Author Archives: Emily Piatek

The Collision of Science and Religion

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When I went to hear Professor Sloan talk about whether the trial of Galileo was of science or religion was expecting to hear much more about this specific case. Instead he presented us with a very brief history in order to set up for a discussion. I found what he presented about Galileo to be quite interesting, for example his theories about the world not being geocentric but rather being heliocentric and the data that Galileo had to back this statement. I also found it interesting that Galileo was placed on house arrest even though he recanted what he had previously said. I think I would have liked to hear a bit more about how this case was science or religion and the ideas that others have presented in this. I usually do not enjoy history as I am more of a science person, however this is one aspect of history that I have always found interesting due to its revolutionary nature.

I find it interesting how we as humans are so apt to believe whatever the newest theory or idea is or whatever makes humans seem the most important. With the earth being geocentric, people believed it and it made us look important. When Galileo presented the idea that the Earth instead revolved around the sun, people thought it was ridiculous and absurd, however it is right. But if the world revolved around the Earth, humans were not that important, or at least not as important as people thought we were. this idea, I believe was a trial by a government highly influenced by religion that had little to do with science.

A Look Into Cornell Dining

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When I had the chance to listen to Paul and Chef Daniel talk about what Cornell is doing to listen to the students how they are improving the menus at not only Rose house but across campus. Personally I found it interesting to hear the different initiatives that are going on across campus such as five for five campaign that worked to get students to pledge to eat five servings of fruits or vegetables every day for five days. It was also interesting to hear about the Menus of Change Program that Cornell is participating in. Before I heard about this, I found it strange that someone was now serving me the meat and I couldn’t just get it for myself. The reason behind this is actually not what you would typically think, yes they are rationing the amount of meat we are given, BUT we are still more than welcome to go back up for more or, get this, ASK for more. Some people think that what they give you is all you get and this is not true. The idea behind serving between three and four ounces of meat is to make vegetables and fruits the focus of the meal. Raising cattle or pigs or chickens is very costly not only to the farmer but also to the environment so eating less meat and morevegetables will not only help us to be healthier, it will help our environment be healthier as well.

I also found it interesting to know that the chefs along with the Cornell dining program work very hard in order to ensure that every dish is labeled with the correct allergens and that this is updated if some type of cross-contamination does occur. Also, if someone does have an allergy they can talk to Chef Daniel if they are a part of the Rose house system or their perspective chef in order to get meals that are free of their allergens.

Now if we could just have more vegan desserts that would be great!

The Blaschka Collection: Evidence of a Hidden but Disappearing World

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When I first saw the slides with the pictures of the Blaschka glass pieces, I thought that they were pictures taken of the living creatures that they were created to mimic. I felt a sense of awe, how could two people capture the beauty of these creatures so well at a time when technology was limited?. I have been to the Corning museum of Glass before and have seen the wonders that are possible with glass, however nothing I have seen before has had such a lasting impact. The idea that the creatures these pieces mimic are going extinct is a definite eye opener. I particularly found Professor Harvell’s documentary to be moving. Seeing the actual sea creatures and then also seeing the glass pieces made me realize how much attention to detail went into creating the pieces.

I also found within this film and discussion, another reason why we as humans are responsible for finding a solution to global warming and climate change. Helpless creatures such as the starfish and being killed by a virus that is allowed to spread more easily in the warmer water temperatures. We have the means to discover a solution and the slow disappearance of these many creatures should be a warning to us that we need to find it soon. Overall, I am still wondering how the Blaschkas were able to form such magnificent class pieces of creatures that live deep in the sea without the help of modern equipment such as oxygen tanks.

The Maze that is International Lawn

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I found this talk on international law very interesting. It was a very informal format and we were able to freely ask questions. I would say it was more like a conversation between Professor Ohlins and the guests. What I found most intriguing is that he brought in current events and presented the facts about international law in a way that was easy to understand. When he brought up the hospital that was bombed in Afghanistan, it was something that I had read about and I had a basic understanding of what had happened. I found the process of getting an event declared as a war crime to be very complicated and difficult. Also, it seems as though some countries could have one of their actions declared as a war crime with less trouble than others. For example, the United States has a veto on the security council so anything that may be brought up against them, can be vetoed.

