News from the Director, Dr. Gayle Zachmann, Fall 2008

I am delighted to share news of the past year’s symposia, scholars-in-residence and study abroad programs at the University of Florida Paris Research Center. A unit expressly designed to create and facilitate international initiatives across campus and across the disciplines, the Paris Research Center is an integral and exciting new European component in the University of Florida’s commitment to international education and academic excellence.

The creation of the center presents unique opportunities. With a primary mission to foster and facilitate international research and exchange, the Paris Research Center welcomes ideas for new international research endeavors, international partnerships and exchanges, the development of colloquia, workshops, independent research projects and study abroad programs from all levels and corners of the University of Florida community.

The Paris Research Center offers UF scholars an international home office for communications and consultation, administrative and networking services, event and program organization, assistance with study abroad program development, as well as reading rooms, classrooms, meeting rooms, and limited office space for program directors and/or scholars in residence.

It is a pleasure to announce that the Paris Research Center has now welcomed over 100 UF scholars, hosted nearly 1000 international scholars at UF-sponsored research events and facilitated study abroad development from all corners of the campus. The facilitation of research for developing individual and group publications and projects significantly fosters the creation of new courses for UF students. Since the 2004 initiation of our innovative course programming, we have brought over 800 students to Paris for study and research. The range, quality, level, breadth and number of Paris Research Center activities remain at the top of programming by US public institutions in Paris: in the 2008-09 academic year we expect to organize and facilitate 16 study abroad programs, well over 50 guest lectures, workshops, and numerous research meetings and projects.

It has been a pleasure to work with such positive energy and to see the result of faculty and student enthusiasm. In this regard, numerous activities are forthcoming at the Paris Research Center, including new curricular development for the UF community and several conferences and workshops set to run in Spring and Summer 2009.

For further information on PRC membership, to learn more about how you or your unit may benefit from the Paris Research Center, to propose workshops and activities, or to set up an information session about opportunities at the PRC for your unit, please contact us at paris-research@clas.ufl.edu or visit our website at www.clas.ufl.edu/PRC.

Sincerely,
Gayle Zachmann
Director, Paris Research Center

Distinguished Guest Lecturers 2007-2008

• Linda Aidan, Public affairs division, OECD
• Anne-Marie Baron, Scholar, film critic, Radio Juif
• Henri Bull, Judge, Norway “An Introduction to the European Free Trade Association Court”
• Lieutenant Colonel Christian D. Chapman, Defense policy advisor, United States Mission to NATO
• Georgiana Colvile, Professor of English and American literature, University of Tours
• Meggan Dissly, Civil society coordinator, OECD
• Jean-Pierre Giovenco, Secretary-general, supplementary edition of Le Monde
• Brian Greaney, NATO
• Agnes Hubert, Economic journalist and author
• Clifford Jones, Professor, University of Florida, Levin College of Law
• David Lawsky, Brussels correspondent, Reuters
• Adrian Leeds, Marketing public relations, and communications expert
• Félix Loeb, President, Grande Synagogue de Paris
• Raphy Marciano, Director, Centre Communautaire Juif
• Daniel Maximin, Poet, novelist and essayist; recipient of the Grand Prix de l’Académie Française Maurice Genevoix in December 2004
• Paolo Moscovici, Managing director France, JP Morgan Private Bank
• Nicole Pruneaux and Norbert Skurnik, Lecturers, “The Free Masons in France”
• Mort Rosenblum, Former foreign correspondent for the Associated Press, author
• Rebecca Ross, NATO
• R. Terry Schnadelbach, Distinguished Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Florida
• Eleonor Sharpston, Advocate General, Court of Justice
• James Snyder, NATO
• James Stewart, Legal secretary for United Kingdom judge Konrad Schiemann
• William Ramsay, Deputy executive director, International Energy Agency
• Marion Tucker-Venter, UNESCO
• Georges Viaud, Historian

Workshops, Symposia and Expositions 2008

In the past year, the Paris Research Center was delighted to facilitate the following international initiatives:

New Directions in Quantitative Finance
May 2008

In conjunction with Columbia University and Ecole Polytechnique, the Paris Research Center was pleased to present “New Directions in Quantitative Finance.” This exciting three-day workshop brought together more than 80 scholars and industry professionals from around the world.

