a space to them. | https://wiactghana.org/native-tree-nursery/ |
Kano State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria lies between latitude 130N in the North and 110N in the South and longitude 80W in the West and 100E in the East. Kano State is made up of the following forty four local government areas: Ajingi, Albasu, Bagwai, Bebeji, Bichi, Bunkure, Dala, Dambatta, Dawakin Kudu, Dawakin Tofa, Doguwa, Gabasawa, Garko, Garun Mallam, Gaya, Gezawa, Gwale, Gwarzo, Kabo, Karaye, Kibiya, Kiru, Kumbotso, Kura, Kunchi, Madobi, Makoda, Minjibir, Kano Municipal, Nassarawa, Rimin Gado, Rogo, Shanono, Sumaila, Takai, Tarauni, Tsanyawa, Tudun Wada, Tofa, Warawa and Wudil. The total land area of Kano State is 20,760sq kilometers with a population of 9,383,682 (2006 provisional result). Some Local Government areas of Jigawa State were part of Kano Emirate before the creation of that state. The people of Kano State who have no other hometown call themselves Kanawa.
Kano City has been the capital of Kano State since the earliest recorded time. It is located on latitude 12.000N and longitude 8.300E within the semi-arid Sudan savannah zone of West Africa about 840 kilometers from the edge of the Sahara desert. Kano has a mean height of about 472.45m above sea level. Kano City has expanded over the years and has become the third largest conurbation in Nigeria; it had a population of 1,412,255 when the last population census was conducted in 1991. It is made up of six local government areas: Municipal, Gwale, Dala, Tarauni, Nassarawa and Fagge. Kano's most enduring legacy Gidan Rumfa (Emir's Palace) the seat of Kano's prestigious Sarauta institution (Kingship) built over five hundred years ago is located in the Municipal Local Government Area. The Kano State Government House is located in Tarauni Local Government Area.
The temperature of Kano usually ranges between a maximum of 330C and a minimum of 15.80C although sometimes during the harmattan it falls down to as low as 100C. Kano has two seasonal periods, which consist of four to five months of wet season and a long dry season lasting from October to April. The movement of the South West maritime air masses originating from the Atlantic Ocean, influences the wet season which starts from May and ends in September. The commencement and length of wet season varies between northern and southern parts of Kano State. The length of the season in Riruwai, which is southern part of Kano State is six months from early May to late September. While in northern parts it is from June to early September.
The average rainfall is between 63.3mm + 48.2mm in May and 133.4mm + 59mm in August the wettest month. The movement of the tropical maritime air masses from the Southwest to the North determines the weather of Kano State during the wet season. This air mass carries a lot of moisture from over the Atlantic Ocean. This moisture condenses when it is forced to rise by convection or over a barrier of highlands or an air mass; it then falls back as rain. The period of the heights occurs when the sun passes over West Africa between March and June. The dry season starts in October and lasts till about April of the following year. Temperatures are low during this period because the sun is in the Southern Hemisphere and because of movement of the desiccating continental air mass, which originates from the Sahara area and blows from the Northeast carrying along with it the harmattan dust. This is also the harvesting season.
The vegetation of Kano State is the semi-arid savannah. The Sudan Savannah is sandwiched by the Sahel Savannah in the north and the Guinea Savannah in the south. The savannah has been described as the zone that provides opportunity for optimal human attainment. This is because it is rich in faunal and floral resources, it is suitable for both cereal agriculture and livestock rearing, and the environment is relatively easy for movement of natural resources and manufactured goods (Connah 1987: 97-99).
The canopies of the trees are very wide and most of them are less than 20m tall. The following are the common trees of Kano State: Acacia albida (Hausa: gawo), Acacia nilotica (Hausa: gabaruwa), baobab Adanosia digitata (Hausa: kuka), Anogeissus leiocarpus (Hausa: marke), neem Azadirachta indica (Hausa: dogon yaro), desert date Balanties aegyptica (Hausa aduwa), ebony Diospyros mespiliformis (Hausa: kanya), mahogany Khaya senegalensis (Hausa: madachi), locust bean Parkia clappertoniana (Hausa: dorawa), Piliostigma thonningii (Hausa: kargo), Sclerocarya birrea (Hausa: danya), Vitex doniana (Hausa: dinya), Ziziphus spina-christi (Hausa: kurna) (Nichol 1988). These trees are very resistant to drought. It has been suggested that these products have been available as part of the vegetable resources in the West African savannah for two to three thousand years. Domesticated crops include sorghum, millet and African rice, several indigenous yams, two African groundnuts, cowpeas and black beniseed (Connah 1987:101).
The natural vegetation of Kano State has been modified as result of several centuries of human activities such as bush clearing and burning for cultivation and hunting as well as animal grazing. | http://kanoemirate.org/index76e2.html?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=55 |
The Musina Nature Reserve, also known as the Messina Baobab Forest Reserve, is a 49km² reserve located 10km from the town of Musina, Limpopo. The reserve contains the highest concentration of baobab trees in South Africa, known as the “upside down trees†due to their appearance resembling roots. These magnificent trees that can grow up to 25m in height, 28m in circumference, and live up to a startling 3,000 years.
Baobab trees occur only in the northern parts of South Africa, mostly between the Limpopo River and the Soutpansberg, the northernmost mountain range. They occur most densely near the town of Musina, and the Musina Nature Reserve was created specifically to protect these trees so that future generations can enjoy them too.
What’s so fascinating about these trees is their ability to regenerate damaged bark and survive fire. They create their own eco-systems and support thousands of creatures that eat their leaves, make homes in the bark, live in the branches, and drink the nectar from the flowers. They have been adopted by the Limpopo province as one of its tourism icons.The reserve is home to the rare sable antelope, as well as zebra, giraffe, kudu, and eland. There are several picnic sites with braai areas, hiking trails, and a guest house on site. | https://www.travelground.com/attractions/musina-nature-reserve |
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The baobab or Adansonia digitata is a tree from the genus Adansonia of the Malvaceae family of the dicotyledonous class. Most typical for the African savannah.
One of the thickest trees - the trunk circumference reaches 25 m, the height is 18-25 m. The leaves are palmate, falling in the heat; flowers are large (up to 20 cm in diameter), white; fruits are long, similar to huge cucumbers, develop in the hot season.
The baobab lives up to 4-5 thousand years. The fruits contain soft juicy edible pulp.
Other species of the genus Adansonia (10 in total) are common in Africa, Madagascar and Northern Australia, but none of these species reaches the size of a baobab.
The baobab got its name in honor of the French botanist Michel Adanson, who studied Africa in the 18th century. The baobab is the national symbol of Madagascar.
Baobab myths
The baobab, like the African tree, is dry. On the contrary, precisely because the baobab grows in arid areas, it was forced to adapt to this area: the tree absorbs water in the rainy season like a huge sponge (which explains their incredible thickness), and does not allow this water to evaporate, already thick, up to 10 centimeters, soft outside and strong enough inside, baobab bark.
The baobab is pollinated by ... bats. The white flowers from the globular buds of the baobab usually appear towards night, spreading around them a rather pleasant aroma that invariably attracts bats known as palm fruit bats. During the night, the mice do their pollination, after which the flowers wither, begin to smell disgusting and, finally, fall off.
Baobabs can live for thousands of years. This can be explained by their special vitality and ability to put down roots in almost any state, even when felled. However, the lifespan of these trees has not been fully determined by scientists. According to some versions, supported by radiocarbon analysis, the age of the baobab can be up to 5500 years, according to others - only up to 1000.
The baobab fruit is edible. Covered with a thick, shaggy skin, the oblong fruits of the baobab, which resemble cucumbers, contain a sourish pulp with black seeds inside, which is very popular with both baboons and humans. Until recently, baobab was banned from eating in Europe, but a couple of years ago, permission was obtained and now fruit cocktails, muesli and cereal bars will be prepared for Europeans from baobab fruits.
Baobab can be used to make lemonade and coffee. To do this, the pulp of the baobab, which tastes like ginger, must be dried, ground into powder and diluted in water. The resulting drink will taste like lemonade and not only cool the drinker, but also feed him with vitamins C and B. Well-roasted baobab seeds are more suitable for coffee.
The bottle tree is also a baobab tree. Only it grows not in Africa, but in Australia and is called more modestly - "boab" (or "Adanosia Gregory", in honor of the Australian traveler-topographer Charles Augustus Gregory). By the way, this is the only type of baobab grown in Australia.
The baobab is a delicacy for elephants. African giants eat them almost entirely, and not only the leaves and branches, but also the trunk.
The baobab is one of the thickest trees in the world. The average trunk circumference of the baobab is 9-10 meters, while the height of the tree ranges from 18-25 meters, and the crown diameter reaches 40.
Baobabs are getting thicker and thicker every year. As surprising as it may sound, baobabs not only do not increase dramatically in size, but sometimes even become smaller. This is probably due to the consumption of water accumulated inside the trunk.
Baobab is an excellent cure for many diseases. Baobab pulp powder boosts immunity, lowers cholesterol, and reduces menstrual pain. Baobab is especially good for the skin - it not only improves its condition, but also nourishes the skin, relieves irritation, inflammation and restores the epidermis in case of a burn.
You can live in a baobab. There are cases when the hollow (from time to time) trunk of the baobab was used as a prison, bus stop or sleeping place. In some countries, adventurous residents set up shops and pubs in this huge African tree. | https://tt.south-india-tourism.com/2858-baobab.html |
Ombalantu Baobab Tree Heritage Centre: A Symbol of Security
There are so many Baobab Trees in Ombalantu but this one Omukwa waNakafingo Na Temba, as local people affectionately knowing it, has a very significant history. I would like to highlight a few key points about the tree.
The commanding age: Historical records in the community where it occur estimate its age to be 750 years. Scientific research has been taken two years ago and the age determined through carbon dating.
The size: We have seen big Baobab Trees in various countries in Africa and we have seen some which stand taller than the one at Outapi (Ombalantu) in the northern part of Namibia. However, the trunk of our tree is 8.1 meter wide and it is still growing.
The hollowed out chamber: On the side of the trunk, near the base of the stem of the Baobab Tree, you can find an opening leading into a hollowed out chamber. The space inside has a capacity to accommodate at least 40-60 people standing. People entering its chamber, looked around, lift up their eyes and wonder since it is strange to be in a room that is alive.
The Historical significance: After Ombalantu King Kamhaku kaHuhwa died, his subjects therefore remained without a King. People from neighbouring tribes took advantage of the situation and periodically attacked the Mbalantus, stealing their cattle and capturing their people as slaves. These were difficult years in the Ombalantu society. The invaders indeed referred to the Ombalantu people as Aakwanakatati which means “Kingless” people who only depend on their bows and arrows to defend themselves against other tribes.
The elders selected some of the big Baobab Trees and cut out chambers inside the main trunk which extended high up inside the trees. They made a neat entrance into each cavity which could be closed by a door. Women and children could be protected inside these chambers in times of invasion by other tribes. Men took positions high up inside the tree using ladders. They cut small holes through the wall of the upper trunk to allowed fresh air to enter the chamber and through which they might fire arrows from their bows. Wood and mud walls were also built around the trees to make them into natural fortresses. The village houses and kraals for their livestock were built around these legendary Baobab Trees. These strategic plans made the work of the adversaries very difficult, thus the Baobab Trees provided protection to the people of Ombalantu and mean that Baobab trees still have a special meaning for our community.
A post office Tree: Ombalantu Baobab Tree was later used as a Post Office. Individuals writing letters to relatives and friends would take their messages there, which would be collected from inside the Baobab Tree chamber.
A chapel: For a time after the advent of European missionaries, the Ombalantu Baobab Tree was used as a Chapel. The unique Baobab Tree was thus not just a tree: it was a refuge, it was a fortress, it was a sanctuary, it was a post office, it is part of our history, and it remains a reflection of the powers of the imagination.
Baobab Trees with similar features also played a remarkable role, particularly in safeguarding the Mbalantus during the tribal wars. Ones that are still identified and known by their individual names in the community include Mwanyangapo Baobab, Mukokotwa Baobab, Farm Baobab, Girls Baobab, Elungu Baobab, Shikwiya Baobab and Nyamukandi Baobab amongst others. All these Baobab Trees had refuge chambers carved into them, although some of these chambers have closed over time. However the Ombalantu Baobab Tree remains the most famous.
The Ombalantu Baobab Tree is located in the Town of Outapi in Omusati Region (Northern part of Namibia), along the Outapi-Tsandi road (M123) and is close the Oshakati-Ruacana road (C46). | http://www.omusatirc.gov.na/de/ombalantu-baobab-tree-heritage-centre |
The Pundamilia Safari – zebra in Swahili – is a photographic safari showcasing the wildlife from almost every national park in northern Tanzania, an area better known as the Rift Valley.
On the first day, leaving from Moshi or Arusha, we head to Tarangire National Park. This is famous for its huge baobab trees and for the large herds of elephants that seek water from the river that gives the park its name, the Tarangire river.
On the second day, we will drive to Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, which has a diameter of 15 kilometers and is 600 deep. These characteristics make this crater Africa’s biggest caldera. There we can find a wide range of wildlife species, and even see Africa’s “Big Five” - elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard.
On the third day both the park and the landscape change – Serengeti, bordering Ngorongoro, is Africa’s biggest and wildest park. In the Maasai language it means ‘endless plains’, and it is well known for the massive migration of wildebeest and zebras that are in search of better pasture. Halfway there, we can visit the Olduvai Gorge or "cradle of mankind". A must for anyone interested in early human evolution.
The fourth and fifth days will be devoted to exploring this great savannah where we can find landscapes as different as rivers, acacia forests, and plains. We can also see big families of lions and other big cats, along with hippos, elephants, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, antelopes, monkeys…
On our sixth day, we set course for Lake Manyara. On our way there we can pay a visit to the local markets or take a bicycle tour in the parks surroundings, which is a great way to learn about the local people.
On the seventh and last day, we will visit Lake Manyara National Park, an alkaline lake hosting a huge variety of birds like flamingos or pelicans, and in whose forests we can admire elephants, zebras, and a myriad of wild animals, in addition to the tree-climbing lions. | http://www.moshimaasaiexperience.com/en/experiences/pundamilia-safari/ |
Situated in the north-eastern part of South Africa, at the border with Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is the world-renowned Kruger National Park.
Fantastic safari experiences await you here at one of Africa’s largest national parks.
Dream of visiting Kruger? Find out what you can experience at the national park below.
Kruger National Park is South Africa’s oldest national park and at the top of Africa’s list of safari destinations.
The park extends approximately 350 km from north to south and 65 km from east to west. Covering an area of around 20,000 km², Kruger is also South Africa’s largest national park.
Kruger’s history dates back to 1898, when part of the park was designated as a game reserve. The park was previously used as a hunting area. In 1926, the two areas, Shingwedzi Game Reserve and Sabie Game Reserve were merged to create Kruger National Park. The park was opened to visitors in 1927, and today, Kruger is visited by around one million people a year.
In Kruger, you will find fantastic African nature.
The landscape of the park is extremely varied, so many different types of animals thrive here.
Kruger also has several permanent rivers and waterholes, which herds of elephants and many other animals make their way to every day to drink water. Two of the main rivers are the Crocodile River and the Sabie River. In Kruger, you will also find woodland inhabited by greater kudus – a large species of antelope recognisable by its spiral horns.
The park boasts very diverse flora. Everything grows here, from palm trees to cacti. On the savannah, you will, for example, see umbrella trees, which, as the name suggests, have an umbrella-shaped crown.
One of the most characteristic trees in the park is the huge baobab tree, which can live for up to 1,000 years. The baobab tree has a thick trunk, which can store a lot of water, and a sparse crown. Due to the size of its crown, the tree almost looks as if it is planted upside-down, with its roots in the air.
Kruger National Park offers amazing and varied wildlife. Around 150 species of mammals live in the park, plus more than 500 species of birds and 114 reptile species.
So, on Kruger’s savannah, you are in with a very good chance of seeing all the iconic safari animals, such as Africa’s big five, hippos, kudus, antelopes, warthogs, hyenas, waterbucks and herds of zebras, impalas, buffaloes and many, many more besides. You may also be lucky enough to see some of Africa’s more endangered animal species, such as the black rhino, the leopard and wild dogs.
It’s always a wonderful experience to see Africa’s predators at such close range. And you get to do just that in Kruger National Park.
The predators thrive here as the park is home to so much prey.
Around 1,000 leopards live in the park, making it one of the best places in Africa to spot the big cat. The leopard is nocturnal, which means that it hunts at night and early in the morning. It is therefore rare to see the cat in hunting during the day. The leopard is also extremely shy, but if you’re lucky, you might see it sleeping in the top of a tree during the day.
The cheetah is a somewhat rarer experience. There are fewer than 1,000 cheetahs remaining in South Africa, around 120 of which live in Kruger. The national park is a great place to catch a glimpse of the speedy animal. The cheetah is found in more open areas, where it hunts.
The lion is the predator most often associated with safari, and it is also the predator spotted most often, as Kruger’s lion population is relatively large. Some 1,600 lions live in the park. The lions like to hang out in the shade as it’s too hot in the sun, as well as in dense woodland or scrub, where they can hide and get as close to their prey as possible. The lion is a gregarious animal, so you will most likely see several lions at once during your safari.
Home to more than 500 different bird species, Kruger National Park is a paradise for bird enthusiasts.
The summer period, between December and February, is peak season for birds here, as this is when the migrating birds from Europe and other parts of the world arrive in Kruger. But beautiful birds can be seen in the park all year round, such as the rhinoceros hornbill, the lilac-breasted roller, the marabou stork and many more exotic bird species.
One of the common birds in the park is the beautiful glossy starling, which resides in the tree tops and which is recognisable by its dark plumage with a turquoise-green sheen.
And it goes without saying that Kruger also offers lots of birds of prey, which glide above the savannah in search of small animals. There are, in fact, 58 different birds of prey here, including eagles, falcons and vultures.
Kruger National Park offers wonderful experiences – right up close.
If you have any questions about going on safari in Kruger National Park, please feel free to contact our travel specialists. You can also read more about the best time to visit Kruger National Park here.
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We have redesigned since you last visited us, but our tours are still the same. | https://www.africasafari.co.uk/blog/kruger-national-park-in-south-africa.htm |
Perth is the main gateway of Western Australia, where most tours in this wonderful state of Australia will either start or finish. Perth has a modern business district where it is nice to spend some hours hiking among skyscrapers and small green areas, while nearby Fremantle offers a beautiful historic center with colonial-style buildings and a chance to visit the old prisons, now UNESCO site.
Perth is a modern city and is the capital of Western Australia: for its location, many trips to Western Australia will either start and/or finish right from this city. Perth was founded in 1829 as a colony along Swan River, mainly by European galleys who were deported here to obtain labor at a very low cost. Currently, Perth downtown is an agglomeration of skyscrapers with a nice architecture, where it is pleasant to spend a few hours strolling through shopping streets and small green areas.
The Stirling Gardens gardens, with kangaroo statues, on the corner between St Georges Terrace and Barrack Street.
Photos of Perth: skyscrapers, small green areas and a shopping street. The center of Perth has a rather limited extension and can be easily walked in a short time.
The architecture of Perth is very interesting, with a kind of contrast between ancient and modern styles.
A very interesting green area where to relax and be in touch with nature is Kings Park. The park is located on a small hill not far from the downtown and offers beautiful views over the city and Swan River. Kings Park includes a memorial dedicated by family members to Western Australian service men and women who died in World War I and World War II, while a botanical garden hosts numerous rare native plants of Australia.
A secular baobab at Kings Park, Perth. Baobab grows predominantly in the Savannah occupying the tropical belt of Western Australia (mainly in the Kimberly).
More photos of Kings Park, with flowering plants, colorful birds and large green areas.
The Xanthorrhoea preissii, also known as balga or grasstree, is a plant that can be found along limited areas of western Australia. It is called "grass tree" because when adult, has a trunk that can be up to 3 meters high.
In Kings Park you can see numerous species of Banksia, shrubs and small native trees of Australia, which produce elegant inflorescences of various shapes and colors.
Less than 20 kilometers from Perth, linked by trains and buses, Fremantle is a town that is certainly a "not to be missed" place if you have at least half a day's time. The old town has colonial-style buildings built since 1829, when the small local population was integrated by the prisoners from Europe in order to obtain an adequate workforce to build Perth and Fremantle itself.
The Round House is the oldest historic building in Western Australia and its construction dates back to 1830-1831. For its position on top of a cliff, it was used as a fortress and as a jail before the main prison of Fremantle was built.
Fremantle Prison was built by the first prisoners deported to Australia and housed the criminal colony itself before being converted into a regular jail. The Fremantle Prison was definitively closed in 1991 and is currently included in the UNESCO Heritage List for its historical and cultural value.
The Fremantle Prison was built by the first prisoners deported to Australia and housed the criminal colony itself, before being converted into a regular jail. The Fremantle Prison was definitively closed in 1991 and is now included in the UNESCO Heritage Site list for its historical and cultural value.
Initially the cells in the Fremantle Prison were very small and had only room for a narrow hammock and a bedside table (photo on the left), while the isolation cell, used as a punishment, was totally empty.
Subsequently the cells were progressively improved: regular beds were added, with the cell that could be shared with a friend. In very rare occasions, prisoners were given the opportunity to practice some hobbies, such as painting (photo at bottom left).
In Fremantle jail, 44 death sentences were executed by hanging between 1889 and 1964. The death penalty was officially abolished in Western Australia in 1984.
After visiting Fremantle, I choose to return to Perth by ferry: the journey time is about an hour and you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes along the Swan River and the harbor.
The neighborhood of Elizabeth Quay in Perth, not far from the harbor and the skyscrapers of the center. | https://www.travel-tour-guide.com/western_australia/01-perth-in-one-day-and-fremantle.htm |
The cluster of millennia-old baobab trees in the Nxai Pan National Park in Botswana owes its name to the man known to have discovered them. Thomas Baines, artist and fellow explorer to John Chapman, captured in paint the scene in 1862 on a trip through the expansive salt pans, en route to the Victoria Falls. Baines’ Baobabs, as they are known today, are a sight sought by many travellers venturing into the untamed terrain of Botswana.
The horse-drawn event of the 1800s, an era buried in history, took Baines and Chapman through wild Botswana and across the bare Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and eventually, to the oasis of ancient baobab trees. This pit stop was painted; a wagon-filled campsite beneath 7 towering ‘upside-down trees’. The appearance of the broad, gnarled trees has barely changed over 150 years and what visitors see today is almost identical to the sight depicted by Baines on a pioneer mission through Africa in the 19th century.
In place of the ox wagons are 4x4s, and a journey that would have taken months is now accessible to any self-drivers with the tread in their tyres and the desire in their hearts to explore some of the most historically significant and awe-inspiring areas of remote Botswana. Baines’ two year trip from Namibia to Victoria Falls was a death-defying journey, riddled with risk and dominated by danger.
The entourage travelled on horses and by foot, joined on various legs of the journey by local tribesmen to lead the group through the unfamiliar land. Many members of the group died en route, falling ill, and dying of starvation or dehydration was commonplace. Baines was, many times, deserted by his guides who had swiftly taken off with his supplies in the middle of the night. It was a harsh and trying expedition, but one notable stop at the phenomenal baobab island has cemented his place in African history.
A trip into Nxai Pan National Park has eased up over the centuries since Baines’ trip, but it is still an adventure for experienced campers. The deserted pan, which the baobabs overlook – Kudiakam Pan – is not a permitted camping area and visitors are expected to carry enough food, water, fuel and other supplies to travel in comfort in this bizarrely beautiful region of Botswana.
Kudiakam Pan is one of the three largest pans neighbouring the more famous Makgadikgadi Pans, changing drastically and beautifully with the rains. The starkly dry and cracked salt surface of the pan remains bare and uninterrupted for most of the year, changing briefly after summer downpours that drench the land, encouraging the intermittent growth of water lilies.
Regardless of the rains, Baines’ Baobabs stand tall (and wide); a landmark and attraction only gaining value and significance as they age. On the same trip in 1862, John Chapman, Baines’ travelling companion, landmarked an exceptionally large and impressively ancient baobab tree said to be 4 000 years old. This 25m (trunk diameter) tree is known as Chapman’s Tree and is located nearby in the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Nxai Pan National Park, whose original borders were extended in 1992 to include Baines’ Baobabs (now a national monument), has been nicknamed the Garden of Eden; an unexpected name to give an area abandoned by the lakes that used to reside on its surfaces. This complimentary nickname stems from Nxai Pan’s fleeting summer makeover, which sees the area adorned with greenery, grass and gallivanting gazelles. Here, among the mopanes and umbrella thorns, thrives populations of kudu, giraffe, jackals and lions. Elephants, zebras, bat-eared foxes, ostriches and astounding bird species flock to the emerald pastures with invigoration.
This lesser known national park of Botswana, said to be named after a hooked metal rod used to remove springhares from their holes, has an allure appreciated by wanderers seeking the silence of a road less travelled. There are other attractions in the area, such as the ‘old trek route,’ used in the 1950s as a cattle transport route, and the ‘Bushmen Pits’; man-made hunting hides.
Be prepared to bump around on rough terrain, and check the weather before you set off, but pay a visit to Baines’ Baobabs and bask in the wonder of eras lived before you.
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Genetic diversity and demographic evolution of baobab (Adansonia digitata L., Bombacoideae, Malvaceae) populations in Senegalese Sahelian areas
African Journal of Biotechnology. Vol. 12(38), pp. 5627-5639, 18 September, 2013.
Amadou Lamine NDOYE1, Toffène DIOME2,3, Mame Codou GUEYE4, Mbacké SEMBENE2,3 and
Mame Ourèye SY1*
SummaryThis study evaluated the spatial genetic structure of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) populations from
three agroecological sites located in sahelian zone of Senegal using ITS1, 5.8S rDNA and ITS2 gene
sequences. To determine the extent of isolation, gene sequences were analyzed between and among
three sahelian baobab populations. At least 25 haplotypes of baobab (A. digitata L.) were revealed in
Senegal (6, 9 and 10, respectively in Dakar, Bandia and Widou Thiengoly). Private haplotypes found in
each locality show that there is an adaptation of the plant to environmental conditions prevailing in
each site. Indeed, nucleotide diversity was more important in Dakar (0.00527) ; it ranges from 0.00483 to
0.00060 for Bandia and Widou populations, respectively. Curves of mismatch distribution show that the
population of Ferlo has undergone a recent demographic expansion. Although Bandia and Dakar
populations were polyphyletic ; each shows a balanced expansion. Fst values ranging from 0.62946 to
0.90712 correlates a strong genetic differentiation between sites. A correlation between geographic and
genetic distances was not highlighted by the Mantel’s test but phylogenetic trees of maximum
likelihood and Bayesian inference have assigned two clades demonstrating that population of Ferlo
(Widou) form a different ecotype from those of Bandia and Dakar.
Key words : ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, Adansonia digitata, haplotype, genetic diversity, demographic evolution. | http://www.ceraas.org/Genetic-diversity-and-demographic.html |
Among the nine affected trees were four of Africa's largest baobabs.
Overall, five of the six largest baobabs either died or their oldest parts significantly deteriorated.
None of the trees showed obvious signs of infection, the researchers found, and the pattern of deaths did not fit what would be expected had the die-off been caused by a contagious disease. Over 15 years, Patrut identified about 60 of the largest and oldest baobabs. The work also addresses the mystery of why so many of these odd trees are dying.
The researchers set out to date the trees, but discovered that they were dying in an "event of unprecedented magnitude", they write.
Also known as "dead-rat" trees, after the shape of their fruit, baobab trees have stout, branchless trunks.
Scientists have been monitoring the baobab trees across southern Africa since 2005.
If climate change is truly the culprit, this is just the latest evidence of how our careless addiction to carbon is damaging the sensitive ecosystems around us in ways that could be irrevocable.
Despite typical lifespans of hundreds or even thousands of years, Africa's baobab trees are dying off rapidly, according to a new study by ecologists.
The new research, by Adrian Patrut of Babes-Bolyai University in Romania and an global group of colleagues, finds that in the past 12 years, "9 of the 13 oldest and 5 of the 6 largest individuals have died, or at least their oldest parts/stems have collapsed and died". So the scientists instead used accelerator mass spectrometry to perform radiocarbon dating on samples from the largest, oldest trees in southern Africa.
Study leader Adrian Patrut‚ from Babes-Bolyai University in Romania‚ said: "It is definitely shocking and dramatic to experience during our lifetime the demise of so many trees with millennial ages".
Beginning in Spring 2016, the tree began to split apart.
The others saw the death of one or several parts. But in 2011 the oldest known specimen-a shrine for rainmakers named Panke that sprouted about 2450 years ago-died and toppled over.
The latest survey of ancient baobabs suggests climate change may already be affecting the continent's vegetation.
"We suspect this is associated with increased temperature and drought", Dr Patrut told BBC News. The common theory, Baum said, is that as the tree slowly grows around these scars, they can become large hollows. Dry conditions and increasing temperatures might have something to do with the sudden deaths, but the scientists say that more research is needed to know for sure.
Whatever the cause, these mysterious deaths will have a big impact on the southern African landscape. Again, it's hard to determine exactly what caused their demise, but the researchers strongly suspect the deaths are associated at least partly "with significant modifications of climate conditions that affect southern Africa in particular". | http://theinsidercarnews.com/2018/06/13/africas-most-famous-trees-are-collapsing-and-scientists/ |
The 4 hour taxi drive to the Lake is at times startling. Andrew, our driver, laughs a lot and tells me tall tales, his foot heavy on the accelerator. We take a “short cut”, a dirt track through a village, a masked man, frighteningly dressed in rags and straw, shakes his fist – apparently a Nyao, a member of the secret cult of Gule Wamkulu (Big Dance). We regain the tarmaced road and speed up and down hills, brakes applied frequently as goats stroll languidly in our path. I am on my way from Lilongwe, through a dry, dry landscape to the haven of Lake Malawi.
Malawi is a landlocked country, once heavily forested. Clearly the areas we pass through are suffering from severe deforestation, due to shifting agriculture, wood as fuel, and a fast growing population. As we near the Lake, the scenery changes – the occasional vast bulk of baobab trees with their swollen trunks dot the horizon. I have seen these trees before, many years ago, when I was working in Limpopo Province, South Africa; some specimens there were said to be over a thousand years old.
The Adansonia (commonly known as the baobab) can store water in its trunk, rather like a camel I suppose as both have adapted to survive very arid conditions. It is sometimes known as the Tree of Life, for obvious reasons, and recent studies have shown how important a source of Vitamin C and calcium the seedpods are, widely used traditionally. Elephants will track down a baobab and strip its bark for moisture.
And so on to the beautiful Lake – all that expanse of water is very welcome. It is home to more species of fish than any other lake, including over 1000 species of cichlids. Fish eagles perch on trees, their distinctive call to wake us in the morning.
I trudge across the sandy shore in search of my son, one of the organisers of the Lake of Stars music festival, and prepare to be entertained for 3 days on the enchanting shores of Lake Malawi, here in the “warm heart of Africa”. | https://jardindesign.org/2014/10/27/in-the-land-of-baobab-trees/ |
Mazie National Park was established in 2005 G.C. It is 210 square kilometers wide.
Location: Maze National Park is one of the wildlife conservation areas known for its good population of the critically endangered endemic Swayne’s Hartebeests population and located 460km and 235 south west of Addis Ababa and Hawassa, respectively, in Gamo-Gofa Zone.
Drainage: The Park is fortunate in possessing a number of rivers and streams which ultimately drains to Omo River. The name of the park derived after the largest river that crosses the park called Maze River.
Wildlife: The Park is covered by savannah grassland with scattered deciduous broad leave trees as well as River basin association along the main watercourses. The Wild animal of the MzNP supports a wide range of savannah species. So far 39 larger and medium sized mammals and 196 birds’ species have been recorded. It is one of the three sites in the world where good population of the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest’s population still survive. Besides, orbi, Bohor red buck, buffalo, warthog, bushbuck, waterbuck, greater kudu, lesser kudu, bush pig, Anubus baboon, verevt monkey, lion, leopard, wild cats, serval cat are among others common species.
Access: The road from Sodo to the park is all-weather gravel road covering a distance of 83km. It is also possible to use the road from Jinka to Betomela form the other sides of the park.
Bilbo/Halo Hot Spring: is situated at the upper parts of Maze River in the park. It is a form of geyser, which shoot up hot water from deep inside the ground. The smoke released from this hot spring, cover wide area and seen from a distance. People from far areas and local people used it as traditional medicine.
Wenja Stone Cave: Natural rock cave that can hold up to 300 people. According to legends, in the past, the site was used to punish criminal/ unlawful member of the community.
Religious Site in Chosho Market: There are two oldest big trees in Chosho Market. These trees are believed as justice giving (court) by the local residence for any disagreement that may arise among them. The site is locally called “Kaouwo welloa” meaning the king’s tree. | https://actiontourethiopia.com/maze-national-park/ |
Glenda Comai et al.
Tbx1-Isl1-Met defines a unique genetic hierarchy that regulates esophagus myogenesis and patterning in the mouse.
Cancer Biology
Developmental Biology
Coopted temporal patterning governs cellular hierarchy, heterogeneity and metabolism in
Drosophila
neuroblast tumors
Sara Genovese et al.
About twenty temporal patterning genes are identified that drive an irreversible differentiation trajectory governing the heterogeneity and proliferative properties of cells in neural tumors with an early developmental origin.
Developmental Biology
Neuroscience
Radial glia regulate vascular patterning around the developing spinal cord
Ryota L Matsuoka et al.
Identification of a novel role for central nervous system-resident progenitors in the patterning of the vascular network around the developing spinal cord.
Developmental Biology
Lin28a/let-7
pathway modulates the
Hox
code via
Polycomb
regulation during axial patterning in vertebrates
Tempei Sato et al.
Genetic analyses reveal that the loss of Lin28a causes axial shortening with mild skeletal transformations via decreased PRC1 at Hox genes, establishing a new pathway in the “Hox code.”.
Developmental Biology
A minimally sufficient model for rib proximal-distal patterning based on genetic analysis and agent-based simulations
Jennifer L Fogel et al.
Specification and expansion during rib development is explained by Agent-Based Modeling while respecting the locality of decision-making that occurs as millions of cells coordinate their behavior to form and refine spatial pattern.
Developmental Biology
Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
Neural stem cell temporal patterning and brain tumour growth rely on oxidative phosphorylation
Jelle van den Ameele, Andrea H Brand
Mitochondrial dysfunction in neural stem cells and brain tumour cells decreases proliferation and affects the generation of neuronal diversity and tumour heterogeneity.
