Vashon College’s Center for Island Studies Presents
Seminar: Island Studies (SIS)
SPRING 2009 Islands are unique settings with their own rules of ecology and behavior for the humans and other creatures inhabiting them. Vashon is one of many thousands of world islands, each with its own special needs and possibilities, but all sharing the fact of isolation from mainland communities. This course will study the characteristics of island living, and the possible connections between Vashon and other world islands. The seminar will be organized as a collaborative research project. Early stages will be devoted to the study of island biogeography and natural history, the scientific basis for island studies. We will also examine the human history and social dynamics typical of islands. Participants will then learn the research skills needed for library, internet, and field research into islands of the world. Using this foundation of knowledge and skills, participants will collaboratively pursue independent research in island studies, and some may wish to visit other islands for first-hand knowledge. After a period of intensive research, participants will reassemble to compare discoveries, ideas, and results. By the end of the seminar, the group will develop a strong understanding of island life and will establish a basis for communication and action with other islands of the world.
"Islands Like Ours" Essays: Water Transportation Sustainability Governance
Instructional Methods The initial series of six seminar meetings will include presentations by seminar faculty on the purposes of the seminar, discussions of the content of required texts, exercises and demonstrations of library, field, and electronic research methodologies, and some presentations by guest speakers. These sessions are intended to prepare students with the knowledge and skills that they will need to conduct independent research into island studies.
During the three month interval after these sessions, faculty will be available by phone and email for consultation with students and for problem-solving as their independent research proceeds.
At the final two seminar sessions, students will present written reports of their research results. These will be discussed and integrated by the group, and recommendations for further research and action will be articulated.
Audience The seminar is designed to attract active adult learners who are capable of pursuing independent research in collaboration with a small team. The faculty role is to guide and support students’ research, and to assure that each has the necessary knowledge and skills to reach a successful result. Student/faculty collaboration is the essence of this seminar. Faculty will be expected to conduct research projects of their own, and to report their results along with other students. Twelve to twenty students are expected to enroll. Sample Research Topics and Questions Topics:
| Governance | Transportation | Energy | | Forests | Wildlife | Biogeography | | Water | Self-sufficiency | Economy | | Sister Islands | Case Study: Green Islands | Island Scholarship | | Global Islands | NW Coastal Islands | Endangered Species | | Invasive Species | Vashon History | Tourism | | Population Density | Bridges, Tunnels, Ferries | Character of Islanders | | Island Literature | Absentee Ownership | Communication & Stories | | Global Warming | Land Use Policy | Military & Missionary | | Island Sociology | Emergency Services | Taxation & Public Projects | | Indigenous People | Immigration | Health Care |
Questions: What are the characteristics shared by small continental islands (under 300 sq. mi.) that distinguish them from their nearby mainlands? How do these characteristics influence small island policies and laws? How do businesses on small islands differ from their mainland counterparts? How are the criteria for success on small islands different from those on mainlands? - What are the conditions that lead to wildlife (plant and animal) extinctions on small islands? What can be done to mitigate these conditions?What costs and benefits might follow from association with a sister island?
In what areas of public policy have small islands been successful in winning self-determination? How might Vashon learn from their experience? What invasive species of plants and animals have established themselves on
Vashon? What are the effects of invasive species on native wildlife? What are the typical changes that small islands experience when they are connected by bridges or tunnels to the mainland? What important works of literature have explored significant aspects of island life? What are the significant aspects of island life as depicted in literary art? How might Vashon contribute to the development of island studies?
Research reports at the end of the seminar will each become a chapter in a book about Islands Like Ours. Texts Faculty Course Schedule Bibliography Contact Information
Inquiries can be made to Vashon College via email at
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Download application here, or contact Pamn Aspiri at 206-408-8022 or
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