Departmental&CampusEvents

Weekdays StudyAbroad101informationsessionsseewww.k‐state.edu/abroad/events/forschedule

2Oct(M) StartofSPARKWeek–undergraduateresearchandcreativeinquiry.Seehttp://www.k‐state.edu/undergradresearch/events/sparkweek2017.html

GraduateWorkshop:GettingaHeadStartwiththeETDRWritingTemplate,1:30‐2:30pm,Hale407

Midtermgradesforfreshmenduefromfaculty,5pm

4Oct(W) Facultycoffee,8:15,Union Vandrivertraining,9:30‐11:30am,227Union.Registerathttp://www.k‐

state.edu/facilities/operations/training/van‐training/index.html Thesisdefense:SamiraSafaee,“DevelopingGlobalDatasetofSaltPansandSaltPlayas

UsingLandsat‐8imagery;ACaseStudyofWesternNorthAmerica;”2pm,1143Seaton

5Oct(Th) SafezoneIntroductory/AllyTraining,12:30‐1:30pm,UnionFlintHillsRm

6Oct(F) Facultymeeting,3pm

9Oct(M) GraduateWorkshop:UnderstandingAcademicIntegritythroughMultipleLenses,1:30‐2:30pm,407Hale

11Oct(W) Facultycoffee,8:15,Union GraduateStudentCouncilProfessionalDevelopmentWorkshop:PosterPresentations101,

3:30‐4:30pm,UnionBig12Room.Toregister,gotoprofessionaldevelopmentwebpage.

13‐14Oct AAGGreatPlains/RockyMountainDivisionMeeting,GrandForks,ND

OtherEventsEarthScienceWeekis8‐14Oct.ThethemethisyearisEarthandHumanActivity.www.americangeosciences.org/news/earth‐science‐week‐2017‐theme‐announced‐earth‐and‐human‐activity

GlobalClimateChangeWeekis9‐15Oct.ThefocusisIdeas,Engagement,Action.http://globalclimatechangeweek.com/

DepartmentalActivities(Departmentaffiliatesinbold)

Recognition

JeffSmithistherecipientoftheImanOutstandingFacultyAwardforTeaching.Hereceiveda$5,000awardinrecognitionofhisoutstandingteachingduringaceremony27Sep.ChuckRice(Agronomy),anancillarymemberoftheGeographyDepartment,receivedtheImanOutstandingFacultyAwardforResearch.

GammaThetaUpsilon(GTU)BetaPsiChapter(GeographyHonorary)earnedHonorsChapterrecognitionfor2016‐17.(Only3of130+activechaptersreceivedthisrecognition.)

The K-State Globe Geography Department, Kansas State University

2 October 2017

InvitedPresentation

Aninvitedlecture,GlobalChange,ImportantConceptualizations,andthatOtherGeographicIdentity,waspresentedbyJohnHarrington,Jr.,attheUniversityofNorthernIowaon29Sep.

Visitor

ChaoWang,PhDcandidatefromtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalScience,UniversityofPuertoRico,isvisitingthisweekandnext,toworkwithJidaWang.Chao'sdoctoralresearchfocusesontheapplicationsofsatelliteremotesensinginphenology,forestry,andlandusedynamics.HewillworkinSeaton164M

AAGAwardNominations

ThebiennialWilliamL.GarrisonAwardforBestDissertationinComputationalGeographysupportsinnovativeresearchintothecomputationalaspectsofgeographicscience.TheGarrisonawardconsistsofacashprizeintheamountof$3,500andaformalcertificateofmerit.TheformalpresentationoftheGarrisonAwardwilltakeplaceattheannualmeetingoftheAAGfollowingtheannouncementoftheaward.NominationmaterialsshouldbesubmittedviatheOnlineApplicationForm,whichisalsoaccessibleontheGarrisonAwardwebpage:www.aag.org/garrison.Deadline15Oct.

