Multicultural Speaker Series - Inclusivity in Instructor Activities
Dr. Moogega Cooper
Meeting a Real-Life Guardian of Galaxy
Activity Description
Let's watch Dr. Moogega Cooper, Planetary Protection Engineer for NASA, and Kyle Hill from Because Science as they tour NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory learning about how we protect other planets from "unseen enemies: human bacteria." (Cooper & Hill, 2019).
For a sample classroom activity, review the Real Life Guardian of the Galaxy worksheet. In this activity, we will discuss the implications of human exploration of space, the science that entails protecting both earth and space, and how science impacts our every day lives.
Colonization in The Outer Worlds - Exploration of...
Activity Description
In a YouTube series, Because Space, Dr. Moogega Cooper discusses the feasibility of colonization outside the earth for humans. Using the action-role playing game, The Outer Worlds, she applies scientific principles for exploration and colonization of other “outer” worlds. Using the video, How to Colonize The Outer Worlds, as the basis for activities, we are introduced to Dr. Cooper, various topics and terminology. While the topic is scientific, faculty in other disciplines can explore topics from sociology, history, education and technology.
As a guest speaker in September 2021, faculty who desire to prepare an activity such as this, will garner enthusiasm and momentum for engagement with Dr. Cooper’s presentation.
For a sample classroom activity, review Colonization in The Outer Worlds - Exploration of... While this activity presented does reference online gaming, unless that topic is relevant to class engagement, neither students nor faculty need to play or have played the game. Information on the game is provided for reference of topics mentioned in the video.
What does it mean to heal from historical trauma?
Healing from trauma: Activity Description
Colonization can be discussed from many approaches. Using the video, How to Colonize The Outer Worlds, watch with the framework of us colonizing Mars. If Mars has life, how would those lifeforms experience our invasion and colonization?
In this activity, the focus is on how white settlers colonized Native American people’s. While historical trauma has become as a term more commonly associated with Native American peoples, it now functions as a public narrative for entire communities that have been psychologically affected by legacies of colonialism and their attendant forms of structural violence over time.
As a guest speaker in September 2021, faculty who desire to prepare an activity such as this, will garner enthusiasm and momentum for engagement with Dr. Cooper’s presentation.
For a sample classroom activity, review What Does It Mean to Heal From Historical Trauma