Developmental Biology
Evolutionary Biology
Molecular insights into the origin of the Hox-TALE patterning system
Bruno Hudry et al.
Interactions between Hox and TALE genes, which generate bilaterally symmetrical body plans, originated in early multicellular animals.
Developmental Biology
Ordered patterning of the sensory system is susceptible to stochastic features of gene expression
Ritika Giri et al.
How gene expression noise is regulated is critical for cell fate and tissue patterning.
Developmental Biology
Evolutionary Biology
The mlpt/Ubr3/Svb module comprises an ancient developmental switch for embryonic patterning
Suparna Ray et al.
mille-pattes
micropeptides have conserved function in insect embryonic patterning together with transcription factor Shaven-baby and ubiquitin ligase Ubr3, except in flies wherein restoring broad embryonic Svb expression restores patterning potency.
Computational and Systems Biology
Developmental Biology
High-throughput mathematical analysis identifies Turing networks for patterning with equally diffusing signals
Luciano Marcon et al.
Realistic reaction-diffusion signaling networks that include cell-autonomous factors can robustly form self-organizing spatial patterns for any combination of diffusion coefficients without requiring differential diffusivity. | https://elifesciences.org/search?for=patterning&sort=relevance&order=descending&page=2 |
What is gene expression?
Gene expression is the activation of a gene that results in a polypeptide or protein. The expression of some genes results in the production of a protein that can turn on or switch off other genes. Transcription factors
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Body plans Every organism has a unique body pattern because of the influence of HOMEOBOX genes. These specify how different areas of the body develop their individual structures, eg. Arms, legs etc Homeobox genes were discovered when geneticists studying fruit flies found mutants with legs growing where their antennae should be and 2 sets of wings instead of 1.
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Homeotic Genes Homeotic genes are regulatory genes that determine where certain anatomical structures, such as appendages, will develop in an organism during morphogenesis. These seem to be the master genes of development Mutant with legs growing out of head Normal
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Antennapedia complex (group of Homeobox genes)
5 genes that affect the anterior part of the fly When mutated, legs grow instead of antennae
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Bithorax gene complex (3 homeobox genes affecting thoracic development)
Normal – wings on 2nd thoracic segment and 2 halteres on 3rd thoracic segment (far left photo, halteres in white) Mutant – 3rd segment has wings so 2 sets of wings and no halteres
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Homeotic genes encode homeotic proteins that function as transcription factors which switch on other genes The Homeobox is a coding sequence within homeotic genes which contains 180 base-pair sequences, codes for 60 amino acid polypeptide Encodes homeodomain for DNA binding
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Homeobox In Drosophila (fruit flies) the specific DNA sequence within a homeotic gene that regulates patterns of development is the homeobox. The same or very similar homeobox sequences have been found in many other eukaryotic organisms
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Homeobox (HOX genes) The HOX genes encode important transcription factors. These specify cell fate and identify the embryonic pattern along the primary axis (anterior/posterior) As well as the secondary axis (genital and limb bud) Major role Development of CNS, axial skeleton, positioning of limbs as well as the gastrointestinal and urogenital tract. Homeotic genes involved in spatial pattern control and development contain a conserved 180-bp sequence known as homeobox. This encodes a 60-amino-acid domain that binds to DNA. The Hox proteins regulate other “executive” genes that encode transcription factors or morphogen signals, as well as operating at many other levels, on genes that mediate cell adhesion, cell division rates, cell death and cell movement. In Humans as in most vertebrates there are 4 homeobox gene clusters (39 HOX genes), located on chromosomes 7p14, 17q21,12q13 and 7q31. Drosophila has eight Hox genes arranged in a single cluster on a single chromosome.
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A. Drosophila's eight Hox genes in a single cluster and 39 HOX genes in humans. B. Expression patterns of Hox and HOX genes along the anterior-posterior axis in invertebrates and vertebrates.
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Hox genes Three lines of evidence support the idea that Hox gene complexity has been instrumental in the evolution and speciation of animals with different body patterns Hox genes are known to control body development General trend for simpler animals to have fewer Hox genes and Hox gene clusters Comparison of Hox gene evolution and animal evolution bear striking parallel
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Hox genes Found in all animals
Genetic variation may have been critical event in the formation of new body plans Number and arrangement of Hox genes varies among different types of animals Increases in the number of Hox genes may have led to greater complexity in body structure
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Hox genes in the Animal Kingdom
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Fruit flies have only one Antennepedia-bithorax complex
Humans and many other vertebrates have 4 similar Hox gene clusters They probably arose through gene duplication Hox genes shape the number and appearance of body segments (repeated structures) along the main body axes of both vertebrates and invertebrates
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How is a multicellular organism made?
Polarity Even before fertilisation an egg has a gradient of proteins that help to establish its polarity (which end becomes the head or anterior and which is the tail, posterior) After fertilisation “Maternal Effect” genes reinforce this polarity and also establish the dorsal (back) and ventral (belly) orientation Polarity is the formation of the axis by which the embryo differentiates Once the orientation is in place other genes are switched on Segmentation occurs driven by Gap genes, Pair rule Genes and Segmentation genes Finally the Homeotic Selector genes are switched on These control the final specialised development of each segment See Page 114 Text book
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Animal development Drosophila model
Fertilised egg establishes the pattern for the adult body plan Elongated cell with positional information After fertilization, zygote develops into blastoderm Series of nuclear divisions without cytoplasmic division (produces many free nuclei) synctial blastoderm Individual cells are created after nuclei line up along cell membrane (cellular blastoderm) See page 114
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Gastrulation involves cells migrating to the interior
3 cell layers formed- ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm Segmented body plan develops Head, thorax and abdomen, segmentation established Larva – free living Pupa – undergoes metamorphosis Adult Egg to adult in 10 days
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A Homologous Group of Homeotic Genes Is Found in All Animals
Vertebrate Hox genes are homologous to those that control development in simpler organisms such as Drosophila Homologous genes are evolutionarily derived from the same ancestral gene and have similar DNA sequences Hox genes in mice Follow colinearity rule Key role in patterning anteroposterior axis
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Homeotic genes in Mus The mouse has Hox genes on 4 different chromosomes Hox genes are similar to those found in invertebrates but spread across more chromosomes
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Four general phases for body formation
Organize body along major axes Organize into smaller regions (organs, legs) Cells organize to produce body parts Cells themselves change morphologies and become differentiated
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Hox genes determine the number and types of vertebrae in animals
Hoxc-6 determines that in the chicken the 7 vertebrae will develop into ribs Snake: Hoxc-6 is expanded dramatically toward the head and toward the rear so all these vertebrae develop ribs.
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Positional information during development
Each cell in the body must become the appropriate cell type based on its relative position. Each cell receives positional information that tells it where to go and what to become. Cells may respond by Cell division, cell migration, cell differentiation or cell death (apoptosis)
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Position or Spatial Organization is Everything
2 main mechanisms used to communicate positional information Morphogens Cell adhesion
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Cell adhesion Each cell makes its own cell adhesion molecules (CAMs)
Positioning of a cell within a multicellular organism is strongly influenced by the combination of contacts it makes with other cells and with the extracellular matrix
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The process of animal development begins with the cleavage , or series of mitotic cell divisions, of the zygote ( [link] ). Three cell divisions transform the single-celled zygote into an eight-celled structure. After further cell division and rearrangement of existing cells, a 6–32-celled hollow structure called a blastula is formed. Next, the blastula undergoes further cell division and cellular rearrangement during a process called gastrulation. This leads to the formation of the next developmental stage, the gastrula , in which the future digestive cavity is formed. Different cell layers (called germ layers ) are formed during gastrulation. These germ layers are programmed to develop into certain tissue types, organs, and organ systems during a process called organogenesis .
Watch the following video to see how human embryonic development (after the blastula and gastrula stages of development) reflects evolution.
Since the early 19 th century, scientists have observed that many animals, from the very simple to the complex, shared similar embryonic morphology and development. Surprisingly, a human embryo and a frog embryo, at a certain stage of embryonic development, look remarkably alike. For a long time, scientists did not understand why so many animal species looked similar during embryonic development but were very different as adults. They wondered what dictated the developmental direction that a fly, mouse, frog, or human embryo would take. Near the end of the 20 th century, a particular class of genes was discovered that had this very job. These genes that determine animal structure are called “homeotic genes,” and they contain DNA sequences called homeoboxes. The animal genes containing homeobox sequences are specifically referred to as Hox genes . This family of genes is responsible for determining the general body plan, such as the number of body segments of an animal, the number and placement of appendages, and animal head-tail directionality. The first Hox genes to be sequenced were those from the fruit fly ( Drosophila melanogaster ). A single Hox mutation in the fruit fly can result in an extra pair of wings or even appendages growing from the “wrong” body part.
While there are a great many genes that play roles in the morphological development of an animal, what makes Hox genes so powerful is that they serve as master control genes that can turn on or off large numbers of other genes. Hox genes do this by coding transcription factors that control the expression of numerous other genes. Hox genes are homologous in the animal kingdom, that is, the genetic sequences of Hox genes and their positions on chromosomes are remarkably similar across most animals because of their presence in a common ancestor, from worms to flies, mice, and humans ( [link] ). One of the contributions to increased animal body complexity is that Hox genes have undergone at least two duplication events during animal evolution, with the additional genes allowing for more complex body types to evolve.
If a Hox 13 gene in a mouse was replaced with a Hox 1 gene, how might this alter animal development?
Animals constitute an incredibly diverse kingdom of organisms. Although animals range in complexity from simple sea sponges to human beings, most members of the animal kingdom share certain features. Animals are eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic organisms that ingest their food and usually develop into motile creatures with a fixed body plan. A major characteristic unique to the animal kingdom is the presence of differentiated tissues, such as nerve, muscle, and connective tissues, which are specialized to perform specific functions. Most animals undergo sexual reproduction, leading to a series of developmental embryonic stages that are relatively similar across the animal kingdom. A class of transcriptional control genes called Hox genes directs the organization of the major animal body plans, and these genes are strongly homologous across the animal kingdom.
[link] If a Hox 13 gene in a mouse was replaced with a Hox 1 gene, how might this alter animal development?
[link] The animal might develop two heads and no tail.
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In about 400 BCE, Hippocrates recognized that the environment had effects on human health and development. This concept persisted until the mid 1800s. Over the course of many years of scientific development and sophistication, this concept was forgotten by biologists as the emphasis turned to genetic parameters that define development. For many years, it was felt that all problems, large and small in humans and wild life could be explained by ones genetic make up.
In the early 1960s, Rachael Carson revived the concept that the environment played an important role in the health of animals in her classic book Silent Spring (Carson, 1962). There was much controversy surrounding her observations and she received vitriol from many interest groups. In the 1970s and 1980s, various conferences raised the prospect that the environment may be playing a role in development, but there was not much research activity, save for a small group of dedicated scientists (nicely recounted in a recent popular book (Krimsky, 2000)). Now, biologists are beginning to recognize the importance of environment-gene interactions on organism health, and particularly on development. Several interesting reviews of the effects of environment on development have appeared (Gilbert, 2001; van der Weele, 1999). Those reviews focus on such environmental effects on development as oxygen tension, temperature, and pH. Some attention is paid to other factors such as environmental hormones but there has not been a groundswell of enthusiasm from mainstream biologists to solve the question of what environmental agents are doing to developing organisms. Why is this so? I think that one possibility is that we have not found interesting new insights that would attract attention of mainstream biologists. For example, observing that a chemical may affect a receptor thereby affecting gene expression does not really add great insight into mechanisms by which agents bring about malevolent actions.
In a recent paper, David Crews defined the old toxicology as, a subject based on carcinogenesis and mortality, and suggested that the new toxicology uses a developmental model, delayed expression of toxicity, and lack of threshold (Crews et al., 2000). I agree with most of the Crews model, but when I think of toxic action, I believe we should be thinking in terms of disruption of information transfer within an organism. We know that cells are bombarded with many signals that must be sorted out, transduced and translated into information that will yield a specific cellular response. The question becomes one of what happens when embryonic cells receive signals that deceive cells. This has been addressed in a several reviews by John McLachlan (McLachlan, 1993; McLachlan, 2001). That environmental chemicals are acting at specific cellular receptors is an attractive proposal that has much credibility. However, signaling does not stop there. I think that we must now focus efforts on understanding the consequences on downstream signals that are affected, which will cause developmental disruption.
I would like to suggest that an important, but overlooked target of environmental agents, is a group of genes called Hox genes. Hox genes encode for proteins that are transcription factors, known as the homeodomain-containing proteins, or homeoproteins, which are important in regulating many aspects of embryonic development (for a recent review, see (Gehring, 1998; Lufkin, 2001). Hox genes control morphogenesis of the embryo and they encode positional information. Together the group of homeodomain proteins constitutes a code that controls morphogenesis. As I was looking at the Hox code, I was reminded of a management system that I read about many years ago. This was the PERT-CPM (Program Evaluation and Review Technique - Critical Path Management) system of management that was developed by Admiral Hymen Rickover and his staff as they were developing the Polaris nuclear submarine project in the 1950s. This program tracked the progress, accuracy and schedule of the plan (Laurant, 1998). A built-in feature of this management plan is to monitor effects of proposed changes that developed during the course of the project. Hox genes form a biological PERT-CPM system of management for developing organisms. The Hox code is Mother Natures PERT-CPM system that allows the organism to recognize which processes, if delayed or altered will disrupt the entire process.
Understanding the action of environmental toxicants on genetic signals that determine anterior-posterior axis formation and morphogenic development remain the greatest challenge for developmental toxicologists. Although the mechanisms underlying these events are still not well understood, the discovery of homeobox-containing genes provided a wealth of information about the complicated cell-cell communication that occurs during early development. The coordination of many genetic signals is required for normal development of individual structures. This coordination is further regulated by a number of environmental and hormonal cues. Hox proteins are genetically conserved; control the embryonic development of the animal body plan and critically important in many areas of development, such as patterning of the embryo and cell-type. Concentration of Hox genes is as important as the combination of Hox proteins expressed in a particular cell.
Mechanisms of toxicant-hox interactions will be important to fully understand the action of hormonally active agents in development.
Carson, R. (1962). Silent Spring (NY, NY, Houghton-Mifflin Co.).
Crews, D., Willingham, E., and Skipper, J. K. (2000). Endocrine Disruptors: Present Issues, Future Directions, Quart Rev Biol 75, 243-260.
Gehring, W. J. (1998). Master Control Genes in Development: The Homeobox Story (New Haven, CT, Yale University Press).
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Analysis of vertebrate homeobox containing genes.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
The homeobox is a 180bp motif that was originally identified as a conserved motif in a number of Drosophila genes involved in embryonic pattern formation. Homeobox containing genes have subsequently been isolated from the genome of a wide range of organisms, including vertebrates where it is hoped that they will provide insight into the process of regional specification. This work has focused on the regulation and expression of the homeobox genes of one of the four clusters in the mouse, Hox 2. The patterns of expression were studied by Northern blotting in foetal and adult tissues. Most Hox 2 genes showed expression at high levels in the 12.5 day mouse embryo and expression is often maintained in the adult. Expression of the Hox 2 genes showed tissue- and stage-specific control. Sequence comparisons revealed that certain genes from different clusters, referred to as subfamilies, show extended sequence relatedness and occupy similar positions within clusters, supporting the hypothesis that they are evolutionarily related. Comparison of their expression patterns has revealed both similarities and tissue-specific differences. Hox 2 genes displayed a complex transcription pattern in the embryo with multiple transcripts for each gene. Deletion and transfection experiments have identified sequences in the 3-untranslated region that are important for the regulation of Hox 2.1 gene expression. In an attempt to identify molecules that regulate homeobox genes, the effect of Retinoic acid (RA) was studied. In vitro experiments showed that homeobox gene expression is regulated during RA-induced differentiation of cultured cells. A correlation exists between gene position within the cluster and the anterior boundaries of expression of the Hox,2 genes. A correlation was also observed between gene location the cluster and the degree of response to RA, both in tissue culture cells and in Xenopus embryos. RA was also found to profoundly affect patterning of the rostrocaudal embryonic axis in Xenopus. Many Hox 2 genes show high levels of expression in the hindbrain and have anterior cut-offs of expression that coincide with rhombomeric boundaries. It was found that RA is capable of disrupting the morphology of rhombomeres and may be altering positional values within the hindbrain. Taken together, these findings suggest that homeobox genes might be important for the patterning of the vertebrate CNS and may be controlled, at least in part, by molecules such as RA. | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10111244/ |
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HOXB9 gene
Known as:
HOX2E
, Homeobox B9 Gene
, HOXB9
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This gene is involved in both embryonic development and transcriptional regulation.
National Institutes of Health
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Cell Differentiation process
Chemotaxis
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HOXB6 wt Allele
Papers overview
Semantic Scholar uses AI to extract papers important to this topic.
2016
2016
Endocrine disrupting chemical, bisphenol-A, induces breast cancer associated gene HOXB9 expression in vitro and in vivo.
Paromita Deb
,
Arunoday Bhan
,
+5 authors
Subhrangsu S. Mandal
Gene
2016
Corpus ID: 11264117
HOXB9 is a homeobox-containing gene that plays a key role in mammary gland development and is associated with breast and other…
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2016
2016
PCAF-mediated acetylation of transcriptional factor HOXB9 suppresses lung adenocarcinoma progression by targeting oncogenic protein JMJD6
Junhu Wan
,
Weizhi Xu
,
+7 authors
Hongquan Zhang
Nucleic acids research
2016
Corpus ID: 4415031
HOXB9 is a homeobox domain-containing transcription factor, playing an important role in embryonic development and cancer…
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2015
2015
The Role of HOXB9 and miR-196a in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Lav Darda
,
F Hakami
,
Richard Morgan
,
Craig Murdoch
,
Daniel W Lambert
,
Keith D Hunter
PloS one
2015
Corpus ID: 1848481
Background Previous studies have demonstrated that a number of HOX genes, a family of transcription factors with key roles in…
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2012
2012
HOXB9 Expression Promoting Tumor Cell Proliferation and Angiogenesis Is Associated with Clinical Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients
Hirohito Seki
,
Tetsu Hayashida
,
+6 authors
Yuko Kitagawa
Annals of Surgical Oncology
2012
Corpus ID: 19295235
BackgroundStudies have suggested that HOXB9 expression in breast cancer cells promotes cellular invasiveness, metastatic ability…
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Highly Cited
2009
Highly Cited
2009
WNT/TCF Signaling through LEF1 and HOXB9 Mediates Lung Adenocarcinoma Metastasis
Don Nguyen
,
Anne C. Chiang
,
+5 authors
Joan Massagué
Cell
2009
Corpus ID: 16682790
Metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma can occur swiftly to multiple organs within months of diagnosis. The mechanisms that confer…
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Highly Cited
2009
Highly Cited
2009
HOXB9, a gene overexpressed in breast cancer, promotes tumorigenicity and lung metastasis
Tetsu Hayashida
,
Fumiyuki Takahashi
,
+10 authors
Shyamala Maheswaran
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
2009
Corpus ID: 37702156
The mechanisms underlying tumoral secretion of signaling molecules into the microenvironment, which modulates tumor cell fate…
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2007
2007
Comprehensive analysis of homeobox genes in Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines identifies dysregulated expression of HOXB9 mediated via ERK5 signaling and BMI1.
Stefan Nagel
,
Christof Burek
,
+6 authors
Roderick A. F. Macleod
Blood
2007
Corpus ID: 26454982
Many members of the nearly 200-strong homeobox gene family have been implicated in cancer, mostly following ectopic expression…
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Highly Cited
2000
Highly Cited
2000
The Leukemia-associated Protein Btg1 and the p53-regulated Protein Btg2 Interact with the Homeoprotein Hoxb9 and Enhance Its Transcriptional Activation*
Déborah Prévôt
,
Thibault Voeltzel
,
+4 authors
Laura Corbo
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
2000
Corpus ID: 34216400
BTG1 and BTG2 belong to a family of functionally related genes involved in the control of the cell cycle. As part of an ongoing…
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Highly Cited
2000
Highly Cited
2000
Altered HOX and WNT7A expression in human lung cancer.
R. Calvo
,
James West
,
+10 authors
Harry A. Drabkin
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences…
2000
Corpus ID: 25134801
HOX genes encode transcription factors that control patterning and cell fates. Alterations in HOX expression have been clearly…
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Highly Cited
1999
Highly Cited
1999
Paralogous mouse Hox genes, Hoxa9, Hoxb9, and Hoxd9, function together to control development of the mammary gland in response to pregnancy.
Fannie W. Chen
,
Mario R Capecchi
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences…
1999
Corpus ID: 11143195
Although the role of Hox genes in patterning the mammalian body plan has been studied extensively during embryonic and fetal…
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, | https://www.semanticscholar.org/topic/HOXB9-gene/650675 |
Genome editing demonstrates that the −5 kb Nanog enhancer regulates Nanog expression by modulating RNAPII initiation and/or recruitmentTranscriptional enhancers have been defined by their ability to operate independent of distance and orientation in plasmid-based reporter assays of gene expression. At present, histone marks are used to identify and define enhancers but do not consider the endogenous role of an enhancer in the context of native chromatin. We employed a combination of genomic editing, single cell analyses, and sequencing approaches to investigate a Nanog-associated cis-regulatory element, which has been reported by others to be either an alternative promoter or a super-enhancer.
Importance of endothelial Hey1 expression for thoracic great vessel development and its distal enhancer for Notch-dependent endothelial transcriptionThoracic great vessels such as the aorta and subclavian arteries are formed through dynamic remodeling of embryonic pharyngeal arch arteries (PAAs). Previous work has shown that loss of a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Hey1 in mice causes abnormal fourth PAA development and lethal great vessel anomalies resembling congenital malformations in humans. However, how Hey1 mediates vascular formation remains unclear. In this study, we revealed that Hey1 in vascular endothelial cells, but not in smooth muscle cells, played essential roles for PAA development and great vessel morphogenesis in mouse embryos.
Mediator complex subunit Med19 binds directly GATA transcription factors and is required with Med1 for GATA-driven gene regulation in vivoThe evolutionarily conserved multiprotein Mediator complex (MED) serves as an interface between DNA-bound transcription factors (TFs) and the RNA Pol II machinery. It has been proposed that each TF interacts with a dedicated MED subunit to induce specific transcriptional responses. But are these binary partnerships sufficient to mediate TF functions? We have previously established that the Med1 Mediator subunit serves as a cofactor of GATA TFs in Drosophila, as shown in mammals. Here, we observe mutant phenotype similarities between another subunit, Med19, and the Drosophila GATA TF Pannier (Pnr), suggesting functional interaction.
Regulation of human trophoblast syncytialization by histone demethylase LSD1A successful pregnancy is critically dependent upon proper placental development and function. During human placentation, villous cytotrophoblast (CTB) progenitors differentiate to form syncytiotrophoblasts (SynTBs), which provide the exchange surface between the mother and fetus and secrete hormones to ensure proper progression of pregnancy. However, epigenetic mechanisms that regulate SynTB differentiation from CTB progenitors are incompletely understood. Here, we show that lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1; also known as KDM1A), a histone demethylase, is essential to this process.
The transcription factor NKX2-3 mediates p21 expression and ectodysplasin-A signaling in the enamel knot for cusp formation in tooth developmentTooth morphogenesis is initiated by reciprocal interactions between the ectoderm and neural crest–derived mesenchyme. During tooth development, tooth cusps are regulated by precise control of proliferation of cell clusters, termed enamel knots, that are present among dental epithelial cells. The interaction of ectodysplasin-A (EDA) with its receptor, EDAR, plays a critical role in cusp formation by these enamel knots, and mutations of these genes is a cause of ectodermal dysplasia. It has also been reported that deficiency in Nkx2-3, encoding a member of the NK2 homeobox family of transcription factors, leads to cusp absence in affected teeth.
Presomitic mesoderm-specific expression of the transcriptional repressor Hes7 is controlled by E-box, T-box, and Notch signaling pathwaysSomites are a pair of epithelial spheres beside a neural tube and are formed with an accurate periodicity during embryogenesis in vertebrates. It has been known that Hes7 is one of the core clock genes for somitogenesis, and its expression domain is restricted in the presomitic mesoderm (PSM). However, the molecular mechanism of how Hes7 transcription is regulated is not clear. Here, using transgenic mice and luciferase-based reporter assays and in vitro binding assays, we unravel the mechanism by which Hes7 is expressed exclusively in the PSM.
Transient Expression of Fez Family Zinc Finger 2 Protein Regulates the Brn3b Gene in Developing Retinal Ganglion CellsRetinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are projection neurons in the neural retina that relay visual information from the environment to the central nervous system. The early expression of MATH5 endows the post-mitotic precursors with RGC competence and leads to the activation of Brn3b that marks committed RGCs. Nevertheless, this fate commitment process and, specifically, regulation of Brn3b remain elusive. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying RGC generation in the mouse retina, we analyzed the expression and function of Fez family zinc finger 2 (FEZF2), a transcription factor critical for the development of projection neurons in the cerebral cortex.
A Hox Gene, Antennapedia, Regulates Expression of Multiple Major Silk Protein Genes in the Silkworm Bombyx moriHox genes play a pivotal role in the determination of anteroposterior axis specificity during bilaterian animal development. They do so by acting as a master control and regulating the expression of genes important for development. Recently, however, we showed that Hox genes can also function in terminally differentiated tissue of the lepidopteran Bombyx mori. In this species, Antennapedia (Antp) regulates expression of sericin-1, a major silk protein gene, in the silk gland. Here, we investigated whether Antp can regulate expression of multiple genes in this tissue.
Feedback Mechanisms Regulate Ets Variant 2 (Etv2) Gene Expression and Hematoendothelial LineagesBackground: Although Etv2 is an essential transcriptional regulator during embryogenesis, the transcriptional regulation of Etv2 gene expression is not well understood.Results: Multiple signaling cascades were defined as regulators of Etv2 gene expression.Conclusion: These studies define upstream and downstream networks to regulate Etv2 gene expression.Significance: This is the first report to comprehensively characterize the transcriptional regulation of Etv2 gene expression.
A trans-Regulatory Code for the Forebrain Expression of Six3.2 in the Medaka FishBackground: The transcription factor Six3 is key element of forebrain specification, but its upstream regulators are unknown.Results: A systematic search in medaka fish identifies and functionally characterizes novel Six3 regulators.Conclusion: The spatio-temporal regulation of Six3 depends on a few trans-acting factors.Significance: This study provides new information on how forebrain neuronal diversity is originated.
JmjC Domain-containing Protein 6 (Jmjd6) Derepresses the Transcriptional Repressor Transcription Factor 7-like 1 (Tcf7l1) and Is Required for Body Axis Patterning during Xenopus EmbryogenesisBackground: How the repression activity of Tcf7l1 is regulated is not well understood.Results: Jmjd6 binds to and derepresses Tcf71.Conclusion: Jmjd6 is essential for derepression of Tcf7l1 and Xenopus body axis patterning.Significance: Derepression of Tcf7l1 by Jmjd6 is a novel mechanism for the understanding of Wnt action in not only embryos but also in stem cells and cancers.
Structure-Function Analysis of the Drosophila melanogaster Caudal Transcription Factor Provides Insights into Core Promoter-preferential ActivationRegulation of RNA polymerase II transcription is critical for the proper development, differentiation, and growth of an organism. The RNA polymerase II core promoter is the ultimate target of a multitude of transcription factors that control transcription initiation. Core promoters encompass the RNA start site and consist of functional elements such as the TATA box, initiator, and downstream core promoter element (DPE), which confer specific properties to the core promoter. We have previously discovered that Drosophila Caudal, which is a master regulator of genes involved in development and differentiation, is a DPE-specific transcriptional activator.
Kelch Repeat and BTB Domain Containing Protein 5 (Kbtbd5) Regulates Skeletal Muscle Myogenesis through the E2F1-DP1 ComplexBackground: Kbtbd5 is involved in skeletal muscle myogenesis, although the underlying mechanism is unclear.Results: Kbtbd5 interacts with DP1 and regulates the activity of E2F1-DP1 in skeletal muscle myogenesis.Conclusion: Kbtbd5 is an important regulator of skeletal muscle myogenesis through the regulation of E2F1-DP1 activity.Significance: This is the first report to identify DP1 as a substrate of Kbtbd5. | https://www.jbc.org/Developmental-Biology?startPage=&KeywordRaw=transcription%20regulation |
Ag-metal zenica - tretman otpadnih voda: - tehnologija tretmana otpadnih voda, - prodaja opreme za tretman otpadnih voda, - consulting i potpora za pr. The molecular basis of plant development home documents the molecular basis of plant development please download to view. This cluster contains the hox genes lab, pb, dfd, scr and antp, and all these genes are associated with widespread pc binding and distinct pho peaks in the embryo (figure 4b) it is striking that peaks in the pc distribution as well as strong pho peaks are found close to the 5′-ends of lab, pb, dfd and scr. Academiaedu is a platform for academics to share research papers.
The set of 49 genes specifically bound in the embryo contains several well-characterised genes notably run, hb and tll that are involved in early embryonic patterning and in neuroblast specification as well as two genes, ind and vnd involved in the specification of the nervous system and in neuroblast fate. Fruit flies of the genus drosophila have been an attractive and effective genetic model organism since thomas hunt morgan and colleagues made seminal discoveries with them a century ago. Lev vygotsky differed from piaget in that the role of social context and culture in children's cognition was a central part of his theory (rowe and wertsch 2002. 33rd annual conference of the european teratology society, 3rd-7th september 2005, hotel haarlem-zuid, haarlem, the netherlands.
Evolutionary psychology alternative approaches evolutionary psychology alternative approaches edited by steven j scher eastern illinois university charleston, illinois frederick rauscher michigan state university east lansing, michigan. Provided is a method of treating cancer in a subject by inhibiting expression of pax2 an example of a cancer treated by the present method is prostate cancer similarly, provided is a method of treating cancer in a subject by increasing expression of defbl in the subject in the method wherein the expression of defbl is increased, it can be. The invention concerns a method for the development of gene panels for diagnostic and therapeutic pusposes based on the expession and methylation status of secific genes the invention further concerns gene panels developed using the method of the present invention and their uses.
About the program bachelor of arts (ba) the major in molecular and cell biology: genetics, genomics, & development (gg&d) emphasis focuses on understanding how sequence variation results in the amazing spectrum of life that surrounds us and how genetic and molecular tools can be used to reveal the role of genes in various. These genes, owing to their asymmetric expression across the wing blade, could potentially be involved in modifying the expression of eyespot genes in a sector-specific fashion—for instance, leading to a sector-dependent regulation of genes involved in the control of eyespot size. While the functions of the floral abc class and type i knox genes are thought to be conserved across angiosperms, comparative studies of their regulation have largely focused on upstream transcription factors, such as leafy or. In the current experiment there is the added component that phenotypes are likely due to mis-expression of prc2 target genes, and are therefore likely to have an added complexity due to ectopic expression of a potentially wide range of target loci. The expression of many genes oscillates during segmentation, including hairy/enhancer of split-related (her or hes) genes, which encode transcriptional repressors that auto-inhibit their own expression, and deltac (dlc), which encodes a notch ligand we previously identified the tortuga (tor) locus in a zebrafish forward genetic screen for.
1 wayne state university wayne state university dissertations unraveling the genetic mechanisms involved in the evolution and development of the thoracic appendages in insects victor medved wayne state university, follow this and additional works at: part of the developmental biology commons, and the evolution commons. The 12th conference on hemoglobin switching home documents the 12th conference on hemoglobin switching please download to view. This experiment revealed significant downregulation of the reln gene (labeled in blue in figure 5a) homozygous mutation of the reln gene is associated with pronounced cerebellar hypoplasia in humans and mice (19, 39), suggesting that reln downregulation might contribute to cerebellar hypoplasia in chd7 cko mutants. Dpn antibody may even be sufficient to identify single neuroblasts according to their position within the entire brain neuroblast pattern and persists throughout embryonic brain development engrailed antennal stripe—deutocerebrum the desired embryonic stageor svp-lacz-labeled neuroblast patterns [7 and engrailed protein) to analyze.
The pbx1 and meis1 genes had important differences in their expression pattern, but were both detected in hox expressing subpopulations together, these results further support the notion that hox genes are involved in the regulation of early hematopoietic cells at all stages of hematopoietic ontogeny the transcriptional regulation of hox. Editorial one major challenge of developmental biology is to explain how multicellular organisms arise from the fertilized egg during embryonic development, the egg divides to give rise to all the cells of the organism cell differentiation involves molecular mechanisms through which a cell is able to choose its fate. Among the first developmentally important genes to be discovered in vertebrates were relatives of the homeotic genes of drosophila and some of these—xlhbox1 (now known as hoxc6), hox4 (hoxd9-13) and hox7, hox8 (msx1, msx2)—were found to be expressed in developing limbs.
Maintenance of proper gene expression in differentiated cells is essential for the development of multicellular organisms and epigenetic regulation is an important player in this process reviewed in: [1, 2, 3]one family of proteins with deeply conserved functions in epigenetic regulation is the polycomb group (pcg. The genes that encode known ledgf-interacting proteins were queried to ascertain if either the psip1 knockout or psip1/hdgfrp2 double knockout altered their expression levels in embryonic heart tissue. Dll, dac, and hth therefore represent legitimate candidate genes for the regulation of p/d-axis formation and growth during beetle horn development furthermore, previous work has shown that all 3 p/d-axis patterning genes are expressed during the development of onthophagus appendages, including horns (14, 32. Both apolipoprotein e and a-i genes are present in a nonmammalian vertebrate and are highly expressed during embryonic development pnas 94: 8622-7, 1997 pnas 94: 8622-7, 1997 bachellerie, jean-pierre the expanding snorna world.
2018. | http://pnessayxffg.shapeyourworld.info/a-lab-experiment-on-the-examination-of-the-homeotic-genes-and-their-regulation-of-embryonic-developm.html |
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Abstract
Hox complex genes control spatial patterning mechanisms in the development of arthropod and vertebrate body plans. Hox genes are all expressed during embryogenesis in these groups, which are all directly developing organisms in that embryogenesis leads at once to formation of major elements of the respective adult body plans. In the maximally indirect development of a large variety of invertebrates, the process of embryogenesis leads only to a free-living, bilaterally organized feeding larva. Maximal indirect development is exemplified in sea urchins. The 5-fold radially symmetric adult body plan of the sea urchin is generated long after embryogenesis is complete, by a separate process occurring within imaginal tissues set aside in the larva. The single Hox gene complex of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus contains 10 genes, and expression of eight of these genes was measured by quantitative methods during both embryonic and larval developmental stages and also in adult tissues. Only two of these genes are used significantly during the entire process of embryogenesis per se, although all are copiously expressed during the stages when the adult body plan is forming in the imaginal rudiment. They are also all expressed in various combinations in adult tissues. Thus, development of a microscopic, free-living organism of bilaterian grade, the larva, does not appear to require expression of the Hox gene cluster as such, whereas development of the adult body plan does. These observations reflect on mechanisms by which bilaterian metazoans might have arisen in Precambrian evolution. | https://authors.library.caltech.edu/35034/ |
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Drosophila embryogenesis
Drosophila has long been a favorite model system for geneticists and developmental biologists studying embryogenesis. The small size, short generation time, and large brood size makes it ideal for genetic studies. Transparent embryos facilitate developmental studies. Drosophila melanogaster was introduced into the field of genetic experiments by Thomas Hunt Morgan in 1909.