TheMarble‐BoyleUndergraduateAchievementAwardsinGeographicScienceaimstorecognizeexcellenceinacademicperformancebyundergraduatestudentsfromtheU.S.andCanadawhoareputtingforthastrongefforttobridgegeographicscienceandcomputerscience.EachMarble‐Boyleawardconsistsofacashprizeof$1,000,a$200creditforbookspublishedbyEsriPress,andacertificateofrecognition.Formoredetailoneligibility,selectioncriteria,applicationinstructions,andtosubmittheonlineapplication,gotowww.aag.org/marble‐boyle.Deadline15Oct.

StudentOpportunities

OhioStateUniversity,newtrackinanthropologytentativelytitledHuman‐EnvironmentLearningLab.Thecommonthemeacrosstrackresearchistheanthropologicalstudyofhuman‐environmentdynamicsinpastandpresenttounderstandtheimplicationsforthefuture.Theprogramintegratesthefieldsofecologicalanthropology,environmentalarchaeology,politicalecology,ethnobotany,environmentalanthropology,behavioralecology,andmedicalanthropology.Facultycollaboratewitheachotheraswellascolleaguesfromavarietyofotherdisciplines–geography,ecology,earthsciences,publichealth,veterinarymedicine–whichprovidesstudentswithopportunitiestoparticipateinimpactfulinterdisciplinarysocial‐ecologicalsystemsresearchprojects.Studentswhojointheprogramwillengagewithfacultyandstudentsconductingresearchinarchaeology,biologicalandculturalanthropology,withactiveresearchprojectsinBelize,Brazil,Cameroon,Canada,Fiji,France,Mexico,Nicaragua,Oman,SouthAfrica,andtheUnitedStates.Therangeoftopicsavailableforstudyarediverse:humanadaptationtoclimateandenvironmentalchange,humanrelationshipswithanimals,plantsandsoils,politicsofindustrialresourceextraction,anthropogeniclandscapes,dynamicsofhorticultureintropicalforests,ecologyofinfectiousdiseases,foodsecurityandnutritionalanthropology,coevolutionofhumansanddomesticates,complexadaptivesystems,andcoupledhumanandnaturalsystems.Theyprovidetraininginarchaeological,biologicalandethnographicmethodsinthelabandinthefield.Inaddition,theyofferadvancedtrainingincuttingedgemethodssuchasisotopegeochemistry,spatialanalysis,networkanalysis,andagent‐basedmodelingandsimulation.Studentsintheprogramhavetheopportunitytodesigntheirownresearchanddevelopnovelmethodsofanalysisforsocio‐ecologicalsystems.Despitetheacronym,thelearninglaboffersavibrantand

supportiveintellectualcommunitythatrevolvesaroundweeklymeetingsinwhichfacultyandstudentsshareideas,seekfeedbackfromacrossanthropologicalsub‐fieldsandspecialties,andpusheachotherintellectually.Thedepartmentoffersfundingforcompetitivestudents.TherearealsograduateresearchpositionsforstudentsinterestedinparticipatinginresearchprojectsfundedbytheNationalScienceFoundation.Thetrainingandexperiencestudentsreceiveaspartofourprogrampreparesthemforawiderangeofcareersinthestudyandmanagementofhuman‐environmentdynamics.TheysupportstudentdevelopmentofproposalsforNSF’sGraduateResearchFellowshipProgram.Thedeadlineforapplicationsis20Nov(anthropology.osu.edu/grad/apply).Studentsareencouragedtocontactfacultyandstudentsaboutapplyingtotheprogram(seeanthropology.osu.edu/directory/filter/43).Formoreinformation,contactanyofthefacultyintheprogram.