Participants included: René Aid (Electricité de France); Marco Avellaneda (New York University); Bruno Bouchard (Université de Paris Dauphine); Yann Braouezec (Ecole Sup. d'Ing. Léonard de Vinci); Mark Broadie (Columbia University); Stephane Crepey (Université d'Evry, France); Luciano Campi (Université de Paris Dauphine); Bruno Dupire (Bloomberg, LP); Umut Cetin (London School of Economics); Romain Deguest (Columbia University/Ecole Polytechnique); Romuald Elie (Université de Paris Dauphine); David Fournie (Columbia University); Alfred Galichon (Ecole Polytechnique); Emmanuel Gobet; (InP Grenoble - ENSIMAG); Jun-ya Gotoh (Chuo University) Pierre Henry-Labordère (Société Générale); Ying Jiao (Ecole Sup. d'Ing. Léonard de Vinci) ; Jean-Michel Lasry (Calyon) ; Andreea Minca (Finance Concepts) ; Amal Moussa (Columbia University/Ecole Polytechnique) ; Serguei Novak (Middlesex University) ; Olivier Pironneau (Université de Paris 6) ; Peter Tankov (Université Denis Diderot) ; Stan Uryasev (University of Florida) ; Ekaterina Voltchkova (Université de Toulouse)

Cultural Production in the 19th Century: Le Quotidien à la Lettre
June 2008

The fourth edition of the annual Paris Research Center workshop series in French Studies, organized by Gayle Zachmann (Paris Research Center) and Charles Stivale (Wayne State University), welcomed approximately 30 scholars from Europe and the United States.

Participants included: Xavier Bourdenet, (UFM Paris – Sorbonne); Elizabeth Emery, (Montclair State University); Françoise Gaillard, (Université de Paris VII); Melanie Hawthorne, (Texas A & M University); Sharon Johnson, (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University); Elisabeth Ladenson, (Columbia University) ; Anne McCall, (Tulane University); Nicole Mozet, (Université de Paris VII); Michel Pierssens, (Université de Montréal); Martine Reid, (Université de Lille-III); Jean-Marie Roulin, (Université Jean Monnet, St. Etienne); Larry Schehr, (University of Illinois); Richard Shryock, (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University); Sonya Stephens, (Indiana University); Charles J. Stivale, (Wayne State University); Gayle Zachmann, (University of Florida)

Upcoming Critical Discussions and Workshops

Rencontres: International Affairs and the Public Sphere
Fall 2008

Throughout the fall term, the International Affairs and the Public Sphere progam (IAPS) will offer a series of lectures focusing on international politics, media, and business by individuals renowned in their field. Speakers will include: Mort Rosenblum, journalist and author of Escaping Plato’s Cave: How America’s Blindness to the Rest of the World Threatens Our Survival; Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Sebastian Rotella, Daniel Maximin, novelist and recipient of the Grand Prix de l’Académie Française Maurice Genevoix; Lieutenant Colonel Christian D. Chapman, defense policy advisor to the United States Mission to NATO; and William Ramsay, Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.

Lectures Series in Landscape Architecture

A selection of distinguished speakers designed to enhance the UF Paris Research Center Landscape Architecture program will address students and faculty throughout the fall term

Cultural Production in the 19th Century
June 2009

The fifth edition of the annual Paris Research Center workshop series in French Studies, organized by Gayle Zachmann (Paris Research Center) and Charles Stivale (Wayne State University), will welcome approximately 30 Scholars from Europe and the United States.

Quantum Dynamics of Complex Molecular Systems
Fall 2009

Planning is currently underway for this biannual event with the organizers, David Micha (Physics) and Irene Burghardt (Ecole Normale Supérieure). The workshop brings together dozens of scholars from Asia, the United States and Europe. It is always a delight to host this talented and enthusiastic group, and we are pleased to be able to welcome them back to the Center.

Scholars-in-Residence UF

Scholars-in-Residence

The Paris Research Center provides logistic, consultative, research and administrative services to member unit faculty. In 2007-8 we were pleased to welcome many UF faculty members as Scholars-in-Residence, each of whom benefited from the Paris campus facilities in diverse and discipline-specific ways.

Scholars-in-Residence this year include: Farid AitSahlia (Industrial & Systems Engineering); Rori Bloom (French); William Calin (French); Nancy Clark (Architecture); Richard Conley (Political Science); Robert Emerson (Management); Stephanie Evans (African-American Studies/Women’s Studies); Richard Heipp (Art & Art History); Rachel Inman (Law); Jonathan Helton (Music); Clifford A. Jones (Law); Sheryl Kroen (History); Lauren Garber Lake (Art & Art History); Juan-Carlos Molleda (Public Relations); Guenakh Mitselmakher (Physics); Ranga Narayanan (Chemical Engineering); Vasuda Narayanan (Women’s Studies); Scott Nygren (English/Film & Media Studies); Amy Abugo Ongiri (English); Mary Padua (Landscape Architecture); Elizabeth Ross (Art & Art History); Chris Slobogin (Law), Christopher Silver (Design, Construction & Planning); James Sterns (Food and Resource Economics); Daniel Talham (Chemistry); Henry Tosi (Management); Maureen Turim (English/Film & Media Studies), Stanislav Uryasev (Industrial & Systems Engineering)

This fall we will also welcome UF Scholars: Terry Schnadelbach (Landscape Architecture), Mary Padua (Landscape Architecture), Ranga Narayanan (Chemical Engineering), Jonathan Helton (Music) graduate students David Billa as Scholar-in-Residence

Visiting Scholars-in-Residence

This fall, we are very pleased to welcome Jeremy Jennings as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar-in-Residence. Director of the Centre of the History of Political Thought, Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académique, and author and editor of eight books, Professor Jennings is one of the foremost scholars of French political thought.