Additional recommended knowledge
Life cycle
Drosophila are species of molting insects, meaning that they have two distinct stages of their life cycle with radically different body plans: larva and adults. During embryogenesis, the larva develops and then hatches from the egg. Cells that will produce adult structures are put aside in imaginal discs. During the pupal stage, the larval body breaks down as the imaginal disks grow and produce the adult body. This process is called complete metamorphosis.
The mother fly produces oocytes that already have anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral axes defined by maternal activities.
Embryogenesis in Drosophila is unique among model organisms in that cleavage occurs in a syncytium. About 5,000 nuclei accumulate in the unseparated cytoplasm of the oocyte before they migrate to the surface and are encompassed by plasma membranes to form cells surrounding the yolk sac. Early on, the germ line segregates from the somatic cells through the formation of pole cells at the posterior end of the embryo.
Like other metazoa, gastrulation leads to the formation of three germ layers; the endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. The mesoderm invaginates from the ventral furrow, as do the ectoderm that will give rise to the midgut. The pole cells are internalized by a different route.
Germ band elongation involves many rearrangements of cells, and the appearance of distinct differences in the cells of the three germ bands and various regions of the embryo. The posterior region (including the hindgut) expands and extends towards the anterior pole along the dorsal side of the embryo. The earliest signs of segmentation appear during this phase with the formation of parasegmental furrows. This is also when the tracheal pits form, the first signs of structures for breathing.
Germ band retraction returns the hindgut to the dorsal side of the posterior pole and coincides with overt segmentation. The remaining stages involve the internalization of the nervous system (ectoderm) and the formation of internal organs (mainly mesoderm).
Anterior-posterior axis patterning in Drosophila
One of the best understood examples of pattern formation is the patterning along the future head to tail (antero-posterior) axis of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The development of Drosophila is particularly well studied, and it is representative of a major class of animals, the insects or insecta. Other multicellular organisms sometimes use similar mechanisms for axis formation, although the relative importance of signal transfer between the earliest cells of many developing organisms is greater than in the example described here.
Maternal effect genes
The building-blocks of anterior-posterior axis patterning in Drosophila are laid out during egg formation (oogenesis), well before the egg is fertilized and deposited. The developing egg (oocyte) is polarized by differentially localized mRNA molecules.
The genes that code for these mRNAs, called maternal effect genes, encode for proteins that get translated upon fertilization to establish concentration gradients that span the egg. Bicoid and hunchback are the maternal effect genes that are most important for patterning of anterior parts (head and thorax) of the Drosophila embryo. Nanos and Caudal are maternal effect genes that are important in the formation of more posterior abdominal segments of the Drosophila embryo.
Cytoskeletal elements such as microtubules are polarized within the oocyte and can be used to allow the localization of mRNA molecules to specific parts of the cell. Maternally synthesized bicoid mRNAs attach to microtubules and are concentrated at the anterior ends of forming Drosophila eggs. Nanos mRNAs also attach to the egg cytoskeleton but they concentrate at the posterior ends of the eggs. Hunchback and caudal mRNAs lack special location control systems and are fairly evenly spread throughout the interior of egg cells.
When the mRNAs from the maternal effect genes are translated into proteins a Bicoid protein gradient forms at the anterior end of the egg. Nanos protein forms a gradient at the posterior end. The Bicoid protein blocks translation of caudal mRNA so Caudal protein is made only in the posterior part of the cell. Nanos protein binds to the hunchback mRNA and blocks its translation in the posterior end of Drosophila embryos.
The Bicoid, Hunchback, and Caudal proteins are transcription factors. Bicoid has a DNA-binding homeodomain that binds both DNA and the nanos mRNA. Bicoid binds a specific RNA sequence in the 3' untranslated region of caudal mRNA and blocks translation.
Hunchback protein levels in the early embryo are significantly augmented by new hunchback gene transcription and translation of the resulting zygotically produced mRNA. During early Drosophila embryogenesis there are nuclear divisions without cell division. The many nuclei that are produced distribute themselves around the periphery of the cell cytoplasm. Gene expression in these nuclei is regulated by the Bicoid, Hunchback, and Caudal proteins. For example, Bicoid acts as a transcriptional activator of hunchback gene transcription.
Gap genes
The other important function of the gradients of Bicoid, Hunchback, and Caudal proteins is in the transcriptional regulation of other zygotically expressed proteins. Many of these are the protein products derived from members of the "gap" family of developmental control genes. Hunchback, krüppel, giant, tailless and knirps are all gap genes. Their expression patterns in the early embryo are determined by the maternal effect gene products and shown in the diagrams on the right side of this page. The gap genes are part of a larger family called the segmentation genes. These genes establish the segmented body plan of the embryo along the anterior-posterior axis. The segmentation genes specify 14 "parasegments" that are closely related to the final anatomical segments. The gap genes are the first layer of a hierarchical cascade of the segmentation control genes.
Proteins such as Bicoid can be described as morphogens that act within the syncytial blastoderm of the early Drosophila embryo. These intracellular morphogens enter the nuclei and act as transcription factors to control expression of the gap genes.
In the blastoderm stage of Drosophila morphogenesis four types of nuclear specification can be distinguished:
Additional segmentation genes
Two additional classes of segmentation genes are expressed after the gap gene products. The pair-rule genes are expressed in striped patterns of seven bands perpendicular to the anterior-posterior axis (see Figure 6, even-skipped). These patterns of expression are established within the syncytial blastoderm. After these initial patterning events, cell membranes form around the nuclei of the syncytial blastoderm converting it to a cellular blastoderm.
The expression patterns of the final class of segmentation genes, the segment polarity genes, are then fine-tuned by interactions between the cells of adjacent parasegments (see the example, engrailed, Figure 7). The Engrailed protein is a transcription factor (yellow in Figure 7) that is expressed in one row of cells at the edge of each parasegment. This expression pattern is initiated by the pair-rule genes (like even-skipped) that code for transcription factors that regulate the engrailed gene's transcription in the syncytial blastoderm.
Cells that make Engrailed can make the cell-to-cell signaling protein Hedgehog (green in Figure 7). Hedgehog is not free to move very far and activates a thin stripe of cells adjacent to the Engrailed-expressing cells. Only cells to one side of the Engrailed-expressing cells are competent to respond to Hedgehog because they express the receptor protein Patched (blue in Figure 7). Cells with activated Patch receptor make the Wingless protein (red in Figure 7). Wingless protein acts on the adjacent rows of cells by activating its cell surface receptor, Frizzled.
Wingless also acts on Engrailed-expressing cells to stabilize Engrailed expression after the cellular blastoderm forms. The reciprocal signaling by Hedgehog and Wingless stabilizes the boundary between each segment. The Wingless protein is called "wingless" because of the phenotype of some wingless mutants. Wingless also functioned during metamorphosis to coordinate wing formation.
The transcription factors that are coded for by segmentation genes regulate yet another family of developmental control genes, the homeotic selector genes. These genes exist in two ordered groups on Drosophila chromosome 3. The order of the genes on the chromosome reflects the order that they are expressed along the anterior-posterior axis of the developing embryo. The Antennapedia group of homeotic selector genes includes labial, antennapedia, sex combs reduced, deformed, and proboscipedia. Labial and Deformed proteins are expressed in head segments where they activate the genes that define head features. Sex-combs-reduced and Antennapedia specify the properties of thoracic segments. The bithorax group of homeotic selector genes control the specializations of the third thoracic segment and the abdominal segments.
In 1995, the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine was awarded for studies concerning the genetic control of early embryonic development to Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, Edward B. Lewis and Eric Wieschaus. Their researches on genetic screening for embryo patterning mutants revealed the role played in early embryologic development by Homeobox genes like bicoid. An example of a homeotic mutation is the so-called antennapedia mutation. In Drosophila, antennae and legs are created by the same basic "program", they only differ in a single transcription factor. If this transcription factor is damaged, the fly grows legs on its head instead of antennae. See images of this "antennapedia" mutant and others, at FlyBase.
Tools
Mutagenesis allow scientists to disrupt the function of genes in the fly. This is useful for studying embryogenosis.
It is fairly easy for an experienced scientist to make transgenic flies. This is a very useful tool and opens up many possibilities. It allows the study of the role of the gene in embryogenosis.
It is possible to tag a fly protein with a fluorescent protein such as green fluorescent protein (GFP). This means that you can watch the dynamics of the localisation of that protein. It is even possible to do so in living organisms.
The fly genome has been published and is an extremely useful resource. It can be used to look for the homolog of genes from other organisms, that are involved in embryogenosis. Once such a gene has been identified in fly it will make the study of its function possible and increase the understanding of the role of the gene product. | https://www.bionity.com/en/encyclopedia/Drosophila_embryogenesis.html |
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Dual role for Hox genes and Hox co-factors in conferring leg motoneuron survival and identity in Drosophila
Development (2013) 140 (9): 2027–2038.
Published: 01 May 2013
Abstract
Adult Drosophila walk using six multi-jointed legs, each controlled by ∼50 leg motoneurons (MNs). Although MNs have stereotyped morphologies, little is known about how they are specified. Here, we describe the function of Hox genes and homothorax ( hth ), which encodes a Hox co-factor, in Drosophila leg MN development. Removing either Hox or Hth function from a single neuroblast (NB) lineage results in MN apoptosis. A single Hox gene, Antennapedia ( Antp ), is primarily responsible for MN survival in all three thoracic segments. When cell death is blocked, partially penetrant axon branching errors are observed in Hox mutant MNs. When single MNs are mutant, errors in both dendritic and axon arborizations are observed. Our data also suggest that Antp levels in post-mitotic MNs are important for specifying their identities. Thus, in addition to being essential for survival, Hox and hth are required to specify accurate MN morphologies in a level-dependent manner.
Includes: Supplementary data
Journal Articles
Hadi Boukhatmi, Jean Louis Frendo, Jonathan Enriquez, Michèle Crozatier, Laurence Dubois, Alain Vincent
Development (2012) 139 (19): 3572–3582.
Published: 01 October 2012
Abstract
The LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Tailup/Islet1 (Tup) is a key component of cardiogenesis in Drosophila and vertebrates. We report here an additional major role for Drosophila Tup in specifying dorsal muscles. Tup is expressed in the four dorsal muscle progenitors (PCs) and tup -null embryos display a severely disorganized dorsal musculature, including a transformation of the dorsal DA2 into dorsolateral DA3 muscle. This transformation is reciprocal to the DA3 to DA2 transformation observed in collier ( col ) mutants. The DA2 PC, which gives rise to the DA2 muscle and to an adult muscle precursor, is selected from a cluster of myoblasts transiently expressing both Tinman (Tin) and Col. The activation of tup by Tin in the DA2 PC is required to repress col transcription and establish DA2 identity. The transient, partial overlap between Tin and Col expression provides a window of opportunity to distinguish between DA2 and DA3 muscle identities. The function of Tup in the DA2 PC illustrates how single cell precision can be reached in cell specification when temporal dynamics are combined with positional information. The contributions of Tin, Tup and Col to patterning Drosophila dorsal muscles bring novel parallels with chordate pharyngeal muscle development.
Includes: Supplementary data
Journal Articles
Jonathan Enriquez, Hadi Boukhatmi, Laurence Dubois, Anthony A. Philippakis, Martha L. Bulyk, Alan M. Michelson, Michèle Crozatier, Alain Vincent
Development (2010) 137 (3): 457–466.
Published: 01 February 2010
Abstract
Hox transcription factors control many aspects of animal morphogenetic diversity. The segmental pattern of Drosophila larval muscles shows stereotyped variations along the anteroposterior body axis. Each muscle is seeded by a founder cell and the properties specific to each muscle reflect the expression by each founder cell of a specific combination of ‘identity’ transcription factors. Founder cells originate from asymmetric division of progenitor cells specified at fixed positions. Using the dorsal DA3 muscle lineage as a paradigm, we show here that Hox proteins play a decisive role in establishing the pattern of Drosophila muscles by controlling the expression of identity transcription factors, such as Nautilus and Collier (Col), at the progenitor stage. High-resolution analysis, using newly designed intron-containing reporter genes to detect primary transcripts, shows that the progenitor stage is the key step at which segment-specific information carried by Hox proteins is superimposed on intrasegmental positional information. Differential control of col transcription by the Antennapedia and Ultrabithorax/Abdominal-A paralogs is mediated by separate cis-regulatory modules (CRMs). Hox proteins also control the segment-specific number of myoblasts allocated to the DA3 muscle. We conclude that Hox proteins both regulate and contribute to the combinatorial code of transcription factors that specify muscle identity and act at several steps during the muscle-specification process to generate muscle diversity.
Includes: Supplementary data
Journal Articles
collier transcription in a single Drosophila muscle lineage: the combinatorial control of muscle identity
Laurence Dubois, Jonathan Enriquez, Virginie Daburon, Fabien Crozet, Gaelle Lebreton, Michèle Crozatier, Alain Vincent
Development (2007) 134 (24): 4347–4355.
Published: 15 December 2007
Abstract
Specification of muscle identity in Drosophila is a multistep process: early positional information defines competence groups termed promuscular clusters, from which muscle progenitors are selected, followed by asymmetric division of progenitors into muscle founder cells (FCs). Each FC seeds the formation of an individual muscle with morphological and functional properties that have been proposed to reflect the combination of transcription factors expressed by its founder. However, it is still unclear how early patterning and muscle-specific differentiation are linked. We addressed this question, using Collier (Col; also known as Knot) expression as both a determinant and read-out of DA3 muscle identity. Characterization of the col upstream region driving DA3 muscle specific expression revealed the existence of three separate phases of cis-regulation, correlating with conserved binding sites for different mesodermal transcription factors. Examination of col transcription in col and nautilus ( nau ) loss-of-function and gain-of-function conditions showed that both factors are required for col activation in the `naïve' myoblasts that fuse with the DA3 FC, thereby ensuring that all DA3 myofibre nuclei express the same identity programme. Together, these results indicate that separate sets of cis-regulatory elements control the expression of identity factors in muscle progenitors and myofibre nuclei and directly support the concept of combinatorial control of muscle identity. | https://cob.silverchair.com/dev/search-results?f_AllAuthors=Jonathan+Enriquez |
This lecture is about how the embryo makes use of cellular mechanisms (described during this term) to construct itself.
It is concerned with concepts rather than detail.
You should appreciate how these cellular mechanisms integrate to produce the whole organism.
The image above shows the first cell that forms following fertilization, and that cell's offspring 8 weeks later.
Cell proliferation careful control of cell division is needed to ensure that tissues achieve their correct size at the right time and in the right place.
Tissue differentiation - specialization of cells and expression of tissue-specific genes e.g. globin gene in blood cells.
Patterning - temporal and spatial expression of DNA-binding proteins e.g. the homeobox (Hox) genes.
Cell migration and shape change – cells (or parts of cells e.g. neurons) need to move through other tissues to reach the right location e.g. germ cells and limb myoblasts.
SRY encodes a 204 amino acid protein (TDF) that is a member of the HMG (High mobility group) box class of DNA-binding proteins. Transcription factors bind to specific sites of DNA and regulates the transcription (expression) of other genes.
155 million base pairs, contains about 5% of the haploid genome and encodes house-keeping and specialized functions.
one X chromosome randomly inactivated throughout the female embryo.
mosaic of maternal and paternally derived X chromosome activity in all tissues and organs.
All cells formed from the zygote do so by mitosis.
The restriction point is the timepoint in G1 when cells no longer respond to withdrawal of growth factors by returning to G0, but progress to S phase.
Many developmental signals are reused at different times and different locations.
Membrane Receptors Signaling between cells, cells and matrix, tissues, and systemically, is key to the developmental and differentiation process.
Some signals final actions are as transcription factors.
secondary myofibers - second later population of myofibres that form surrounding the primary fibres.
Cell lineage – a linear sequence of cell fate that traces progressive states of differentiation. Analogous to the "ancestry" of a cell – e.g. liver cells are derived from the endodermal lineage.
Embryonic patterning – the underlying mechanism by which a shapeless ball of cells is provided with the information required to develop into its appropriate anatomical form and structure.
Cell commitment (specification) – the process by which a cell becomes dedicated to becoming some other more mature cell type due to its position in the embryo or as a result of its cell lineage: reversible if exposed to a different environment e.g. grafted into another location.
Cell determination – the process by which a cell becomes irreversibly locked into a particular cell fate: precedes differentiation. However, the cell shows no outward signs of what they are destined to be.
Differentiation - the process by which a less specialized cell undergoes a recognizable change (of shape and/or function) into a more specialized cell type: irreversible (under normal circumstances).
This page was last edited on 31 May 2017, at 10:58. | https://cellbiology.med.unsw.edu.au/cellbiology/index.php/Development |
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yap1b , a divergent Yap/Taz family member, cooperates with yap1 in survival and morphogenesis via common transcriptional targets
Javier Vázquez-Marín, José Arturo Gutiérrez-Triana, María Almuedo-Castillo, Lorena Buono, José Luis Gómez-Skarmeta, Juan Luis Mateo, Joachim Wittbrodt, Juan Ramón Martínez-Morales
Development (2019) 146 (13): dev173286.
Published: 21 June 2019
Abstract
ABSTRACT Yap1/Taz are well-known Hippo effectors triggering complex transcriptional programs controlling growth, survival and cancer progression. Here, we describe yap1b , a new Yap1 / Taz family member with a unique transcriptional activation domain that cannot be phosphorylated by Src/Yes kinases. We show that yap1b evolved specifically in euteleosts (i.e. including medaka but not zebrafish) by duplication and adaptation of yap1. Using DamID-seq, we generated maps of chromatin occupancy for Yap1, Taz (Wwtr1) and Yap1b in gastrulating zebrafish and medaka embryos. Our comparative analyses uncover the genetic programs controlled by Yap family proteins during early embryogenesis, and show largely overlapping targets for Yap1 and Yap1b. CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutation of yap1b in medaka does not result in an overt phenotype during embryogenesis or adulthood. However, yap1b mutation strongly enhances the embryonic malformations observed in yap1 mutants. Thus yap1 −/− ; yap1b −/− double mutants display more severe body flattening, eye misshaping and increased apoptosis than yap1 −/− single mutants, thus revealing overlapping gene functions. Our results indicate that, despite its divergent transactivation domain, Yap1b cooperates with Yap1 to regulate cell survival and tissue morphogenesis during early development.
Includes: Supplementary data
Journal Articles
Séverine Marcos, Monica González-Lázaro, Leonardo Beccari, Laura Carramolino, Maria Jesus Martin-Bermejo, Oana Amarie, Daniel Mateos-San Martín, Carlos Torroja, Ozren Bogdanović, Roisin Doohan, Oliver Puk, Martin Hrabě de Angelis, Jochen Graw, Jose Luis Gomez-Skarmeta, Fernando Casares, Miguel Torres, Paola Bovolenta
Development (2015) 142 (17): 3009–3020.
Published: 01 September 2015
Abstract
Microphthalmos is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by reduced eye size and visual deficits of variable degree. Sporadic and hereditary microphthalmos have been associated with heterozygous mutations in genes fundamental for eye development. Yet, many cases are idiopathic or await the identification of molecular causes. Here we show that haploinsufficiency of Meis1 , which encodes a transcription factor with evolutionarily conserved expression in the embryonic trunk, brain and sensory organs, including the eye, causes microphthalmic traits and visual impairment in adult mice. By combining analysis of Meis1 loss-of-function and conditional Meis1 functional rescue with ChIP-seq and RNA-seq approaches we show that, in contrast to its preferential association with Hox-Pbx BSs in the trunk, Meis1 binds to Hox/Pbx-independent sites during optic cup development. In the eye primordium, Meis1 coordinates, in a dose-dependent manner, retinal proliferation and differentiation by regulating genes responsible for human microphthalmia and components of the Notch signaling pathway. In addition, Meis1 is required for eye patterning by controlling a set of eye territory-specific transcription factors, so that in Meis1 −/− embryos boundaries among the different eye territories are shifted or blurred. We propose that Meis1 is at the core of a genetic network implicated in eye patterning/microphthalmia, and represents an additional candidate for syndromic cases of these ocular malformations.
Includes: Supplementary data
Journal Articles
Suppression of Bmp4 signaling by the zinc-finger repressors Osr1 and Osr2 is required for Wnt/β-catenin-mediated lung specification in Xenopus
Development (2012) 139 (16): 3010–3020.
Published: 15 August 2012
Abstract
Embryonic development of the respiratory system is regulated by a series of mesenchymal-epithelial interactions that are only partially understood. Mesenchymal FGF and Wnt2/Wnt2b signaling are implicated in specification of mammalian pulmonary progenitors from the ventral foregut endoderm, but their epistatic relationship and downstream targets are largely unknown. In addition, how wnt2 and wnt2b are regulated in the developing foregut mesenchyme is unknown. We show that the Odd-skipped-related (Osr) zinc-finger transcriptional repressors Osr1 and Osr2 are redundantly required for Xenopus lung specification in a molecular pathway linking foregut pattering by FGFs to Wnt-mediated lung specification and RA-regulated lung bud growth. FGF and RA signals are required for robust osr1 and osr2 expression in the foregut endoderm and surrounding lateral plate mesoderm (lpm) prior to respiratory specification. Depletion of both Osr1 and Osr2 (Osr1/Osr2) results in agenesis of the lungs, trachea and esophagus. The foregut lpm of Osr1/Osr2-depleted embryos fails to express wnt2, wnt2b and raldh2 , and consequently Nkx2.1 + progenitors are not specified. Our data suggest that Osr1/Osr2 normally repress bmp4 expression in the lpm, and that BMP signaling negatively regulates the wnt2b domain. These results significantly advance our understanding of early lung development and may impact strategies to differentiate respiratory tissue from stem cells.
Includes: Supplementary data
Journal Articles
The osr1 and osr2 genes act in the pronephric anlage downstream of retinoic acid signaling and upstream of wnt2b to maintain pectoral fin development
Development (2012) 139 (2): 301–311.
Published: 15 January 2012
Abstract
Vertebrate odd-skipped related genes (Osr) have an essential function during the formation of the intermediate mesoderm (IM) and the kidney structures derived from it. Here, we show that these genes are also crucial for limb bud formation in the adjacent lateral plate mesoderm (LPM). Reduction of zebrafish Osr function impairs fin development by the failure of tbx5a maintenance in the developing pectoral fin bud. Osr morphant embryos show reduced wnt2b expression, and increasing Wnt signaling in Osr morphant embryos partially rescues tbx5a expression. Thus, Osr genes control limb bud development in a non-cell-autonomous manner, probably through the activation of Wnt2b. Finally, we demonstrate that Osr genes are downstream targets of retinoic acid (RA) signaling. Therefore, Osr genes act as a relay within the genetic cascade of fin bud formation: by controlling the expression of the signaling molecule Wnt2ba in the IM they play an essential function transmitting the RA signaling originated in the somites to the LPM.
Includes: Supplementary data
Journal Articles
Development (2008) 135 (7): 1215–1221.
Published: 01 April 2008
Abstract
Little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for axis establishment during non-embryonic processes such as regeneration and homeostasis. To address this issue, we set out to analyze the role of the canonical Wnt pathway in planarians, flatworms renowned for their extraordinary morphological plasticity. Canonical Wnt signalling is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to confer polarity during embryonic development, specifying the anteroposterior (AP) axis in most bilaterians and the dorsoventral (DV) axis in early vertebrate embryos. β-Catenin is a key element in this pathway, although it is a bifunctional protein that is also involved in cell-cell adhesion. Here, we report the characterization of two β-catenin homologs from Schmidtea mediterranea ( Smed -β catenin1/2 ). Loss of function of Smed -β catenin1 , but not Smed -β catenin2 , in both regenerating and intact planarians, generates radial-like hypercephalized planarians in which the AP axis disappears but the DV axis remains unaffected, representing a unique example of a striking body symmetry transformation. The radial-like hypercephalized phenotype demonstrates the requirement for Smed -β catenin1 in AP axis re-establishment and maintenance, and supports a conserved role for canonical Wnt signalling in AP axis specification, whereas the role of β-catenin in DV axis establishment would be a vertebrate innovation. When considered alongside the protein domains present in each S. mediterranea β-catenin and the results of functional assays in Xenopus embryos demonstrating nuclear accumulation and axis induction with Smed-βcatenin1, but not Smed-βcatenin2, these data suggest that S. mediterranea β-catenins could be functionally specialized and that only Smed -β catenin1 is involved in Wnt signalling. | https://journals.biologists.com/dev/search-results?f_AllAuthors=Jose+Luis+Gomez-Skarmeta |
Here’s a prediction for you: the image below is going to appear in a lot of textbooks in the near future.
That’s a technical tour-de-force: it’s a confocal image of a Drosophila embryo, stained with 7 fluorescent probes against different Hox genes. You can clearly see how they are laid out in order from the head end (at the left) to the tail end (which extends to the right, and then jackknifes over the top). Canonically, that order of expression along the body axis corresponds to the order of the genes in a cluster on the DNA, a property called colinearity. I’ve recently described work that shows that, in some organisms, colinearity breaks down. That colinearity seems to be a consequence of a primitive pattern of regulation that coupled the timing of development to the spatial arrangements of the tissues, and many organisms have evolved more sophisticated control of these patterning genes, making the old regulators obsolete…and allowing the clusters to break up without extreme consequences to the animal. A new review in Science by Lemons and McGinnis that surveys Hox gene clusters in different lineages shows that the control of the Hox genes is much, much more complicated than previously thought.
Here, for instance, is a diagram of Hox arrangements in various animals.
Look first at the cephalochordate (on the right, about in the middle). It has the purest, simplest, cleanest arrangement: there are 14 Hox genes, all in one string, all in order, and all with the same orientation. This is also a perfect example of colinearity, with those genes expressed in a tidy front-to-back order in the animal’s body. As you can see looking around the diagram, though, it’s also an exception.
Take the fly, at the top left, for example. It’s Hox cluster is broken in two pieces. Or look at the sea urchin—what a mess. It looks like part of the cluster has been swapped around. Vertebrates, represented by the mammals here, have kept everything in order, but they’ve duplicated whole clusters, and individual clusters have gaps. Most dramatically, look at the urochordate (this is Oikopleura, which I wrote about before: the cluster is completely broken up, the individual genes scattered throughout the genome with no apparent relationship to one another anymore.
Gene arrangements clearly tell us about the evolutionary history of these organisms, but if we want to understand how gene expression is translated into form, it’s going to be a red herring in most cases. There has to be more going on.
One of those things going on, and also one of the current big buzzwords in molecular and developmental biology, is non-coding RNA. Scattered around and between the genes are sequences that are transcribed into RNA, but are not translated into protein—the RNA itself modulates the activity of other genes. In particular, there are microRNAs (miRNAs) interlaced throughout the Hox cluster, that in some cases have been shown to bind to and modify the expression of adjacent Hox genes. Our cartoons of ranks of colored arrows are going to have to be expanded to include squiggles of non-coding RNA, and more arrows showing which genes these RNAs modulate.
The summary of this article speaks for itself.
Genomic analyses have revealed surprising diversity in Hox gene number, organization, and expression patterns in different animals. There are still many animal groups about which little genomic sequence is known, and it remains to be seen how much more variation in Hox gene organization and function will emerge, including the numbers and functions of non-protein-coding RNAs. The property of HOX proteins working as a loosely coordinated system, often with overlapping patterns of expression and function, has apparently fostered their abilities to contribute to morphological change during the evolution of animals. Their colinear arrangement and coordinated regulation in many animals may assist in the maintenance of their overlapping expression patterns. This may have allowed some members of the clusters to subtly and slowly alter their expression patterns and functions to drive groups of cells toward novel structures. But Hox genes still can work as an axial patterning system even when partially dispersed in the genome, and dispersal may foster their rate of functional evolution.
I think the key concept is that Hox genes form a loose network, with multiple factors — the temporal sequencing of colinearity, transcription factors, and miRNAs — that all work together to generate form from genes, and that while this may look like a daunting mess, the complexity of regulation actually facilitates evolutionary change.
Lemons D, McGinnis W (2006) Genomic evolution of Hox gene clusters. Science 313:1918-1922. | https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/09/30/hox-complexity/ |
The pontine neurons (PN) represent a major source of mossy fiber projections to the cerebellum. During mouse hindbrain development, PN migrate tangentially and sequentially along both the anteroposterior (AP) and dorsoventral (DV) axes. Unlike DV migration, which is controlled by the Netrin-1/Dcc attractive pathway, little is known about the molecular mechanisms guiding PN migration along the AP axis. Here, we show that Hoxa2 and Hoxb2 are required both intrinsically and extrinsically to maintain normal AP migration of subsets of PN, by preventing their premature ventral attraction towards the midline. Moreover, the migration defects observed in Hoxa2 and Hoxb2 mutant mice were phenocopied in compound Robo1;Robo2, Slit1;Slit2, and Robo2;Slit2 knockout animals, indicating that these guidance molecules act downstream of Hox genes to control PN migration. Indeed, using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we further demonstrated that Robo2 is a direct target of Hoxa2 in vivo and that maintenance of high Robo and Slit expression levels was impaired in Hoxa2 mutant mice. Lastly, the analysis of Phox2b-deficient mice indicated that the facial motor nucleus is a major Slit signaling source required to prevent premature ventral migration of PN. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular control of neuronal migration from transcription factor to regulation of guidance receptor and ligand expression. Specifically, they address the question of how exposure to multiple guidance cues along the AP and DV axes is regulated at the transcriptional level and in turn translated into stereotyped migratory responses during tangential migration of neurons in the developing mammalian brain.
In the developing central nervous system, neurons migrate sometimes over long distances from their birthplace to their final location, where they condense in specific nuclei. The precise positioning of migrating neurons is critical to the building of ordered connectivity with their target partners. Little is known about how exposure of migrating neurons to simultaneous attractive and repulsive guidance cues may be integrated at the transcriptional level and in turn translated into directional migratory responses specific for each neuronal population. Here, we focus on the molecular mechanisms regulating the directionality of long-distance migration of pontine neurons in the mouse brainstem. Such neurons belong to the so-called precerebellar system, which is essential for coordinated motor activity, and provide the principal input to the cerebellum. We provide evidence for the implication of homeodomain transcription factors of the Hox gene family in the control of pontine neuron migration along the brain rostrocaudal axis. We identify the guidance receptor Robo2 as a direct target gene of the Hoxa2 gene. We further show that repulsive signaling mediated through the Robo2 receptor expressed in migrating neurons and its ligand Slit2 secreted from the facial motor nucleus are key components of the molecular guidance system that maintains caudorostral migration and prevents premature attraction towards the brainstem ventral midline. Our data provide a conceptual framework to understand how transcriptional regulation of the response to environmental guidance cues controls stereotyped neuronal migratory behavior in the developing mammalian brain.
Homeodomain-containing Hox factors are well-known for controlling body patterning, but a new study reveals a novel role for these genes in controlling the long-distance tangential migration of neurons in the mouse brain stem through transcriptional regulation of Robo receptor-Slit ligand family guidance molecules. | https://www.scienceopen.com/document?vid=3b07162d-cce1-40f3-aa2a-90e5bbc18fa7 |
The current interest in Jews and secularism appears to be driven by the feeling that secular arrangements in many countries are under pressure. Against the liberal model that treats religion as a private issue, certain religious movements within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are seeking to influence politics in a new way. As José Casanova put it, "Religions in the 1980s 'went public'"—and thus seemed to contradict some of the fundamental predictions of secularization theories. Rather than demonstrate an increasing separation of religious and political spheres, national religious groups in Israel and certain evangelical communities in the United States, among others, seem rather to be collapsing these spheres.
No phenomenon has influenced the recent interest in secularism as much as the idea of political Islam. The very notion of a common tradition of European secularism seems to be reinvented against the foil of an Islamic, non-European tradition said to lack an adequate understanding of secularity. Jewish intellectuals who research and comment upon secularism are by necessity affected by these debates. Indeed, for many American and European Jews, the question of secularism is raised less by the challenges to institutional Judaism than by controversial issues such as the construction of a mosque in the neighborhood of the destroyed World Trade Center or the referendum in Switzerland that lead to a constitutional ban on the constructions of minarets in the country. If we want to understand the competing concepts of secularism that circulate today among Jews and non-Jews alike, we would be well served to look at the way Jews speak about Islam as well as the various other foils that figure in current debates on secularism.
A focus on these constellations will also help us understand Jewish secularism in its historical context. Even though today's debates are new in many respects, understanding the continuities that emerge in the polemics against secularism's Others can serve as a useful guide to secularist politics. Since the eighteenth century, enlighteners and liberals have depicted secularism as under attack by individuals trapped within the narrow confines of tradition or unable "to dare to think for themselves" (to use Kant's famous dictum). In this sense, secularism has always been in crisis. In the view of secularists who endorsed a strong civic or national ethos as the remedy for religious divisions since the eighteenth century, Jews were a prime example of a collective unable to modernize. For most of the nineteenth century, however, the foil of liberal secularists was not Judaism but Catholicism. In political pamphlets, parliamentary speeches, and novels about Jesuit conspiracies, liberals in Europe and the Americas explained by way of a negative example their ideal of a privatized religion compatible with a neutral state.
Jews were part of these conversations about Catholicism starting with some of their earliest contributions to public debates on politics and religion in Europe. The most prominent early Jewish intellectual to participate in these discussions was Moses Mendelssohn, who opened his Jerusalem (1783) with remarks on Catholic despotism. In a number of cases, Jews not only joined these discussions but also shaped them in notable ways: some of the most important anticlerical and anti-Catholic tropes—most revolving around the Catholic and reactionary nature of Romanticism— were invented by Heinrich Heine, an author who was often attacked for his Jewish origins. Even Jewish politicians not generally known as anticlericals frequently reflected on secularism through the foil of Catholicism. The positions of important Jewish parliamentarians and liberal leaders such as Eduard Lasker in Prussia and Germany or Adolphe Crémieux in France on the issue of secularism emerge not so much in their statements on Jewish equality as in their remarks on laws affecting the Catholic Church and its clergy. I refer to these cases not in order to prove that Jews were by nature great enemies of the Church (as many Catholic anti-Semites claimed) but rather because it was difficult to avoid speaking about Catholicism in nineteenth-century Europe if one cared about issues of churchstate relations, modern forms of religiosity, or even if one simply wanted to address the central issues of political debate.
