by shannonchance

Conner’s Fifth Birthday

This marks the third family birthday party I’ve missed in as many weeks.  Yesterday the family back home celebrated my nephew Connor’s fifth birthday.

Since he’s older than his brother (who recently turned three), the event included organized games.  Thanks to the Internet, we can all enjoy being part of the festivities.

I’ll get to see this crew in just a couple of weeks.  Yeah!!!!!

The older kids can handle organized games.
Fun with balloons.
Connor has lots and lots and lots of cousins.
Relay races!
And presents!
Everyone is curious…
…and wants to help unwrap the gifts.
The boys in this photo are all my nephews (Connor to the left, Tommy in Lucy’s arms, and David peering into Connor’s gift bag).
We all love diggers (me included)!
And of course, there’s cake.
Everyone helps blow out the candles.
And then heads outside for some rowdier fun.
by shannonchance

Hillary on Human Rights

Hillary Clinton delivered a brilliant speech on human rights in Dublin yesterday–and I got to witness history unfold.  The US Secretary of State identified four specific human rights priorities and emphasized that these drive the nation’s foreign policies.

  • religious freedom
  • internet freedom
  • women and girls’ rights
  • civic rights

The Irish Times reported Secretary Clinton’s commitment to “providing emergency support to ’embattled’ human rights activists who ran into trouble because of their work. Legal representation and communication technology such as mobile phones and internet access were being provided. Mrs Clinton also said ensuring the human rights of women and girls were respected was the ‘unfinished business of the 21st century’.”

Invitation to Hillary Clinton's DCU speech.

The invitation I received to hear Hillary Clinton’s DCU speech in person. I’m proud to have been part of this event!

This keynote address was part of a conference on human rights that kicks off the opening of a new Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction at Dublin City University (DCU). The Fulbright Ireland website reports this Institute “is aiming to work towards Secretary Clinton’s vision and is offering BA, MA, and PhD degrees.”

by shannonchance

Sushi Christmas

Jack Nealons Pub. (Photo from Jack Nealons website.)

Jack Nealons Pub. (Photo from Jack Nealons website.)

Christmas dinner with my colleagues Gavin and Sima was a blast!  We met at Jack Nealon’s pub and then went for sushi. We talked about all sorts of things–including our research projects. Today, we’re putting forth our work plans for the spring.

Gavin Duffy, Sima Rouholamin, and Shannon Chance.

Gavin Duffy, Sima Rouholamin, and Shannon Chance.

I had such an exciting day yesterday, which I’ll have to wait to tell you about until after get some research accomplished today….

 

by shannonchance

Improving Engineering Students’ Design Skills

ARROW logoThe article Improving Engineering Students’ Design Skills in a Project-Based Learning Course by Addressing Epistemological Issues that Gavin, Brian, and I wrote for the SEFI conference in Greece is available for download on DIT’s ARROW database.  Check it out!

by shannonchance

Memories of Kilkenny

Reflection from Upper John Street, Kilkenny.

Reflection from Upper John Street, Kilkenny.

View south, down Upper John Street, Kilkenny.

Early morning view south, as seen from Kilkenny’s Upper John Street.

Door to a courtyard beer garden along Lower John Street, Kilkenny.

Door to a courtyard beer garden along Lower John Street, Kilkenny.

by shannonchance

Sima’s Emerging Manifesto

Sima's emerging vision.

Sima’s teaching philosophy, drawn from the Bauhaus.

Sima Rouholamin delivered an energetic, thoughtful, and inspirational lecture at the DIT School of Architecture last night.  One of the culminating speakers for this semester’s Schools of Thought lecture series, Sima discussed her dissertation work. A facet of her literature review involves the Bauhaus — a natal fit with the theme of the lecture series (Schools of Thought).

Sima brings such energy and vibrancy to everything she does. She’s so very engaged and engaging.

Alongside her dissertation, she’s developing a vision for what DIT’s School of Architecture is and what it can become. Last night’s event provided a way for her to get some feedback on that vision from the community here, and that community replied with keen interest and resounding support.

Regarding the Bauhaus, Sima discussed the emphasis on making and craft — and the connection between play and design. She’ll soon be conducting phenomenographical interview designed to identify the various different ways architects conceptualize design. I hope to help her collect data for the study this spring.

A little about the Bauhaus.
Sima’s emerging manifesto.
by shannonchance

Peace for the World

Yesterday on Facebook my friend from home, Lynda Laliberte, shared a letter that her son Brian wrote Santa in 1987.  Immediately impressed, I reviewed the incoming comments.

Evidentially, Brian is still hopeful.  As am I.

Brian Burke's 1987 letter to Santa.

Brian Burke’s 1987 letter to Santa.

Brian Burke's 2012 post to Santa.

Brian Burke’s 2012 post to Santa.

by shannonchance

Years Ahead in Recycling

The Irish are hipper with recycling than we are in most places in the States.  The Dublin Institute of Technology, for instance, provides some bins that are clearly labelled and located in sensible places.

Recycle bins at the train station “guarantee to recycle 70% of the contents” deposited into them.  That beats us by leaps and bounds!

Recycling at DIT’s headquarters on Aungier Street.

Recycling at Heuston Station.

by shannonchance

Of Politics, Tragedy and Tractors

A fascinating discussion at the Embassy tonight.

A fascinating discussion at the Embassy tonight.

An action-packed evening here in Dublin.  After a fascinating discussion from an editor of Politico, I dashed across town in time to snag a seat at the Gate Theater for the play My Cousin Rachel.

It’s a stirring tale of that reminds us of the tragedy of assuming the worst in others when they’ve given no real reason for skepticism. It’s so beautifully written that you struggle along with the protagonist until the very end.

Fortunately for me, it’s easy to find one unclaimed seat even in a full theater house. On Monday nights at the Gate, all seats are bargain priced at €25.  More than I usually pay for a seat in Dublin, but an opportunity to visit another famous play house and experience theatrical delight. Oh, and tragedy. Plenty of tragedy.

The highlight of my evening was meeting the folks from London who sat next to me–Diane and Lawrence Hanlon. Their family is Irish, dropped the O’ in front of Hanlon at some point, and must be related to Tom Mulligan. And thus me!  🙂

Gotta love the three degrees of separation in the isles!

Please take a moment to admire Lawrence’s beautiful tractor tie, which evidentially references Hertfordshire, an agricultural county, in some way.  What it references for me is Dave’s dad, the late Gordon Chance, tractor mechanic extraordinary, who loved tractor memorabilia and travelled the world with his photographer son.  Good memories.

A tragic play, showing at Dublin's Gate theater.

A tragic play, showing at Dublin’s Gate theater.

My theater mates, Diane and Lawrence Hanlon.

My theater mates, Diane and Lawrence Hanlon. What a fabulous tie!!!!

Scene design for the second half.

Scene design for the second half.

 

by shannonchance

Nutrition and Bone Health

Cure Tooth Decay bookcover.

Cure Tooth Decay bookcover.

Incidentally, in the midst of the issues I discussed earlier about bone alignment and health, I found this book to be quite helpful….