On October 2, 2013, a small Ikebana workshop was conducted by Ellen Kelly, a member of Harrisburg Chapter, Ikebana International.

Ellen Kelly lived in Japan for over 5 years and fell in love with Ikebana. She was excited to share this part of Japanese culture with the students.

Students were taught about the origins of Ikebana and were guided through creating their own pieces.

Funding for the workshop was generously provided by the department of East Asian studies, and the Luce Foundation.

Following the talk about Natural History in China and the West, guest speaker Professor Fa-ti Fan of Binghamton University, held a public lecture titled Science, Earthquakes, and Politics in Mao’s China at Denny Hall.

He discussed the understanding of earthquakes during the time of Mao politics, and the use of science to try and predict future earthquakes during this period.

After his lecture, he fielded questions from both students and professors.

On September 18, 2013, a colloquium featuring Professor Strand, Professor Ashton Nichols, and guest speaker Professor Fa-ti Fan of Binghamton University, was held in the newly remodeled Koh room, also known as the East Asian Studies Room, in Dickinson’s Waidner-Spahr Library.

Using the newly installed television screen and furniture, Prof. Fan presented his research on the study of the natural world in China, particularly the use of natural resources in China from historical to modern times.

Funding for the Koh room update was generously provided by the department of East Asian studies, the Kelly Newton fund, and the Luce Foundation.