Turning again to today's debates can help put some of the difficult choices Jews made during nineteenth-century debates into perspective. In current discussions about Islam, many Jews find themselves torn between two poles: they can either embrace the idea that a Judeo-Christian West is pitted against Islamism and thus create an alliance with liberal secularists to combat purportedly antimodern forms of religious politics, or they can reject polemics against Islam as a form of discrimination uncomfortably close to their own historical experiences of anti-Semitism. Many attempt to straddle these positions, vacillating between them or believing they can find some kind of middle ground, while others retreat to a meta-level to avoid implication in a pervasive debate that offers only uncomfortable paradoxes.
West and Central European Jews who entered public debates on the Catholic Church beginning in the late eighteenth century faced similar choices. A powerful institution in countries and regions with a Catholic majority, the Catholic Church was also an outspoken enemy of Jewish citizenship and religious pluralism—especially between 1848 and the 1880s. The campaign of liberal Catholics and Protestants against an outspoken opponent of secular equality thus appeared to many Jews to offer an opportunity for a productive alliance. At the same time, it was difficult for them to ignore the fact that Jews and Catholic clergy were sometimes accused of similar sins by secularists, including fostering a form of transnational group solidarity that trumped their national loyalties. Throughout Europe's long nineteenth century, Jewish men and priests were also frequently depicted as lacking masculinity and as possessing a deviant sexual appetite. Moreover, many German Jewish intellectuals were keenly aware that the notion of a Judeo-Protestant alliance was illusionary in the face of the increasing anti- Semitism espoused by former Protestant liberals beginning in the 1870s. Jews thus oscillated between the politics of anticlerical alliance building and, less frequently, condemning anti-Catholicism in an effort to oppose secularist pressures on both Jews and Catholics.
The sometimes reluctant anticlericalism of Jewish public figures throughout the nineteenth century was one important aspect of their well-articulated ambiguity toward an ever-polemical secularism. Even Jews who militantly denounced the antimodernism of the Church in the nineteenth century were nevertheless hard pressed to forget that numerous enlighteners had previously depicted Jews as backwards in similar ways. The position of Ludwig Philippson, the editor of the Allgemeine Zeitung des Judentums—Germany's most venerated Jewish periodical— was typical in this regard. Responding in 1868 to the accusation that Catholics lacked loyalty to the government, he wrote "The tables have been turned, and what was an unfounded accusation against us, is an undeniable reality with the other side." Philippson—like many other liberal Jews—supported the campaigns against the Catholic Church but retained an awareness of the similarities of anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic polemics even as he dismissed these as false.
As much as current debates can refocus our sensibility toward the challenges that European Jews faced with the polemical elements of secularism in the past, Jewish anticlericalism can help illuminate some of the tensions embedded in recent campaigns against Islam. Ironically, one of the best current examples of a similarly fraught form of secularism can be found in the case of the Catholic Church in Europe. Officials of the Catholic Church in countries like France or Germany have been torn between new opportunities to promote visions of a Christian Europe and an awareness of the parallels between their own anti-Islamist rhetoric and the anticlerical battles waged against the Catholic Church during the nineteenth century. Jews who reflect critically on the way they articulate their commitment or opposition to secularism in debates on Islam will thus find many others who have similar doubts. In this sense, the complicated history of Jewish anticlericalism and secularism in the nineteenth century speaks to the paradoxes many Jews and others face today.
Ari Joskowicz is assistant professor of Jewish Studies and European Studies and affiliated assistant professor of history at Vanderbilt University. | http://perspectives.ajsnet.org/the-secular-issue-spring-2011/jewish-secularism-and-the-campaigns-against-political-catholicism-and-islam/ |
Philosophers: Debates and Dialogues
In 1971, a Dutch initiative called the International Philosophers Project brought together the leading thinkers of the day for a series of one-on-one debates. The participants included intellectual superstars Alfred Ayer and Arne Naess, Karl Popper and John Eccles, Leszek Kolakowski and Henri Lefâ®bvre, and - most notably, in a now justifiably famous exchange - Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault.
This set collects all four remarkable conversations, along with introductions and commentary by Dutch philosopher and writer Fons Elders. Elders moderated the original debates - hand-picking each of the participants after spending some time getting to know them. Now, looking back four decades later, he offers perspective and context, summarizing the arguments and highlighting the key moments of each debate.
Each of these conversations captures the intellectual and social ferment of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when dramatic social and economic transformation seemed imminent - and philosophical questions underpinned discussions about what form the new society would take. Though many of the questions under discussion are timeless, this social and political context gives them a particular sense of urgency.
The Philosophers: Debates and Dialogues includes the following titles:
The now legendary 1971 conversation between Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault on the subject of human nature.
Analytic philosopher Alfred Ayer and Arne Naess, father of the deep ecology movement, discuss skepticism, fact, and truth.
Karl Popper and neuroscientist John Eccles discuss falsifiability, truth and fact, and the open society.
Leszek Kolakowski and Henri Lefebvre discuss the ongoing significance of Marxism and the concept of alienation.
Visit the title page to preview any of the titles above. | http://docuseek2.com/if-philo |
John Dewey’s seminal book Democracy and Education, written in 1916, contains his most systematic introduction to the philosophy of education for which he is renowned. Much of the book is devoted to placing Dewey’s views in what he considered to be their historical and philosophical context, and he also lays out his ideas for a system of education based in students’ own interests and desires. He makes the case for the critical role of this kind of education in fostering and sustaining a democratic society, which he conceives of as offering equal access to all its members.
During fall semester, I led a seminar on “Dewey and Progressive Education” for faculty from across disciplines. For that discussion, I chose a few brief excerpts from the book that highlight these particular themes. In the following passages, Dewey introduces some of his key points. After each excerpt, I offer commentary on the issues Dewey raises. I have also included some reflections made in preparing for the seminar and during the conversation that transpired. This is also a story of my intellectual journey in coming to read and integrate Dewey’s ideas into my own work.
From “Education as Growth,” Chapter 4
“The primary condition of growth is immaturity. … Immaturity designates a positive force or ability—the power to grow. We do not have to draw out or educe positive activities from a child, as some educational doctrines would have it. Where there is life, there are already eager and impassioned activities. Growth is not something done to them; it is something they do.”
Here Dewey articulates the core of his view of learning as an active process, one that all children are inclined toward, as he goes on to explain in terms of curiosity and exploration of the world around them. In this sense, “immaturity” is a starting point, an open potential for taking in experience.
“From a social standpoint, dependence denotes a power rather than a weakness; it involves interdependence. There is always a danger that increased personal independence will decrease the social capacity of an individual. In making him more self-reliant, it may make him more self-sufficient; it may lead to aloofness and indifference. It often makes an individual so insensitive in his relations to others as to develop an illusion of being really able to stand and act alone—an unnamed form of insanity which is responsible for a large part of the remediable suffering of the world.”
This seems to me a remarkably prescient and timely statement about the inherently social context of all experience and learning. Dewey is taking a stand against the proverbial view of individuals “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps” in favor of a view of an interdependent society in which people take responsibility for one another. Dominant groups are particularly susceptible to this blindness to the benefits they have accrued from being part of a network of social interactions that have offered opportunities to grow and succeed. How easy it is to think that valuing self-sufficiency justifies denying these opportunities to others. This passage is a clear counterpoint and a warning about the misguided implications of a heightened individualism.
“The significance of habit … means formation of intellectual and emotional disposition. … Any habit marks an inclination—an active preference and choice for the conditions involved in its exercise. … A habit does not wait for a stimulus to turn up so that it may get busy; it actively seeks for occasions to pass into full operation. … Modes of thought, of observation and reflection, enter as forms of skill and of desire. … There are habits of judging and reasoning as truly as of handling a tool, painting a picture, or conducting an experiment.”
Here we see Dewey’s famous articulation of the role of “habit” as an active inclination of mind, holistic in that intellectual experience is connected to social and emotional aspects. These dispositions seek out opportunities to be practiced—as modes of thought, observation, and reflection, to be manifested as desires and skills. They are expressed across academic disciplines, arts, and practical activities.
“Hence education means the enterprise of supplying the conditions which insure growth, or adequacy of life, irrespective of age. … Active habits involve thought, invention, and initiative in applying capacities to new aims. Since growth is the characteristic of life, education is all one with growing; it has no end beyond itself. The criterion of the value of school education is the extent in which it creates a desire for continued growth and supplies means for making the desire effective in fact.”
Education is conceived in terms of Dewey’s general philosophy of pragmatism, where there is no separation of means and ends. The value of the enterprise is in its process of unfolding, and should be evaluated in terms of fostering the desire for continued learning. The contrast to a traditional model of education as a product that is acquired could not be clearer—such different assumptions generate starkly different goals: “What does one need to know?” vs. “What does one need to be?”
From “The Democratic Conception in Education,” Chapter 7
“An undesirable society is one which internally and externally sets up barriers to free intercourse and communication of experience. A society which makes provision for participation in its good of all its members on equal terms … is so far democratic. … A social return must be demanded from all and that opportunity for development of distinctive capacities must be afforded all. The separation of the two aims in education is fatal to democracy.”
Dewey’s emphasis here is on access and equality from the beginning. Since the inaugural symposium (and through some of the assigned readings), I have learned a great deal more than I previously knew about Dewey’s commitments to education reform, labor movements, and civil rights. In other writing, he explicitly connected his work for social justice with his views on education. This connection was expressed in terms of the goal of fostering for all citizens the power to integrate learning into one’s work in the world, and he discussed the impacts of different kinds of work (including the alienation caused by traditional schools and factory work) on individual psychology.
At the faculty seminar, we recognized and talked about the irreconcilable contradictions between this vision of engagement in work and the realities of the conditions under which most people tolerate their lives of labor. The conversation that followed turned to acknowledging the potential relationship to one’s work that includes “the capacity for an interior life.” This certainly follows Dewey’s orientation to the matter on an individual level—although it did not address the structural inequalities underlying these conditions. Clearly, fostering the conditions in which students feel capable and invested in their own ideas and critical reflection is also essential for a democratic society.
Personal Reflections
In planning for the seminar, I drew on themes from the inaugural symposium, particularly a vision of education for social justice. Several of the presenters called for a clarification of values by emphasizing that the term “liberal” in liberal education implies a commitment to certain values. They challenged us to articulate these values in a political context that is contentious about what these values are. For example, “What is democracy?” in relation to the cultural contexts in which we live our lives and in which we affirm the value of differences.
My own takeoff point in this endeavor goes back to my undergraduate experience at Sarah Lawrence, when I was introduced to the study of developmental psychology. It became immediately clear that this field was making some commitments about what it means for a person to “develop” and, indeed, what the meaning of “progress” is in progressive education. These inquiries were framed by my faculty, primarily my relationship with Margery Franklin (psychology, emerita), in terms of value questions (and already, in the 1970s, as a critique of the notion of a value-free science). At about this time, Franklin’s former teacher at Clark University, Bernard Kaplan, expressed this idea in compelling terms: According to Kaplan, the foundation of the field contains a moral imperative to conceive and facilitate the liberation of human beings. He cautioned developmentalists not to assume that the way children are actually changing necessarily represents development. The challenge is to strive to keep a view toward an ideal process. This, he wrote in 1980, entails continual reexamination: To keep this “telos of development” in mind requires recognizing our own “egocentricities, ethnocentricities, prejudice … that facilitate or impede human development.” I became interested in critiques of views of development, which eventually led me to read Dewey, where I encountered this line in Democracy and Education: “When it is said that education is development, everything depends upon how development is conceived.”
What I began to realize was the extent to which Dewey opposed the dominant paradigms. He stood out clearly against several prevailing views in the field. One was his opposition to the view of development as natural progress. He was against the social Darwinist view of evolution as a model for development, or the social arrangements of a meritocracy with all the hierarchical, and often racialized, implications that follow. I have written about how this set of values has come under serious critique even from within the field of developmental psychology for its minimizing the role of context and cultural differences, leaving out or marginalizing the experiences of some groups of children. Instead, Dewey articulated a view of development as fostering individuality and autonomy as a social responsibility.
Dewey also stood against the sense of natural progress as inherent growth, a view influenced by Rousseau. Dewey rejected this view early on, and in Democracy and Education he was clear that the metaphor of the child as a seed was the wrong metaphor because it failed to acknowledge that children grow into many different kinds of people and that the particular experiences they have will shape the outcome. The rest of his work is an attempt to articulate this alternative view of the role of experience in education.
[Dewey] was clear that the metaphor of the child as a seed was the wrong metaphor because it failed to acknowledge that children grow into many different kinds of people and that the particular experiences they have will shape the outcome.
One of the other ways in which Dewey has been misunderstood is in the view that equates progressive education with “experiential education.” According to Dewey, only certain types of experiences are educational. He went on to define the criteria—experiences must be processed and reflected upon, which makes them transformational in the sense that experience is represented in a medium—as in writing, speaking, dancing, making art. These are experiences that foster further independent learning.
I am drawn to a metaphor of exploring a trail and mapmaking that Dewey invokes in his discussion of the nature of curricular content:
“Without the … paths traced by the explorer there would be no facts which could be utilized in the making of the complete and related chart. But no one would get the benefit of the explorer’s trip if it was not compared and checked up with similar wanderings undertaken by others; unless the new geographical facts learned, the streams crossed, the mountains climbed, etc., were viewed, not as mere incidents in the journey of the particular traveler, but in relation to other similar facts already known. The map orders individual experiences, connecting them with one another irrespective of the local and temporal circumstances and accidents of their original discovery.”
Margery once said of her role as a teacher: “I sometimes think of myself as a guide, and the class and I are going together to some beautiful place, and I’m there to say: ‘Why don’t we look at that peak?’ or ‘What do you think of the view from here?’”
I still think this image well captures what we are trying to do as progressive educators, inviting ourselves and our students onto a journey and into a conversation about democracy and education. | https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/magazine/democracy-education/out-back/critical-writing.html |
Terryl Givens is doing a great deal in People of Paradox. He offers an ambitious interpretation of Mormon beliefs and then sets out to show how the paradoxes that he identifies as the deep structure of Mormon thought can be traced through almost two centuries of Mormon culture. He builds on the massive outpouring of scholarly research on Mormonism since 1950, or so, but he firmly transcends the narrow confines of the New Mormon history by doing something that it seldom did: He offers up Mormonism as a big story about big ideas.
The New Mormon History, in contrast, was mainly interested in nailing down the details of past events and chronology, its primary intellectual spur being the constant need to assert its professionalism and legitimacy over against both traditional Mormon hagiography and anti-Mormon polemics. To the extent that it offered up a narrative of intellectual drama, it was virtually always the much-touted tension between “official†history and “honest†history. It is almost as if the searing end of Arrington’s Camelot was so traumatic as to have crowed other historiographic narratives to the margins. (Think of the reviews of Rough Stone Rolling; how many of them had anything to talk about other than the question of whether a believing Mormon could write a “real†biography of Mormonism’s founder?) The result has been a steady march into the chloroform of internecine debates over minutiae that the protagonists try – with increasingly less success – to endow with enduring ideological significance. As Jan Shipps observed recently in the Journal of American History, “the books and more especially the articles that made up the new Mormon history sometimes belabored arguments about issues that readers unfamiliar with LDS historiography probably regarded as minor.†For a concrete example of what I am talking about consider debates over the dating of the restoration of the priesthood, or the nineteenth-century meaning of the term “secret combinations.â€*
Givens manages to transcend the genre of the New Mormon History by doing two things. First, he engages the substance of Mormon beliefs but does so using language different than that used by Mormons themselves. In contrast, previous scholarly treatments of Mormonism have tended to either ignore Mormon theology, or else to treat it in a purely descriptive way. Givens, in contrast, sets forth Mormonism as a system of thought worthy of dignity in its own right. For Givens, the Restoration need not be confined to its own patois for the same reason that one can be a Platonist in language other than Attic Greek: The interest of both conversations exceeds their particular historical context. It is not clear, of course, that Givens is always correct in how he presents Mormonism in the first part of his book. Carlyle-quoting-Romanticist that he is, Givens has a penchant for great man history, inscribing into the minds of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young cultural tensions that may well have exceeded their thoughts, if not their thought.
Givens’s second strategy is to catapult Mormonism into big conversations, both historically and intellectually. Trench warfare over the precise nature of Joseph Smith’s brush with the law over treasure digging in the upper Susquehanna is replaced with primal dialectics of freedom and authority, certainty and questing, or the need for a God who both transcends the world and connects intimately to it. And so on. Indeed, the conflicts of the New Mormon Historians are not offered up as a historiography at all, but rather become a single character in much larger intellectual drama. Although not quite mingling with gods, in Givens’s book Joseph rubs shoulders with Blake, Jefferson, and other intellectual worthies. Likewise Mormon culture, despite the frequent evidence of immaturity that Givens trenchantly discusses, becomes a theater in which fundamental – and unavoidable – paradoxes are played out. The parochialism of youth reveals a depth worthy of attention.
In this work, I think that Givens is also offering us a model of how Latter-day Saints might conduct scholarship on their own tradition. After publishing his monograph The Theological Foundations of the Mormon Religion, Sterling McMurrin, so the story goes, was accosted by a colleague in the University of Utah philosophy department. “The problem with your book,†he reportedly said, “is that you make Mormon theology look too good.†In response, McMurrin quipped, “Well, I felt that I had to because Mormons make it look so bad.†Givens lacks the smug condescension that characterized McMurrin’s discussions of Mormonism, but the story has possible application to Givens’s work. Givens is a critic in technical sense of the word and, occasionally, in the popular sense as well. It is clear that he is annoyed at the cultural gaffes of the Saints from time to time, and recognizes spiritual and aesthetic dangers within the tensions of Mormon theology. But above these concerns, I think that it would be safe to describe Givens as a scholarly celebrant of Mormonism. He makes it look good.
There is depth and critical bite in Givens’s work. Still, he labors hard to dispel the myths of utter Mormon conformity, Mormon banality, and – above all else – Mormon boringness. What he sees is not a stasis , either of an inspired perfection of triumphant answers or an empty wasteland of anti-intellectualism and mediocrity. Rather his vision of Mormonism is agonistic: a constant struggle of paradoxical ideas locked together with one another in an arena where no one approach ever claims final victory. There is something very Romantic, in my mind, about the sensibility that Givens seeks to capture and place at the heart of his story. It casts Mormonism as a kind of tragic – or at any rate interestingly conflicted – hero. Such an approach, ultimately refuses to package itself as simply analysis, however elegantly presented. Rather Givens’s book itself is an artifact of Mormon culture, one, I think, that seeks to transform the very thing it describes. In the end we have more than a history; we have a roadmap to the tensions where Givens sees the drama of art as possible. It is not simply a description of Mormon aesthetics, but the construction of a Mormon aesthetics. His construction, however, recasts the materials from which it is built in ways that change them subtlety, bringing out what Givens sees as their latent virtues. For those predisposed to see Mormonism as little more than an idiosyncratic off-shoot of American fundamentalism, Givens’s treatment will seem bizarre. For those (inside and outside the church) willing to risk a more nuanced picture of Mormonism, it offers a powerful vision of its cultural possibilities.
*To forestall the inevitable accusations of intellectual ingratitude that always follow any criticism of the New Mormon History let me say for the record, that I like the New Mormon History, I think that represents a quantum leap forward in the quality of Mormon intellectual discussions, and I do not favor the suppression of events uncomfortable for Mormons when writing Mormon history. More original research is always better than less original research. Some of my best friends are New Mormon Historians, and I have even invited them into my home. I would even let one date my daughter (if she were a bit older). | http://www.timesandseasons.org/harchive/2007/11/terryl-givens-the-scholar-as-celebrant/ |
Meet People Beyond Borders, a startup of NSRCEL from the Social Incubation Program. The program engages and supports early-stage social ventures with high growth potential to build scalable models for sustained impact.
People Beyond Borders (PBB) is a youth-led non-profit that connects displaced communities with each other and fosters self-empowerment, livelihood, psychosocial support, and skill-sharing. With inclusive and creative practices, PBB engages displaced communities and refugees to hone entrepreneurial skills and inspire creativity that translates into social impact.
Led by co-founders, Prerna Rathi and Angela Miller McGraw, PBB works towards its mission of cultivating a culture of care, belonging, and dignity for those fleeing humanitarian crises.
People Beyond Borders has been involved in ground-breaking work over the past few weeks in Berlin, Germany, with Sofie Roehrig, PBB’s Creative Consultant, and a Berlin-based multimedia visual artist and Ph.D. researcher focusing on migration politics.
In the run-up to World Refugee Week, People Beyond Borders has been reaching out to refugees and displaced communities in Germany with curated activities, workshops, and discussions that empower these communities, offer skill support, and build on the intercultural connections among these groups.
Art, music, poetry, film, dance, and sports are languages of empowerment that bridge connections beyond labels, identities, and borders. With an art-jamming event, conflict mapping session, residential theatre workshop, and a visit to the Innovative Psychotherapy Clinic at Humboldt University in Berlin to collect resources and set up a referral mechanism for refugees seeking mental health support, and much more, PBB is actively helping displaced people to express themselves, humanize their everyday narratives and transform barriers through trust-building.
“Displaced communities often experience roadblocks in their path towards employment and experiencing their sense of belongingness. People Beyond Borders works to synergize the power of community through these partnerships with organizations and most importantly, with marginalized people themselves,” said Prerna Rathi.
With every single one of its initiatives, People Beyond Borders is on its way towards bridging gaps through co-creating safe spaces and opportunities to empower displaced groups to connect with each other and tap into diverse support systems.
Founded by Rizvi Aquil Abbas, Voyage Educare Foundation has been actively transforming society by facilitating education programs for children from low-income communities and training programs for teachers.
Over the past few weeks, Voyage Educare has been working round-the-clock, conducting its flagship training program, Raabta across the country. Raabta – School Transformation Program (STP) aims to uplift and transform schools, thus building meaningful relationships between stakeholders responsible for a child’s holistic education. Raabta implements insights from nationally and internationally conducted research across best practices for schools.
Socio-economic factors often discourage children from being a part of the formal education system. Voyage EduCare Foundation, through Raabta, builds connections among students, teachers, and parents and contributes towards making formal education accessible and efficient for children all across.
The May 2022 Leg of the program took place in Kashmir, Kargil and Leh. The sessions covered concepts of learning loss, and culture-building and aimed at fostering a positive learning environment and encouraging parents to invest and take charge of their child’s education.
This school transformation program takes underserved schools across the country and converts them into lighthouse schools that nurture and improve learning experiences and outcomes. Through Raabta, key stakeholders get to share their resources and expertise with schools in the vicinity and eventually improve the standards of education in the region.
“It has been an incredible feeling being on the ground after a long time. The responses from teachers and the community have helped me realize the importance of the work we are doing.”, said Rizvi, Founder of Voyage Educare Foundation.
With improved operations and clarity in structure, the program has brought about the progress that is visible through improved teacher retention, parental participation, and a spike in student engagement and attendance.
With Voyage Educare Foundation’s dedicated efforts, we surely are certain of seeing the immediate change that they wish to bring about, one school at a time! | https://nsrcel.org/start_up_features/raabta-with-voyage-educare-foundation/ |
Slought Foundation (http://slought.org/) is a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia that engages the public in dialogue about cultural and socio-political change. It collaborates with a range of partners including artists, communities, universities, and governments to encourage cultural inclusiveness and social activism. Culture means more than preservation or presentation; it means the exchange of ideas, the creation of concepts.
Philosophers, theologians and scientists have historically maligned curiosity, and the experimental disposition more generally, as a lack of specialization, a sort of intellectual futility or vacuousness. Slought Foundation diverged from this conceptualization, arguing instead for curiosity as a curatorial methodology. Curiosity, for Slought, entails a resistance towards entrenched hierarchies, the fostering of dissent, and the discouragement of habitual forms of thinking.
In the spirit of the conceptual information shows of the early 1970s, this exhibition will take the form of an archival exploration into curiosity as the driving force of the Slought Foundation. It will revisit past exhibitions and events with today's pioneers in conversation about contemporary art, architecture, and social theory. Juxtaposing video documentation of projects with artists such as Hermann Nitsch, Gary Hill, Dennis Oppenheim, Werner Herzog, and Vito Acconci alongside posters and publications, the exhibition hopes in this way to communicate Slought Foundation's signature mix of art, culture, and politics to the public of Istanbul.
PROGRAM FOR CONVERSATIONS
10 March 2010, 15:00
CONVERSATION WITH HERMANN NITSCH AND OSVALDO ROMBERG
"Austria, Germany and the Post-war Cultural Milieu"
Accompanied by a visual presentation of Nitsch's works
Hermann Nitsch (born 1938) is an Austrian performance artist and a forerunner of Wiener Aktionismus (Viennese Actionism, or Performance art). Nitsch is known for his ritualistic performance actions, often combining fake crucifixion with the disemboweling of lambs and other animals. In the late 50s Hermann Nitsch developed the concept of the "Orgien Mysterien Theater" (Theatre of Orgies and Mysteries) a total work of art appealing to all senses, celebratory and life-affirming. Drawing on religion, philosophy and psychology, he has composed numerous theoretical writings, compositions and scores to accompany over 100 realized action performances between the years of 1962 and 1998. In 1998, Nitsch staged his 100th performance (named the 6-Day Play after its length) which took place at Schloss Prinzendorf, his castle in Austria.
18:00 Opening reception
11 March 2010, 11:00
BEYOND THE BIENNALE
by Aaron Levy followed by conversation with Lanfranco Aceti
This presentation will explore the cultural politics of the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, which has served as a privileged site for America’s uneven engagement with cultural diplomacy. The focus will be on Into the Open: Positioning Practice, which was the official U.S. pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia at the 11th International Architecture Exhibition, and later traveled to Parsons the New School in New York and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Curator Aaron Levy will speak to the means by which a new generation of architects are reclaiming a role in shaping community and the built environment. The exhibition featured 16 architectural groups who actively engage communities, responding to social and environmental issues, including shifting demographics, changing geo-political boundaries, uneven economic development, and the explosion of urban migration. These intellectually entrepreneurial actors are designing the conditions from which new architectures can emerge-becoming activists, developers, facilitators of inclusive urban policies, as well as innovative urban researchers. Reaching creatively across institutions, agencies, and jurisdictions, they're negotiating hidden resources in the private, public, and non-profit sectors.
11 March 2010, 14:00
THE ETHICS OF THE LIE
by Jean-Michel Rabaté
We know that most politicians lie, hoping that they lie reasonably, as it were, but when they are caught in the act, their careers are ruined. The common root to these phenomena goes back to the paradigmatic figure of the paradox: I am lying but I tell the truth when I say that I am lying. In The Ethics of the Lie, Jean-Michel Rabate will explore this ancient problem in a new light, starting with a contemporary American context. He will address the web of lies that is today spun by the media, but will also turn the microscope on the U.S. presidency and explore the dynamics of family lies. Do we live in an age when disinformation has reached such a fevered pitch that we can dismiss everything presented as "fact" or "news"? In questioning this widespread skepticism, Rabate will deconstruct the pathology of lies and their logical mechanisms, leading us back to the continuing debates of the great philosophers and their philosophical foundations–Plato, Nietzsche, and Aristotle–and in doing so, swears to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. | https://kasagaleri.sabanciuniv.edu/en/portfolio-view/slought-istanbul/ |
Today’s business leaders must inspire change, welcome change, foster change, and sustain change.
Current events are almost too much to process. Our health, well-being, and safety have felt uncertain. Leaders in every sector must rise to meet this moment, both for ourselves and those we lead. Our actions, individually and as a group, can make a difference to build toward justice and equality for all. As leaders we must summon our superpowers to create change in our sphere of influence.
How do we take the first step toward inspiring, welcoming, fostering, and sustaining change? As a first step forward, leaders must be willing to change themselves. Success relies on practicing personal mastery—not as if it were a one-hour commitment to take a Pilates class or to meditate occasionally but as a choice to evolve every day toward higher levels of ability and effectiveness.
Change makers have something in common: high levels of personal mastery. They continuously work to expand and leverage their effectiveness when it comes to commitment, curiosity, and courage.
COMMITMENT: HOW TO GROW IT
A leader’s commitments shape his or her organization’s identity, define its strengths and weaknesses, establish its opportunities and limitations, and set its direction. Commitments enable as well as constrain and provide continuity over time.
Leaders pave the way for people to become more emotionally committed to the mission at hand. How do we cultivate both intellectual and emotional engagement within ourselves and others? Personal mastery enables us to make conscious choices to evolve and embrace change. We become freer to respond with clarity, commitment, and energy, regardless of the circumstances around us. Here are two actions you can take to strengthen commitment:
- BE INTENTIONAL. Be clear about your intention to create change, and make sure your daily actions reflect your commitment to those goals. Most of us are pretty clear on what we don’t want. Can you be as clear about what you do want?
- HONOR YOUR VALUES. Make sure the role you occupy and the mission you have are aligned with your values, and if they’re not, start drafting a game plan for how to change that. And don’t forget, honoring your values helps build trust in others.
CURIOSITY: HOW TO CULTIVATE IT
Curiosity and open-mindedness are critical traits for transformational leaders to create change. They help leaders expand their perspective, even in challenging times. Curiosity is about seeking fresh ideas and approaches in order to keep pace with change. Do you need to cultivate more curiosity in your life to expand your world? Here are two key actions you can take to develop a more curious attitude and broaden your horizons:
- SEEK EDUCATION. Learning doesn’t have to take place in a formal training program. The idea is to build your knowledge base and reignite your innate desire to explore. Find resources that offer insight into the views of others.
- ASK QUESTIONS. You don’t have all the answers. No one does. Acknowledge that, and start asking questions of your employees, other managers, your friends, maybe even of someone you follow on social media.
COURAGE: HOW TO EXPAND YOURS
In The Wizard of Oz, the cowardly lion had courage all along. In the end, he unleashed it. Courageous leaders take risks and make decisions with the intention of launching change. Their boldness inspires their teams, energizes customers, and positions their organizations for transformational success.
What does courage look like? It’s about taking a stand, making a move, and pushing through fear. Courage isn’t absence of fear; it’s refusing to let fear hold you back. As Ben Dean writes: “If any virtues are to be cultivated within a society, one might reasonably argue that courage should be foremost among them, for courage may be necessary to maintaining and exercising the other virtues.” Humans aren’t born courageous. It’s a trait we choose and then cultivate. If you want to practice more courage, try these ideas:
- STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. We have to leave old habits behind and be open to trying something new. This also helps us keep our mental powers nimble. You can easily try stepping out of your comfort zone today.
- WELCOME CHANGE. It’s human nature to fear change. And fear isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it can help us exercise due caution in challenging circumstances. But even if you feel apprehensive about change, work on welcoming it for the lessons and innovations it often provides. And don’t stop at getting comfortable with change; start fostering it, too! Once you start seeing change as an opportunity for growth, your capacity to embrace it (and roll with it) will grow.
The process of personal mastery forces us to do what most people have a very hard time doing—assessing ourselves as more than the sum of a list of faults. As our focus broadens, so too does the accuracy of our self-assessment. In addition to our talents and strengths, we begin to identify opportunities for growth. But in the context of personal mastery, some weaknesses turn out to be nothing more than strengths that have not been fully developed. The question is not how to get rid of them, but how to harness their full power. The common excuse for avoiding change—I can’t do it!—is replaced by something more honest and more possible. Transformation becomes the imperative. | https://forbesbooks.com/summon-your-superpowers-to-create-change/ |
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Debating Turkish Modernity describes the opening act of Turkey's half century bid to join the European Community. Between 1959 and 1980, Turks from all walks of life weighed in on their prospective integration into Europe. This book details how these Turks made sense of the project of European Unification and how they spoke about it. It argues that Turkey's EEC debates, by resurrecting past questions over Turkey's relationship to Europe, became the principle forum where Turks of the Second Republic defined who they were, where they came from, and where they were going.Read more
- The first English-language account of the history of Turkish-EEC relations
- Serves as a lens into the history of the Turkish Republic
- Situates Turkish-European relations within larger debates on modernization and non-western modernity
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'Döşemeci's meticulously written and lucid book is an excellent historical study that calls for the active imagination of the reader. With a skilful hermeneutical analysis of historical events it invites us to rethink the meanings of modernity through different logics and historical-conceptual sites within which civilization, nation, and Europeanness have been dialogically imagined and debated by Turkish elites. The book powerfully brings to life the impasses and tensions of these debates, shedding a very different light on the much-technicalized discussions of Turkey's membership to Europe today.' Meltem Ahiska, Boğaziçi University, IstanbulSee more reviews
'Mehmet Döşemeci's theoretically rich account of the EEC membership debate in Cold War Turkey shows why and how the intellectual discourses on Europe as a civilizational project is essential to understand domestic and foreign policy debates then and now. We need more studies like this to better understand the complexity of the question of Eurocentrism in both the global intellectual history and contemporary political theory.' Cemil Aydin, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
'Why should any country be interested in joining the European Union? Debating Turkish Modernity offers a perceptive analysis of the Turkish discussion around this issue. Döşemeci convincingly argues that this subject was central for the way Turkish elites understood their state and society for many decades. An innovative contribution to Turkish and European integration history, and an indispensable book for anyone who tries to understand the relationship between Turkey and the EU today.' Kiran Klaus Patel, Maastricht University
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Product details
- Date Published: April 2016
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9781107622913
- length: 244 pages
- dimensions: 230 x 153 x 14 mm
- weight: 0.36kg
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Joining civilization
2. The TİP of the iceberg
3. Voices from a threatened nation
4. The additional protocol: a 'national' problem
5. Intervention, invasion, isolation
6. From periphery to core
Conclusion.
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‘Relativism’ is often treated as a dirty word in philosophy. Showing that a view entails relativism is almost always considered tantamount to showing that it is nonsensical. However, relativistic theories are not entirely unappealing – they have features which might be tempting if they weren’t thought to be outweighed by problematic consequences. In this paper I argue that it’s possible to secure the intuitively appealing features of at least one kind of relativism – epistemic relativism – without having to accept (...)
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In this short essay, we sketch a theory of faith that features resilience in the face of challenges to relying on those in whom you have faith. We argue that it handles a variety of both religious and secular faith-data, e.g., the value of faith in relationships of mutual faith and faithfulness, how the Christian and Hebrew scriptures portray pístis and ʾĕmûnāh, and the character of faith as it is often expressed in popular secular venues.
