Abby Gallo ‘22 | Ashley Kennedy ‘22
Course variety is a constant part of the academic planning EA faculty engage in annually. As the 2020 school year comes to a close, new courses for the next school year have been created, especially in the Science, History, and Art Departments. New courses available next year include Honors Identity and Culture, Bio-Chem Pharmaceuticals, Astrophysics, Honors Woodworking and Fabrication, and Honors 2D Art 5.
The Astrophysics course, which will be taught by Upper School Physics teacher Dan Baxter, will focus on the exploration and understanding of space across the years by building off of concepts covered in the Chemistry and Physics courses. This includes topics such as nuclear fusion, cosmology, and the search for extraterrestrial life, accompanied by multiple engaging projects over the course of the year. Baxter describes how some of his projects include “building a telescope, using Hubble’s original data to evaluate the age of the Universe, and the analysis of spectral data to determine the surface temperature and composition of stars.” Furthermore, Baxter adds, students will engage in “as much hands-on scientific investigation as possible” in the hopes that by the end of the course students will not only develop an interest and appreciation for the universe but become “equipped with appropriate tools to start to make sense of it all.”
Photo Courtesy of Donaldson.com
Another new science elective is the Bio-Chem Pharmaceuticals course, which will be taught by Cheryl Cossel, Upper School Chemistry teacher. The course will center around the history and future of the pharmacy industry, the different aspects of pharmaceuticals, as well as the abuse and sociological impacts of them. Cossel describes the course’s long-term project, saying, “Students will begin the course by selecting a pharmaceutical to study. As students expand their understanding of the industry, biochemistry, and sociology regarding pharmaceuticals, they will complete a presentation with a corresponding paper following their choice pharmaceutical through its inception to current use.” This course incorporates a significant amount of laboratory work in order to investigate the industry, consider how pharmaceuticals treat a symptom or disease, and assess the influence they have over behavior. Cossel’s biggest hope is that her students will come to “understand the industry and biochemistry and to be able to explain the consequences of how a pharmaceutical is used by society.”
The History Department has added one new course to its inventory: Honors Identity and Culture. This course, taught by Dr. Kalil Oldham, will focus on how race and ethnicity play a role in historical decisions. Oldham says, “There’s a lot that I’m looking forward to with this course. The themes of identity, culture, race, and ethnicity play a prominent role in the world we live in today, and it’s important for all students to build a comfort level and familiarity with the language and concepts that relate to these themes.” During the class, students will learn about the trajectory of African American history following the Civil War, indigenous peoples, Latin Americans, as well as the many immigrant groups coming from around the world. Oldham also explained that “because the course begins in the year 1865, we’ll have the opportunity to discuss more recent history in a detailed way. Being able to discuss recent history can be exciting because we start to see how history has affected our own lives and the lives of people we know.”
Two new courses will become part of the Art Department this upcoming year, the first being Honors 2D Art 5. Currently, EA offers up to Honors 2D Art 4, but due to popular demand, this new course is running next year. Taught by David Sigel, Arts Department Chair, the course will focus on helping students create individual art portfolios and an online art presence with expert critique from a PAFA faculty member. Sigel elaborates, “This course has not been offered before, but was developed to support our students’ artistic growth.” The course offers further investigation into art, photography, and editing to match the program of study at a college level. Sigel says, “This idea of marketing and packaging will again be the focus of the next three terms: creating an online presence, developing a relationship with local artists, collaborating with our gallery coordinator, and finally developing a senior show celebrating their work in the gallery.”
Photo Courtesy of eadesignandfabrication.tumblr.com
The second new arts course is Honors Design and Fabrication, which will be taught by John Binstock, Upper School Woodworking and Design teacher. The course is studio-based, designed to develop experience with hand tools, power tools, and woodworking machinery through various projects, lessons, and vocabulary. Binstock explains, “During each class period, students will work on either individual projects that have been approved, or assigned projects designed to reinforce craftsmanship and woodworking principles.” During the second semester specifically, students will also be working on individual capstone projects to be displayed in an end-of-the-year art show. Binstock says, “I look forward to watching each student’s confidence grow in their ability to independently solve problems while producing a well-crafted, handmade, woodworking project.”