Fulbright Scholar Speaks on Campus
Principia welcomed Fulbright recipient Dane Carlson as the first of four Annenberg Scholars to visit the College this year. A landscape architect with a research focus on existing indigenous practice and emerging change, Carlson presented his talk “Landscape Past, Landscape Future—Hybrid Landscapes of Nepal’s Himalayan Frontier” in Wanamaker Hall last month.
In 2017, Carlson was awarded a Fulbright research grant in Nepal’s trans-Himalayan Mustang district, where he drew on local knowledge gained by living and working among migrant goatherders as he studied the effects of climate change in the region. The photos and videos he shared with the audience, captured with GoPro cameras by the herders themselves, vividly displayed the difficulties they face on a daily basis—water shortage, severe wind, overgrazing of livestock, and deteriorated infrastructure, among other challenges.
The herders are largely voiceless due to their low caste in the region’s social structure, Carlson explained. Yet their insights were invaluable to developing his four-point plan for practical, cost-efficient ways to reduce evaporation, capture water, and cultivate reliable sources of firewood and livestock sustenance. Describing his proposal as “hybrid knowledge,” he said, “These ideas are a fusion of daily knowledge and a 21st-century scientific understanding of the world. The next step is to find funding and reach agreement with landowners, government officials, and local conservationists. Partnering with these groups is essential.”
In addition to his talk, Carlson spent 10 days on campus engaging with students in archaeology, art, education, sociology, and sustainability classes. For senior Allegra Pierce, a biology and sustainability double major and co-president of the Sustainability Club, the most meaningful interaction with Carlson occurred in her Sustainable Development class, taught by Dr. Karen Eckert. “Dane provided feedback for our group project as we develop a resiliency plan for farmers in Illinois facing the expected impact of climate change,” Allegra says. “The exercise helped me view the issue from the perspectives of the farmer, policymaker, and conservationist. Talking with Dane helped me see what putting sustainable design into practice actually means. His work experience is closely related to the career path that I plan to pursue.”
In their interactions with Carlson, who holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University, students were struck by his social conscience and humility about his accomplishments. “In spite of his many achievements, Dane is very humble and wholeheartedly respected the local culture while working on his project in Nepal,” says Jane Chrisanty, a junior. “It’s a privilege to meet people who dedicate themselves to what they love. He inspired me to travel and experience the world while sharing my capabilities with others.”
Still to come this year, three other Annenberg Scholars will enrich student learning and engage the broader community. All talks are free and open to the public and will be held in Wanamaker Hall:
Killian Stokes, Co-founder of Moyee Coffee Ireland
Tuesday, October 9, at 7:30 p.m. (in conjunction with the 2018 International Perspectives Conference, October 4–6)
Dr. Gordon Grant, Education Director, North Carolina Outward Bound School
Tuesday, February 14, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.
Aurora Robson, Visual Artist
Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.