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A prominent view in religious epistemology, which I call divine-help epistemology, says that people of faith are epistemically gifted by God, whereas non-believers are subject to the noetic effects of a fallen world. This view aims to show how religious beliefs for people of faith can be epistemically justified. But I argue that it makes such people prone to a cluster of epistemic vices that I call epistemic phariseeism. Divine-help epistemology is especially apt to promote these vices because its normativity (...)
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ABSTRACTPhilosophical views defending shame as a catalyst for moral virtue are at odds with empirical data indicating that shame often yields psychologically unhealthy responses for those who feel it, and often motivates in them morally worse action than whatever occasioned the initial shame experience. Our interdisciplinary ethnographic study analyzes the shame experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender conservative Christians and the church members who once shamed them but are now allies. In this context, shame, humility, and proper pride work (...)
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In maintaining that virtue is a legitimate concept worthy of empirical study, a strong situationist approach to the study of behavior is countered. An earlier analysis is then drawn upon to maintain that virtue has the capability of integrating several themes in positive psychology: ethics and health, embodied character, strength and resilience, communally embedded, meaningful purpose, and capacity for wisdom. The six themes are used to provide a framework for considering the unique case of moral and intellectual humility as a (...)
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Why is it that some instances of disagreement appear to be so intractable? And what is the appropriate way to handle such disagreements, especially concerning matters about which there are important practical and political needs for us to come to a consensus? In this paper, I consider an explanation of the apparent intractability of deep disagreement offered by hinge epistemology. According to this explanation, at least some deep disagreements are rationally unresolvable because they concern ‘hinge’ commitments that are unresponsive to (...)
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Virtues are acquirable, so if intellectual humility is a virtue, it’s acquirable. But there is something deeply problematic—perhaps even paradoxical—about aiming to be intellectually humble. Drawing on Edward Slingerland’s analysis of the paradoxical virtue of wu-wei in Trying Not To Try (New York: Crown, 2014), we argue for an anti-individualistic conception of the trait, concluding that one’s intellectual humility depends upon the intellectual humility of others. Slingerland defines wu-wei as the “dynamic, effortless, and unselfconscious state of mind of a person (...)
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Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Volume 104, Issue 3, Page 623-638, May 2022.
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In the first part of the paper, I discuss Benatar’s asymmetry argument for the claim that it would have been better for each of us to have never lived at all. In contrast to other commentators, I will argue that there is a way of interpreting the premises of his argument which makes all of them come out true. Once we see why the premises are true, we will, however, also realise that the argument trades on an ambiguity that renders (...)
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Thought: A Journal of Philosophy, Volume 8, Issue 4, Page 278-285, December 2019.
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While philosophical debates about the ethical dimension of cinema have flourished over the last few decades, discussions of cinema and virtues are still limited. And, even if virtues are explored with regard to film, humility is not often the most obvious virtue that comes to mind. As this article argues, this might in part be due to humility’s lack of expressive action and its tendency to remain in the background. In addition, the wide range of philosophical views on what actually (...)
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Behavioral economists have proposed that people are subject to an IKEA effect, whereby they attach greater value to products they make for themselves, like IKEA furniture, than to otherwise indiscernible goods. Recently, cognitive psychologist Tom Stafford has suggested there may be an epistemic analog to this, a kind of epistemic IKEA effect. In this paper, I use Stafford’s suggestion to defend a certain thesis about epistemic value. Specifically, I argue that there is a distinctive epistemic value in being an active (...)
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Contemporary virtue epistemology (hereafter ‘VE’) is a diverse collection of approaches to epistemology. At least two central tendencies are discernible among the approaches. First, they view epistemology as a normative discipline. Second, they view intellectual agents and communities as the primary focus of epistemic evaluation, with a focus on the intellectual virtues and vices embodied in and expressed by these agents and communities. -/- This entry introduces many of the most important results of the contemporary VE research program. These include (...)
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This entry introduces many of the most important results of the contemporary Virtue epistemology (hereafter 'VE') research program. These include novel attempts to resolve longstanding disputes, solve perennial problems, grapple with novel challenges, and expand epistemology’s horizons. In the process, it reveals the diversity within VE. Beyond sharing the two unifying commitments mentioned above, its practitioners diverge over the nature of intellectual virtues, which questions to ask, and which methods to use.
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This article discusses conceptions of modesty and humility and their key features. It gives a brief historical overview of debates about whether or not they’re really virtues at all. It also discusses theories of modesty and humility that root them in the presence or absence of particular beliefs, emotions, desires, and attention. it also discusses related phenomena in epistemology: rational limits on self-ascription of error, attitudes to disagreement, and openness to alternative views.
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Philosophical reflection on transparency, including group transparency, is beginning to gain steam. This paper contributes to this work by developing a conceptualization of transparency as an intellectual character trait that groups can possess, and by presenting a novel argument for thinking that such transparency should be understood along non-summativist lines. According to the account offered, a group’s being intellectually transparent consists in the group’s tending to attend well to its perspective and to share its perspective faithfully with others in order (...)
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This paper engages in what might be called anticipatory virtue epistemology, as it anticipates some virtue epistemological risks related to a near-future version of brain-computer interface technology that Michael Lynch (2014) calls 'neuromedia.' I analyze how neuromedia is poised to negatively affect the intellectual character of agents, focusing specifically on the virtue of intellectual perseverance, which involves a disposition to mentally persist in the face of challenges towards the realization of one’s intellectual goals. First, I present and motivate what I (...)
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ABSTRACT Katherine Dormandy argues that there is no partiality in virtuous faith. Partiality biases and leads to noetic entrenchment. In response, I contend there is an important sense in which virtuous faith is partial towards its object. Namely, it disposes one to perceive the object as more trustworthy and to rely on this partialist evidence in forming beliefs, even when the impartialist evidence points in the other direction. There are, after all, situations in which impartialist evidence is apt to mislead (...)
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Life is a group project. It takes a village. The same is true of our intellectual lives. Since we are finite cognitive creatures with limited time and resources, any healthy intellectual life requires that we rely quite heavily on others. For nearly any question you want to investigate, there is someone who is in a better epistemic position than you are to determine the answer. For most people, their expertise does not extend far beyond their own personal lives, and even (...)
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Although the discipline of vice epistemology is only a decade old, the broader project of studying epistemic vices and failings is much older. This paper argues that contemporary vice epistemologists ought to engage more closely with these earlier projects. After sketching some general arguments in section one, I then turn to deep epistemic vices: ones whose identity and intelligibility depends on some underlying conception of human nature or the nature of reality. The final section then offers a case study from (...)
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Intellectual humility plays a crucial role among intellectual virtues. It has attracted considerable attention from virtue epistemologists, who have offered a fair number of treatments. In this essay, I argue that, regardless of the difference among these treatments, they are beset by two problems: they fall into a circular argument; they fall into a self-referential contradiction. I then argue that a recent proposal by D. Pritchard allows us to avoid, but not. However, by combining this proposal with another reflection advanced (...)
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Does shame have a place in a mature moral agent's psychology? Does it play a useful and positive role in morality? One skepticism that disputes shame's compatibility with mature moral agency or its being a useful moral emotion is that shame appears heteronomous in nature: We experience shame not because we have behaved badly by our own moral standards, but because we have been reproved by other people and suffered an injury to our social image. To mitigate this skepticism, this (...)
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We advance the understanding of the philosophy and psychology of curiosity by operationalizing and constructing an empirical measure of Nietzsche’s conception of inquisitive curiosity, expressed by the German term Wissbegier, (“thirst for knowledge” or “need/impetus to know”) and Neugier (“curiosity” or “inquisitiveness”). First, we show that existing empirical measures of curiosity do not tap the construct of inquisitive curiosity, though they may tap related constructs such as idle curiosity and phenomenological curiosity. Next, we map the concept of inquisitive curiosity and (...)
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In many tragic plays, the protagonist is brought down by a disaster that is a consequence of the protagonist's own error, his or her hamartia, the tragic flaw. Tragic flaws are disconcerting to the audience because they are not known or fully recognized by the protagonist—at least not until it is too late. In this essay, I take tragic flaws to be unreliable belief-forming dispositions that are unrecognized by us in some sense. I describe some different types of flaws and (...)
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Intellectual humility, I argue in this paper, is a cluster of strong attitudes directed toward one's cognitive make-up and its components, together with the cognitive and affective states that constitute their contents or bases, which serve knowledge and value-expressive functions. In order to defend this new account of humility I first examine two simpler traits: intellectual self-acceptance of epistemic limitations and intellectual modesty about epistemic successes. The position defended here addresses the shortcomings of both ignorance and accuracy based accounts of (...)
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This essay presents an account of what it takes to live a philosophical way of life: practitioners must be committed to a worldview, structure their lives around it, and engage in truth‐directed practices. Contra John Cooper, it does not require that one’s life be solely guided by reason. Religious or tradition‐based ways of life count as truth directed as long as their practices are reasons responsive and would be truth directed if the claims made by their way of life are (...)
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It is widely held that for an agent to have any intellectual character virtues, they must be fundamentally motivated by a love of epistemic goods. In this paper, I challenge this ‘strong motivational requirement’ on virtue. First, I call into question three key reasons offered in its defence: that a love of epistemic goods is needed to explain the scope, the performance quality, or the value of virtue. Secondly, I highlight several costs and restrictions that we incur from its acceptance. (...)
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In one sense of the term, empathy refers to the act of sharing in another person’s experience of and perspective on the world. According to simulation accounts of empathy, we achieve this by replicating the other’s mind in our imagination. We explore a form of empathy, empathic perspective-taking, that is not adequately captured by existing simulationist approaches. We begin by pointing out that we often achieve empathy (or share in another’s perspective) by listening to the other person. This form of (...)
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Intellectual humility is commonly thought to be a mindset, disposition, or personality trait that guides our reactions to evidence as we seek to pursue the truth and avoid error. Over the last decade, psychologists, philosophers, and other researchers have begun to explore intellectual humility, using analytical and empirical tools to understand its nature, implications, and value. This review describes central questions explored by researchers and highlights opportunities for multidisciplinary investigation.
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Questioning is a familiar, everyday practice which we use, often unreflectively, in order to gather information, communicate with each other, and advance our inquiries. Yet, not all questions are equally effective and not all questioners are equally adept. Being a good questioner requires a degree of proficiency and judgment, both in determining what to ask and in deciding who, where, when, and how to ask. Good questioning is an intellectual skill. Given its ubiquity and significance, it is an intellectual skill (...)
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In this paper I explore how intellectual humility manifests in mathematical practices. To do this I employ accounts of this virtue as developed by virtue epistemologists in three case studies of mathematical activity. As a contribution to a Topical Collection on virtue theory of mathematical practices this paper explores in how far existing virtue-theoretic frameworks can be applied to a philosophical analysis of mathematical practices. I argue that the individual accounts of intellectual humility are successful at tracking some manifestations of (...)
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Adversity provides a chance to reckon with, and properly attend to, our limitations. Appreciating one’s limitations is crucial for humility; and developing humility enhances wisdom.
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The final chapter of Elgin’s defends the claim that some mistakes mark significant epistemic achievements. Here, I extend Elgin’s analysis of the informativeness of mistakes for epistemic policing. I also examine the type of theory of competence that Elgin’s view requires, and suggest some directions in which this can be taken. | https://api.philpapers.org/citations/WHIIHO-3 |
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Philip J. Ivanhoe, Three Streams: Confucian Reflections on Learning and the Moral Heart-Mind in China, Korea, and Japan, Oxford University Press, 2016, 250pp., $74.00 (hbk), ISBN 9780190492014.
Reviewed by Hui Chieh Loy, National University of Singapore
This book begins by invoking Whitehead’s “safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition” as consisting in “a series of footnotes to Plato” to make the point that many of the concerns and approaches that continue to drive contemporary Anglo-American philosophy remain defined by their remote roots in Plato’s dialogues. Similarly, Philip J. Ivanhoe argues, the trajectory of the Confucian tradition has its ultimate source in the approaches to the Way (dào) deployed by the early thinker Mencius (or Mèngzǐ, 391-308 BCE), who was second only to Confucius himself as a founder of the tradition. Within this larger theme, Ivanhoe’s book tells the story about what happened when those Mencian approaches came to be modified as latter day thinkers in the Confucian tradition “absorbed idea, values, and styles of reasoning from Daoism and Buddhism” (5).
In Ivanhoe’s telling, the critical event is an amorphous development that took place between the late Tang and the early Song dynasties, when thinkers in the Confucian tradition came to share a keenly felt sense that “beneath the evident variety of the world’s phenomena” there is a “oneness or identity between self and world, and a corresponding moral imperative to care for the world as oneself” (25). This new metaphysical outlook upon the world, Ivanhoe takes pains to point out, was not so much self-consciously “adopted” from Daoism and Buddhism (its ostensible origins) as it was simply part and parcel of the intellectual milieu inhabited by a wide variety of Chinese intellectuals at that time. What we call the varieties of Neo-Confucianism can thus be seen as competing attempts to fill in the general metaphysical scheme with “distinctively Confucian forms, motifs, colors, and shadings” (25).
It was within this metaphysically inflected framework that Mencius’ teachings, which articulated a developmental model of moral development based on agricultural metaphors, came to be supplanted by a discovery or recovery model in Chinese, Korean and Japanese Neo-Confucianism from the 10th to the 19th century. The former is squarely founded on a (broadly empiricist and, in Ivanhoe’s view, still entirely defensible) view of moral psychology and philosophical anthropology, in which “finding and following the right way to act and live” is the natural function of our mental-affective faculty (i.e., the “heart-mind”) (4). The latter, in contrast, sees finding and following the way as a matter of (re)discovering our “original nature” (akin to Huayan Buddhism’s “Buddha nature”), which we already possess, and which contains within it the metaphysical principle of all things. Moral development, on this account, is thus a matter of realizing one’s pre-existing interconnection with all things.
Readers familiar with Ivanhoe’s earlier works should recognize the broad argument so far. But — and this is a particular contribution of his new book — the modification that defined the “Neo” in “Neo-Confucianism” eventually came under critical scrutiny by thinkers in China, Korea, and Japan working independently of each other. These dissenting critics, each to varying degrees, advanced both philological arguments to show Neo-Confucianism’s departures from the original intent of the early texts, and also philosophical arguments to show that the Neo-Confucian ideas are unsound in their own right.
After the introduction, the book is organized into three main parts, respectively covering Neo-Confucianism in China, Korea and Japan. Each of these parts is further divided into three main chapters, with the third chapter invariably introducing the dissenting critic. Each part’s triplet of chapters is itself sandwiched between a preface that brings readers up to speed on the intellectual historical situation of Neo-Confucianism in the country in question, and a concluding summary that draws together the main ideas discussed in that part. The book then closes with a chapter that briefly relates the themes of the project to the Western philosophical tradition, both historical and contemporary.
Part I, on China, covers Cheng Hao (1032-1085), his brother Cheng Yi (1033-1107), and the dissenting critic Dai Zhen (1724-1777). Some readers might wonder why the two Cheng brothers are selected to represent the range of Chinese Neo-Confucianism. After all, the common demarcation is between “Cheng-Zhu” (i.e., the Cheng Brothers and Zhu Xi [1130-1200]), and “Lu-Wang” (i.e., Lu Xiangshan (1139-1193) and Wang Yangming [1472-1529]) forms of Neo-Confucianism. The reason, as Ivanhoe makes clear, is that key features of Cheng Hao’s thinking became “essential components of the Lu-Wang school of Neo-Confucianism” (35). Cheng Yi, on the other hand, takes his place as the precursor to Zhu Xi. Finally, there is Dai Zhen, that “vocal yet respectful critic” of Neo-Confucianism (63), who sought to return to a more faithful — and naturalistic — reading of the ancient classics and thus set aside the more metaphysical speculations borrowed from Buddhism and Daoism. Ivanhoe also discusses how several of Dai Zhen’s ideas “offer important resources for contemporary moral theory” (63).
Part II, on Korea, has a slightly different organization from the other two parts. Rather than consider two thinkers who might plausibly give us a sense of the range of the options available to the Neo-Confucian tradition (as with the two Cheng brothers, or Nakae Tōju and Yamazaki Ansai in Japan later on), Ivanhoe devotes the two chapters to two intellectual debates in Joseon Dynasty Korea (1392-1910): the so called “Four-Seven” and “Horak” Debates. These various debates mix concerns that go all the way back to the time of Confucius and Mencius (e.g., the status of emotions in moral life); those more recently definitive of Neo-Confucianism (e.g., the relationship between lǐ, or “principle”, and qì, the lively material basis of the universe); and beyond that, those to do with orthodoxy and the Korean elite’s claim to be “the true inheritor of the transmission of the Way” (115). The last concern became all the more urgent with the collapse of the Ming Dynasty in China to the invading Manchus. Because the cataclysm was widely blamed (unfairly or otherwise) upon the Lu-Wang school and the perceived encroachment of heterodox Buddhist ideas into Confucianism, Korean thinkers were vehement in upholding the Cheng-Zhu form of Neo-Confucianism as orthodoxy. The role of dissenting critic is then played by Jeong Yakyong (or Dasan; 1762-1836).
Part III, on Japan, covers a triplet of thinkers from the Edo Period (1603-1868): Nakae Tōju (1608-1648), who represents a Lu-Wang form of Neo-Confucianism, Yamazaki Ansai (1619-1682), who represents the Cheng-Zhu Orthodoxy, and Itō Jinsai (1627-1705), Ivanhoe’s Japanese version of Dai Zhen in China and Jeong Yakyong in Korea. Like his counterparts on the Asian mainland, Jinsai “raised trenchant criticisms of all forms of neo-Confucianism metaphysics but especially the orthodox Cheng-Zhu view and argued for a return to a less metaphysically elaborate and more historically authentic interpretation of the early Confucian tradition” (124). Also interesting are discussions regarding the dynamic tensions and mutual engagements between Confucianism and native Japanese forms of thinking (e.g., Shintō and Bushidō).
It is to Ivanhoe’s credit that he has managed to introduce, in a compact form, key ideas from a number of important East Asian Neo-Confucian thinkers and their critics. If the details of Neo-Confucianism are not as well known in the English-speaking world as the works of the early or classical Confucians (e.g., Confucius, Mencius and Xúnzǐ), the works of the Korean and Japanese Neo-Confucians are even less so. Ivanhoe’s book adds to the accessibility of these traditions. Specialists of the respective traditions, however, will probably be less satisfied. They might complain that the discussions of the individual thinkers are not nuanced enough, or are too selective, because of the need to fit them within a single narrative of how ‘Orthodox’ Neo-Confucianism came under independent philological and philosophical scrutiny of a certain sort in China, Korea, and Japan. In a similar vein, they might also grumble that Ivanhoe has given the reader insufficient context: how exactly are those ostensibly ‘Buddhist’ and ‘Daoist’ ideas in Neo-Confucianism related to Buddhism and Daoism as such? And how did those ideas come to be so deeply embedded in the intellectual background of the Neo-Confucian thinkers, so that there was not even a question of conscious borrowing? On these questions, the book does not deliver. But these cavils would miss the point: no book of this size should be expected to do complete justice to the richness of the traditions being discussed.
Beyond the more intellectual-historical concerns, Ivanhoe’s project also showcases how a variety of thinkers grappled with a concern that is entirely recognizable as strictly philosophical, even to those of us who do not see ourselves as scions of the Confucian tradition: namely, what exactly is the relationship between the right and proper way for us to conduct ourselves and the fundamental nature of the world — if there is any relationship at all? Can an ethical conception be sufficiently appealing, recognized as rational, and motivating, if it is not grounded in a metaphysics of the world? Or will a more modest set of foundations in our emotional capacities do? These questions still remain with us. In tackling versions of them as they are filtered through the prism of the Confucian tradition and issues more local to China, Korea and Japan, the Neo-Confucian thinkers are thus recognizable as philosophers. As Ivanhoe remarks towards the end of his introduction, he hopes that his book has successfully offered the reader “some sense of the remarkable range of thought one can find within the Confucian tradition and the ways in which different cultural settings and personal challenges oriented, shaped, and inspired distinctive expressions of Confucian philosophy.” (15) To this reviewer at least, the book has successfully done just that, especially for those who are relatively new to Neo-Confucianism. And this is an achievement in its own right.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks to Mr. Jeremy Huang and Mr. Wilson Lee for their suggestions and comments.
See for instance, his Confucian Moral Self Cultivation, rev. ed. (Hackett, 2000), and Ethics in the Confucian Tradition, reprint (Hackett, 2002).
Note that this is not a new line; see, for instance, Fung Yu-lan, A Short History of Chinese Philosophy, trans. Derk Bodde (Princeton University Press, 1983), vol. 2, 307. | http://warpweftandway.com/reviews-ivanhoe-streams/?mobile_switch=mobile |
Over-The-Rainbow is a one-stop hub for mental wellness. We wish to orchestrate a holistic approach by building a platform that integrates online communities and offline activities bringing together various stakeholders – youths, families & friends, schools, healthcare professionals, wellness experts, spiritual gurus, and the public – to exchange information, advance understanding, share experiences, gain support, seek and offer help while catalyzing social awareness and acceptance on the issues of mental health and wellness. We believe, simply, that mental wellness is for everyone; all human beings can live a happier and more fulfilling life by embracing the principles and practices of holistic self-care at all levels – physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual. Everyone can embark on the journey of self-discovery, healing and transformation – to achieve true happiness and optimal wellbeing.
Holistic Self Care involves and engages all aspects of our being:
- Physical: Listening to your body; sleep, rest, exercise, nutrition, sunshine, meditation;
- Intellectual: Maintaining a sense of curiosity, an appetite for learning new things; staying hungry and foolish;
- Emotional: Letting go of toxic emotions; cultivate positive emotions of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity; experience positive moments of appreciation, forgiveness, gratitude, generosity, contentment, and inner peace;
- Social: Making time for family and friends; giving support to and accepting support from others; contributing to the community, volunteering for a cause you believe in;
- Spiritual: Living authentically – acting from your Deepest Truth; connecting to your Highest Self; finding purpose, meaning, fulfilment. | http://overtherainbow.sg/learn/holistic-self-care/ |
Justice reform a bipartisan effort | Rand Paul
Apparently, the Courier-Journal would prefer to stoke the flames of partisanship and division rather than engage their readers in an honest discussion of the problems plaguing our criminal justice system.
In a recently printed guest editorial, the Courier turns an issue with significant bipartisan support into a partisan attack on a Republican.
For my entire public life, I have worked with both Democrats and Republicans to eradicate the racial injustices of the war on drugs. I have co-authored a variety of bipartisan bills to reform criminal justice on all fronts.
I’ve advocated to end mandatory minimum sentencing, which has too often unfairly dealt out decades-long sentences for nonviolent offenses.
► The mass incarceration problem – or, why Sessions shouldn’t bring back mandatory minimums
► Sen. Rand Paul not an example of profile in courage| Aaron Kall
I’ve supported second chances legislation to allow nonviolent offenders to expunge their records after a period of good behavior.
With Democrat Corey Booker, I introduced a bill to end solitary confinement for juveniles, and I’ve introduced bills addressing the militarization of our police force, body cameras for police, and civil asset forfeiture procedures.
I've introduced bipartisan legislation to restore voting rights to those who have served their time. I even traveled to Frankfort to testify before Kentucky’s General Assembly as they worked on state legislation to restore voting rights.
I have made these issues an important part of my work in the Senate because we cannot afford to let the current system run its destructive course on the most vulnerable members of our society.
Yet for that work, the thanks I get from the liberal media is to print attacks that discount years of bipartisan efforts to make our criminal system more just.
When the media refuses to even acknowledge one of the few areas of bipartisan agreement, is it any wonder that our political system is so polarized?
Sadly, this is not the first time I’ve been under fire for supporting an issue that is probably one of the best chances we have for finding bipartisan compromise in Washington.
I went out of my way to compliment President Obama on criminal justice reform, a President with whom I disagreed on many, many fronts. I have great working relationships with those across the aisle on this issue.
This newspaper does a disservice to reform efforts by continuing to let their editorial pages serve as a bastion of partisanship.
I urge the media to delve a bit deeper before allowing one of our best chances at bipartisanship to be sullied by petty partisan attacks. The Courier-Journal’s readers deserve better.
Rand Paul is the junior senator from Kentucky. | https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/06/02/justice-reform-bipartisan-effort-rand-paul/365123001/ |
As a newly unified government has begun tackling a range of health care, tax, and regulatory reforms, Conservatives are continuing to champion another area in need of legislative updates for the twenty-first century: criminal justice reform.
Republicans have ever been defenders of fiscal conservatism, strong court systems, and basic human dignity, yet our support for thoughtful criminal justice reform efforts is often under-reported.
In one of the clearest examples of our bipartisan leadership in criminal justice reform, I, Doug Collins, have been proud to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including my fellow Congressman Bobby Scott, to pass reform legislation, including the Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act.
I introduced this legislation to strengthen our mental health system at its intersection with criminal justice, and it became part of the landmark 21st Century Cures Act, which former President Obama signed into law this December.
Conservatives understand the balance between keeping our communities safe from people who are, in a word, scary and remembering that the American narrative has always made room for new beginnings. Criminal justice reform is, at its heart, rooted in our confidence in redemption and that giving second chances to those who deserve them yields benefits across society. One of those benefits is, of course, saving taxpayer dollars.
When we review the state of our criminal justice system, we realize that 95 percent of prisoners will eventually be released from prison, and, with a recidivism rate of approximately 50 percent for federal offenders, it is clear that the status quo is not working. Instead of continuing unsustainable practices that endanger our communities and waste resources, we must strengthen opportunities for prisoners to re-enter society without returning to prison.
Such criminal justice reforms address all aspects of the prison pipeline—including sentencing reforms, re-entry reforms and rehabilitation measures—and have made our communities safer, saved taxpayer dollars and allowed those who have paid their debts to society an opportunity to break the cycle of crime and focus on providing for their families and contributing to our communities.
As conservatives in Congress work to make our justice laws smarter and stronger, FreedomWorks has labored alongside lawmakers and groups that value liberty to prioritize collaboration on further criminal justice reform efforts.
With successes at the state level—most recently in Ohio, where a civil asset forfeiture bill just passed the state legislature with strong support—FreedomWorks is applying proven strategies to help pass reform at the federal level as well.
In 2016, bills FreedomWorks specifically championed in the House, such as the Recidivism Risk Reduction Act, the Sentencing Reform Act, the Due Process Act and the Criminal Code Improvement Act, all successfully passed the Judiciary Committee with bipartisan approval. As a member of that committee, I, Doug Collins, understand that we have work to do in passing these reforms into law and look forward to revisiting these opportunities in the 115th Congress.
Thoughtful criminal justice reform also means that Republicans’ commitment to standing with law enforcement is unwavering. As the son of a Georgia state trooper, I’m proud that my state and other so-called “red” states are leading the way in sustainable criminal justice reform.
For example, the work of Governor Nathan Deal and state lawmakers led Georgia to a tremendous reduction in its prison population, and the Governor continues to work with the state legislature to enact reforms to further reduce recidivism.
Some of the most impactful initiatives include mandatory minimum sentencing reforms, offering programs that help inmates achieve a high school diploma, “banning the box” to promote employment opportunities and sweeping juvenile justice reforms.
Successful mental health reforms in correctional institutions and innovative law enforcement training across the state also inspired Congressman Collins’ federal legislation.
States like South Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma have joined Georgia in enacting reforms that are returning offenders to their communities as productive members of society. Not only have these reforms saved taxpayers money, but the states that have enacted reforms have also seen their crime rates decline.
For example, Texas, after an initial investment in drug court diversionary efforts, saw a decline in its prison populations of 14 percent and a drop in crime rates of 29 percent. Now Texas has its lowest crime rate since 1968, and recidivism is 7 percent less than it was before the 2007 reform effort.
Realizing this, Republicans and Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee continue to collaborate on their criminal justice reform initiative. As Chairman Bob Goodlatte explains, “Criminal justice reform is not a liberal or conservative issue; it’s an American issue.”
While congressional Republicans have been able to pursue productive reforms through bipartisan collaboration, they are also eager for the opportunity to work with a new administration that has made helping our cities—often the greatest beneficiaries of criminal justice reform efforts—a national priority.
We are part of a burgeoning movement that is overcoming partisanship with evidence-based policies to shape criminal justice reform, and we will not stop advocating for changes that protect our law enforcement officers and communities while providing offenders with a smarter path forward.
Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) serves on the House Judiciary Committee and is the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference.
Adam Brandon is president and CEO of FreedomWorks. | http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/04/19/conservatives-embrace-bipartisan-justice-reform.html |
FWD.us is a bipartisan political organization that believes America’s families, communities, and economy thrive when everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. For too long, our broken immigration and criminal justice systems have locked too many people out from the American dream. Founded by leaders in the technology and business communities, we seek to grow and galvanize political support to break through partisan gridlock and achieve meaningful reforms. Together, we can move America forward.
Our Washington, D.C. office is seeking a talented communicator with strong strategic communications and traditional media relations experience, excellent writing skills and a passion for reforming our criminal justice system to join our team as a Communications Associate for our criminal justice reform program. In this role, you will support the development of and implement strategic communications plans which include traditional media outreach tactics to support FWD.us’ criminal justice reform program and its various jurisdictional and other advocacy campaigns. This is an opportunity to strengthen valuable communications skills, and learn how a dynamic communications team operates in a fast-paced environment while supporting FWD.us’ larger strategic goals.
The Communications Associate will report to the Communications Manager, Criminal Justice Reform.
The ideal candidate would bring a solid foundation and understanding of traditional earned media outreach and engagement; is a strong writer, communicator, and strategic thinker who is self-motivated and creative. Applicants should have experience developing and implementing communications plans, and have a strong personal commitment to reforming our criminal justice system, and humanizing those most affected by it.
For consideration, please submit a resume, cover letter, contact information for three references, and three 300-500 word writing samples by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 22, 2022.
Specifically, you will:
- Contribute to the development of strategic communications plans in support of FWD.us’ national and state-based efforts.
- Write and edit communications products, including talking points, campaign plans, press releases, media advisories, blog posts and more.
- Curate pitch letters and/or email pitch memos to engage reporters and influence national and state-based dialogue on criminal justice reform.
- Research, develop, and maintain reporter contacts and relationships.
- Support the implementation and management of special projects that are a part of the organization’s criminal justice reform program.
- Manage outside consultants, as needed.
- Contribute to the project management and dissemination of communications products.
Basic Qualifications:
- One to four years of communications experience, preferably in social justice, political, and/or issue advocacy organizations
- Proven experience securing media placements
- Dedication to the mission of FWD.us and sensitivity to issues of migration and criminalization of disenfranchised people.
- Must have a strong interest in political communications and/or news media.
- Proven writing ability and strong organizational skills, with the ability to adapt to new conditions, assignments, and deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively, both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Strong knowledge of media relations operations and basic knowledge of digital and social media communications.
- Solid understanding of the national media landscape.
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
Equal Opportunity Employment/Diversity
We are an organization committed to making the world a better place for all people. Diversity is a source of our strength, and allows us to make better decisions, be more impactful, and be better at our jobs day to day. We see our internal commitment to diversity to be reflective of how we view the world and the changes we want to see become reality.
This organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline and termination.
The organization understands that too often what are viewed as the traditional credentials are subjective criteria that exclude historically marginalized communities and act as barriers to hiring and recruiting the best candidates.
As part of FWD’s best hiring practices, we do not have educational requirements for any of our jobs. Many of our jobs do require specific interpersonal, skill-based, technical, policy or other requirements and applicants for those jobs will be evaluated based on their level of expertise, to include lived experience and work experience - which could have taken place at an educational institution or elsewhere.
FWD.us believes in fair chances and employment opportunities that benefit everyone. Ensuring that people who have had contact with the criminal justice system--including incarceration for serious offenses and substantial periods of time--have the opportunities upon their release to fully succeed and contribute to this country is central to our work and is a value to which we are absolutely committed to uphold in how we operate and who we hire. We do not conduct criminal background checks on applicants, unless required by state or federal law for specific roles. | https://www.colorcommsearch.com/job/details/OTYy |
A long-awaited, hard-fought criminal justice reform push is coming to Washington this fall, with lawmakers of both parties making progress on legislation to curb mass incarceration. But after spending years convincing lawmakers that tackling the issue of mass incarceration would not make America more dangerous or put their political careers in jeopardy, advocates are now watching with growing dread as the GOP primary veers back toward the usual tough on crime rhetoric.
Just a few months ago, reformers were celebrating that most of the 2016 GOP pack had signaled that, at least in theory, they supported retooling America’s justice system. But, as has been the case with so many other sensitive issues, the entrance of Donald Trump has changed the dynamic. Now instead of talking about criminal justice reform, the GOP primary contenders are warning of a supposed nationwide crime spike, touting the mandatory-minimums in “Kate’s Law,” and lobbing “soft on crime” accusations.
“I’m concerned about the impact on the push for justice reform because we’re expecting a bill at some point this month,” Jason Pye, director of Justice Reform at the conservative FreedomWorks, told TPM. “I’m concerned about the impact of the rhetoric on that.”
Trump may not solely be to blame for the shift in tone. But in interviews with TPM before his entrance in to the race, justice reform advocates expressed cautious optimism that the GOP field had more or less coalesced around curbing mass incarceration, and they believed it was unlikely to become a flashpoint in the primary.
Trump may have conflated the issue, they now contend, by linking illegal immigration and violent crime, thus prompting many of his rivals to take harder lines, too. Coupled with warnings of a summer crime spike, the campaign trail has taken a turn back to the ‘90s, with candidates falling into old patterns of invoking crime fears to rile their constituencies.
“For the most part these candidates aren’t talking about these issues right now, it’s largely focused one person and we know who that person is, for better or for worse,” said Pye of FreedomWorks, the major DC advocacy outfit with Tea Party roots that plays an important role in pushing criminal justice reform from the right.
Trump’s over-the-top appeal to nativist resentments has fired up the language around immigration. In his June launch speech, he warned of undocumented immigrant “rapists.” In July, he went further: “The Mexican Government is forcing their most unwanted people into the United States. They are, in many cases, criminals, drug dealers, rapists.”
Facing a backlash over the comments, Trump seized on the July death of Kathryn Steinle as exemplifying his point. Steinle, a young woman, was murdered in San Francisco by an undocumented immigrant who had returned to the United States after multiple deportations. In Trump’s immigration rhetoric are many of the elements of the late 20th century “war on crime” rhetoric, including its link to racial divisions.
