January 31, 2011

History Condensed

We’re all pressed for time so it helps if you can get an overview of things in a quick and accessible way.

There’s the Reduced Shakespeare Company, various versions of five-minute makeovers and 30 minute gourmets, the Wall Street minute, the guides to almost anything tech for Dummies, and Cliff Notes to literature.

But here’s a video clip that will make you really appreciate the power of statistics, history, GIS applications, and video technology know-how:

Enjoy!!

http://www.flixxy.com/200-countries-200-years-4-minutes.htm

January 14, 2011

Great Decisions 2011

When you hear the phrase "great decisions 2011" you may be thinking of your recent new year's resolutions, how to best manage your class loads, what you want to be when you grow up or where to find a job after you graduate. All important. NI proposes adding one more: the future of U.S. foreign policy.

Each year, the UNC Charlotte Office of International Programs and the World Affairs Council of Charlotte host a community lecture series based on the compiled resources and suggestions of the Foreign Policy Association (FPA). FPA conducts extensive research to determine eight topics of foreign policy significance for the upcoming year and compiles information about each topic into a "Briefing Book." In Charlotte, we choose 6 of the 8 topics and ask local experts to provide a 45-minute presentation with 45 minutes set aside for Q&A. The topics up for discussion in 2011 are Crisis in the Caucasus, Horn of Africa, Global Governance, Sanctions and Proliferation: North Korea and Iran, Responding to the Financial Crisis and Germany Ascendant.

It's a great way to supplement your classes in an ungraded environment. You hear perspectives from faculty at UNC Charlotte, Davidson University, a Fulbright Scholar at Duke University and Winthrop University and have an opportunity to ask questions and raise issues that might otherwise be ignored. Each lecture is held Tuesday evenings at Charlotte Country Day School at 7:00 PM from Tuesday, January 18 to Tuesday, February 22. For registration details and more information, visit: http://oip.uncc.edu/great_decisions.htm.