Events & Reflections
Global Studies is a second diploma program at Watkinson School. Each year, Global Studies students are required to attend nine events and write reflections on them, but we often attend more than that. The events we attend relate to the nine global studies themes: art, environment, globalization, global public health, human rights, non-violence and war, religion, sustainable development goals, and technology and communication. Here is a partial list of all the events I have attended.
Global Studies Themes
The Arts
The arts provide a lens to examine societal issues, cultural identity, and ways to make a difference in the world.
Globalization
Globalization, or the study of how cultures change when influenced by contact with people in distant parts of the world. Globalization encompasses the exchange of commodities, ideas, pathogens, and people
Human Rights
Human rights are the fundamental and inalienable rights each person has to be treated with dignity. This provides a lens to examine ethics, events in twentieth century history when ethical restraint has broken, and efforts by the United Nations and other organizations to articulate and enforce universal human rights.
Religion
Religion as a shaping feature of culture and personal identity.
Technology and Communication
We study how technology shapes and determines communication and how it allows us to understand the world more deeply.
Environmental Change
Environmental change in the context of Globalization. Through emigration, trade, war, and exploration, humans have powerfully altered the natural world. We study the effects of extinction, climate change, pollution, and water use as well as environmental solutions.
Global Health
Global health seeks to improve health and access to medical care for people worldwide. Global health recognizes that diseases and pathogens know no borders and controlling and preventing outbreaks is a priority.
Non Violence and War
Non violence and war focuses on the psychological, economic, and environmental toll imposed by warefare and genocide as well as the diplomatic and non violent approaches to conflicts.
Sustainable Developmental Goals
Sustainable developmental goals seek to meet the needs of today and tomorrow by considering the intersections between the economic, environmental, and social aspects of society.