Last week, Trump released an ad attacking former Gov. Jeb Bush that critics said echoed the notorious Willie Horton ad that Bush’s father used against Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential race. The ad flashes the mugshots of undocumented immigrants charged or convicted of murder over Jeb Bush’s infamous immigration is an “act of love” comments, and ends with placards saying “Love? Forget Love. It’s Time Get Tough!” Bush’s spokesperson responded by calling Trump a “soft on crime liberal.”
This is no “act of love” as Jeb Bush said…
“They look like tweedledum and tweedle dumber in terms of this very retro style of exploiting these old arguments,” liberal justice reform leader Van Jones said in an interview with TPM last week, referring to the Trump and Bush spat.
Meanwhile, conservatives have taken a harsh line on Black Lives Matter, a movement that includes calls for overhauling law enforcement and justice policies. Led by Fox News, conservatives have accused the protest movement, without basis, of inciting violence against police officers. Trump accused Black Lives Matter this week of “looking for trouble” and suggested they were being “catered to” by Democrats.
The rhetoric has spread beyond Trump, which is of particular concern to criminal justice reform advocates. A few high-profile police deaths have prompted candidates like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) to blame the Obama administration for, as Walker put it, “a tendency to use law enforcement as a scapegoat.” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has called for the return of stop and frisk, vowed to crack down on marijuana legalization, and blamed “liberal-leaning mayors and cities” and their “lax criminal justice policies” for the stabbing death of a former intern in Washington, D.C.
“There are two things that are troubling,” said Inimai Chettiar, director of Justice at the Brennan Center. “One, that people are saying that there is a crime wave now and they’re implying that crime is going to be going up as a permanent trajectory — which is wrong– and that second people are blaming criminal justice policies and particularly policing policies for this.”
In recent months, the bipartisan coalition that has formed around pushing changing to the federal justice system has grown impressively broad, diverse and well-monied, ranging from the ACLU and NAACP to the Koch brothers and Grover Norquist.
But each of those interest groups bring their own priorities to the issue. Fiscal conservatives focus on the cost of a bloated prison population. Civil rights groups highlight mass incarceration’s disproportionate impact on minority communities. The uniting goal of those groups is reducing the U.S. prison population in a way that also reduces the likelihood that a wrong-doers go back to committing crime. Additionally, efforts to address police accountability, drug legalization and civil asset forfeiture have been thrown into the mix.
Already, balancing the various concerns of those interest groups was a delicate dance for lawmakers hammering out federal legislation. But heated campaign claims — be it about Black Lives Matter, undocumented immigrants or police fatalities — isn’t helping to smooth over tensions.
According to Jones, the “first domino” of the movement is to push through the national bipartisan legislation currently being hashed out.
“The second domino should be, as the field narrows down, leaders on both sides talking about smarter ways to get to community safety that respects our constitution, our notions of fairness and our pocketbooks,” Jones said.
The criminal justice reform community have always been skeptical of politicians like Walker and Christie, who as governors have been resistant to state justice reform efforts.
“These people have always been out of touch on criminal justice,” said Lauren Galik the Director of Criminal Justice Reform at Reason Foundation. Instead, reformers point to early embracers like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
But even Paul has reportedly backed away from the current Senate efforts on a compromise bill. Nevertheless, Senate advocates for reform insist legislative progress can be made despite the campaign trail rhetoric.
“There’s been heated rhetoric for decades around justice reform,” said Ben Marter, a spokesman for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who is involved in crafting the anticipated compromise bill. “But the senators negotiating this legislation have put their partisan differences aside to negotiate a solution in good faith.”
Likewise, advocates are hopeful the most ardent justice reformers in the GOP field will resist relying on such language.
“I would get worried if suddenly other candidates less desperate and flailing than Governor Bush started jumping on that bandwagon,” Jones said.
But the proposal known as Kate’s Law shows how easily legislative progress can be undercut by the kind of the knee-jerk reactions to sensationalized tragedies that contributed to the creation of mass incarceration policies in the first place.
The legislation, inspired by Steinle’s murder, would impose mandatory sentencing minimums on undocumented immigrants who return to U.S. after being deported and, according to Families Against Mandatory Minimums, would add nearly 60,000 people to the federal prison population.
Trump has made Steinle’s murder a focal point of his campaign (despite the desires of her family), and conservative media have fanned the flames. Cruz — who has previously touted his interest in criminal justice reform — has embraced the measure, while other candidates have also expressed support. So far, cooler heads in Congress have prevented Kate’s Law from gaining traction there.
“Watching Kate’s Law unfold is like watching history repeat itself,” FAMM government affairs counsel Molly Gill told TPM, comparing it to 1986 drug overdose by college basketball star Len Bias that led to federal mandatory drug sentencing. “We’ve come a long way in the last 30 years in our understand of crime and recidivism and using evidence-based approaches. But a lot of times we’re still legislating like that never happened.”
For years, criminal justice reformers have labored to convince politicians that dismantling ‘80s and ‘90s era crime legislation — through cutbacks on mandatory minimums or softening of drug laws — will not making them look “soft on crime.” The best proof they had was the success of a number of state lawmakers — especially in red states — in curbing mass incarceration without facing political consequences. They have also had to do this working within a tenuous coalition balancing competing priorities.
“With consensus around criminal justice reform from both sides of the aisle that hasn’t been seen for a generation, it would be a shame for presidential candidates to undermine this by exploiting negative imagery and stereotypes for mere political gain,” said Janai Nelson, associate director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, in a statement to TPM. | https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/criminal-justice-reform-gop-primary |
New Mexico is ranked last in the country in overall child well-being. Although there are many indicators to look at when deriving this ranking, they can generally be narrowed down to four areas: economics, education, health, family and community. Several of these topics are already an integral part of my overall platform; therefore, I will share a personal story at this point.
My heart was forever impacted 20 years ago when I was first introduced to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program and a young girl in that program asked me, “So I can tell you anything?” My response was, “Yes, I’m here just for you. I am your voice.” As my first CASA case, my role in her life solidified my purpose – and my actions – going forward.
Today, it remains my mission to continue advocating on behalf of children, which I have done for nearly nine years in Lincoln and Otero counties. But I feel that now is my time to take that advocacy to a new level by becoming a State Representative and working on legislation that protects all New Mexico children equally. And I am committed to working with the entire legislature, since the welfare of every New Mexican child should never be a partisan issue.
The children of New Mexico in the courts and foster care system deserve our strongest advocacy. I will strive to be that voice, their voice, and will continue advocating for them at the state level.
My number one priority as your state legislator is to ensure we are fully invested now – and in the future – in our most precious resource, every New Mexican child. It’s time for every New Mexican child’s voice to be heard.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
I pursued my Criminal Justice degree because I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.
In 1990 during my first year in college, I recall having class discussions with my Criminal Justice professor about issues surrounding criminal justice reform. Fast forward 30 years and Criminal Justice is at the forefront for systemic reform, a topic of bipartisan discord and few solutions.
It is time to take on Criminal Justice reform and have those uncomfortable discussions that will lead to equitable solutions and delivery of equality and justice for all.
I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Police Science with a Minor in Spanish and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I attended the Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Academy and earned my Basic Peace Officer’s Certificate. I have also worked as a detention officer and adult probation officer. I will use my extensive experience and education in Criminal Justice to work with both sides of the aisle to address the issues impacting the road to Criminal Justice reform in New Mexico.
I believe the best State Representatives are those who respect the views and beliefs of ALL constituents in their districts. As your State Representative, I will prioritize progress over partisanship every step of the way. I am committed to our diverse community because people are at the heart of what we do. Hearing your concerns and priorities – and then working to pass legislation that benefits residents and businesses throughout District 56 – is of the utmost importance to me as we face the unknown impact of the pandemic together. Here are some of those priorities that voters, like you, have agreed are the most urgent to fight for in the roundhouse: | https://www.laurachildressnm56.com/lauras-platform |
The University of Wisconsin chapter of the Millennial Action Project hosted a “Red and Blue Dialogue” Monday night to discuss bipartisan efforts behind financing higher education. UW alumnus Steven Olikara, who founded MAP to address the “worsening partisan divide” by engaging with the millennial generation, said the only way to solve student debt is through collaboration and bipartisanship.
Upcoming Across The Red & Blue Divide Event To Focus On Criminal Justice Reform
Join folks from across the political spectrum will join on Thursday, Sept. 6, at The Bavarian Bierhaus in Glendale, WI for our Across the Red & Blue Divide: Reforming Criminal Justice event.
We’re legislators from opposite parties. Here’s why we are working together.
As two young legislators from opposite parties and different parts of the country, we may not have much in common at first glance.But we both care deeply about government transparency and accountability, and are strong advocates for women’s leadership. That’s why we’re founding members of a new, bipartisan initiative called the Democracy Reform Task Force.
Can anyone unite our political parties? This group of young organizers believes it can.
Steven Olikara was standing in front of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial when something odd occurred to him. "This is a man who lived to be 83 years old," he said. "But he wrote the Declaration of Independence when he was 33." By the time he died, the Declaration of Independence was still the most important product of his political career. It made Olikara realize that the idea that millennials are too young for politics in unfounded.
Alabama Future Caucus Members Lead State's Ridesharing Effort
On July 1, Alabama will become the 45th state to allow ridesharing companies, like Uber and Lyft, to operate statewide. This bipartisan effort was led by Alabama Future Caucus member Representative David Faulkner, alongside state Senator Bobby Singleton, and signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey in March.
For Millennials and By Millennials: The Rise of the Future Caucus
Congress and almost half the states have a caucus created for and by millennials. Last week, Virginia became the 22nd state with a bipartisan caucus of young lawmakers meant to focus on the issues most important to millennials. The Virginia Future Caucus, as it’s called, is inspired by the Millennial Action Project, a national bipartisan organization that encourages young people to get involved in politics and to build coalitions once they are elected to work on issues important to millennial voters.
Here's one reason to be optimistic about politics: Millennials in office
Reform Congress and then maybe Americans - especially young people - will trust government again
Congress is too stagnant, divided and corrupted to do its job – and the American people are demanding reform. The left says “the system is rigged.” The right demands Washington “drain the swamp.” Both sides need to work together to demand change in our broken national political system that will benefit us all.
Steven Olikara on CNN: Our problems are deeper than Trump. Our solutions must be too.
Can Young House Democrats and Republicans Save Congress From Destroying Itself?
The Future Caucus, formed in partnership with the nonprofit Millennial Action Project, instead makes an explicitly generational pitch. As MAP founder Steven Olikara puts it, the caucus invites its 29 members to think of themselves as peers with a set of shared problems to solve, instead of the latest wave of foot soldiers in a decades-old battle for Washington. | https://www.millennialaction.org/press-archives/tag/Featured+Press |
President Obama used the opening of his State of the Union address to acknowledge the current political divide in Washington. One of his first attempts to move the government from partisanship to partnership was a brief reference to tax reform. In many ways, the difficult task of enacting comprehensive tax reform is less about partisan politics and much more about convincing the public that the trade-off between lowering individual and corporate tax rates and the elimination of tax deductions and credits to pay for those rates will be worth the effort. That challenge is no more evident than with the proposal to eliminate the deduction for charitable contributions. Last year, Morgan Lewis lawyer Alex Reid presented testimony to the Ways and Means Committee as part of its deliberations on comprehensive tax reform highlighting the value of the charitable deduction, in the process quoting both Alexander Hamilton and Chief Justice John Marshall.
Prior to the State of the Union address, there was a great deal of speculation about how much time President Obama would devote to the issue of immigration reform. Last summer, the Senate passed a bipartisan version of immigration reform (for a detailed primer on S. 744, see here) but no further action occurred in the House of Representatives. In a recent speech to the Ripon Society, House Speaker John Boehner indicated that he plans to push for a vote on immigration reform in the coming months, most likely in the form of a series of bills rather than a single comprehensive package. It has also been reported that Speaker Boehner has advised the White House that in the case of House action on immigration reform, the less said the better. Thus the President’s tone and brevity on the subject may indicate the potential for a breakthrough in the coming months.
Not surprisingly, the President vigorously defended the Affordable Care Act and defiantly challenged House Republicans from scheduling any more votes to repeal the law. On perhaps no other issue is there a greater divide between the White House and Congressional Republicans: the White House refusing to negotiate any changes in the law and House Republicans refusing to put forth any proposals beyond outright repeal. That is indeed unfortunate because there are very real problems for sectors of the American economy posed by the implementation of the Affordable Care Act that need to be addressed. Morgan Lewis Partner Greg Needles highlighted one of those sectors – education – in his recent testimony before the House Education and Workforce Committee.
One area of potential cooperation and partnership was included in the President’s address: the Nation’s infrastructure. The President emphasized the benefits of addressing the Nation’s crumbling infrastructure and suggested a new approach toward the thorny issue of financing those improvements: using repatriated foreign profits of multinational firms. While President Obama did not provide the full details, there is currently a bipartisan proposal that has been introduced in both the House (H.R. 2084) and Senate (S. 1957) that may provide insight into what this proposal may look like. The Partnership to Build America Act was introduced in the House by Rep. John Delaney, a freshman Democrat from Maryland and now has 50 cosponsors – both Republicans and Democrats – and would create a $50 billion infrastructure bond fund. S. 1957 was recently introduced in the Senate by Democrat Michael Bennet (CO) and Republican Roy Blunt (MO). As the President stated, “in today’s global economy, first class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure” and that’s a concept that both Democrats and Republicans may be able to agree on. | https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/2014/01/mlanalysis_2014sotu |
The article in this special issue of Studies in Law, Politics, and Society emerge from work done as part of a 2002 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer seminar for College and University Teachers, held at Amherst College. In addition to the work represented in this issue, other participants in the seminar were Ava Chamberlin, John Pittman, Robert Gordon, and Alisa Rosenthal.
“PATTERN PENITENCE”: PENITENTIAL NARRATIVE AND MORAL REFORM DISCOURSE IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY BRITAIN
The accounts of moral reform that nineteenth-century convicts offered the officials in charge were frequently characterized by such uniformity that it caused Dickens to mistrust their sincerity and to brand them scornfully as “pattern penitence.” Unlike Dickens, however, prison officials were more willing to credit the questionable authenticity of “patterned” repentance. The paper argues that rather than an effect of personal gullibility, reformers’ attitudes can be seen as an outcome of specific interpretative strategies which, in turn, constituted a response to several institutional challenges facing the nineteenth-century Penitentiary.
“FOREMOST AMONG THE PREROGATIVES OF SOVEREIGNTY”: THE POWER TO PUNISH AND THE DEATH OF COMITY IN AMERICAN CRIMINAL LAW
This essay explores a radical shift in how the relationship between the power to punish and sovereignty has been conceived in modern American law; specifically focusing on the quiet death of comity as an operative principle in the exercise of criminal jurisdiction. While this essay attends to certain legal issues arising from historical intersections of federal, state and Indian sovereignty in the field of criminal law, this essay is not an attempt to directly evaluate the history of federal policies applied to Indian tribes or tribal lands. Nor is this essay in any strict sense a legal history of federal-tribal relations, or federal penal policy in relation to Indian tribes. Rather, I am concerned here with a series of liminal moments in the American legal tradition in which the power to punish came to be understood ever more one-sidedly, as an atomizing attribute of sovereignty rather than an identifying feature of community within a pluralistic legal framework.
PUNISHMENT, INSTITUTIONS, AND JUSTIFICATIONS
The justification of punishment is an age-old debate which continues unresolved. In late twentieth century several attempts were made to reconcile the two opposing justifications: retributivism and consequentialism. But these attempts focused narrowly on merely one manifestation of punishment, i.e.: criminal punishment carried out by the state. To the extent that these mixed justifications are successful, they relate to only one (undoubtedly important) manifestation of punishment. But clearly punishment can occur in many different institutional contexts, and the institutions in each context vary dramatically in complexity and relevance. I recommend analyzing punishment in its manifold manifestations.
How can philosophers contribute to the resolution of the current prison crisis in the United States, and what sorts of philosophical work should activists make use of in their efforts to address that crisis? This paper examines two periods of prison reform in the 20th century, to indicate the problematic role that traditional theories of the moral justification of punishment have had in the history of reform effects have played. I argue that moral theories of punishment are not the best vehicle for addressing the prison crisis; the approaches suggested by critical social theory are more promising.
The current neo-liberal trend in the United States insists that citizens must be self-supporting and are free to choose how they will involve themselves in the labor market. However, with the hardening of poverty in the inner cities, it is difficult to maintain the idea that everyone can choose to work. The collision between neo-liberal ideologies and economic crisis is evidenced by contemporary prison labor. The incarceration boom and use of prison labor suggests that work and unemployment is a matter of character, thus helping to maintain the idealization of labor as a marker of rationality, disciplined free will, and hence citizenship.
Community policing has been around for at least two decades now and it is safe to say that it has become, in large part, more about managing disruptive subjects and virtuous citizens than preventing crime or disorder (Crank, 1994; DeLeon-Granados, 1999; Yngvesson, 1993). While the rhetoric of community may be succeeding where the policing policy is failing, the experience has certainly contributed to the growth of homologous efforts that include community prosecution and community correction. We see a criminal justice system pro-actively seeking to blur the boundaries between its institutions and the communities they work within and, all too often, without. In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in justice approaches that turn their attention toward the community. There are literally hundreds of examples of this trend, from offender-victim reconciliation projects in Vermont and Minneapolis to ‘beat probation’ in Madison, Wisconsin; from neighborhood-based prosecution centers in Portland, Oregon, and New York City, to community probation in Massachusetts. Of course, the most well-known version of community justice is community policing, but localized projects involving all components of the justice system have been widely promoted (Clear & Karp, 1998, p. 3).Like community policing and community prosecution, community correction programs generally focus on partnering with service providers and community groups in order to more finely calibrate their service delivery. For community corrections the recent focus has been on delivering re-entry programs and expanding the availability of intermediate sanctioning options. The sheriff (above) focuses on re-entry, to link jails and communities in two ways: extending the correctional continuum into power-poor communities and increasing political support for expanding the criminal justice system in more affluent communities. Even as fiscal stress translates into budget cuts in education, housing, drug treatment, and other services, the reach of the criminal justice system expands outside the fences as new community-based partnerships and inside the fences as an increasingly program-rich environment. These partnerships are, not surprisingly as we shall see, dominated by criminal justice professionals and dependent on coercive control techniques. Further, their budgets are growing with funds in previous eras earmarked for providing many of the same services in a social welfare, rather, than social control, service delivery context. While these budgetary trends map a macro political trend from an old democratic New Deal toward a new republican new deal network of patronage relationships (see Lyons, forthcoming 2004), this paper examines the micro politics of community corrections developing within an increasingly punitive American political-culture.
Social problems researchers have documented the role of science in identifying, typifying and shaping policy responses with respect to a variety of new social problems. Researchers have given less attention, however, to the role of science in ongoing debates over problems that are well established and contentious. This paper examines the influence of mainstream scientific knowledge concerning the deterrent effects of the death penalty on a death penalty debate in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Mainstream scientific opposition to the deterrence hypothesis is found to influence the claims-making strategies of death-penalty proponents, leading them to draw heavily on common sense, to scale-back and qualify their claims concerning deterrence, and to reframe the debate in terms of just retribution. These effects are attributed to the cultural rules that structure debate in a legislative decision-making body.
EXECUTING SENTENCES IN LOLITA
A “sentence,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a pronouncement of opinion, a pithy statement, an authoritative decision, or an idea expressed in a grammatically complete, self-contained utterance. Notice that these definitions all emphasize thought rather than action. Of course, sentences – such as “Let there be light,” “Keep off the grass,” “You shall be hanged by the neck until dead,” and “Notice that these definitions all emphasize thought rather than action” – may command or recommend an act. Some philosophers even maintain that “certain classes of utterances, in certain situations…bring about, rather than refer to, a new state of fact” (Hollander, 1996, p. 178). J. L. Austin, whose book How to Do Things with Words established the field of speech-act theory, argues that “performative” statements can have the effect of actions (1962).1 And yet the words in a sentence – whether it is an ordinary linguistic unit or the judgment in a criminal case – are still distinguishable from the deed they describe. The differences between pronouncing and executing sentences even led Justice Antonin Scalia to assert, in Wilson v. Seiter, that restrictions against “cruel and unusual punishment” should apply only to pain “formally meted out as punishment by the statute or the sentencing judge,” or meant to be cruel and unusual by the inflicting officer (1991, p. 2325). He is assuming, of course, a legal system that “guarantees – or is supposed to – a relatively faithful adherence to the word of the judge in the deeds carried out against the prisoner” (Cover, 1992, p. 225).2 As Scalia’s remarks demonstrate, however, the distinction between a sentence’s pronouncement, on the one hand, and its execution, on the other, raises disturbing questions about intention, interpretation, agency, and responsibility.
THE PSYCHIC LIFE OF PUNISHMENT (KANT, NIETZSCHE, FREUD)
This article seeks to recover and uncover the non-utilitarian excess (jouissance) in crime and punishment since Kant. Jouissance is sharply contrasted with Nietzsche’s account of ressentiment. The latter is analyzed as the predominant sensation of our penal system which until today structures the subjects and institutions of punishment from within. Jouissance, on the other hand, is obscured in philosophies of punishment that attempt to account for the will to punish but ultimately fail to cover over the excess that constitutes penal theories and practices. Whether it is visible in Kant’s punitive fervor, in the exploration of perversion in de Sade and E. A. Poe, in theories of deterrence and prevention or punitive convictions in our contemporary legal culture, Freud’s discovery of a realm beyond the pleasures principle remains crucial for the understanding of the motives for crime and punishment. The essay concludes with a discussion of Nietzsche and his exploration of the ramifications of recognizing the role of new affects in crime and punishment.
Can the crisis of women’s victimization in prison be represented in ways that challenge this harm without its self-perpetuation? As a documentary scholar and maker, this was my overriding concern for an activist video project about women and prison. Certainly, documentary and prison tell us much about each other in their shared capacity to weaken some and strengthen others, by way of technologies of vision and distance, while buttressing hegemonic power. Our project was to minimize the possibility of documentary as prison by taking responsibility for the victim documentary itself as a system of power and pain, objectification and punishment.
REMOTE JUSTICE: TUNING IN TO SMALL CLAIMS, RACE, AND THE REINVIGORATION OF CIVIC JUDGMENT
Small Claims Court Television Shows offer spectators an opportunity to re-envision their relationship to legal and civic judgment. Through presenting racial and regional judges, these shows re-imagine legal judgment as a necessary and inclusive component of everyday citizenship. Reflecting Reality TV, Tabloid TV Talk Shows, and the History of African-American representation on television, shows like Judge Mathis and Judge Judy demonstrate the contradictions inherent in racial representations on television. By showing the ways in which television performance reflects the performative aspect of legal discourse already operating upon us, the judges use stupidity as a way to pedagogically energize a lower class, disenfranchised viewership into newly rehearsing their roles as active citizens. | https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/doi/10.1016/S1059-4337(2003)30 |
Contact:
Tripp Laino, 202-999-4270
[email protected]
Families, advocacy groups rally to reform probation in Pennsylvania
FAMM, ACLU of Pennsylvania, Americans for Prosperity-Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Foundation, Justice Action Network, and REFORM Alliance join forces to rally for change
Harrisburg – Pennsylvania’s probation system is in serious need of reform.
That’s why FAMM, ACLU of Pennsylvania, Americans for Prosperity-Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Foundation, Justice Action Network, REFORM Alliance, and nearly a dozen other groups representing views across the political spectrum are joining forces for a rally in the Capitol at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
With nearly 300,000 people under community supervision in Pennsylvania, families and advocates are urging lawmakers to support HB 1555 and SB 14, which would make probation sentences more likely to help people stay crime-free and become productive citizens. Pennsylvania’s lengthy probation terms make it difficult for people to participate in everyday family life, find and keep jobs, relocate when new opportunities arise, and stay out of jail or prison. Minor, technical violations of probation conditions can put people behind bars for weeks, months, or even years. See stories of people affected by these policies here.
FAMM Director of State Policy for Pennsylvania, Celeste Trusty:
“People under community supervision have to walk on eggshells – a small mistake like missing a meeting can send a person to prison or jail and throw a family into disarray. This lasts for years, sometimes even decades. Pennsylvania’s legislature currently has the opportunity to limit probation terms and provide incentives for compliance so that individuals and their families can move on with their lives. There is bipartisan support for probation reform, and it should win a bipartisan vote this year.”
Americans for Prosperity-PA State Director, Ashley Klingensmith:
“Too often, Pennsylvania’s probation system sets up individuals for failure, not success. The community supervision period could be an opportunity to help citizens get back on their feet, but too often it traps people in a cycle of recidivism. This wastes taxpayer money, strains law enforcement resources, and makes it harder for returning citizens to pursue a life of fulfillment. Clean Slate was only the beginning, and we look forward to working with this broad coalition to advance meaningful reforms that make it easier for citizens to grow as contributing members of society.”
ACLU of Pennsylvania Executive Director, Reggie Shuford:
“Probation is one of the most significant drivers of mass incarceration in Pennsylvania. With virtually no limit to probation terms across the Commonwealth, far too many Pennsylvanians are subject to intrusive government surveillance and the everyday risk that they might get caught up in a technical violation of their probation and end up in jail for an act that would not be considered a crime for someone not on probation. SB 14 would go a long way towards reforming Pennsylvania’s broken probation system, a system that disproportionately impacts people of color. We will continue to vigorously advocate this bill’s passage.”
Commonwealth Foundation Vice President, Stephen Bloom:
“Pennsylvania’s corrections system is too often a revolving door. One-third of Pennsylvania’s prison population consists of individuals who violated their probation or parole, many due to minor technical violations during long probation terms. This wastes scarce resources and must change. To protect public safety and ensure our corrections and probation systems have the resources necessary to deal with the worst offenders, we must reduce long probation terms for low-risk folks and reward good behavior. Then we’ll help people become good citizens and neighbors again, not recurring prisoners.”
Justice Action Network Deputy Director, Jenna Moll:
“The time for action is now. With strong bipartisan consensus behind them, Pennsylvania’s policymakers have the chance to change hundreds of thousands of people’s lives for the better by passing data-driven and researched-based probation reforms. These reforms can significantly reduce both crime and taxpayer costs, all while lifting up individuals and families and putting them on the path to prosperity. We commend Representatives Sheryl Delozier and Jordan Harris, and Senators Camera Bartolotta and Anthony Williams, for working across the aisle to develop this package of reforms to improve public safety and justice system outcomes in Pennsylvania.”
REFORM Alliance CEO, Van Jones:
“Whether you’re conservative or liberal, black or white, wealthy or working three jobs to get by, we can all agree on one thing: the probation system in Pennsylvania is broken, and it’s time for us to come together in the fight to fix it. Far too many people are being sent back to prison – not for committing a new crimes – but because of minor technical violations like being late to meetings or crossing county lines without asking their probation officers for permission. We need to reform Pennsylvania probation laws so the system stops destroying lives and families for reasons that make no sense.”
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FAMM
FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.
Americans for Prosperity-Pennsylvania
Through broad-based grassroots outreach, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is driving long-term solutions to the country’s biggest problems. AFP activists engage friends and neighbors on key issues and encourage them to take an active role in building a culture of mutual benefit, where people succeed by helping one another. AFP recruits and unites Pennsylvanians behind a common goal of advancing policies that will help people improve their lives.
ACLU of Pennsylvania
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization dedicated to defending and expanding individual rights and personal freedoms throughout the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Through advocacy, public education, and litigation, our staff and volunteers work to preserve and enhance liberties grounded in the United States and Pennsylvania constitutions and civil rights laws. Among those liberties are freedoms of speech, religion and association; the right to petition the government; separation of church and state; the right to privacy; reproductive freedom; due process of law; the rights of the accused; and the right to equal treatment under the law.
Commonwealth Foundation
The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish.
Justice Action Network
The Justice Action Network is the first and largest 501(c)(4) organization in the country to bring together progressive and conservative partners and collaborate with law enforcement, business, civil rights, victims’ rights, and faith-based groups to make our justice system more effective and cost-efficient. The Justice Action Network employs federal and state-specific lobbying, public advocacy, and public education efforts to pass sweeping criminal justice reforms.
REFORM Alliance
The REFORM Alliance is committed to advancing criminal justice reform and eradicating laws and policies that perpetuate injustice in the United States. To achieve that objective, the REFORM Alliance will strive to pass probation bills at the state level, use media to amplify the need for comprehensive reform and build an inclusive, bi-partisan alliance of leaders from the business, entertainment, sports and community industries who share a cohesive vision for ambitiously and efficiently transforming the criminal justice system. | https://famm.org/families-advocacy-groups-rally-to-reform-probation-in-pennsylvania/ |
The problems at Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake, the state’s juvenile correctional facility, are well known and utterly unacceptable. They have resulted in great harm to the young inmates and can cause further criminalization of our children. We applaud a bipartisan group of Assembly legislators who produced a bill addressing these failures of the juvenile justice system.
Provisions of AB 953 would bring about important reforms. Under the bill, young inmates would be housed in small, secure facilities throughout the state, where they can retain their family ties and be prepared for a successful return to their communities. Experts in criminal justice reform would help design programs for the facilities, enabling our state to benefit from lessons learned elsewhere.
Counties, which will be responsible for implementation of the legislation, support passage of AB 953. The Assembly unanimously passed the bill. and Gov. Walker has agreed to sign it.
We urge the Senate to pass AB 953 as approved by the Assembly. Because the Assembly has adjourned, its members would be unable to consider an amended version, and this opportunity for reform would be delayed or lost.
Voters across the political spectrum will respect lawmakers who overcome partisan differences and enact these needed reforms. | https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/opinion/readers/2018/03/09/league-women-voters-urges-state-senate-pass-bill-juvenile-justice-reform/410161002/ |
In her article “The Transitional American Woman,” published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1880, Kate Wells paints a critical portrait of the new generation of women who were leaving their homes in great numbers to engage in self-directed pursuits. In their decision to emphasize their own development rather than live only for others, these postbellum American women were making a major break with the past. “Formerly, to be a good housekeeper, an anxious mother, an obedient wife, was the ne plus ultra of female endeavor,—to be all this for others’ sakes. Now it is to be more than one is, for one’s own sake,” she complains. Wells portrays a radical transformation in the way women viewed their lives as they became doctors, women’s rights activists, or simply unmarried women. What united them, Wells observes, was their “ambition”: “Women do not care for their home as they did; it is no longer the focus of all their endeavors… . Daughters must have art studios outside of their home; [and] authoresses must have a study near by.”1 As she suggests, women’s new ambitions were prominently visible in the areas of art and literature, and many other commentators of the era also focused on women’s participation in the literary world as marking a radical departure from previous gender norms. Wells’s article was part of the forefront of what would become a common cultural lament about the advent of the “New Woman.” But the seeds of this shift had already been planted in the 1860s and 1870s. In fact, during and after the Civil War, a convergence of cultural factors led some women—primarily white, middle class, and from the Northeast—to envision a place for themselves in the high literary culture that began to emerge in the pages of the Atlantic Monthly and elsewhere.
What did it mean for postbellum women to look to the field of literature to realize their ambitions? Certainly many women had already become famous as authors. In fact, the realm of literature was deemed by many male critics and writers to be dominated by women, who had extended their powerful roles as wives and mothers into the public sphere. The prominent female authors of the antebellum era generally had subscribed to the idea that being a good wife and mother was, as Wells indicated, “the ne plus ultra” of their existence. And even those women writers who weren’t married viewed their authorial identities as secondary to their roles as women. As Catharine Maria Sedgwick insisted, “My author existence has always seemed something accidental, extraneous, and independent of my inner self.” She claimed that her life was “so woven into the fabric of others that I seem to have had no separate, individual existence.”2
During and after the Civil War, however, some women writers began to view authorship much differently, namely as a central part of their identities, leading to the development of new ambitions as they sought to fulfill their potential as artists. They lived and wrote not only for others but “for one’s own sake,” in Wells’s words. For example, Constance Fenimore Woolson (1840–94) claimed, “The best of me goes into my writing,” conveying comfort with her devotion to her work. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps (1844–1911) similarly declared her commitment to literary pursuits: “my time and vitality have always been distinctly the property of my ideals of literary art.” Another marker of this generation’s dedication to art was their high ambitions. While revising her novel Moods, Louisa May Alcott (1832–88) wrote in her journal that she was “‘living for immortality.’” And Elizabeth Stoddard (1823–1902) confessed that she desired to be “compare[d] … with Shakespeare, Milton[,] Dante & Co.”3 As each of these brief quotes suggests, alternative conceptions of authorship were becoming available to women. These four authors, who form the focus of this study, were part of a new generation of women writers who committed themselves to lives as artists and exhibited the highest aims available to them, dreaming of immortality as members of America’s emerging high literary culture.
Antebellum women writers such as Sedgwick, Fanny Fern, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Lydia Sigourney had established authorship as a respectable profession for women. They had claimed the authority to contribute to discussions of national importance and had written some of the most popular works of the century, participating in the formation of a national conscience and identity and thereby expanding the range of acceptable roles for women. Some of their writings also challenged or revised traditional concepts of womanhood. But such authors, who broadened the scope of what was thought to be appropriate subject matter for women writers, were also essentially united in their acceptance of the taboo against women openly expressing or even harboring ambitions as artists. They wrote for God, family, or society and often thought of themselves—and were thought of by their culture—as “scribblers” (a term that signifies modest literary aims and implies that writing is a pastime rather than an artistic endeavor). They generally adhered to a republican model of authorship and viewed their roles as those of educators and moral inculcators, adopting authorial stances that some male authors—such as Washington Irving, William Cullen Bryant, and James Fenimore Cooper—had begun to abandon as early as the 1810s and 1820s in favor of a democratic ideal of the individualistic author. This democratic model, influenced by European romanticism, remained culturally unavailable to women, who continued to be viewed and to view themselves as representatives of their sex rather than as unique individuals. Creative women writers of the antebellum era were united in their adherence to an ideal of duty to others, which was culturally sanctioned for them as women and also meshed with the republican model of authorship. This cultural mantra of self-sacrifice for women, which most women deeply internalized, prevented them from adopting the democratic model of individualistic authorship and from seeing themselves as potential “artists.” Of course, the altruistic ideals of republican or domestic authorship remained potent for many women writers throughout the nineteenth century, but during the antebellum years these were the primary models available to women as public authors. It wasn’t until the 1860s and 1870s that the competing model of the woman artist, which had been born in France and England, became accessible to American women writers.
