The Global Affairs Center at Shoreline Community College, directed by Edmonds resident Larry Fuell, has scheduled its presentations for winter quarter.

The first two events take place this Thursday, Jan. 29 — one during the day, and one in the evening. Both events are free and open to the public (there is a small fee to park on campus). All presentations will be in Room 9208 PUB. The campus map is here.

Jan. 29

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Civic Engagement around the World

The meaning and means of “civic engagement” vary around the world, including voting, public protests, underground campaigns, and less direct but just as powerful platforms such as song, film and literature. Greg Malagui (Papua New Guinea), Natalie O’Brian (Trinidad and Tobago), Kanwal Ali (Pakstan) and Anurag Sahay (India), Hubert H. Humphrey International Fellows at the Evan School of Public Affairs, University of Washington, will talk about how it works at home.

This event is co-sponsored by the SCC Multicultural Center. The Humphrey Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

7-8:30 p.m.
Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Lessons from Ebola and other Infectious-Disease Outbreaks

Featuring Lisa Cohen, Executive Director, the Washington Global Health Alliance; Scott Gordon, Director, Windows of Opportunity Project, PATH; Karin Huster, Clinical Lead, Partners in Health; and Kathleen Walsh, Deputy Director, Strategy Planning and Management in the Office of the President, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The recent Ebola crisis in West Africa and other past crises offer important lessons that can help us prepare for the next global medical emergency, including issues of science, policy, and implementation.

Future events this quarter include:

Biotechnology and Agriculture
Thursday, Feb. 5, 7-8:30 pm
The role of biotechnology (or genetically-modified organisms) and agriculture remains a controversial topic. Campaigns have been launched to ban its use in research and extension, and to require labeling of food products made with ingredients derived from biotech agricultural products. Dr. Toby Bradshaw, Biology Department, University of Washington; Dr. Christina Owen, Program Officer, Agricultural Development Group, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; and, Ms. Natalie Dinicola, Vice President of Sustainable Agriculture Partnerships, Monsanto Company.

Altared State: The Meaning of Marriage
Friday, Feb. 6, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Is marriage still relevant? What role does it serve? Why are rates of marriage declining as some people fight for the right to get married? What are current attitudes towards marriage and what is the future of that institution? Rachel David, Women’s Studies Program, Shoreline Community College.

Exporting Airplanes, Software and Hope: The International Humanitarian Work of Washington NGOs
Thursday, Feb. 12, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (followed by NGO Volunteer Fair, 12:30-2:30 p.m.)
Washington state is rich in private organizations, large and small, that provide humanitarian and development assistance support around the world. This is an accomplishment worth celebrating, and offers opportunities for volunteer experiences that will enrich and inspire students We begin with a discussion with Kristen Dailey, Executive Director of Global Washington, followed by a Volunteer Fair with representatives of Seattle-based NGOs.

National Interests and Worldviews of China, India, and Japan
Thursday, Feb. 12, 7-8:30 p.m.
International power and influence are no longer concentrated in a handful of (mostly western) nations and their ideas about modernity, democracy, and security. Today it seems that the worldviews of people and governments elsewhere are increasingly important. China, India, and Japan are three such nations with growing regional and global interests. Dr. David Bachman, Dr. Donald Hellman, and Dr. Anand Yang, Professors at The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington will participate. This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Global Studies, East Asia Center, and South Asia Center at The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington

Personal Transformations to and from Kenya
Thursday, Feb. 26, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
In 2012 Stephanie Tschanz, Workforce Development Staff at Shoreline traveled to Kenya, just a few years after Samsam Nuh, a student at Shoreline emigrated from Kenya to the U.S. Stephanie and Samsam compare notes on their “transformative” experiences to and from Kenya.

Myths of Globalization
Thursday, Feb 26, 7-8:30 p.m.
Is globalization new, inevitable, and creating a “level playing field” or “flat world” where all share in its benefits, as some believe? Professor Sparke argues that these are myths, that reality is sometimes very different, and that there are alternative paths to globalization. Dr. Matthew Sparke, professor in the Geography Department and The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, and author of a popular textbook on the subject will participate.