Fall 2026 Program Descriptions
Geostrategic Forecasting and the Five Themes of Geography
In this session we will discuss how to integrate geography and politics to examine East Asia. We begin by discussing the five themes of geography: location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and regions to examine their relevance in both geography and non-geography courses. Next, we examine how to apply the five themes in various Asian countries and in subnational contexts. Finally, we will discuss how to create geography projects that illustrate student competency in these themes. Participants will receive copies of the workshop materials, including a set of small geography posters useful for the classroom.
Date/Time: September 23, 2026 @6-8pm
In this session we will discuss how to integrate geography and politics to examine East Asia. We begin by discussing the five themes of geography: location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and regions to examine their relevance in both geography and non-geography courses. Next, we examine how to apply the five themes in various Asian countries and in subnational contexts. Finally, we will discuss how to create geography projects that illustrate student competency in these themes. Participants will receive copies of the workshop materials, including a set of small geography posters useful for the classroom.
Date/Time: September 23, 2026 @6-8pm
Why does Godzilla keep attacking Tokyo?
Join us for this in-person seminar led by Dr. Adam Manfredi (University of North Texas). Since its 1954 debut, the Godzilla franchise has been a bedrock of Japanese popular culture, and this year’s Godzilla Minus Zero marks the 34th installment in the Japanese series. This lecture explores how these films are more than popcorn flicks; from the very start, they have served as a way for Japan to process collective trauma and reflect on its place in a changing world. Participants will receive copies of the book Godzilla on my Mind and a resource article on teaching Godzilla in the classroom.
Date/Time: October 20 @6-8pm
Join us for this in-person seminar led by Dr. Adam Manfredi (University of North Texas). Since its 1954 debut, the Godzilla franchise has been a bedrock of Japanese popular culture, and this year’s Godzilla Minus Zero marks the 34th installment in the Japanese series. This lecture explores how these films are more than popcorn flicks; from the very start, they have served as a way for Japan to process collective trauma and reflect on its place in a changing world. Participants will receive copies of the book Godzilla on my Mind and a resource article on teaching Godzilla in the classroom.
Date/Time: October 20 @6-8pm
Asian Art for the Classroom @the Crow Museum
Discover new ways to inspire curiosity and bring global perspectives into your classroom through an immersive learning experience at the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Richardson, TX. Participants will enjoy a guided tour of the museum, gaining insight into Asian art, history, and culture. Following the tour, educators will take part in a hands-on object exploration featuring five specially curated works of art, providing opportunities for close examination, discussion, and strategies for incorporating museum objects into classroom teaching. The program concludes with a lunch at a restaurant nearby, offering time for reflection and exchanging ideas on how to enrich student learning through the arts.
Date/Time: November 7, 2026, 11AM-2:30PM (this date/time depends on availability and will be solidified in early October)
Discover new ways to inspire curiosity and bring global perspectives into your classroom through an immersive learning experience at the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Richardson, TX. Participants will enjoy a guided tour of the museum, gaining insight into Asian art, history, and culture. Following the tour, educators will take part in a hands-on object exploration featuring five specially curated works of art, providing opportunities for close examination, discussion, and strategies for incorporating museum objects into classroom teaching. The program concludes with a lunch at a restaurant nearby, offering time for reflection and exchanging ideas on how to enrich student learning through the arts.
Date/Time: November 7, 2026, 11AM-2:30PM (this date/time depends on availability and will be solidified in early October)