The fact that antebellum women writers did not conceive of themselves as artists has been recognized by many scholars, such as Nina Baym, who writes in Woman’s Fiction that they “conceptualized authorship as a profession rather than a calling, as work and not art.” Even Judith Fetterley, who asserts that midcentury women’s writing often displays “self-consciousness and self-confidence,” argues that the “comfort these women felt in the act of writing derives from the fact that they did not … think of themselves primarily as artists.”4 A few scholars have also alluded in passing to the radical change in women writers’ perceptions of themselves that would occur after the Civil War. Baym observes that “[w]omen authors tended not to think of themselves as artists or justify themselves in the language of art until the 1870s and after.” Elaine Showalter refers to postbellum women writers beginning to feel “free to present themselves as artists.” And Joanne Dobson notes, “The 1870s saw the beginnings of a new and often quite divergent ethos in women’s writing,” as writers such as Phelps and Woolson were “more self-consciously artistic in their literary endeavors.”5 But no one has yet examined how and why this alternative model of authorship became available to women. This, therefore, is my primary objective in this book.
In order to sketch the main outlines of this cultural and literary development, I examine the lives and works of four representatives of this generation: Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson. Only by considering them as a group can we fully comprehend the ways in which women seized upon this era’s opportunities to contribute to America’s burgeoning high culture. For example, studies of these authors individually have noted Charlotte Brontë’s influence on both Alcott and Stoddard, as well as George Eliot’s impact on both Phelps and Woolson. By recognizing the connections between the ambitions and models adopted by these contemporaries, we can see such phenomena not as discrete and isolated happenings but as symptomatic of broader changes in the perspectives of American women writers.
Examining these authors together brings some striking crosscurrents into focus, such as feelings of difference from other women, the intertextuality of their works with those of European women writers, high artistic ambitions, fears of being rejected because of those ambitions, belief in the sufferings of genius, and conflicted relationships with their male peers and mentors. However, these four authors did not form a tight-knit network of writers. Although they shared some mutual friends and knew about each other, they did not regularly read and comment on each other’s works; neither did they correspond nor directly support each other. But they were products of their age, deriving inspiration from similar sources. Most importantly, they all felt that there would be room for women writers to participate in the realm of high literature beginning to form in America. They believed that they were part of an unprecedented historical moment on the cusp of women’s realization of their full potential, and they recognized their difficulties in realizing their ambitions as ones that they shared with each other and other women of their generation. For example, after a visit with Stoddard, Woolson wrote to their mutual friend, Edmund Clarence Stedman, “Why do literary women break down so?” And when Alcott’s sister (a visual artist) embarked on a new “adventure” as a wife, Alcott wrote to a friend that she hoped May would “prove ‘Avis’ in the wrong,” referring to Phelps’s novel The Story of Avis, which depicts an artist heroine whose career is nullified by her duties as a wife and mother.6 Both Woolson and Alcott understood that they shared with their sister writers and artists many experiences, such as physical and mental hardships and the choice between matrimony and art, prominent themes in their works. These perceived similarities make it obvious that Woolson and Alcott knew their experiences and ambitions were not isolated phenomena. Their stories counter Elizabeth Ammons’s assertion that there were only “scattered individuals” who “struggled with … issues of gender and art” before the 1890s.7 Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson struggled with those issues beginning in the 1860s and extending through the 1880s and 1890s, and they were aware of themselves as belonging to a generation of women attempting to enter the field of high literature at a specific historical moment and suffering the same dilemmas and difficulties as a result.
Other women writers who began to write and/or publish in the 1860s and 1870s also wrestled with the taboo against women developing ambitions as artists. Although not all proclaimed the same high ambitions as Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson, their careers exhibit many similarities with the group under examination here. Rebecca Harding Davis (1831–1910) is a good example. Her stories about women artists tend to reflect the belief that women who pursue genius for its own sake are selfish and foolish. However, many aspects of her life and her works further amplify women’s changing authorial identities. She had one of the highest literary reputations of any American woman writer of her day and examined the difficulties of women’s pursuit of artistry in her works. Other contemporary figures who were inspired by the emerging model of the woman artist and/or participated in America’s high literary culture include Helen Hunt Jackson (1830–85), Emily Dickinson (1830–86), Harriet Prescott Spofford (1835–1921), Charlotte Forten Grimké (1837–1914), Sarah Piatt (1836–1919), Sarah Orne Jewett (1849–1909), Emma Lazarus (1849–87), and Sherwood Bonner (1849–83). In short, Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson do not form an exclusive group; rather their lives and works are indicative of broader phenomena.
However, this longer list of writers is, in some respects, exclusive. For example, it suggests that the emerging model of female artistry was available almost exclusively to white women. Grimké is the only person of color among them, and her access to high literary culture, while facilitated by some powerful white men, was quite limited. In terms of ethnicity, these writers are also quite uniform, with the additional exception of Lazarus, who was Jewish. However, the fact that these two women harbored high ambitions for literary fame suggests the reach of this new idea of the woman writer across social barriers. Indeed, many of these women were well outside the circles of cultural privilege that established America’s early high literary culture, namely the elite literati in Boston and New York. Regionally they are a fairly diverse group: Piatt and Bonner were from the deep South; Davis grew up in what is now West Virginia; Woolson grew up in Ohio; while Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, Spofford, Dickinson, Grimké, and Jewett all were raised in the Northeast. One thing that clearly unites all of these women, however, is middle-class or genteel cultural status. Although some came from very wealthy backgrounds—as did Lazarus, Dickinson, and Jewett—and some struggled for at least part of their lives to obtain financial security—as did Alcott, Grimké, Jackson, Phelps, Bonner, and Woolson—they all would be considered privileged in terms of class. None of them struggled up from the kind of impoverished background that, say, Frederick Douglass or Walt Whitman did. Not to diminish these men’s achievements, but the kind of self-education and self-support that they practiced was even more difficult for women to obtain. A certain degree of privilege in terms of education and exposure to literature and the arts was necessary in order for women to formulate serious ambitions. They had to be aware of the successes of George Sand and Charlotte Brontë, or be exposed to the ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson and the European romantics, or read high cultural periodicals like Harper’s and the Atlantic Monthly. And they had to be free from hard labor, inside or outside the home, in order to find time to write. Such things, of course, were granted primarily to women of the white middle class in New England, although it is important to recognize the deviations from this rule that would become even more pronounced in succeeding generations.8
My decision to concentrate on four authors was driven first and foremost by my desire to combine an analysis of the crosscurrents among women writers of this generation with in-depth analyses of their careers and works. I chose to focus primarily on Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson because significant groundwork had been laid by previous scholars, helping me to recognize some of the interconnections between them;9 republication of their texts was under way, particularly their works about women and artistry;10 they offered striking similarities and differences, allowing for a complex composite portrait; and these four seemed particularly deserving of (re)examination. When I began this project, Alcott was viewed primarily as a children’s author or a writer of protofeminist sensation stories. It is still the case that little attention has been paid to her artistic ambitions. The same is true of Phelps. And although Stoddard and Woolson are undergoing a modest renaissance, their extraordinarily accomplished works remain on the margins of American literary scholarship. Most importantly, none of these four writers has been significantly examined in the context of their contemporaries and the cultural debates about women and genius of the last half of the nineteenth century.
There are surely other women writers of this generation who possessed high ambitions but who remain unknown because they were not successful at gaining the attention of editors, publishers, critics, or the reading public. And given the taboos against women’s ambitions, others may remain unknown simply because they did not publish or did not act on their desires for literary recognition or achievement. Two women who certainly belong to the category of apprehensive yet clearly very accomplished women of genius are Dickinson and Alice James, sister of Henry and William James. Both women cultivated very remarkable literary lives, which they kept secret owing to their reluctance to be known publicly (or even to their families) as authors. Their discomfort with combining the identities of woman and artist suggest how many women continued to internalize cultural strictures against literary ambitions at the same time that some women were finding ways to overcome or circumvent such taboos.
My decision not to focus on Dickinson or Jewett but to limit my discussion of them to occasional points of comparison or contrast warrants further explanation. No doubt, some readers will feel that one or both of these writers deserves a prominent place in a study of nineteenth-century women’s literary ambitions. The most significant factor that sets Dickinson apart is, of course, her decision not to publish and participate fully in the literary world of her day. As a result, she avoided many of the obstacles that other female authors encountered as they attempted to establish themselves as highly regarded literary artists. So although Dickinson’s view of herself as a poet certainly reflects the reformulation of women writers’ identities, for the most part she does not fit the picture I am drawing. Jewett, however, participated in many of the conversations discussed in this book, but I want to emphasize that a whole generation of women writers was redefining the possibilities for women authors and, in some cases, articulating much higher ambitions than she did. She was not the “single historical exhibit” Richard Brodhead claims her to be, nor did she alone “establish … the normative model for women’s high-artistic literary identity in America.”11 Therefore, my choice not to place Dickinson or Jewett in the foreground rests primarily on the fact that they have been more widely accepted and recognized as “artists” than have any other nineteenth-century American women writers, overshadowing the contributions of others. In fact, one or the other has often been held up as the sole example of the serious woman writer in America. Such myopia has certainly fueled the perception that American women writers did not adopt serious artistic aims on the same scale that their European sisters did or that only a few, exceptional female authors deserve serious scrutiny.
The critical emphasis on Dickinson and Jewett has also left the impression that American high literary culture had no place for women and that women believed it was off-limits to them. The examples of Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson offer much evidence to the contrary. In fact, recognizing the efforts of this era of women writers to make room for themselves in the emerging high literary culture can help us to reenvision women’s participation in American literature beyond the separate spheres model, which assumes differentiated realms of male and female authors. More recently, challengers have begun to break down the private/public dichotomy in nineteenth-century American literary culture. One strategy has been to show the social and intellectual engagement of antebellum women’s writings. Beginning with Jane Tompkins’s idea of “cultural work,” scholars have developed the argument that women writers, in Baym’s words, “were demolishing whatever imaginative and intellectual boundaries their culture may have been trying to maintain between domestic and public worlds.” The writers Baym surveys in American Women Writers and the Work of History, 1790–1860 “were claiming on behalf of all women the rights to know and opine on the world outside the home, as well as to circulate their knowledge and opinions among the public.” Scholars have therefore reclaimed many nineteenth-century women writers working outside the realm of domestic fiction and advice literature and contributing more overtly to a national literary culture. Thus scholars are more and more attempting to “understand how men and women lived in the same historical moment,” in the words of Monika M. Elbert, making it “more productive to see where and how their roles converged and how their interactions created a national culture in flux rather than … dwell[ing] on a separatist notion of the genders living apart or without interaction.”12
However, despite these productive developments in critical thinking about American literary culture, one important aspect of the separate spheres model has not been adequately overturned, namely the assumption that the realm of high literature was always an exclusively male preserve defined in opposition to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “damned mob of scribbling women.” Even some of the most discerning studies destabilizing the boundaries between private and public, domestic and canonical, tend to presuppose the existence of a “homosocial high culture,” as Lora Romero does in Home Fronts. Michael Newbury, in Figuring Authorship in Antebellum America, makes a powerful argument for the injection of class and race concerns into the separate spheres debate but does not challenge the association of women’s literature with mass production, which Hawthorne and other male writers used to “damn it to a kind of subliterary or even antiliterary status.”13 In such studies, female writers continue to represent middlebrow domestic literature while male writers represent high literature, however much cross-influence between the two groups may be exhibited. In most studies, women writers before the 1890s continue to be figured as domestic or professional and as indubitably cut off from the realm of “high” literature. However, a reconstruction of the cultural matrix out of which nineteenth-century high culture grew reveals that competing visions of American authorship and genius were diverse enough to allow some women to develop the ambition to be included in this more elite sphere of literature. Essentially, a two-tiered high literary culture was conceived, with the top rank reserved for the most accomplished male writers, such as Hawthorne and Emerson, who could claim the distinction of an “American Shakespeare,” and just below them a broader stratum of authors clustered around the high literary magazines emerging in the 1860s–1880s. It was to this latter group that women writers were provisionally admitted before the backlash against women writers at the turn of the century.
In short, Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson did not confine themselves as writers to a so-called woman’s sphere. They were clearly adopting models of authorship that previously had been considered available only to men, at least in the United States. While they did not attempt to transcend gender completely, and they always perceived of themselves as women artists, they did dare to tread on what historically has been perceived as a male preserve of high literature. In fact, as the realm of high literature began to take shape in America in the 1860s and 1870s, it was not at all clear that women would be excluded from its construction. Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson came of age as authors during a particular moment of opportunity for female authors, when the idealistic impulses of the post-Jacksonian era and of romantic thought made it possible for them to feel that achieving the status of artist was within their province as American women. Ultimately, though, the dynamics of cultural exclusion that solidified the gendered split in the literary world, particularly by the 1890s, eclipsed the ambitions and achievements of postbellum women writers. I therefore agree with Elbert, in her introduction to Separate Spheres No More, where she allows that, even though her aim is to show the intersections between men’s and women’s spheres, “the concept of separate spheres still applies to nineteenth-century literature to some degree.” It is important that we recognize both the power of separate spheres ideology and its inadequacy to explain the whole of women’s and men’s lives in the nineteenth century.14
As I claim that women desired entrance into America’s high literature, the question that has troubled scholars resurrecting women’s neglected literary traditions inevitably arises—“is it any good?”15 Discussing my project with various colleagues over the years, one of the most frequent questions I received was, now that you have established these women’s ambitions to be recognized on a par with the Brontës or Hawthorne, will you also argue that their works deserve to be valued as highly as those of such widely regarded authors? Lawrence Buell and Sandra Zagarell did so for Elizabeth Stoddard, writing that “next to Melville and Hawthorne, [hers] was the most strikingly original voice in the mid-nineteenth-century American novel.”16 But few other scholars have been so bold in declaring the artistic achievements of these four authors. While I agree with Buell and Zagarell’s assessment and would like to extend it to other women writers’ works, that is not one of my main goals. In fact, I consciously have avoided overtly making any such claims because they rest on the assumption that such worth is deducible by comparison to previously and presumably universally acknowledged “masters.” Therefore, if I shy away from declaring that I have “unearthed a forgotten Jane Austen or George Eliot, or hit upon [works] … I would propose to set alongside The Scarlet Letter,” as Baym definitively avowed she had not when she first wrote Woman’s Fiction,17 it is not because I believe these women’s works to be of less literary value than those of “major” authors. Rather, it is because I question the basis on which such judgments are often made. My goal first and foremost is to understand these women’s lives, careers, and writings about gender and genius in their historical context, which does not exclude aesthetic considerations. I have tried my best to historicize such issues rather than approach them from a contemporary perspective.
One of my aims, therefore, is to reconstruct the context of literary value and vocation that allowed postbellum women writers to glimpse the possibility of contributing to America’s emerging high literature. Of course, my hope is that by acknowledging and appreciating their efforts to make such a contribution and by examining their rich texts, which exhibit such ambitions, we can learn to value their works anew for their boldness, their individuality, their participation in the tradition of women’s artist narratives (which has been largely perceived as a product of French and English writers), and their participation in the cult of “great” works (which has been deemed the province of male writers). Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson each displayed their own serious intent as artists by taking as the subject of their writings the production of high art, exploring the ways women artists develop and pursue their ambitions, and creating artist heroines who exhibit and gain recognition for their genius. They also trespassed on the masculine realm of high art by writing within and against the romantic tradition and participating in the emergence of realism, two subjects that I have been unable to fully explore here. As I explain in the Conclusion, this important subject must wait for my next study.
In Chapter 1 I lay the groundwork for the book by exploring the particular cultural moment in which Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson developed their ambitions, focusing on the cultural/literary factors and the influences in their personal lives that combined to provide an opportunity for these women to view themselves as potential participants in the emerging high literary culture. Chapter 2 examines the difficulties ambitious women writers encountered in combining the identities of woman and artist, which became a rich theme for their writings, paying special attention to their narratives of women’s artistry and the ways in which these works contribute to the European women’s Künstlerroman tradition. In Chapter 3 I examine how Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Wool-son constructed their identities as artists, confronting their culture’s taboos against women’s ambitions and beliefs about female genius; and in Chapter 4, I investigate their desires for serious recognition from the literary elite and their relationships with the men who controlled the high literary world. In the Conclusion, I turn to the question of their lasting reputations and the issue of how we can reconfigure the literary canon to recognize this long-submerged generation of pioneering female literary artists. | https://muse.jhu.edu/chapter/2147232 |
This is an essay by Joseph Dante.
We all have particular tastes when it comes to our reading habits. I have my own preferences: I tend to go for things that are more “literary” than “genre,” except for maybe when a friend (who knows something about what I like) makes an interesting suggestion. I tend to read the books that are considered classics and often pop up in English classes as required reading. I also like things that tend to be difficult to categorize, are fresh and colorful, and that break or mix elements of disparate genres. Unfortunately, if you read what I read, chances are you probably don’t encounter nearly enough female authors simply because of how often history (and hence, publishers and the literary establishment) has often overlooked them. There have been plenty of women who were forced to take on male pseudonyms just in order to be taken as seriously as their peers.
I remember once coming across a book blog by a male reader who admitted he doesn’t read female authors. He tried to pass it off as just a coincidence. He typically reads the classics—both old and contemporary, the who’s who. It’s not because he’s only interested in men’s writing specifically, just that these books happen to tackle the bigger, more universal themes (according to him) and he doesn’t see that as any kind of problem.
But it is a problem. The year is 2012, and we know there are plenty of women out there writing important books. You would think things may have changed over the years, but just take a glance at these statistics by VIDA. The gender breakdown of some of these respected literary journals is quite alarming. It is even more alarming when you realize that these people are the gatekeepers and curators who still continue to highlight what’s important in literature today, who are often a contributing factor in determining which writers go on to receive all the recognition and awards. There have been several responses from readers and publishers to address this issue. In an excellent essay at The Rumpus, writer and editor Roxane Gay believes one of the easiest and most obvious solutions is to simply read and publish more women writers. She believes readers need to become more consciously aware of this problem and publishers need to try to level out the playing field if their publications appear to be uneven. Ever since I came across these statistics, I’ve tried my best to take her advice. I’ve tried to be more vigilant about my own reading patterns and the patterns of others.
For Ms. Gay, the issue is also a personal one. She falls into the category of “women writer” who writes “women’s fiction,” and she is also a reader who often comes across excellent writing by female authors. Despite not being a female writer myself (whose writing would be affected by this), it’s personal for me on a certain level as well. Ever since I was really young, all the most influential figures in my life have been women: my mother and my sister and Nana, my closest friends, and (perhaps the most relevant) my favorite teachers and literature professors. To continue to see so many talented female writers go overlooked (being simply a writer and reader who appreciates it) makes it doubly personal. It’s an issue I keep coming back to and it’s something I’d really like to see change sooner rather than later.
The other night, I went out to dinner with Nana. We got to talking about books (she and my aunt are starting to become more avid readers, I’m happy to report) and I got to talking about this. “Well, maybe it’s simply because men are just better writers,” she said. I laughed and told her no, that wasn’t the case. There is an abundance of excellent women writers out there—it’s just that they’re being ignored or not taken nearly as seriously. It’s just that society has a special preference for male writers and seeing their problems as more important and universal (while female writing is considered as more trivial, despite being half the population). I have to remind myself that Nana is from a different generation, where someone can make a comment like that and have it go unnoticed.
I do think things are changing in the publishing landscape, but slowly. While dusty, reputable journals like The New Yorker may continue to have this problem for a while, newer journals seem to be much more inclusive, I’ve noticed. I’ve tried to help out with all this in my own little way by actively seeking out books by female authors and talking about them as much as possible.
Here are a few great books I’ve read this year so far:
Other People We Married by Emma Straub
Zazen by Vanessa Veselka, which I reviewed for Paste
The Complete Plays by Sarah Kane
The Dream of a Common Language by Adrienne Rich
The Writing of Fiction by Edith Wharton
And books I plan on reading in the near future:
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell
The Wife by Meg Wolitzer
Birds of America by Lorrie Moore
The Collected Stories by Amy Hempel
NW by Zadie Smith
Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
The Bone People by Keri Hulme
Orlando by Virginia Woolf
Which women writers have you been reading?
———
Joseph Dante is a writer from South Florida. He runs a blog at josephdante.com, and is currently a reader for online literary magazine Hobart. You can follow him on Twitter @storyforburning.
Photo: Some rights reserved by BiblioArchives / LibraryArchives. | http://readlearnwrite.com/guest-post-the-gender-divide-and-becoming-more-aware-of-what-we-read/ |
Open Access Edition Available at Project MUSE
Before the Civil War, American writers such as Catharine Maria Sedgwick and Harriet Beecher Stowe had established authorship as a respectable profession for women. But though they had written some of the most popular and influential novels of the century, they accepted the taboo against female writers, regarding themselves as educators and businesswomen. During and after the Civil War, some women writers began to challenge this view, seeing themselves as artists writing for themselves and for posterity.
Writing for Immortality studies the lives and works of four prominent members of the first generation of American women who strived for recognition as serious literary artists: Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Elizabeth Stoddard, and Constance Fenimore Woolson. Combining literary criticism and cultural history, Anne E. Boyd examines how these authors negotiated the masculine connotation of "artist," imagining a space for themselves in the literary pantheon. Redrawing the boundaries between male and female literary spheres, and between American and British literary traditions, Boyd shows how these writers rejected the didacticism of the previous generation of women writers and instead drew their inspiration from the most prominent "literary" writers of their day: Emerson, James, Barrett Browning, and Eliot.
Placing the works and experiences of Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson within contemporary discussions about "genius" and the "American artist," Boyd reaches a sobering conclusion. Although these women were encouraged by the democratic ideals implicit in such concepts, they were equally discouraged by lingering prejudices about their applicability to women. | https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/writing-immortality |
Before the Civil War, American writers such as Catharine Maria Sedgwick and Harriet Beecher Stowe had established authorship as a respectable profession for women. But though they had written some of the most popular and influential novels of the century, they accepted the taboo against female writers, regarding themselves as educators and businesswomen. During and after the Civil War, some women writers began to challenge this view, seeing themselves as artists writing for themselves and for posterity.
Writing for Immortality studies the lives and works of four prominent members of the first generation of American women who strived for recognition as serious literary artists: Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Elizabeth Stoddard, and Constance Fenimore Woolson. Combining literary criticism and cultural history, Anne E. Boyd examines how these authors negotiated the masculine connotation of "artist," imagining a space for themselves in the literary pantheon. Redrawing the boundaries between male and female literary spheres, and between American and British literary traditions, Boyd shows how these writers rejected the didacticism of the previous generation of women writers and instead drew their inspiration from the most prominent "literary" writers of their day: Emerson, James, Barrett Browning, and Eliot.
Placing the works and experiences of Alcott, Phelps, Stoddard, and Woolson within contemporary discussions about "genius" and the "American artist," Boyd reaches a sobering conclusion. Although these women were encouraged by the democratic ideals implicit in such concepts, they were equally discouraged by lingering prejudices about their applicability to women. | https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/writing-immortality |
Celebrating AWP’s 50th Anniversary!
The information below compiles demographics for presenters of accepted events, as well as information on the extent to which various communities are participating in the 2017 AWP Conference & Bookfair. A list of all the accepted events can be found on the Schedule page of our website.
[Alt Text: This pie graph shows the number of AWP presenters who identified their gender. The graph shows that 1,145 presenters identify as female, 611 as male, 16 as gender fluid, 0 as intersex, 11 as transgender, 3 as transsexual, 2 as agender, 4 as androgynous, 1 as bigender, and 8 as cisgender. 17 identified as “a gender not identified here.”]
[Alt Text: This bar chart compares the percentage of AWP presenters identifying as male and female with the percentage of the US population identifying as male and female as determined by the 2015 US Census. 57.7% of AWP presenters identify as female compared to 50.8% on the US Census. 30.8% of AWP presenters identify as male compared to 49.2% on the US Census.]
[Alt Text: This pie chart shows the number of AWP presenters who identified themselves by race. The graph shows that 30 identify as American Indian or Alaskan Native, 130 as Asian, 173 as Black or African American, 111 as Latino, 3 as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 882 as White, and 72 as “a race not identified here.”]
[Alt Text: This image is a bar graph that compares the percentage of AWP presenters identifying themselves by race beside data collected about the US population by the 2015 Census. The graph shows that 1.5% of AWP presenters and 1.2% of the US population identifies as American Indian or Alaskan Native, 6.6% of AWP presenters and 5.6% of the US population as Asian, 8.7% of AWP presenters and 13.3% of the US population as Black or African American, 5.6% of AWP presenters and 17.6% of the US population as Latino, 7.5% of AWP presenters and 2.6% of the US population as Mixed Race,.2% of AWP presenters and.2% of the US population as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 44.5% of AWP presenters and 61.6% of the US population as White. Please note that the US Census does not allow respondents to select “A race not identified here”. 3.6% of AWP presenters identified as “A race not identified here.]
Many of these 250 events host discussions about more than one of these communities, and so they are counted as part of each community with which they engage. Many members of these communities also participate in other events that are not listed here, as this account quantifies topics, not individuals. This tally of self-identifying events lists only those events that, in their titles or descriptions, declare affiliations with these communities. For instance, graduate students and adjunct faculty participate in many other events that are not labeled by the terms “students” or “adjuncts.” Many readings inclusive of people of color or the LGBTQ community are simply billed as readings and are therefore not counted here, though they are represented in the other demographic data. The diversity of the conference extends far beyond this tally of 250 self-identifying events addressed to the concerns of one or more affinity groups.
Claremont Graduate University’s Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award is one of the most prestigious prizes a contemporary poet can receive. The Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award was created in 1993 to both honor a poet and provide resources to allow literary artists to continue honing their craft. These past recipients of the Kingsley Tufts Awards showcase the breadth and depth, as well as geographic and aesthetic diversity, of the poetry that CGU’s Tufts Awards supports and celebrates.
Cliff Becker (1964-2005) was the National Endowment for the Arts Literature Director. Believing "translation is the medium through which American readers gain greater access to the world,” he expanded NEA support for translation. His widow, Leila, and daughter, Sahara, established the Cliff Becker Book Prize in Translation, now administered through ALTA. The series editors will discuss how this unique publication prize fulfills Becker’s vision and the translators will read from their books.
This panel celebrates the enduring and groundbreaking career of Edmund White, one of the most influential living gay writers. His provocative works of fiction, biography, memoir and criticism have sparked dialogues on the nature of the self in society for decades. Five writers—peers, colleagues, and those he has mentored—come together to discuss his work, life, and his influence on American letters. Edmund White will speak following the tribute.
Uniting attendees from across disciplines, the African Diaspora Caucus will provide a forum for discussions of careers, best practices for teaching creative writing and obtaining the MFA/PhD. We will work with AWP’s affinity caucuses to develop national diversity benchmarks for creative writing programs, and will collaborate with board and staff to ensure that AWP programs meet the needs of diaspora writers. This Caucus will be an inclusive space that reflects the pluralities in our community.
How do we, as writers and literary arts organizers, bring about change in the greater literary community? And how do we move from intention and discussion about race, gender, and inequality to action? This panel brings together literary organizations to discuss their roles as social justice activists in the writing community. These prominent members of national literary organizations examine the current issues and challenges facing the community and the steps necessary to move forward.
Workshops still remain a problematic landscape for the marginalized. This panel seeks to discuss how the workshop has changed in the last 25 years, and consequently, remained the same. The following year has been a hotbed of online take-downs and intersectionality controversies. What this panel seeks to uncover is how "the other" is still treated within the confines of the contemporary collegiate workshop.This panel will discuss strategies towards pedagogical inclusion.
In a world of 24-hour news cycles and soundbites, whose stories get heard, and whose don't? How can we challenge the single story portrayal of human rights issues, and of marginalized communities? A lively conversation about the power of the story in human rights, and the roles of two organizations (Voice of Witness, a literary and human rights nonprofit, and Idex, an international development organization) in amplifying unheard voices in the United States and around the world.
This panel brings together women writers across generations to explore how gender continues to shape women's experiences of creative writing today from learning in or teaching the workshop to publishing work to administering a creative writing program. In relation to race, class, and sexuality, how has the position of women writers changed over time and where are we today with regard to our access to publication and positions of power within our communities or academic institutions?
Five contemporary female American poets explore how sentimentality is
deployed in 21st century women’s poetry, with regard to both
content and rhetoric, as a means to counter traditional assumptions
regarding female desire and identity. What personal and political
alchemies occur when the affectionate address verges on acerbic? What
transformations are sought when a female speaker, once familiar as
mother, daughter, sister, wife, or lover, employs sentiment to reveal
herself as Other?
Asian American Caucus. (Ken Chen, Cathy Linh Che, Lawrence-Minh Davis, Sunyoung Lee)
What literary resources are available for Asian American writers? What does it mean to be an Asian writer in the 21st century? This 2nd Asian American caucus is not a panel or a reading, but an open town-hall-style hang out and community space. Come meet other Asian American writers and discuss fellowships, publication opportunities, and resources available for Asian American writers. Organized by the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, Kaya, Asian American Literary Review, and Kundiman.
Since its founding, Coffee House has strived to make its publishing list as diverse as America. This has meant publishing many authors from "underrepresented" groups, but in particular it's become known for publishing some of the most exciting Asian American writers in the country. Younger generations have been drawn to the press because they have been inspired by those mentors that came before them. These writers will talk about influence and what it means to share a publisher and a community.
Perhaps more than any other American region, the South is constituted by its racial history, a harrowing black-and-white tale of subjugation—one in which Asian-American stories go largely untold. In this formally hybrid panel—half performance, half critical dialogue—five multi-genre writers from diverse Asian-American backgrounds, each of us tied to a Southern locale, insert ourselves as rogue elements into this dominant story, asking: what might it mean to be Asian American writing the South?
What will a new generation of literary leadership look like? While many literaryinstitutions have a reputation for being stodgy or slow-moving with regards to change, here are five directors who bring unique experience and fresh perspective to literary non-profits, national and local. We will discuss how youth, technology, and diversity can bring traditional literary institutions into the modern landscape and create a bold, more inclusive future for readers.
Religion and spirituality play a vital role in the lives of many teenagers, but few young adult novels meaningfully explore what that role is. Representing a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, panelists will speak to the unique challenges of examining religious belief in books aimed at teens, give a detailed picture of how faith is currently depicted in young adult fiction and poetry, and suggest ways in which different types of religious expression can be more fully represented.
Writers who experience cultures “foreign” to them face many challenges in portraying with both truth and sensitivity the places and lives they learn about. This is especially true when they’re welcomed into homes and intimate settings, and where realities may not match up to what has been mythologized or romanticized.
Nonfiction writers who’ve lived in or traveled among diverse cultures will discuss how they’ve balanced honesty with respect and served both readers and hosts with their writing.
Beyond Accommodation: Supporting Disabled Writers at Conferences and Residencies. (Leigh Stein, Camisha Jones, Ryan Walsh, Sheila Black)
While people with disabilities are the largest minority group in America (20% of the population), writers with disabilities are vastly underrepresented at conferences and residencies that are so often essential to career advancement. Join the founders and directors of Zoeglossia, BinderCon, Vermont Studio Center, and Split This Rock, for a discussion on best practices for ensuring an event or residency is not only accessible (financially and logistically), but also inclusive.
How do we move beyond the vague concept of diversity to create truly inclusive workshops? In focusing on craft and ignoring the larger cultural context of our writing, we often sideline POC, queer, and other voices marginalized by the literary establishment. Speakers from GrubStreet, Warren Wilson, and the University of Houston will interrogate traditional pedagogy for inherent bias and offer strategies on navigating issues of identity, to take workshops from simply diverse to truly inclusive.
Narratives about class often resort to familiar storylines: getting rich, dying trying, and becoming sanctified by poverty. The truth is more complex. Wealth and the lack of it shape lives, but those lives are also larger than their bank accounts and the assumptions that we make based upon them. Covering a range of genres, including fiction, literary criticism, and journalism, this panel will explore strategies for writing stories that reveal aspects of class that may be hidden in plain sight.
"Beyond the Hospital" will explore the tragedies, pitfalls, miracles, and realities of living in a world of evolving medicine, as panelists contribute varying perspectives on how their journeys in and out of the medical establishment have impacted their work. What makes us embrace or reject modern medicine? What terrifies us about it? It is through the symbiotic relationship between memoir and medicine that we can begin to understand how to interact in this transforming world.
Bite Hard: A Tribute to Justin Chin
Five poets/teachers engage Chin’s work from a wide range of angles, including
his association with Performance Art and Slam Poetry, his tangling with issues of Asian identity and sexuality through his poetry and hybrid prose, his tactical use of humor to disarm the reader as he explored illness and living with AIDS, his zeroing in on where the personal becomes political, and his Baudelaire-like blending of the elegant and profane.
Four Young Adult authors will discuss the importance of the recent hashtag movement Black Girl Magic and its connection to Young Adult literature featuring black girls. From stories that tackle gentrification, magical realism, and pregnancy, black girls are at the center of these narratives that provide both mirrors and windows into their inner lives. Authors will also discuss the aesthetic power of black girls featured on YA covers, and the significance of black women telling their own stories.
Five black women examine different forms of creative expression--poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and film--in digital spaces. The presentation, which will feature both sounds and images, will explore the different ways that artists can navigate digital spaces and push their vision forward. It will also discuss some of the challenges women and people of color may face in garnering an audience for their work and offer strategies for overcoming these challenges.
What is the physical body’s relationship to the creative mind? Four writers with disabilities will discuss their writing lives, and how social progress and technology are transforming representations of the human body. What effect has this had on literature? Where do we read ourselves in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry? Our panelists will discuss whether or not literature is representing the current climate and how they have represented their own bodies in writing over time.
Zines, drag performance, oral history, feminist spoken word, and even 1950s and 1960s men's physique magazines are among the "folk forms" that infuse LGBTQ writing. How can we reappraise these uncelebrated forms and draw on them to energize the words we write today? This panel’s writers – invigorated by engagements around race, immigration, DIY and queer punk ideologies, gender nonconformity, and other considerations – show how we can reimagine and recast these vital forms in our own work. | https://ininet.org/2017-awp-conference--bookfair-february-811-2017--washington-dc.html |
A couple of months ago, Egyptian novelist and journalist Ahdaf Soueif gave a talk at London’s Mosaic Rooms about the Egyptian revolution, her art and the place of art in the uprising. As the lecture came to a close, the floor was opened up to questions. Usually, I find it a little tricky to concentrate for this part of the night as people have a tendency to ask questions that are a little too clever for me, but one question stuck in my mind.
A young lady, speaking in a marked D4 Dublin accent, stood up to introduce herself as a Libyan poet. She said that at a recent forum for significant female Arab writers, she and her significant female Arab writer colleagues had agreed that literary society in the Arab world marginalized women authors. What could be done to change this, she wondered out loud? Soueif looked baffled and said that she just couldn’t see that this was the case. Some of the Arab world’s best-known writers, both in-and-outside the region, are women. It seemed unbelievable to her that someone could think this was the case.
