Office of International Services

A Division of the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs

Franklin Hall 306, 601 East Kirkwood Avenue. Bloomington, Indiana 47405
Phone: (812) 855-9086 | Fax: (812) 855-4418 | Email: intlserv@indiana.edu

International Center Programs & Events

Public Speaking Club

Monday, November 30
7:00pm–8:00pm

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⇒ Student & Scholar Advising ⇒ Faculty, Staff, & Visitors ⇒ J-1 Scholars ⇒ Scholar Newsletter: October 2009

Scholar Newsletter: October 2009

What’s New?

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Phase I of the B-Line Trail, constructed on a former railroad, was completed over the summer, and is located west of City Hall (8th & Morton Streets). The trail extends from Rogers Street south to Second Street. The trail includes the “Bloomington Banquet” sculpture near the location of the Farmer&rsqou;s Market. Phase II construction will begin in 2010 with plans to expand to Country Club Drive on the south side of Bloomington. For more information, visit the B-Line Trail website.

Important Dates

October 17:

Homecoming Weekend brings together students and alumni to rekindle the Hoosier spirit. Activities will include a parade on Friday, a football game on Saturday, and many other activities during the week. Expect an increase in traffic and many more people to be in Bloomington during the weekend. Click here for more information about Homecoming 2009.

October 24:

First eight-week classes end.

October 26:

Second eight-week classes begin.

October 31:

Halloween (For information about this holiday, visit Wikipedia.)

November 1:

Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00am. Turn your clocks and watches back one hour.

Scholar Profile

Each month, we recognize the activities and accomplishments of one of our visiting scholars, offering insight into some of the research activities and nationalities represented on the campus of IU Bloomington. This month, our featured scholar is Christina Brandt.

Christina is from Berlin, Germany and is being hosted by the Collins Living-Learning Center and Department of History and Philosophy of Science. She is a short-term scholar, working at IU for only two months before returning to her teaching in Germany. Her field of research is the history of life sciences in the 20th century. In her current project, she is analyzing the history of research on cloning and reproduction since 1900, and exploring related utopian/dystopian views and the shifts in public debates.

Christina is a historian of science, and has been working at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin since 2003, where she researches the history of cloning. During the last few years, she has been a short-term visiting scholar at National University (Mexico), Arizona State University (USA) and University of Exeter (UK). Prior to her work at the Max Planck Institute, Christina studied German Literature and Biology at the University of Göttingen. In 2002, she completed a Ph.D. in History of Science at the Technical University in Braunschweig. From 2001–2003 she was a research scholar at the Center for Literary Studies in Berlin. In 2005, Christina received the Award of the German Society for the History of Medicine, Science and Technology for her book Metaphor and Experiment: Von der Virusforschung zum genetischen Code, which came out of her Ph.D. thesis. In 2006 she received the Dalberg Prize for Interdisciplinary Research of the Academy of Science and the Universities of the State Thüringen (Germany).

We asked Christina to share more about her experience with IU-Bloomington:

Q: Why did you choose to come to IU?: A: Last year, Nico Bertoloni Meli from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science (HPSC) and Ellen Dwyer and Yara Cluver from the Collins Living-Learning Center made the first steps to establish an exchange program with the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. When I was asked whether I would like to be the first international visiting scholar in this program, I immediately agreed. The HPSC at IU belongs to the internationally very renowned places for doing history and philosophy of science. The idea to stay here for a visit was very exciting, and the offer to teach a class at the Collins Living-Learning Center was extremely appealing for me. I teach at German universities, but I also wanted to learn more about the system here.
Q: What do you enjoy about IU or the city of Bloomington?: A: There are several things! I very much enjoy the inspiring intellectual atmosphere here at the campus, where arts, music, science and humanities are so closely connected. The way they integrate living and studying at the Collins Living-Learning center is really unique, and for me, this might be an inspiring model also for creating other places, for example in Germany. I very much enjoy the discussions with the colleagues at the HPSC, and the archival material at the Lilly Library. After living in a big city like Berlin for several years, I very much appreciate the very convenient campus and city life in Bloomington, especially the green parks everywhere.
Q: Are you involved in any activities or events at IU or in Bloomington?: A: I teach a class at the Collins Living-Learning Center, which is an extraordinary experience and which I enjoy a lot. Furthermore, we have German tables at Collins, where we chat about the US and German cultures. I will give a Fireside Chat “On Clones & Codes: History of Science in the Public Interest” on Wednesday, 7 October, 7–8:30pm at the Edmonson Lounge, Collins Living-Learning Center. A week later, on 16 October I will give a paper in the colloquium series of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science “Between Science and Fiction: The Clone Concept in 20th Century Life, Science, and Culture” (1:30pm, Friday, October 16, Ballantine Hall 003).

If you have an up-coming presentation or would like to share your story with us, please email Jennifer Ashcraft at jeashcra@indiana.edu.

J Regulation Reminder

30-Day Grace Period:

J Scholars have a 30-day grace period that begins from the program end date on the DS-2019. The 30-day grace period is intended to prepare for your departure from the US. If you have questions or concerns, please contact a scholar advisor in OIS.

