In Brief: September 19

To the moon, at the BGSU Planetarium

The BGSU Planetarium is taking visitors “Back to the Moon for Good,” through Nov. 20.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Sundays, 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays. The Planetarium is in Overman Hall. A $1 donation is suggested.

‘Walk with the Leaders’ then join Freddie and Frieda 5K Run/Walk

Join Dean Dawn Shinew and other administrators from the College of Education and Human Development Sept. 26 for the inaugural “Walk with the Leaders.” A 30-minute walk sponsored by the BGSU WellAware program, the walks will be led by different colleges each month. Participants will be entered in a gift-card drawing toward new sneakers.

Meet at 12:15 p.m. at the north entrance of the Education Building, across from Eppler Center. The rain location will be the Eppler South gym track.

And join fellow Falcons and friends for the 2016 Homecoming Freddie and Frieda Philanthropy 5K Run/Walk on Oct. 1.  Team members’ cost is $10 per person. Registration covers the cost of your timing chip, race T-shirt and breakfast. To join the WellAware team, contact Karyn Smith karync@bgsu.edu before Sept. 26. Family and friends are welcome to join too.

Participants may walk or run the course. Participants with strollers and children are welcome. Celebrate after the race at the third Annual Falcon Flapjacks Breakfast (8:30-10:30 a.m.). Admission to the Falcon Flapjacks Breakfast is complimentary for 5K participants.

Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. at the BGSU Perry Field House Track Room; the race begins promptly at 8:30 a.m.

Programs to showcase film as tool for international understanding

The University and community are invited to learn about a program that uses documentary film as a classroom tool to increase international understanding, plus a special film screening and discussion with the director.

Alumna Dr. Nassim Abdi '02 returns to BGSU with her collaborator, Leila Mouri, to introduce Docademia, the educational program they founded. Abdi, Mouri and five BGSU interns who work with them will hold two identical events on Sept. 27 and 28 to introduce the campus and community to Docademia. The events will include a showing of the 2013 film “Facing the Mirror,” including a discussion with the director of the film, Sarah Khaki. The film tells the story of Iranian-born American plastic surgeon Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, who helps Iraqis recover from the physical and psychological scars of war.

The Sept. 27 program will take place from 6-8 p.m. in 201 Bowen-Thompson Student Union; the Sept. 28 event is at noon in 207 Hanna Hall. The sessions are open to everyone, and the public is invited. 

When teaching university students in Indiana, Dr. Nassim Abdi '02 noticed how students often struggled to grasp the realities of life outside the United States, and in particular about the unique social justice challenges facing people in other countries. As a journalist in her native Iran, Abdi knew the power of sharing people’s stories to build cross-cultural understanding. She began using documentaries from abroad in her classes, and found that film expanded her students’ perspectives and understanding of peoples, cultures and issues that they have not experienced personally.

This was the inspiration for Abdi and Mouri to found Docademia, whose purpose is to “connect classroom educators to international filmmakers … to bring about cross-cultural understanding and critical discussion.” Since its founding, more than 500 short documentaries have been submitted to Docademia. Abdi and Mouri, along with five current and former students in BGSU’s MACIE (master of arts in cross-cultural and international education) program, have been working over the past six months to catalog, review and create classroom curricula. In addition to the curricula, one of the unique features of Docademia is the opportunity to connect classrooms and students with the filmmakers via Skype.

For more information, email macie@bgsu.edu.