NorwegianUniversityofScienceandTechnology(NTNU),FacultyofSocialandEducationalSciences.PhDCandidate[student]inPhysicalGeography–Fieldandremotesensingdetectionofperiglacialcreepprocesses.ApositionintheDepartmentofGeographyasPhDCandidateinPhysicalGeographyforaperiodof4years,where3oftheyearsareforresearchand1yearisforteachingandotherworkforthedepartment.ThisisaneducationalpositionthatshallprovidepromisingcandidatestheopportunityforprofessionaldevelopmentthroughstudiestowardsaPhD.ThepositionisconnectedtothePhDprograminGeography.TheDepartmenthasdefinedfourstrategicareas:1)naturalhazardsandtheeffectsofclimatechange;2)environment,resourcesandmanagement;3)mobility,transnationalismandinequality;and4)innovationandregionalchanges.TheavailablePhDpositionwillcontributeparticularlytonaturalhazardsandtheeffectsofclimatechange,andbelongstotheresearchgroup‘Geographiesofclimatechangeeffects.’ThePhDpositionwillcontributetoworkonlongtermlandscapeevolutionofcoldclimateregions,especiallythetopographyofsouthernNorway.ThePhDprojectshallfocusonperiglacialcreepprocesses(solifluction)acrossseveraltemporalandspatialscales,usingfieldmeasurementsandremotesensingastoolsformappingperiglacialcreeplandformsandblockfields.Quantificationofcreeprates/massfluxesisakeycomponentoftheproject.Methodstobeappliedincludeterrestriallaserscanning,Structure‐from‐motionfromterrestrialanddroneimages,inSARandthecollectionofsubsurfacedisplacementprofilesfromfieldinstallations.Theprojectmightalsodeveloptowardslandscapeevolutionmodelling,orhaveageochronologicalcomponentthroughdatingoforganichorizons,luminescencedatingand/orcosmogenicnuclidetechniques.Theholderofthepositionisexpectedtocontributetotheproject‘Blockfieldsandtheoriginofhigh‐elevation,low‐relieftopographicsurfaces–TopSurf’ifthisisfunded,andtocontributetoteachingphysicalgeographycourses.TheyseekadedicatedandsociablepersonwhomeetstherequiredqualificationsforaPhDcandidate.Employmentwillbeactivatedinaccordancetoexistingregulationsof31.01.06.TherequirementforthepositionisacompletedMaster’sdegreeingeography,earthsciences,geomatics,physicsorrelatedfields,andadocumentedsolidbackgroundingeomatics/remotesensing.Applicantsmusthaveastrongacademicrecordfromtheirpreviousstudies,andmusthaveaweightedaveragegradeforthelasttwoyearsoftheirmaster'sorequivalenteducation(equivalentto120credits)ofBorhigherintermsofNTNU'sgradingscale.Applicantswithnolettergradesfrompreviousstudiesmusthaveanequallygoodacademicfoundation.ApplicantswhoareunabletomeetthesecriteriamaybeadmittedonlyiftheycandocumentthattheyareparticularlysuitablecandidatesforeducationleadingtoaPhDdegree.FluentEnglishskillsarerequired.Personalqualificationsandmotivationtoapplyfortheposition,willbeascribedhighimportance.Theyexpectacandidatewhoisabletoworkindependently,alsowithrespecttoplanningandimplementationoffieldwork,andismotivatedtolearnnewtechniques.Excellentcommunicationskillsshouldbedemonstrated.Theabilitytobuildarelevantcontactnetworkisimportant.ThePhDpositionispaidaccordingtosalarylevel50inthenationalsalaryscheme,minimumgrossNOK436500peryear,ofwhich2%isdeductedfortheStatePensionScheme.Moreinformationaboutthe

appointmentofPhDCandidatesisathttps://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2012‐01‐23‐206.TheapplicantmustcommittoundertakeorganizedPhDstudieswithintheemploymentperiod.EmplymentasaPhDcandidaterequiresadmissiontothePhDprograminGeography.InformationaboutthePhDprograminGeographycanbefoundatwww.ntnu.edu/studies/phgeog.Theemployeeisexpectedtoacceptpossiblechangesinworktasks.PrimaryresidencyinTrondheim.Applicationshouldinclude:Apreliminaryprojectdescriptionofapproximately4pages,CV,recommendations,certificatesanddiplomas.AcompleteversionoftheprojectdescriptionmustbemadeavailablewithinsixmonthsofadmissiontothePhDprogram.Jointworkwillbeevaluated.Ifitisdifficulttoidentifythecontributionsfromindividualsinajoinpieceofwork,applicantsshouldencloseashortdescriptivesummaryofwhathe/shecontributedtothework.FurtherinformationaboutthepositionisavailablebycontactingProfessorIvarBerthling(ivar.berthling@ntnu.no).Forinformationaboutprocessingofapplications,contactHR,AasteLineStrand(aaste.l.strand@ntnu.no).Anapplicationincludingattachmentsshouldbesentelectonicallythroughhttps://www.jobbnorge.no/.Attachmentsmayalsobesentto:NTNU,FacultyofSocialandEducationalScience,NO‐7491Trondheim,Norway.PleasemarktheapplicationSU‐48.ApplicationDeadline:1Nov.

