July 5 - 10, 2011
The geography of Silk Road networks showcases a complex interaction between mountains, grasslands, river valleys, oases and deserts. Such varied ecological zones are a critical determinant of where and how people live, move and interact. This intensive six-day Institute explores both the historical relationships of diverse Silk Road populations to the land, as well as the current environmental challenges China faces today. Topics include trade and travelers on the Silk Road; the role of nature in the arts and religions of the Silk Road; use of geographic mapping technologies in the classroom; and modern concerns about development, land use, pollution and natural resources. The Institute is designed to help K-16 educators enhance curricula and access unique teaching resources about China. The program also provides the opportunity to meet scholars from a wide range of disciplines who concentrate on China, the Silk Road and Environmental Studies.
For more information, please contact Abbey Newman (CEAS Executive Director) at abbey.newman@yale.edu or (203) 432-9382.
To register for a PIER Summer Institute, please complete the on-line application.
The 2011 PIER Summer Institutes for Educators at Yale University are sponsored by Programs in International Educational Resources, the Council on African Studies, the Council on East Asian Studies, the Council on European Studies, the Council on Latin American and Iberian Studies, the Council on Middle East Studies, and the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale with generous support from Title VI National Resource Center Grants from the United States Department of Education.