Public Presentation of JOUR 492 Course Work at the Eclipse Company Store
- Posted by Bernhard Debatin in Dr. D’s HTC blog on 06/8/2009
- tags: advertising, broadcast, editorial, etc, htc, local, magazine, online, PR, scripps notes
Localizing Environmental and Science Journalism in Southeast Ohio
On Thursday, June 11, from 1:00 to 5:00, the class "Environmental and Science Journalism" will present articles that were produced as final projects during this quarter, focusing on the effects of coal industry in Southeast Ohio. This public event, to which OU members and residents from the local communities are invited, will take place at the newly renovated Eclipse Company Store in The Plains (view map here). For an overview of the program, see here.
The event will kick off at 1:00 PM with an introduction and overview by Bernhard Debatin, on the abyss of time and the beauty of algae, followed by Ann Alquist and Susie Shutts, who will talk about abandoned Mines and various acid mine drainage abatement programs. Then, Amy Nordrum and Joe Brehm will present their work on clean coal and the controverial planned coal power plants in Meigs County. The first part will be concluded with Josh Spiert’s and Megan Moseley’s project on coal mine subsidences and relocation of residents.
The coffee break from 2:45 to 3:15 will provide an opportunity for informal conversations and for trying some fruits and local pastry. The second part will then start with a walk through the Dysart Woods by Michelle Shaw and Meredith Barnett. Air pollution in Southeast Ohio and the effects of mercury is the topic Sarah Watson and Emily Hanlon are presenting. Jessica Blakely and Katherine Bercik will then talk about the use of bottom coal ash for skid control in winter and whether the toxins in coal ash pose a health risk. The second part will be concluded with Mary Nally’s and Leah Crone-Magyar’s contribution on agriculture in Southeast Ohio: "You Can’t Eat a Lump of Coal."
A New Course Model
This course on Environmental and Science Journalism is a new, experimental class that combines elements of learning communities with traditional approaches to teaching. The class was a mix of conventional seminar meetings, three workshops with experts, and four field trips to various locations related to our coal mining history. The course was supported by an Ohio University 1804 grant, which made the expert workshops and field trips possible.
Another remarkable element of this class was also the website, a combination of a blog and of static pages with background information. In addition to response papers on their own blogs, students contributed frequently to the course blog at http://esj09.wordpress.com. These contributions were partly course assignments, such as seminar minutes or reports from field trips, and partly voluntary contributions, motivated by the interest in sharing important information on environmental or science issues.
Program for the Presentations
Location: Eclipse Company Store
Time: June 11, 1:00-5:00 PM
1:00 - 2:45 Part I
- 1. Bernhard Debatin (Introduction: The Abyss of Time and the Beauty of Algae)
- 2. Ann Alquist/Susie Shutts (Abandoned Mines and Acid Mine Drainage Abatement Programs)
- 3. Amy Nordrum/Joe Brehm (Clean Coal and the New Coal Power Plants in Meigs County)
- 4. Josh Spiert/Megan Moseley (Mine Subsidences and Relocation of Residents)
3:15 - 5:00 Part II
- 5. Michelle Shaw/Meredith Barnett (The Dysart Woods: A Walk Among Giants)
- 6. Sarah Watson/Emily Hanlon (Air Pollution in Southeast Ohio: Mercury and Other Problems)
- 7. Jessica Blakely/Katherine Bercik (Bottom Coal Ash for Skid Control: Cheap and Risky?)
- 8. Mary Nally/Leah Crone-Magyary (You Can’t Eat a Lump of Coal: Agriculture in SE Ohio)