Agree or disagree, I have to admit that I was taken aback by how strongly Soueif felt that this was the case, and her response has had us thinking over the last few weeks. So, in honour of International Women’s Day 2012, we have decided to put together a list of our five favourite women novelists from the Arab world. For a number of reasons, but mainly my inability to read anything other than basic Arabic, we have limited ourselves to writers whose works are published in English too.
Huda found herself in Paris studying for a doctorate when the Lebanese civil war broke out in 1975, and headed back to Beirut the year after to work as a teacher and translator, staying through the darkest years of the conflict.
The author returned to Paris in 1989 and has lived there since, but her experiences of the civil war are key to her writing, with many of her books set in civil war-era. She also courted controversy by featuring a gay protagonist in her novel, The Stone of Laughter.
The elder stateswoman of Francophone literature, Djebar is one of the most distinguished writers in the Arab world, although she herself comes from the Algeria’s significant Berber minority.
In recognition of her (not inconsiderable) literary talent, Djebar was elected to the Académie Française, the body responsible for maintaining the purity of the French language, in 2005. A number of her novels have also been translated into English from the French, and all are more than deserving of your time. We particularly recommend Women of Algiers in Their Apartment, if you can rustle up a copy from somewhere.
Back to Lebanon for the indomitable Hanan al-Shaykh. Born in 1945 in the newly-independent Republic of Lebanon, Hanan al-Shaykh was educated variously in the country’s conservative south and in an American school for girls in Cairo.
Al-Shaykh, who worked as a journalist at the co, was forced to leave Lebanon in 1975 because of the civil war and eventually settled in London. She has written about the repression of women in Arab societies, drawing on her own strict childhood in south Lebanon, as well as exile and the Lebanese civil war.
Most recently, Hanan’s re-imagining of the One Thousand and One Nights was published in English by Bloomsbury (we’re very much looking forward to taking a look ourselves), but Only in London is another great starting point.
One of Egypt’s most respected living authors and a key figure in the early feminist movements in the Arab world, Nawal El-Saadawi has had a huge influence on writers across the region.
Born in 1931 to a distinguished family, Nawal El-Saadawi’s parents died young and left her responsible for the care of her siblings. Working as a doctor in 1950s Cairo, she saw the physical suffering of Egyptian women first-hand and believed strongly that these problems were symptoms of the patriarchal, misogynistic and class-riven society in which they lived.
Author of a host of novels and social criticism, El-Saadawi was even imprisoned under the Mubarak regime for her activism. Mercifully, a large number of her works are available to the English-language reader, although as a starting point, her autobiographies are particularly inspiring.
After the preamble to this list, how could we possibly neglect Ahdaf Soueif? Although I was forced to translate an excerpt from her novel The Map of Love for my finals at university, I have managed to see past this and forgive her. Her novels, written in English and recently translated into the Arabic, are beautifully crafted and a pleasure to read.
Not only is Soueif an accomplished novelist, but she was also a courageous and insightful voice on the Egyptian uprising last year and her dispatches from Tahrir Square regularly appeared in the western media. Her reporting from Cairo also inspired her account of the revolution, Cairo: My City, our revolution, published last month by Bloomsbury.
What about Simin Dāneshvar for example? She was a very well-known female Iranian author, who published not only novels and short story collections but also translated many books into Farsi. She passed away yesterday.
Imported Iranian female poets with a huge influence Iran’s cultural life are Forough Farrokhzad and Simin Beh’bahāni.
Last but not least: Yes, there are female writers in the Middle East, however only a few them get as much as attention as their male colleagues and so I can very well understand the anger of the young Libyan writer.
*Important* of course, not “imported”!
Hey Mira, thank you so much for your comments and the tips. We will definitely check out them out, especially Simin Dāneshvar. Very sad to hear of her passing. Any particular books by her you recommend?
I don’t feel in a position to comment on the marginalisation of female writers in the Middle East as I’m no expert on the subject. All I can really say is let’s celebrate those whose writing has had such an impact, not just across the region, but across the world!
Thank you for the list. Indeed, it includes major female figures of the Arab World. If I may add, I would also inlcude Ahlam Mostaghanmi from Algeria, Samiha Khreas from Jordan, Laila Al Othman from Kuwait!.
Hi Bushra, thanks for the comments. Have those authors been translated into English? I couldn’t find any information on them.
Thank you for reading my comment. I know for sure that Ahlam Mostghanmi’s novels have been translated. As for the other two authors, I need to check & I will surely get back to you with the answer!
There are also two other writers i know that write and publish in britain.
Fadia Faqir, from Jordan but lives and writes in England. her novels are Nisanat, Pillars of Salt and My Name is Salma.
Leila Aboulela, Sudanese but also lives and writes in Scotland. Her novels, The Translator, Minaret. and her latest isLyrics Alley, which won the scotish book prize for 2012.
Great choice of authors but what about Sahar Khalifeh ( from Palestine)?
Her third novel “Al Subbar” written in 1976 was translated and published in many languages including Hebrew from 1978 onwards. PROTA ( Project for Translation of Arabic directed by Prof SK Jayyusi) translated and publsihed it in 1985 as “Wild Thorns”. Many of her subsequent works have been translated into English and other langauges . She is considered a v significant novelist in the Arab World in terms of her particular writing style as well as the topics of the novels (Palestinian issues affecting men and women alike).
Great line up — what about Sahar Khalife of Palestine. Her third novel “Al-Sabbar” ( 1976) was translated in many languages from 1978 onwards. PROTA ( Project for Translation of Arabic) was the first to translate it in English and published it under the title of “Wild Thorns” in 1985. Since then most of her novels have been translated in many languages. If anyone wants a unique take on Palestine, her books are a great place to start. | http://sugarstreetreview.com/features/top-five/top-five-female-arab-writers/ |
In the ongoing discussion about the progress (or lack thereof) of female authors in the literary acclaim-osphere, it’s important to remember that the way we conceive ‘the author’ today is relatively new and rather bizarre. Over the past few centuries, the idea of ‘the author’ has morphed into something more important than the idea of ‘the work.’ And high-literary culture seems more inclined to buy men than women.
So there is an unexamined element in the generally excellent essays of Meg Wolitzer, Ruth Franklin, Roxane Gay, and others who took to their keyboards in response, in part, to the February release of the 2011 VIDA statistics that show nearly every highbrow literary and cultural magazine publishes many more male-authored articles and reviews, and reviews many more books written by men than by women. I’m inclined to agree with these (notably female) reactors, who tend to argue that the literary gender imbalance is a problem, and that the answer isn’t “men write better than women.” But Wolitzer et al. focus more on content expectations — women are seen as more likely to write about “female” topics like marriage and kids — and less on the cult of authorial identity that dominates today’s literary world.
If the obsession with authors is relatively new, the sense of high literature as a boy’s club obviously isn’t. As in most fields, women (beyond the odd eccentric or spinster) didn’t gain entry until the last half-century. The fight for credibility has been tough from the start; it is a continuation of the plight faced by 19th century women novelists. These pioneering writers often wrote under masculine pennames due to what Charlotte Brontë called “a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with prejudice.” Brontë’s über-successful novel Jane Eyre, originally published under the masculine name Currer Bell, received much more negative criticism after its author came out as a woman.
More shocking than the gender bias, though, is the fact that in 1847 an unknown author could publish a novel without the public knowing anything of her personal identity. Such a feat would be nearly impossible in today’s world of Twitter and radio/TV/print/internet interviews and author photos and book tours and book trailers and Amazon categories and, generally speaking, branding. In today’s literary culture, the public gets to know the author and the author’s work at the same time. The result is that all ‘literary’ literature published today in America is, to some degree, identity literature.
Well, that is a brazen claim. I’ll need it in order to make the slightly more digestible claim that, given contemporary cultural expectations, it’s harder for women to succeed in an identity-driven literary marketplace. But first let’s rewind a few millennia and from there meander forward through the history of authorship in Western culture, so that we might trace the rise of identity literature.
The writers of ancient Rome differed from contemporary authors in just about every way, including two that matter here. First, they participated in the patronage system. Instead of earning a living by selling their literary productions to a general public, poets relied on wealthy patrons who were connected to the Roman ruling bodies. Their works were therefore tied inherently to the state: many early Empire volumes, for example, are dedicated to the famous patron of poetry Maecenas, a close advisor to Emperor Augustus.
Second, nearly all of Latin poetry is self-consciously derived from Greek poetry: narratives, verse forms, and genres were adapted with only minor modifications. Virgil, Horace, and even Catullus were all interested in imbedding their work into the Greek traditions, or in using Greek narratives to tell Roman stories (Virgil’s Aeneid, for example, served as a Roman version of Homer’s great epics).
We might say, then, that Roman poets saw themselves as writing in the service of some sort of glory greater than themselves — the glory of a patron, a state, a literary tradition. The idea of author as original creator, or self-promoting businessperson, would come later.
Much later. In medieval Europe, ‘auctors’ were still ensconced in feudal courts, still writing at the behest of the nobility, still drawing their narratives from tales of a distant past. Countless writers took a stab at some portion of the Arthurian legends; many of their names have been lost while their manuscripts survived. We don’t know anything, for example, about the identity of Heldris of Cornwall, narrator and possibly author of the wonderfully wacky romance Silence in which a girl is raised as a male, becomes the best knight in the land, and eventually captures Merlin by overstuffing him with meat and wine (among many other adventures). It’s not that medieval readers didn’t consider authors important, but that they expected them to have ‘auctoritas’ – or moral rectitude and historical expertise – rather than a penchant for original creation.
Even Chaucer, whose name and reputation have survived, based many of his tales on the works of Boccaccio. Even Shakespeare, writing 200 years later, borrowed most of his plays’ plots and substantial snips of their language from earlier works. This much is known about his texts. Yet today’s readers aren’t likely to ask whether Shakespeare was the first writer to use the phrase “To be or not to be” (he wasn’t) because we tend to assume that the words of someone as famous as Shakespeare must be original to him.
Instead, we are obsessed with questioning Shakespeare’s personal identity — about which little is known. Could a glover’s son from Stratford-upon-Avon really have penned many of the greatest literary works in the English language? That’s what the past century has asked of Shakespeare, as any number of books and movies on the topic show. This line of inquiry, this obsession with verifying authorial biography rather than delving into texts, is distinctly modern.
This biographical impulse is linked closely with a change in the mode of authorial compensation that was just starting to gain force around Shakespeare’s time. After the 1450 invention of the printing press, owning a physical manuscript, like those produced by monks and clerks in medieval times, gradually grew far less important than owning an infinitely reproducible collection of words — or what we might now call a piece of creative property. At the same time — in the 16th and 17th centuries — the British aristocracy, and with it the patronage system, were beginning to lose some traction. As Europe moved ever away from feudalism towards capitalism, authors began considering new ways to make a living off their works; namely, they wanted to sell copies of their work to the public. Alexander Pope, writing in the early 18th century, is considered the first writer to earn a living from the proceeds of his book sales.
If we accept Frye’s claim that all literature is dependent on its predecessors, it follows that authors who need to seem “original” might have to carve out an extra-literary niche. Writers of the 18th and 19th centuries hardly neglected their literary heritage, as is obvious from the many translations, adaptations, and retellings that appeared in the era. But they still needed an angle, a way to distinguish their work from that of all the other authors working at the same time. Increasingly, authorial identity became the primary mode of setting oneself apart from the ever-growing competition.
Examples of outsized authorial personalities abound starting in the 19th century. Just consider the outlandishly romantic life of the Romantic/anti-Romantic poet Lord Byron, who melancholically fucked his way around Europe before flouncing off to death in a battle for Greek freedom. Or a letter by fellow Romantic John Keats, in which the mournful young poet claims, “A Poet is the most unpoetical of any thing in existence; because he has no Identity.” It’s a line of argument only worth making in reaction to a culture that did consider poets poetical, and did think that their personal identities mattered in relation to their work.
Of course, in the 19th century it was still possible to put out a successful first novel without giving a single publicity interview. Sir Walter Scott, who published all his novels anonymously, proved this; the Brontë sisters later proved it again. It’s worth noting, though, that in both cases the authors’ lack of identity was a source of intrigue, and that the public very much wanted to know who had written Ivanhoe, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre.
In the last third of the century, as Americans were finally grasping the idiocy of the 1950s domestic idyll that inexplicably came to be deemed “normal,” everything was supposed to be changing. My mother, a housewife’s daughter, became a lawyer. From the late ’70s on she endured the requisite taunts and jabs at work, the (false) insinuation that her success rested on an affair with a senior partner, the general sense that she had something to prove.
These were supposed to be my mother’s battles. Indeed, I don’t remember feeling fettered by gender while growing up in the ‘90s and ‘00s. My female friends did well in school and are generally thriving professionally. So it has been incredibly unnerving, over the past few months, to watch various state governments threaten women’s rights and health and to hear, again and again, that women are having a tough time succeeding in the field closest to my heart.
The literary gender imbalance is especially jarring given that women dominate many branches of the literary field — at least the less glamorous parts. My college English classes were filled mostly with women, but were usually taught by men. When I worked in publishing, the office was almost entirely female — except for the exalted editorial department, where the split was even.
I nodded vigorously. Because after a while, all of the lovely-and-sad-yet-strong cover girls looked appallingly similar. It became hard for us to imagine that the stories they contained would vary much either. Book buyers have even less incentive to differentiate among the mass of womanish covers. But as Wolitzer notes, if “women’s” covers tell the same story, then “men’s” covers, more likely to contain all text, to tell no story at all.
When covers fail to differentiate one book from another, how do readers choose what to buy and read?
More than ever before, they — we — choose our books based on the identity of the author. We choose to believe the story, thousands of years in the making, that the author has created a unique work and must therefore be a unique and infinitely interesting person.
This notion isn’t new. In his 1734 “Moral Essays” poem “Of the Characters of Women,” our original author-capitalist Alexander Pope claims “In men we various Ruling Passions find;/ In women two almost divide the kind.” If he’s right, then we shouldn’t need more than two women authors, one per passion. Jennifer Egan can be the badass; Téa Obreht can be the sweetheart. Or, since we’re also prone to categorizing authorial identity by race: Toni Morrison can be the African American identity; Jhumpa Lahiri the Indian American one. No one else need apply.
Or at least get him out of the heads of the literary media, which is more interested in creating and covering big male personalities than big female personalities. As poet Elisa Gabbert pointed out in an interview, having a big personality (read: confident to the point of arrogance or aggression) is still considered an unattractive quality in women, and “women are expected to first and foremost be attractive.” Gabbert added — and I agree — that women shouldn’t have to act ugly in order to prove they’re worth more than their looks. But can you recall any splash-making female voices emerging over the past several years? The highly abrasive Susan Sontag is the last personality I recall leaving a real stamp on the literary world, and she’s hardly remembered as a novelist. People disagreed with her ideas, but they knew her.
The same really isn’t true of even the most successful contemporary women authors — Egan, Obreht, Karen Russell — whose novels critics adored. I can’t tell you what Jennifer Egan thinks about Twitter or birds or cats or — well, you see where I’m going. Jonathan Franzen, whose merest caustic hiccup reverberates through the Internet for days, has practically copyrighted the role of Great American Grouch. As much as people roll their eyes over Franzen’s latest rant against the Internet or eBooks or lollipops or whatever he’s hating at the moment, we also pay attention, as though the act of writing huge, suburban realist novels somehow signals that Franzen’s every gripe against society deserves our ears. We love to hate him, and our hatred serves his reputation better than mild respect serves less vocal (read: less interviewed) women writers.
We pay similar heed to the extra-literary thoughts and identities of Jonathan Safran Foer, Gary Shtyengart, John Updike, and basically every male novelist of both generations mentioned in Elaine Blair’s New York Review of Books post on a shift towards male writers considering their female readers. David Foster Wallace, who coined the term “Great American Narcissists” to describe his male literary predecessors, is himself — still! — the consummate personality of contemporary American letters. Why else, four years after his untimely death, would we still be fawning over the discovery that Wallace (even Wallace!) made a usage error? Why else would fervent fans take up arms when they thought they identified a Wallace-like figure in Leonard Bankhouse, of Jeffrey Eugenides’s most recent novel The Marriage Plot?
Frankly, I can’t understand their complaints because I found Leonard to be a fascinating if exasperating character, and because I’m much more concerned about Wallace’s literary legacy than about the personal one. Like Eugenides and Meg Wolitzer, I’m a Brown alum; unlike Wolitzer, though, I did not like The Marriage Plot because its representations of women dismayed me. Many readers shared my disappointment. The novel revolves around Madeleine, a beautiful reader of novels, and her two potential suitors — the brilliant, cool, volatile Leonard and the brilliant, nerdy, mystical Mitchell. Madeleine comes across as a barely-intelligent hollow vase, filled only by the fictional narratives she adores, whose only important function is to provide a center point for explicating the tremendously rich and interesting inner lives of Leonard and Mitchell. In a novel with such big male identities, there is simply no room for a big female one.
The sense that women’s personalities are less enthralling and differentiated than men’s seems to have shifted from the real world to the world of fiction. Or maybe cause and effect are reversed: maybe we are more eager to latch on to male authorial personalities in real life because we are so much more used to seeing interesting, fully-formed male characters in fiction. Then again, maybe we are only exposed to those male characters because they so often resemble their identity-obsessed authors.
I don’t see an immediate fix to this problem in literary life, though in literature the solution is for authors to write better female characters. Obsession with authorial identity is not, unfortunately, going to go away — not in this image-and-Internet-driven historical moment, not when authors feel the need to use their personalities as marketing tools. If we’re stuck, at least for now, in a world of clamoring literary personalities, I can only urge women writers to be bold. And loud. And not to cower when loud, bold men respond with the attacks routinely leveled against women who open their mouths. And I can only urge men to listen.
Stephanie Bernhard lives and writes along the Northeast Corridor. You can find her in Amtrak’s quiet car or at @Stephbernhard. | http://www.full-stop.net/2012/05/22/features/essays/stephanie-bernhard/identity-disorder/ |
Classical Polish literature author whose tremendously shocking prose was inspired by his experiences of captivity in Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps.
One of the most significant contemporary Slovenian authors distinguishable for his style of humor between realism and verismo.
Norwegian master of short prose whose short story collections achieved cult status in global literature.
One of the most important contemporary Danish female authors and a unique talent whom critics often compare to Virginia Woolf. Winner of numerous prestigious awards whose work has been translated into 10 languages.
The most popular Italian author who proved time and again that superb artistic prose can become a bestseller.
Author of the biggest Bulgarian bestselling novel "Glass River" that won numerous awards. He is a professor, editor and lector at the Faculty of Theology, Sofia University.
One of the most esteemed younger generation voices of Finnish-Swedish literature. She published her first collection of stories "Locked" when she was just 22 years old and immediately drew attention from audiences.
Macedonian author currently living in Skopje, winner of numerous international literary awards for poetry and prose – including the prestigious EU Prize for Literature in 2013.
One of the most successful Romanian screenwriters, a representative of the so-called post-revolutionary Romanian cinematography.
An awarded Czech prose author, poet, musician and journalist as well as an experienced human rights activist and member of the Czech underground.
Portuguese writer, poet and dramatist, recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Azzopardi is an awarded writer of books for children and adults, also prominent for her work on projects by the Maltese NGO Inizjamed aimed at promoting literature. Her works have been translated into several foreign languages and at the 2016 London Book Fair she was named one of the Ten New Voices from Europe within the Literary Europe Live project.
This writer and journalist used his peculiar, original and virtuoso-like short stories from the late 1970s until his death in 2013 to pave the way for completely new areas in prose, thus directly influencing many of today’s famous literary authors, including his close friend Svetislav Basara.
Experienced writer and medical doctor who published her first book when she was just 15 years old. Critics lauded her modern and unconventional writing style. Winner of the European Union Prize for Literature for 2010.
One of the most famous and esteemed Estonian authors, Õnnepalu published most of his opus under two pseudonyms, Emil Tode and Anton Nigov. In 2006, he was elected as the best Estonian author since Estonia’s independence.
One of the most prominent and globally most famous Lithuanian writers since Lithuania gained independence. Because of vagabond characters that are often featured in his books critics compare him to Charles Bukowski and bitniks. His work has been translated into English, Russian, Latvian, Swedish, Estonian, Polish, Belarusian and German, which makes him one of the most translated Lithuanian authors.
As one of the most important contemporary Slovak authors, Kompaníková has been an active writer since 2001 when she started publishing stories in Slovak almanacs and magazines. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava in 2004.
Kadare has written 45 books, while approximately ten were written about him. He is an associate of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences in Paris, recipient of the French Legion of Honor, winner of the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca award in 1992, first laurate of the Man Booker International prize in 2005 and the Prince of Asturias Award in 2009. His works have been translated into about 40 languages.
An Icelandic literary star who published seven novels and nine collections of poetry that have been translated into 35 languages. He is the author of numerous texts for Icelandic singer Björk including the Academy Award nominated song from Lars von Trier’s "Dancer in the Dark".
One of the most esteemed contemporary authors of the younger Greek generation. His second collection "Something Will Happen, You’ll See" won the prestigious Greek national award for the best book of the year in 2011 and has become one of the most popular Greek books in the world over the past few years.
An extremely successful young Finnish author who has already published two bestsellers. Critics across the world especially praised her psychologically precise and poetic style, deep characterization and detachment from melodrama.
Certainly one of the most important contemporary Flemish authors, whose work has been translated into more than 20 languages. His writing style is characterized by emphasized sarcasm, humor, but also empathy.
The most substantial 20th century Hungarian author who published more than 50 literary works translated into 40 languages during her lifetime.
The most significant Catalan writer of the 20th century and author of the most substantial Catalan novel, "In Diamond Square", which she wrote in Geneva while in exile after Franco’s troops entered Barcelona.
One of the most read Serbian writers, winner of many awards (including the Bank Austria Literaris award, the Serbian National Library Award, Gorski list award, Prix des Lectures du Var). His books have been translated into English, German, French, Swedish, Spanish, Italian, Albanian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Slovenian and Macedonian.
The young Latvian writer published his literary debut "Jelgava ‘94" in 2013 and achieved cult status among readers in the country. Winner of several major Latvian literary awards along with the EU Prize for Literature in 2014. "Jelgava ‘94" is translated into several European languages.
Kosovar-German writer who does literary and journalistic work. His second novel "Project@party" was published in 2011 in Albanian, then in German the following year after which it achieved great success with German, Austrian and Swiss literary critics.
O’Nolan is today considered, alongside James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, the most prominent 20th century Irish writer and one of the key figures of postmodern literature. Because of his employment in public administration he used several pseudonyms as a writer, with Flann O’Brien and Myles na gCopaleen as the most famous.
Günday was born on the Greek island of Rhodes in a family of Turkish diplomats, which is why he has often moved since childhood and had opportunities to meet people from different cultures and language communities. He was educated in Brussels and Ankara. "More" is his eighth novel and, according to most critics, his most impressive and mature literary achievement. | http://www.vbz30books.eu/autori/?lang=en |
The feminist movement that focuses on the advancement of women in various fields has long been found in Indonesian literary works. Although not all book authors have the courage to openly claim to be feminists, their works have presented many issues and challenges faced by Indonesian women.
Indonesian women’s struggle for progress has been found in literary works as early as the 1800s.
Professor Aquarini Priyatna, Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Padjadjaran University, Bandung, said that Raden Ayu Laksminingrat’s work is an example of an Indonesian female writer who seeks to educate the public through her writings.
“It was Raden Ayu Laksminingrat who had translated writings from Dutch children’s stories or Dutch writings into Sundanese, which he thought was a way to educate the Sundanese people around him because he was the son of the regent and later he became the wife of the regent. So it’s been around for a long time,” said Aquarini.
The existence of the feminism movement in literature is also recognized by Indonesian writer Leila Chudori, whose novel “Laut BerBerisah” won the SEA Write Award in 2020. However, she said, male writers dominated the presentation of women in the early days of Indonesian literature.
“If you look at literary works, unfortunately in the beginning, maybe until now Indonesian literature, in terms of the quantity of writers, there are more men, so writing about female characters who question equality is usually still voiced, written, from the thoughts of men,” explained Leila .
Leila Chudori gave an example of Sutan Takdir Alisyahbana’s work which created two types of women, Tuti and Maria in “Layar Terkembang.” Each character depicts a weak and independent figure.
In the modern era, especially in the 1990s, Indonesian female writers began to appear, although there were not as many as male writers.
Leila Chudori emphasized the issue and the depiction of women in literary works is still a lot of victims. He cited Titi Said’s work, “Fatima,” which was filmed by Syumanjaya. The novel highlights women as victims of the Japanese army’s cruelty.
According to Aquarini Priyatna, feminist issues raised in Indonesian literature are very diverse, depending on the scope in which they are located. Some people consider the issues brought up by women writers to be unimportant because they originate from household problems, but there are also women writers who base their work on research.
“Feminist Scholar it can capture traces of theory, in Intan Paramaditha’s writing and I think it’s interesting, because in Intan’s work there is a combination of scholar and fiction writer (fiction writer), things like that also exist in the works of Ayu Utami and Mba Leila because journalists and there are research skills which later became an important part of his creative process. So, when asked about issues, they are never specific, always evolving,” he explained.
Although the issue of feminism raised by female writers is widespread, Aquarini Priyatna and Leila Chudori admit that female writers still face many gender challenges. This can be found in works that describe sexuality.
“The treatment of readers, as well as some readers and some academics or the literary world itself towards women’s works that talk about the body, and freeing their bodies, body experiments always get a much more interesting spotlight, and uses disparaging terms,” said Leila Chudori. | https://www.googletopnews.com/2021/07/14/despite-challenges-feminism-issues-widespread-in-indonesian-literature/ |
Saturday afternoon, writers, translators, editors, and publishers, gathered above Albertine bookstore to discuss the gender bias in literary translations published in the United States. “Where are the women authors in translation?” the panel of experts wanted to know—and considering the packed room facing Central Park on a sunny spring day, they were not alone. In fact, the central question of this consciousness-raising meeting has been publically posed various times in recent years. Much is owed, for instance, to Alison Anderson’s 2013 Words without Borders dispatch (“Where Are the Women in Translation?”), panels at the London Book Fair (“Where are the Women Writers in Translation?”), and even a 2008 piece in The Guardian (“Where are the women writers in translation?”). And with the hashtag #womenintranslation gaining momentum alongside projects like Bibliobio’s Women in Translation Month, the conversation has only been escalating.
To examine the current state of the gender gap in the reception of translated literature by female authors, the PEN World Voices Festival brought together VIDA veteran Jen Fitzgerald, Tin House editor (and VIDO Award recipient) Rob Spillman, author Véronique Tadjo, and translator Susan Bernofsky. Moderated by co-chair of the PEN Translation Committee Margaret Carson and translator Alta L. Price, the discussion sought to explore the questions: Why are so few of the books translated into English written by women, especially when so many of them are translated by women? Why is it so difficult for women who are widely read in their own countries to find an English language publisher? Why do female writers so rarely win translation prizes?
Numbers tell a story, and while not the whole story, an important one. Handouts with charts were disseminated and projected onto a large screen. (All charts are available at Women In Translation.) The data, which the moderators culled and painstakingly sorted from the Three Percent database, provided a concrete depiction of this systemic issue facing the translation world and the publishing ecosystem at large. As we went over the charts together, I was surprised to learn that many of the publishers I had long supported as a reader and championed as a bookseller were far from reaching gender parity among the authors they published in translation just last year.
After this, Jen Fitzgerald, the longtime director of VIDA Count, gave an overview of the organization's history. She mentioned that VIDA also works to include those of nonbinary genders, and that the organization has never initiated a quota or passed judgment on the literary gatekeepers represented, but rather has presented the numbers and let the numbers themselves spark conversations.
Rob Spillman spoke about his work at Tin House since the first VIDA Count alerted him to gender disparity among contributors to the magazine. He said that he began paying close attention to the numbers—solicitations, submissions, acceptances, rejections, repeated submissions after previous rejections, submissions from agents, gender of agents—and began noticing patterns. He noticed, for instance, that even among solicited writers, women were half as likely to send work as men, and that, when rejected, female writers were far less likely to send him something else, even upon request. He said that this knowledge caused him to reconsider the way he sends rejections, to follow up with female writers when possible, and, in the case of Tin House’s Lost & Found section—where writers can choose any underappreciated writer they’d like to shine a spotlight on, and both men and women consistently choose male authors—he has taken to asking contributors whether there is no underappreciated female author that they’d like to champion. Spillman, who also teaches at Columbia, mentioned that his findings among students have been similar: when he asks students in his Establishing Authority seminar to bring in their own found examples of authoritative “writing that works,” eighty percent bring in work by male writers. About Tin House’s successes with achieving gender parity, someone joked, “And sales are okay?” Spillman assured us that sales were as good as ever, if not better for the support of women and the recognition from VIDA.
Véronique Tadjo, who has written many books that were later widely translated, including The Shadow of Imana: Travels in the Heart of Rwanda, spoke of the challenges of publishing in Africa. She noted the price of books and the lack of a readership to sustain the industry, particularly given the number of languages used even within a single country on the continent. With educational books being more lucrative, many writers find exposure outside of Africa. She lamented that not much translation is occurring between African languages, but said that there are projects underway to republish African literature published in France, Belgium, and Canada in Africa as well, such that the books are accessible and affordable to their own communities. She also explained that as a result of oral traditions, many women in Africa play a major role in the literature but are not often represented in the larger literary world.
Source: womenintranslation.tumblr.com
Susan Bernofsky made an appeal for a prize for women authors in translation, arguing that separating and celebrating the work of women writers is an important step toward parity. She described how she arrived at this idea, referencing a post by Katy Derbyshire (“A Women’s Prize for Translated Books”), the originator of the idea for this prize in the UK, and went on to explain that while the UK already had a prize for women writers (Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction), we were missing this fundamental stepping stone prize—a major prize for books written in English by women—until VIDA recently created one. Bernofsky then posed a few logistical questions about the translation prize, such as: How would we fund it? Who would administer it? What’s in the best interest of the translation world? Would it be a joint prize between author and translator? If so, would both need to be female? She acknowledged that the prize would likely incite discomfort among those with more privilege, but that change comes about through discomfort, and the goal here is not the prize itself but change. For more on this topic, see Bernofsky’s own post at her blog Translationista (“Why We Need a Prize for Women in Translation”).
When the audience spoke up, it seemed as though most people present felt freshly implicated. Indeed, the various tentacles of the conversation had demonstrated that for the publishing ecosystem to move toward gender parity, it will need everyone. Publishers will need to examine their publication numbers as well as submissions, solicitations, commissions, and acquisitions. Judges and nominators, their lists, short and long. Booksellers, their inventories, their displays. Readers, our bookshelves, our reviews. Teachers, our syllabi. Writers and translators, our own voices as well as those yet unheard—of any category. The recent proliferation of columns like Tin House’s Lost & Found and blogs like Writers No One Reads demonstrates that not all ships can rise on their own.
Downstairs from the panel, past the marble pillars and gilded trim, I wandered into the bookstore. Albertine has an excellent selection of small press books and some of the most gorgeous versions in print. The display table prominently featured staff picks replete with handwritten index cards. Side by side were books by female authors with female translators, and I walked away with Tom’s staff pick, Apocalypse Baby from Feminist Press.
Elena Ferrante’s fourth and final Neopolitan novel will be published in September, and I can’t help but wonder how many other Ferrantes are out there. How many of the world’s great books will never be translated into English because of our own gender biases? How long will we have to wait for books by female authors to be “discovered” by the anglophone world? | https://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2015-05/pen-world-voices-festival-as-it-happened-womens-voices-in-translation/ |
The 9th Annual Ethics & Publishing Conference at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. centered on sexism and gender inequality in publishing, and the importance of understanding the impact of gender bias in both conscious and unconscious forms. A pronounced example of unconscious sexism/gender bias emerged in the process of putting the conference, itself, together— which had been comprised of an all-White panel of male speakers.
In the opening introduction, a faculty member at GWU (and international publishing consultant) said that in putting the panel together, he and his team completely overlooked the fact that women were absent from their chosen list of speakers. He decided to leverage this blunder as an opportunity to highlight the inherent sexism in the industry. The speakers at the 2016 conference, now all women (none were women of color), discussed the publishing world’s predominantly White and female make up, but emphasized that when it comes to leadership roles, men generally hold positions of authority.
According to the Publisher’s Weekly Publishing Industry Salary Survey, 2016, “72% of men reported that they earned $70,000 or more compared to only 41% of women,” largely due to management positions; generally the highest paying roles in publishing, being held primarily by men.
The female presence in publishing is concentrated in lower paying roles—84 percent of women in publishing work in editorial and 73 percent in sales and marketing. According to the same survey, 88 percent of women in the publishing industry are White, with only 2 percent of workers identifying as African American, 4 percent as Asian American or mixed race, and 4 percent as Hispanic. Past surveys have shown, such as the 2014 salary survey published in PW highlighting a $15,000 wage gap between the sexes, that men still dominate leadership in this field.
It’s important to note that sexism also exerts an influence on writers. For instance, Tramp Press, an Irish publisher, asked a group of writers to reveal which authors and literary influences were present in their work— only 22 percent listed female writers. Women of color and LGBTQ professionals have even more challenges in navigating the publishing industry. In “The Most Intersectional VIDA Count Yet Paints a Troubling Picture: Looking Beyond Gender Inequity in Literary Media Makes for a Disturbing View,” published in The Huffington Post, author Claire Fallon wrote, “Women from marginalized groups continue to be wildly underrepresented in most major literary publications.” Fallon’s article was written in response to a 2015 VIDA count that revealed rampant sexism and racism in the publishing world.
However, progress is still being made, as highlights from the count indicate:
Of the 26 publications in our 2015 Larger Literary Landscape VIDA Count, 15 of them published as many bylines by women writers as men, or more! We are celebrating A Public Space (72%), The Normal School (69%), Crab Orchard Review (64%), Jubilat (59%), Ninth Letter (59%), Cincinnati Review (58%), N+1 (57%), Conjunctions (56%), Gettysburg Review (55%), Kenyon Review (55%), Prairie Schooner (54%), Colorado Review (53%), Missouri Review (52%), Pleiades (50%), and Harvard Review (50%).
Moreover,
In 2015, nine publications are closing in on gender parity, with bylines by women writers representing 40 to 49 percent of the pie: Copper Nickel (49%), Callaloo (48%), Fence (48%), The Believer (47%), New American Writing (46%), McSweeney’s (45%), Virginia Quarterly Review (45%), AGNI (43%), and Southwest Review (40%). | https://rebeccanichloson.com/2016/12/28/gender-inequality-in-publishing-women-marginalized-while-men-take-the-lead/ |
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