MIT: Independent Activities Period: IAP 2013

IAP 2013 Subjects: Political Science


17.567
Israel: History, Politics, Culture, and Identity
Nahum Karlinsky, Tobie Weiner
Tue, Fri, Jan 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29, 1, 10am-01:00pm, 2-142

Selection by departmental lottery. Do not pre-register on WebSIS.
Enter lottery by: 10-Dec-2012
Limited to 30 participants.
No listeners
Prereq: 
Level: U 9 units Standard A - F Grading    HASS-S (HASS-E)

Examines Israeli identity using a broad array of materials, including popular music, film, documentaries and art, in addition to academic historical writings. Topics include Israel's political system and society, ethnic relations, settlement projects, and the Arab minorities in the Jewish state. Students also discuss whether there is a unique Israeli culture and the struggle for Israel's identity.
Class is limited priority given to MISTI Israel students. Please copy the link below & paste into your browser for the form. Fill out form & submit by December 10. We will contact you shortly after to let you know if you are in the class.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?fromEmail=true&formkey=dENlV1oyaS1rUF8yeFpwWHVkQ1oxSWc6MQ

The purpose of this class is to give a basic understanding of modern Israel through lectures, discussions and projects. Topics to be explored are: Israeli regime and society; ethnic relations in Israel; the Palestine-Arab minority in the Jewish state; is there a unique Israeli culture?; Israel's settlement projects and the struggle for Israel's identity. There will be special emphasis on Israel's energy sector.
Contact: Nahum Karlinsky, nahumk@mit.edu

17.910
Reading Seminar in Social Science
Fundamentals of Science and Technology Public Policy Making: MIT Sci/Tech Policy Bootcamp
William Bonvillian, Arthur Yip
Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Listeners welcome at individual sessions (series)
Prereq: 
Level: U 3 units Standard A - F Grading Can be repeated for credit   

Class examines the public policy behind, and the government's role in the science and technology based innovation system. Emphasis placed on the U.S. S&T system, but international examples discussed. The seminar aims to equip those planning careers in and around science and technology with the basic background for involvement in science policymaking.
We cover 1)drivers behind S&T support: growth economics, direct and indirect innovation factors, innovation systems theory, the "valley of death" between R&D and public-private partnership models; 2)organizing framework behind US science agencies, their missions and research organizational models, and the DARPA model as an alternative; 3)the way innovation is organized when it's face-to-face; 4)barriers and challenges to health science advance; 5)The energy technology challenge - how the science/tech innovation system needs to be organized to meet it within an existing and established complex economic sector; and 5) upcoming competitiveness challenge in advanced manufacturing.

All interested please fill out this webform
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?pli=1&formkey=dHhjUWRvbFJRWXlyR21MZkFnbWpjc3c6MQ#gid=0
Contact: William Bonvillian, bonvill@mit.edu

Class 1 and Class 2
William Bonvillian, Arthur Yip
Economic Drivers Behind Science and Technology Support
Lunch discussion (lunch provided)
The organizing framework behind US Science Agencies
Mon Jan 14, 09am-03:30pm, 56-114

Class 3 and Class 4
William Bonvillian, Arthur Yip
The organization of Innovation Systems at the Face-to-Face Level
Lunch Discussion (lunch provided)
Barriers and Opportunities in Life Science Advance - The NIH Story
Tue Jan 15, 09am-03:30pm, 56-114

Class 5
William Bonvillian, Arthur Yip
The Structure of an Energy Technology Revolution
Wed Jan 16, 09am-12:00pm, 56-114

Class 6
William Bonvillian, Arthur Yip
The Competitiveness Challenge in Advanced Manufacturing
Lunch Discussion (lunch provided)
Thu Jan 17, 09am-01:00pm, 56-154

Faculty Panel Discussion Production in the Innovation Economy - Tentative
William Bonvillian, Arthur Yip
Faculty Panel Discussion on "Production in the Innovation Economy" This is tentative
Fri Jan 18, 09-11:00am, 56-114

17.922
Martin Luther King, Jr. Design Seminar
Tobie Weiner
Mon-Fri, Jan 7-11, 14-18, 22-25, 28-1, 03-05:00pm, E51-345

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 90 participants.
No listeners
Prereq: 
Level: U 12 units Standard A - F Grading Can be repeated for credit   

Facilitates design and construction of installations and other community projects in conjunction with and beyond MIT's celebration of Dr. King. Students discuss the ideas and goals of Dr. King and other human rights leaders in the US and the world. The first half of the class develops in-depth understanding of the history of US racial issues as well as past and present domestic and international political struggles. Addresses issues of justice, equality and racism through videos, readings and writings, and class discussions. In the second half, students work as a group complete the installation and projects which serve as models for connecting academics with real life problems and struggle.
Participants in the seminar may address aspects of the theme of the MLK Celebration's honored speaker and their thoughts on civil and human rights, justice, equality, race, racism and the principles of Dr. King. It is hoped that the seminar and the projects will encourage interaction and foster communication among members of the MIT community with diverse backgrounds.
Contact: Tobie Weiner, E53-484, x3-3649, iguanatw@mit.edu

17.923
Martin Luther King, Jr. Design Seminar for Facilitators/Teachers
Tobie Weiner
Mon-Fri, Jan 7-11, 14-18, 22-25, 28-31, 03-05:00pm, E51-345

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
No listeners
Prereq: 17.922
Level: U 12 units Standard A - F Grading Can be repeated for credit   

Students participate in the class but also assist instructor in the design and execution of the curriculum and actively participate in the instruction and monitoring of class participants. Students prepare subject materials, lead discussion groups, and review progress. Includes daily evaluation and meetings to reflect on the class itself and the students? performance as leaders. Contact: Tobie Weiner, E53-484, x3-3649, iguanatw@mit.edu