International Events

OIS Photo Contest:

The deadline for submitting photos is Friday, October 23, 2009. All current international students and scholars at IU Bloomington are invited to submit photos from your home country and/or from your experience in the US. To read more about the photo contest rules and entry requirements visit our website. We look forward to viewing your photos and announcing the winners in November!

Scholar Luncheon:

The next luncheon will be held at Samira (at the corner of Sixth Street and Walnut Street in downtown Bloomington) at 12 Noon on Thursday, October 15th. Scholars must pay for their own lunch. If you would like to attend, please email intlcent@indiana.edu by Monday, October 12th. If you are unable to attend, we hope you will still take time to enjoy the food at Samira another time. They are open for lunch Monday–Friday 11am–2pm, and for dinner Monday–Thursday 5pm–9pm, Friday and Saturday 5pm–10pm.

Noon Concert Series:

Offered from Noon–1:00pm on Fridays at the International Center (111 S. Jordan Ave.), the Noon Concert Series is an opportunity for students, staff, and faculty to take a break from studying and work to enjoy free concerts given by the talented students from the Jacobs School of Music. The concerts last 30 minutes and are followed by a light lunch for our guests. For information about this and other events at the International Center, visit the IC website.

Coffee Hours:

With cooler weather coming, you might enjoy one of the many coffee hours hosted around campus. The International Center Coffee Hour is held Fridays from 4–6pm at 111 South Jordan Avenue. For a list of other coffee hours, visit the websites of Inner Asian & Uralic National Resource Center, West European Studies, or ask if your host department hosts similar programs.

Things To Do

Mixing fitness with culture, the Cultural Walks are offered every Friday at 12 noon, September 4th to December 4th, 2009. Meet at La Casa (715 East Seventh Street) and proceed to many cultural centers around campus. (Source)

The Jacobs School of Music presents the opera L’Italiana in Algeri September 25, 26 and October 2, 3; and the opera Romeo et Juliette October 23, 24, 30, 31. For information about these performances and other music events, visit the Jacobs School of Music website.

The Mathers Museum presents the exhibit In the Shadow of Cortés: From Veracruz to Mexico City October 2–December 20, 2009. The Mathers Museum is located at 416 North Indiana Avenue, and admission is free.

The East Asian Film Series will present Boat People on Saturday, October 3 at 7:00pm in Woodburn Hall 101. The event is free. For more information about the film series, visit the East Asian Studies Center website.

Asian Culture Center’s Over a Cup of Tea, in partnership with La Casa Latino Cultural Center presents Hidden Internment: The Art Shibayama Story on Wednesday, October 7th. The film will be shown at 6:00pm, with discussion to follow at 7:00pm. IU Asian Culture Center, 807 E 10th Street.

Bloomington Parks and Recreation will provide many opportunities for you to enjoy the autumn season. A free Apple Tasting will be offered Saturday, October 3; the Homegrown Indiana Farm Tour offers a glimpse at Indiana orchards and Amish country on Sunday, October 4; and the Festival of the Falls will be held October 23–24. For information about these and other events, visit the Bloomington Parks & Recreation website and consult the Fall/Winter 2009 Program Guide.

On the second Friday of every month, Campus Recreational Sports Outreach Program sponsors Free RS Family Night, an evening of fun your whole family can participate in together. This month’s Family Night will be held Friday, October 9, 7:00–9:00pm at the Student Recreational Sports Center (1601 Law Lane).

The Bloomington Multicultural Expo will be held Saturday, October 10th, 11am–4pm at Bryan Park (1001 S. Henderson Street). With the participation of cultural organizations, performers, and musicians, this festival will promote the appreciation and respect for the value and strength of our diverse community. For more information, check out the official Bloomington Multicultural Expo website. The event is free and open to the public.

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles will be performed at the IU Auditorium October 15 & 16. Other events this year include The Wizard of Oz, Chimes of Christmas, and Cirque Dreams Illumination. For information about these and other performances, visit the IU Auditorium website.

The Festival of Ghost Stories will be offered Friday, October 23, 7:30–9:00pm at Lower Cascades Park, 2851 N. Old State Road 37. (Rain location is at the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.) A Halloween-time tradition, the Festival of Ghost Stories features haunting tales of ghosts and horror that will tingle the spine. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, dress warmly, and avoid the chill as seasoned storytellers spin their tales in the dark hollow at lower Cascades Park. (This program is for older children and adults, and not appropriate for young children.) No registration needed. (Source)

For a more activities, visit the IU Events Calendar and the Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Did You Know?

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Each graduate, former student, current student, and friend of IU has a lifelong connection to Indiana University. The IU Alumni Association helps forge these connections into ongoing, engaging relationships with IU. Alumni members, including scholars, are welcome to participate with international alumni chapters around the world for socialization and service to IU. The IUAA has 37 chapters around the world. If you would like more information about how you can get involved, contact Eric DeHaan (edehaan@indiana.edu), Director of International Alumni Relations, or visit the websites below:

International Chapters

Membership

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