AcademicPositionsSeehttp://jobs.aag.org/fornonacademic,aswellasadditionalacademic,positions.

UniversityofNorthCarolinaatGreensboro(UNCG),DepartmentofGeography.Tenure‐trackAssistantProfessorinPhysicalGeographytosupporttheirconcentrationinEarthscience/environmentalstudies.Theyseekadynamicscholar‐teachertohelpbuildonexistingdepartmentalstrengthswithexpertiseinoneormorePhysicalGeographysubfields(climatology,hydrology,geomorphologyandbiogeography).ProficiencyinGIS,remotesensing,orspatialstatisticsisdesirable,butnotrequired.Itisexpectedthatthesuccessfulcandidatewillteachlower‐divisioncoursesinEarthScienceandGeosystemsScienceinadditiontoupper‐divisionandgraduatecoursesintheindividual’sareaofspecialization.Successfulapplicantswillbeexpectedtodevelopastrong,externallyfundedresearchprogram,trainadiversegroupofundergraduateandgraduatestudentsfromvariousbackgrounds,andmakesignificantcontributionstoPhDandMAprogramsandtheundergraduatecurriculum.TheDepartmenthasstrongassociationswithseveralinterdisciplinaryprogramsatUNCG,includingEnvironmental&SustainabilityStudies,andthepotentialfordevelopingsynergieswithotherprogramsshouldbeidentifiedintheapplicationletter.Thepositionwillbegin1Aug2018.CandidatesmustholdoranticipateaPhDinGeographyoracloselyrelateddisciplinebythetimeofappointment.Toapplyvisithttps://jobsearch.uncg.edu,clickon“Faculty,”thenposition1541.Afulldossierofuploadedmaterialswillinclude:letterofapplicationthatincludesaresearchstatementandteachingphilosophy;c.v.;namesandcontactinformationof3references;samplesofupto3publications;andevidenceofteachingeffectiveness.Reviewofapplicationswillbegin1Novandwillcontinueuntilthepositionisfilled.Forquestionsabouttheposition,pleasecontactDr.PaulKnapp(paknapp@uncg.edu),chairofthesearchcommittee.Include“PhysicalGeographyAssistantProfessorPosition”inthesubjectline.

UniversityofNorthCarolinaatGreensboro(UNCG),DepartmentofGeography.Tenure‐trackAssistantProfessorinGeographicInformationScience(GIScience).Weseekadynamicscholar‐teachertohelpusbuildonexistingdepartmentalstrengths.ThepositionisopentoallareasofGIScience,butweareparticularlyinterestedincandidateswithexpertiseingeographicanalysisandmodelingofhuman‐environmentinteractionsinareassuchasnaturalhazards;sustainabilityscience;resilientcommunitiesand/orurbanandregionalsystems.ProficiencyinGIS,remotesensing,orspatialstatisticsisdesirable,butnotrequired.Itisexpectedthatthesuccessfulcandidatewillteachlower‐divisioncoursesinEarthScienceandGeosystemsScience