Study Abroad Initiatives

Since the 2004 initiation of innovative course programming, the Paris Research Center has welcomed over 800 students to Paris on a wide array of discipline-specific high motivation programs from units across campus.

Introducing International Affairs and the Public Sphere
Fall Term 2007

Last year marked the inauguration of International Affairs and the Public Sphere (IAPS) at the Paris Research Center, a program designed to promote cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary understanding for students of all majors. In the Fall of 2007, students enrolled in coursework in business, law, journalism, cultural studies, language, and political science. Courses offered in cooperation with the Warrington College of Business Administration, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and the College of Journalism & Communications. Highlights of the program included a visit to the Prime Minister’s residence at the Hotel Matignon, visits to UNESCO and the European Commission in Brussels, a visit to Le Monde, numerous guest lectures by distinguished speakers such as Ambassador William Ramsay, journalist Mort Rosenblum, Lieutenant-Colonel Christian Chapman, and much more.

Landscape Architecture Studio in Paris
Fall Term 2007

This year, in addition to program coursework and weekly lecture tours around Paris, students participated in multiple excursions to sites such as Giverny and Vaux-le-Vicomte and presented their projects to distinguished guest jurors including renowned Landscape Architects such as Jean-Pierre La Dantec, the noted authority on French landscape architectural history, Adel Robert, Director of Pedegogy, Musée des Arts Decoratifs, and Ariela Katz, Paris Director of Urban Studies, Columbia University.

Intensive Study Abroad 2008: Spring Break & May Intersession

The PRC offers a wide range of course over Spring Break and May Intersession. This year’s courses were created by:), Nancy Clark (Architecture), Lauren Garber Lake (Art and Art History), Richard Heipp (Art and Art History), Jonathan Helton (Music), Amy Ongiri (English/Film & Media Studies), and James A. Sterns (Food and Resource Economics).

Honors in Paris 2008

Conceived as a four-month research seminar, the Honors in Paris program unites UF scholars from different fields to create a comprehensive academic experience for highly motivated UF students. The Spring 2008 program, whose theme is Engagements with Modern France: Arts, Poetics and the Social, brought together Scott Nygren (English/Film & Media Studies), Maureen Turim (English/Film & Media Studies), Elizabeth Ross (Art and Art History), and Gayle Zachmann (Paris Research Center).

Summer in Paris 2008

The summer term brought 22 undergraduates and 1 graduate student to Paris. Teaching on the program were: Scott Nygren (English/Film & Media Studies), Sheryl Kroen (History), and Clifford A. Jones (Levin College of Law). Highlight of the program included numerous excursions and site visits.

Summer Law Program in Paris & Montpellier, France, 2008

In Summer 2008, the PRC was pleased to welcome 15 students from the Levin College of Law. While on-site, students took advantage of discipline-specific visits such as the Palais de Justice, French law firms, etc.

Study Abroad: Upcoming

International Affairs in the Public Sphere
Fall Term 2008

The Paris Research Center’s IAPS program promotes cross-cultural understanding for students on diverse career paths through a cross-disciplinary approach to international education. The fall 2008 program brings together: Chris Birkel (Warrington College of Business Administration), visiting scholar-in-residence Jeremy Jennings (Political Theory, Queen Mary University of London), Marcie LePine (Warrington College of Business Administration), Richard Lutz (Warrington College of Business Administration), Juan-Carlos Molleda (Public Relations), Eric Olson (Warrington College of Business Administration), Bill Rossi (Warrington College of Business Administration), and Gayle Zachmann (Paris Research Center).

Landscape Architecture Studio in Paris
Fall Term 2008

More than 20 students will participate in this program, which combines classroom work and lectures with tours of some of Paris’s most notable parks and gardens. Students will participate in excursions to places such as Amiens, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Berlin and Barcelona, and will have the opportunity to present their projects to a distinguished panel of guest jurors. The program will be run by Professor Terry Schnadelbach and Mary Padua, both in LAA.

Honors in Paris 2009

The Spring 2009 program, whose theme is Power and Image: Engagements with Modern France, will bring together: Melissa Hyde (Art & Art History), Juan-Carlos Molleda (Public Relations), Sergio Vega (Art & Art History), and Gayle Zachmann (Paris Research Center). Enhancements will include guest speakers, concerts and excursions.

Intensive Study Abroad 2009: Spring Break & May Intersession

Students can choose among a wide array of courses during Spring Break and May Intersession. Next year’s courses will be announced shortly.

Summer in Paris 2009

Courses for the 2009 Summer in Paris program will be announced shortly.

Summer Law Program in Paris & Montpellier, France, 2009

In Summer 2009, the PRC will welcome students from the Levin College of Law. While on-site, students will be able to take advantage of visits to sites such as the Palais de Justice, French law firms, etc.

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Director's News

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