Overall, I found this discussion to be very interesting. I do not usually find law and policy to be very interesting, however I found that my attention was very focused on what was being said. I am glad that I went as this opened to my eyes to how international crimes are so difficult to persecute and solve. Also, I never knew that so many factors go into determining if something is a war crime and the idea of proportionality is very foreign to me. Overall, I think it is very important for everyone to have a basic understanding of international law.

The Unknown Faces of Farming

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What many of us think when we eat our food is about the grocery store where we bought it or the way in which it was prepared, but we rarely think about all of the work that went into growing the food, or the people who spent time laboring in the fields to pick or cultivate it. This is what professors Vanden Heuval and Dudley explained to us. We often times forget the most important aspect of bringing a meal to the table is the farm work that went into creating it. Much of this work is done by migrant farm workers, many who are here illegally and are undocumented. The biggest eye opener for me with this talk was that these migrant families live in fear of being deported or being caught, companies who employ them keep them from working near the road during certain hours, just so that they stay out of sight. I never really understood the process or the type of work that went into cultivating various fruits and vegetables and I never really knew how dependent we were on people that we rarely think twice about. This talk really helped me to realize ways in which I can help these farm families, a little can go a long way.

This talk also dealt with grapes and how they are made into wine. I found it interesting to hear how different grapes grow better in different climates. It was also interesting to hear about how the different types of grapes were brought to the United States. Overall, I do not think I would find an entire class on this subject matter to be super interesting, I think it was very interesting to hear some background on the farming industry.

American Indians: fighting for a voice

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Hearing a piece of history that our country has tried so hard to forget was eye opening. Professor Cheyfitz offered a very interesting perspective on the history of the native people of America. He wanted us to acknowledge a part of United States history that people often do not hear about. There were some points that Professor Cheyfitz made that I had been familiar with prior to this talk, however, I was unaware of a good portion of what he spoke about. For example, I did not know that it was so difficult to become recognized as a tribe under the government. There are things some of us take for granted such as our place in the world and for some people they struggle to keep their place. I found it so intriguing that American Indians do not even have full control over their own land, the small portion of land that the government has allowed them to retain.

Beyond the facts, what I truly enjoyed about Professor Cheyfitz’s talk was his enthusiasm. He answered every question with confidence and with passion. It was easy to tell that this is a subject he holds very dearly to his heart. Hearing him be so excited by the topic drew me in and made me want to learn more. I think that it is becoming more and more difficult for people to truly follow their passion, but I believe that professor Cheyfitz has found a way to pursue his passion. Hearing his personal anecdotes about visiting some the of the tribes made the facts he was giving so much more realistic. Overall, I truly enjoyed this talk and was happy I gave a topic a chance that I did not seem to be interested at first!

The Key to Success: Living

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When I began to hear Professor Schwarz talk I thought to myself “is this really useful to me?, I have already missed out on an entire year of things I was supposed to be doing.” As I sat listening, I soon realized that what he was saying was extremely important. I think that as Cornellians we forget what is really important in life and subconsciously substitute work for fun. We need to remember to live, to make mistakes and learn from them and to take risks in our life. Taking a class that seems like something we never would have approached before might lead us to discover a subject that we find truly fascinating. What I took away from this talk was that having fun and giving myself time to last is what will make my years here at Cornell so memorable and important 20 years down the road. No one wants to look back at their college years and think “Wow, all I really did was work.” Professor Schwarz really emphasized this especially encouraging us to take an economics course or to become really dedicated in one or two activities. These are supposed to be some of the best years of our lives and Professor Schwarz explained exactly how to make them memorable.

Going forward, I think I will be more conscious of the choices I make in choosing classes, joining clubs and even at my job. The idea of having fun really resonated with me. I think I forgot that while I am here, I am also supposed to have fun. I think that this talk had a great deal of meaning for everyone, regardless of what year they are and I am truly glad that I attended it.