inadditiontoupper‐divisionandgraduatecoursesintheindividual’sareaofspecialization.Successfulapplicantswillbeexpectedtodevelopastrong,externallyfundedresearchprogram,trainadiversegroupofundergraduateandgraduatestudentsfromvariousbackgrounds,andmakesignificantcontributionstoPhDandMAprogramsandtheundergraduatecurriculum.TheDepartmenthasstrongassociationswithseveralinterdisciplinaryprogramsatUNCG,includingEnvironmental&SustainabilityStudies,andthepotentialfordevelopingsynergieswithotherprogramsshouldbeidentifiedintheapplicationletter.Thepositionwillbegin1Aug2018.CandidatesmustholdoranticipateaPhDinGeographyoracloselyrelateddisciplinebythetimeofappointment.Toapplyvisithttps://jobsearch.uncg.edu,clickon“Faculty,”thenposition1194.Afulldossierofuploadedmaterialswillinclude:letterofapplicationthatincludesaresearchstatementandteachingphilosophy;c.v.;namesandcontactinformationof3references;samplesofupto3publications;andevidenceofteachingeffectiveness.Reviewofapplicationswillbegin1Novandwillcontinueuntilthepositionisfilled.Forquestionsabouttheposition,pleasecontactDr.SelimaSultana(s_sultan@uncg.edu),chairofthesearchcommittee.Include“GIScienceAssistantProfessorPosition”inthesubjectline.

UniversityofCentralArkansas.Tenure‐trackAssistantProfessorinUrbanorEconomicGeography,beginningAug2018.Successfulcandidateswillhaveexperienceemployingquantitativetechniquesandgeospatialmodeling.Primaryteachingresponsibilitiesincludeupper‐divisioncoursesinUrbanGeographyandUrbanandRegionalPlanning,introductorysectionsofHumanGeography,andothercoursesbasedonDepartmentalneeds.Itisexpectedthatthepersonhiredwillhavecompletedadoctoralprogrambythetimeofappointment.TheDepartmentofGeographyisintheCollegeofNaturalSciencesandMathematicsandoffersthreeundergraduatemajors,twominors,andtwoonlineMaster'sdegrees.Theyareinterestedinanenthusiasticindividualwhoconnectswithstudentsinsideandoutsideoftheclassroom,isengagedinscholarlyresearchleadingtopublications,andhastheabilitytoworkwithfacultyfromotherdisciplinesandpromotethegeographyprogramacrosscampusandinthecommunity.Activelyparticipatingindepartment,college,anduniversityserviceandundergraduateadvisingisalsoexpected.Applicantsshouldsubmitthefollowingrequireddocuments:adetailedCV,coverletterhighlightingsuitabilityfortheposition,astatementofteachingphilosophy,astatementofresearchinterests,unofficialtranscripts,copiesofteachingevaluations,andcontactinformationforthreereferences.Lettersofreferencewillbesolicitedforshort‐listedcandidates.Reviewofapplicationswillbegin15Nov.Applicationmaterialsmaybesubmittedatjobs.uca.edu/postings/3811.Forquestions,contactDr.StephenO'Connell,InterimChair,DepartmentofGeography(soconnell@uca.edu).

DurhamUniversity,DepartmentofGeography.AssistantProfessorinEnvironmentandSociety.AsanAssistantProfessorwithafocusonEnvironmentandSocietyrelations,theywilllooktothesuccessfulapplicanttodevelopworldclassscholarshipthatcomplementsandextendstheworkinoneormoreoftheircoreresearchclusters:EconomyandCulture;GeographiesofLife;Politics‐State‐Space;andUrbanWorlds.Successfulapplicantwillbenefitfromacommitmenttoensurethattheteachingloadissustainable.Thiswillprovidetimetocarryoutinternationallyexcellentresearch,informingteachingandsupervisionatundergraduateandpostgraduatelevel.Applicationsdue10Nov.Seeforfullposting:www.dur.ac.uk/resources/hr/recruitment/academicrecruitment2017/GEOG18‐3JD_060917.pdf.

PersonalUpdates

ShawnHutchinson

Asthe2017‐18academicyearbegins,itisveryhardformetobelievethatI’menteringmy17thyearonthefacultyatKansasState.Thelastyearhasbeenbusy,productive,andinteresting.I’verecentlysaidgoodbyetotwomaster’sstudentswhosuccessfullydefendedtheirtheses

(DanielleWilliams,AustinBraget),continuedworkwithanother(AmariahFischer),andwelcomedanewdoctoralstudent(HildaOnuoha)tothissemester.I’mlookingforwardtocollaboratingwithAmariahandHildaaswecontinueresearchonimprovingthevisualizationandanalysisofenvironmentalmonitoringdata.Ontheteachingside,IcontinuetoofferGISI,GISII,visualization,InternetGIS,andPythoncourses.Ialsohavetheopportunitytoworkwithfirst‐semesterfreshmeninasustainabilitycommunityeachfallaswellasstudentsinthecapstonecourseoftheNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalSciences(NRES)SecondaryMajor.

