Required Reading

Some broadly required reading might be The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, (a pointer from my daughter). There would need to be an abridged version for children, but that’s easy and they would love it. According to the Guardian, the book is “a quietly profound, humane tour de force that tackles politics and gender issues with refreshing optimism”. It’s a view of the future that gives wide perspective, in context of the myriad species that it turns out live all over our galaxy. There is the Galactic Commons, the overarching governing body, bringing together species who need to work together. Each species has achieved space travel, there is lots of high tech or lower-cobbled-together tech, many cultures, divergent biology, and variable temperaments. The Aeluons may be the top species: sophisticated and attractive (of the slinky lizard type). Humans are in the mix, known for destroying their planet, needing to move elsewhere (Mars, for example), and contributing to galactic upkeep by boring wormhole tunnels across time and space. There is concerted education around respect for cultural differences and languages across species, acknowledged as essential to maintain peace. There is the question of whether AIs have species-hood. And there is the profound point across all, that friendship, respect, support and even love across species is what counts, and what carries everyone through some really turbulent times.

The Long Way echoes who we are as a college, with a culture of respect and support, where everyone is valued for their contribution, and everyone belongs. We may not work across species, but we certainly work across cultures and identities. Northeastern University College of Science membership includes thousands of wonderful students to whose success we are committed. We need to pay attention that every student is recognized and knows they count. Every COS educator or student-facing staff member has the important opportunity to recognize and encourage every student. This is ‘inclusive teaching’: with the key elements being resources that every student can access, and where every student is recognized as an important participant. As an educator, where many of your students come from different countries, cultures or ethnicities, and have different abilities, you may feel uncomfortable trying to connect with each. If that sounds like you, I’d urge you to take part in an inclusive teaching workshop in your department, or at Northeastern, or explore online resources. Your students will be more successful when you recognize and encourage each individual person you teach.

In our Community Meeting on Monday, you shared concerns and some great ideas. Listening sessions are a way we can support our strong COS Community, and Associate Dean Tara Duffy will apprise you of opportunities. In a series of meetings this week Associate Dean Erin Cram and I listened and discussed with faculty members possible changes to research grants.

Our work building the Good Power of Science is of ever greater importance. Teaching Boston Public School students that science is awesome and will open a vast set of careers for them as members of the workforce. Educating the next generation of exceptional health professionals, researchers, educators, professors, leaders in biopharma, lawyers, and so much more across our Global University. Focusing on our crucial research in the College of Science, across disciplines and the world, to develop new cures, new energy sources, new ways to heal our planet, new ways even, to travel across the galaxy. Thank you for building the Good Power of Science. Thank you for belonging to our Northeastern University College of Science Community.