PROJECTS represent my efforts to seek greater understanding of phenomena by means of integrative biology of behavior (“DEEP Ethology”) and the pursuit of connections between levels of organization. I believe that there is no domain of human endeavor that cannot be more fully understood by means of exploring the constraints and empowerments of biology. To that end and by disposition and training, I continually explore both ART and SPIRITUALITY.
CLASSES reflect these efforts as manifested in the give-and-take of presentation and discussion with motivated undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and with experienced professionals at the Oak Ridge Center for Continuing Learning (ORICL)
COURSE CONTENT and CONNECTIONS
- ART & ORGANISM
- A&O is a seminar that looks at the integrative biology of art and aesthetic experience from the DEEP perspectives of development, ecology, evolution, and physiology. It has been taught continually since 1979, when I arrived at the University of Tennessee, but while we remain faithful to the central theme, the details are constantly changing to reflect the interests and needs of the students present. Last offering was Spring 2018. Overview of Topics (password required)
- DEEP ETHOLOGY
- DEEP Ethology is my web of interconnected RESOURCES for disciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives on BEHAVIOR, emphasizing ART and SPIRITUALITY. These resources were originally developed for University courses, Comparative Animal Behavior and Ethology and Sociobiology. “DEEP ” is an acronym referring to the INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY of four key disciplines: Development, Ecology, Evolution, and Physiology.
- SCIENCE & SPIRITUALITY
- S&S is an attempt at a natural history of spirituality considered as a human trait that has evolved, develops throughout the lifespan, is context-dependent, and manifest through physiological processes emphasizing the brain. A ten-week course was developed for the Oak Ridge Institute for Continuing Learning (ORICL), where resources were contextualized, interlinked, and coordinated with interests of faculty participants in a University Studies Colloquy on Religion and Society. Many of the resources were presented to foster discussion at Forums and as short courses for an Adult Religious Education program hosted by the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (TVUUC). (ORICL 471)
- INTERDISCIPLINARY
- University Studies: University-wide interdisciplinary faculty development program. Programs included “centripetal” luncheons, University Studies interdisciplinary courses, annual retreat in which distinguished interdisciplinary scholar of the year was presented, and interdisciplinary colloquies.
- Interdisciplinary Colloquy on Existential Phenomenology in Teaching (Phenomenology in Education Research Team) (website)
- Book available Jan 2020: Colloquy members Kathy Greenberg, Brian Sohn, Neil Greenberg, Howard Pollio, Sandra Thomas, and John Smith co-authored The Phenomenological Heart of Teaching and Learning: Theory, Research, and Practice in Higher Education. Routledge. 222 pages DOI https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351245906 Chapter 2 “Getting DEEP”
- Interdisciplinary Colloquy on Existential Phenomenology in Teaching (Phenomenology in Education Research Team) (website)
- Publication series (website)
- Threshold Program: Division of Biology’s interdisciplinary biology honors program instantiated by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
- The Centaur of Volos
- University Studies: University-wide interdisciplinary faculty development program. Programs included “centripetal” luncheons, University Studies interdisciplinary courses, annual retreat in which distinguished interdisciplinary scholar of the year was presented, and interdisciplinary colloquies.
- ARCHIVE
- FRAGMENTS