Thispastsummerwasespeciallygratifyingforverydifferentreasons.First,StacyandIledourinitialStudyAbroadexperienceafterabout3yearsofplanningandpreparation.AlongwithfourK‐Statestudents,wetravelledtoChinaandspenttimeinbothBeijingandChangchun.WhileinBeijing,wevisitedculturalsites(e.g.,GreatWall,TiananmenSquare,etc.),participatedintraditionalactivities(taichi,papercutting),andfeastedonwonderfulChinesecuisine.AfterBeijing,wetravellednorthtoChangchunandconductedatwo‐weekclassinHydrologyandWatershedManagementatJilinUniversityfeaturingbothK‐StateandJilinstudents.

EnjoyingatraditionalhotpotlunchinChangchunwithourK‐StateandJilinUniversitystudents.

WrappingupanintenseprivatelessoninChinesecookingwhileinBeijing–dumplingsandkungpaochicken

OurnameinlightsasJilinUniversitywelcomedStacyandItocampus!

GettingdowntoworkwithK‐StateandJilinUniversitystudentsinourtwo‐weekHydrologyandWatershedManagementcourse.

WeareonceagainofferingtheChinaStudyAbroadduringSummer2018.Inadditionto

stopsinBeijingandChangchun/JilinUniversity,nextyearwewillalsocruisetheYangzteRiver,

tourThreeGorgesDam,andspendafewdaysinShanghaibeforereturningtotheU.S.It’saterrificitinerarywithmanyopportunitiesforlearningandfun!

Summerof2017alsoallowedmetocheckoffanitemonmypersonal“to‐do”list.Asa20thanniversaryandearly50thbirthdaygift,StacyarrangedformetotakeabackcountryfishingtripinAlaskawithasmallgroupoffamilyandfriends.Asanavidfly‐fisherman,thiswasdefinitelya“bucketlist”typeofadventure.AfterflyingintoAnchorage,IventuredwesttoBethelviajetthenontotheheadwatersoftheGoodnewsRiveronasmallfloatplane(worththetripalone).ThenextweekwasspentfloatingtheGoodnews(about70miles)untilitemptiedintoocean.ThefishingwasexceptionalandIwouldhitthesleepingbageachnightabsolutelyexhausted…notfromfishing,butfromcatchingALOToffish.Thankstothelatitude,Ispentabout18hoursadayonthestreamworkingforthenextbigsalmon(king,silver,sockeye,pink,chum),rainbow,grayling,orDollyVarden.

Anicegrayling–andperfecttrophyfishpose–fromtheGoodnewsRiver.

BeautifulrainbowtrouttakenontheGoodnewsRiver.

MyviewofAlaskaforaweekinAugust2017…notbad!

NotAlaska,buthadtothrowinthisphotoofagroupertakenonlighttackleintheFloridaKeyslastNovember!

Onthehomefront,Mitch(16)andMarleigh(14)arebothinhighschoolanddoingwellinclasswork.BothareactiveinManhattanHighsports,withMitchplayingsoccerandtennisinthefallandspring,respectively.Meanwhile,Marleighisafallvolleyballplayerandspringsoccerathlete.Mostafternoonsandevenings,StacyandIcanbefoundinthestandsofsomehighschoolaroundthestatecheeringonthekidsandtheirteammates.OurchocolatelabMochaandyellowlabMaizyarehealthyandhappyandloveanychancetogoswimming!

Hmmm…Inowhavetheoverwhelmingurgetogofishingwiththedogs….

