Hi,

The last couple of weeks have really been interesting and provided me with alot to think about. As a scientist and educator it is wonderful to see and hear so many people talking about climate change. For so long it seemed like we (scientists) were working in a vacuum without the message getting out. The more conversations I hear and the different approaches to the conversation are great. I think art and shows like “A Friend Acting Strangely” and Jane’s show here at ICA are wonderful and reach alot of people.

I was recently working on a proposal to expand Windows Around the World (www.WindowsAroundTheWorld.org ) to more schools and while doing that I had to think about my program again and from a new direction. The aim of the program is to connect children and teachers from distantly located places and to increase their awareness and Knowledge of the different environments and cultures. But how do you connect people? How do you measure the success or impacts of a connection? How can we make the arctic alive and real for folks that can never go there? I’m trying to do this through collections and displays of visual images along with opportunities for conversation but what it’s impact is I don’t know.

Similar to these conversations, I don’t know what their impacts are either but I’m happy they are going on and I’m glad to be part of them.

-- JuanitaUrbanRich