What You Always Wanted to Know about Chinese Holidays

DATE: Monday, February 2
TIME: 12 to 1 p.m.
LOCATION: PSU 314 Room A&B
PRESENTER: Xiuqing Li

Chinese holidays have been part of Chinese tradition for thousands of years; they are an essential part of Chinese culture. At this presentation on Chinese holidays, learn how numerous holidays are associated with Chinese mythology and folklore tales, and how most Chinese holidays probably originated from ancient farmer rituals for celebrating harvests or prayer offerings.

During this informative hour, you’ll discover unique facts, such as the most important Chinese holiday is the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), which is also celebrated in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other Asian countries. All traditional holidays are scheduled according to the Chinese calendar except the Qing Ming and Winter Solstice days, falling on the respective Jie qi in the Agricultural calendar. The traditional festivals, which embody the unique spirit and affections and feelings of the Chinese nation and reflect Chinese civilization, are considered an important factor for the promotion of national unity and social harmony. At a time of cultural globalization in the world, the revival of traditional festivals will help boost Chinese traditional culture, easy and friendly personal relations and harmonious social environment, and will help build cohesive affinity among the Chinese nation promoting reunification across the Taiwan Straits.

For more information, check the following links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_culture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_calendar

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/taiwan.html

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Public Affairs Conference Schedule Now Available

The schedule for the 2009 Public Affairs Conference: “Sustainable Solutions for a Sustainable Future” is posted online at http://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/conference/2009schedule.asp. The brochure will be available in late January.
For complete information about the April 21-24 Public Affairs Conference, visit http://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/conference/.

Faculty, please consider including plenary talks, panel sessions and special events in your syllabi for the spring semester. Other sustainability talks and events throughout the semester associated with this year’s public affairs theme of sustainability can be found at http://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/42805.htm.

The Public Affairs Conference committee would appreciate dissemination of the web sites announcing the conference and schedule to appropriate email lists in the community and region.

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New! Spring 2009 Public Science Lecture Series

The College of Natural and Applied Sciences is hosting a new series of exciting, informative presentations that are designed to engage and inform citizens of southwest Missouri. The Spring 2009 “Public Science Lecture Series” will begin with the first lecture in the series, on January 27, featuring Dr. Bob Patterson speaking on “The Expansion of Our Universe.” There will be more details, including speakers’ bios and flyers, to come.

Contact: Dr. Tammy Jahnke

Public Science Lecture Series Schedule

January 27, 7:30 PM, Temple 002, Dr. Bob Patterson – “The Expansion of Our Universe”

February 17, 7:30 PM, Temple 002, Dr. Kevin Evans – “Written in the Rocks:  A Brief History of Geological Time in Missouri”

March 3, 7:30 PM, Temple 002, Dr. Larry Campbell – “Math is Not a Four-Letter Word:  Celebrating the Importance and Relevance of Mathematics In Our School Classrooms and In Our Lives”

April 13, 7:30 PM, Temple 002, Dr. Doug Gouzie – “Living with Our Landscape – Lessons from the 2006 Nixa Sinkhole Collapse”

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The Teaching Professor is the lively, informative newsletter with a singular purpose: to provide ideas and insight to educators who are passionate about teaching.

Each monthly newsletter delivers thought-provoking and inspirational articles on a wealth of critical topics. Brief and to the point, it covers such subjects as:

• Student-centered learning
• Mentoring new and adjunct faculty
• Overcoming student apathy
• Energizing and re-inspiring experienced faculty
• Integrating new technology
• Responding to course evaluations and feedback
• And more!

FREE Online Subscription from January until June 2009:

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Once registered, you will receive an email reminder as each issue is posted on the Magna Publication’s web site.  The notification email address is magnapubs@e.mailzeen.com to add to your personal address book. Every email reminder includes links to each of the articles and the full newsletter in .PDF format or full Audio.

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Student Research Grants for Asian Studies

Application Deadline: February 2, 2009
Contact: Weirong Schaefer, Coordinator of the College of Arts and Letters Asian Arts Initiative

To further promote the Asian studies among students at MSU, the Student Research Grants for Asian studies now is available.

Full-time or part-time students from any college at MSU are eligible. Undergraduates as well as graduate students are encouraged to apply.

Applications are now being accepted for the Student Research Grants for Asian Studies.

These grants are made possible through the Asian Arts Initiative of the College of Arts and Letters and the Provost’s Research Incentive Program. The amount of awards will vary to a maximum of $2,000 for international travel and $1,000 for domestic travel.

Click here for complete instructions and application form. Notification of awards will be made by March 1, 2009.

• Full-time or part-time students from any college are eligible.
• Undergraduates as well as graduate students are encouraged to apply.
• Examples of appropriate funding include travel expenses, materials, conference fees, food and lodging expenses as well as other research-oriented expenses.