MarcellusCaldas

TheSeatonGlobeeditor,Dr.LisaHarrington,askedmetowriteapersonalupdatefortheSeatonGlobe.Ohboy!!IthoughtalotaboutwhattowritefortheGlobe.Ididn’twanttowriteabouthowmanypapersIsubmitted,publishedoraboutmyproposals,ormytalksorgrants.Also,thereweresomanythingsthatIdidn’twanttorememberfromlastacademicyear.ButtherewerealsosomanygoodthingsthatintheendIthinkthegoodonesovercamethebadones.So,Idecidedtogiveatry.

Istartedtheacademicyearof2016/17atfullspeed.Ihadmanyideasforpapers,proposals,travelsforinternationalcollaborations,policyideas,etc…ThingsweregoingintherightdirectionwithmanydraftsofresearchpapersandproposalsunderwayandasuccessfultriptoChinainOctobertovisittwouniversities,HenanUniversityofScienceandTechnologyandJilinUniversity.ItseemedbusinessasusualandIwasdoingwhatIlovetodo.Attheageof56(turning57inlessthan45days),Iwasfeelinglikeakid!ThingsstartedtoturnwhenIwasdoingoneofthethingsthatIenjoyedthemost:IwasplayingsoccerwithmyyoungestsonwhenIgothurt.ItoremypatellartendonandIhadtogothroughasurgerytoreconnectthetendon.AlthoughIhadtogethelptodomanythingsthatIassumedasgranted,inmyperceptionthiswasn’ttoobad.IwasrecoveringwellandnothingseemsdifferentexceptthatIhadabraceinmyleg.Thetimewasrunningfast,almostthirtydayshadpassedsincemysurgery.Iwaswithmywifeinaparty,havingfun,laughingandtalkingtomanypeoplewhensuddenlyIcollapsed!Infact,Ipassedoutthreetimes.Itseemedlikeadreamforme.IcouldhearpeopletalkingaroundmebutIwastooweaktoopenmyeyes.EverybodythoughtIwashavingaheartattack.Iwasrushedtothehospital.IknewIwasnothavingaheartattackbutIwasthereintheambulancestretcherwithoutanyclueofwhatwasgoingon.Icouldhearthenursetalkingtothehospitalandtellingthemthatmypulsewasveryweakandhecouldn’tfeelmuch.Icouldhearthenursesaying,“IwillgiveyouthisIV.”AlthoughIwasnothavingaheartattackthislookedserioustomeandtheonlythinkthatwascomingtomymindwasmyfamily.IwasnotsureifIwouldmakeit.Itwasastrangefeeling.Iwoulddiewithoutsayinggoodbyetomywifeandkids.Thediagnosticwasscary,pulmonaryembolism!Ihadbloodclotsinmylegthatmovedtomylungs.Itwasnotjustonebloodclothbutmany.ThedoctortoldmethatIwasa“lucky”man:“thebloodclotswerelocatedalongthebordersofthelungsandnotinthecenter.”Ispent4daysinthehospitalandIthoughtthatgoinghomewasagoodsignthateverythingwouldbeokay.My“near‐death”experiencesaidotherwise.Foroneweek,Iwasscaredofthedark.Iwasafraidofgoingtobed.Ididn’tlikeclosedspaces.Evensittinginthecarwasatortureforme.Ihadtocallmydoctorandask,“whatisgoingon?”Mydoctortoldmethatthiswouldpasswithtimeandthat“neardeathexperiences”traumatizealotpeople.Mydoctorwasright,itpassed!!AfteroneweekIwasfeelingbetterandconcentratingonthethingsthatIlove(e.g.,mywork)helpedmyrecovery.WithtimeIwasfeelingbetterandbetteragain.Liketheproverb“afterthestormcomescalm”mylifewentbacktonormal,andassoonasIwasclearedtotravel,IwasontheroadtoBrazil,Peru,SpaindoingwhatIliketodo:interactingwithpeople,makingfriends,developinginternationalcollaborations,discussingresearchproposals,papers,etc.IguessIhavereasonstobehappierthanbefore!

PleasecontactLisaButlerHarrington(lbutlerh@ksu.edu)withK‐StateGlobeitems.