Examines the urban environment as a natural phenomenon, human habitat, medium of expression, and forum for action. Subject has two related, major themes: how ideas of nature influence the way cities are perceived, designed, built, and managed; and how natural processes and urban form interact and the consequences of these for human health safety and welfare. Description from the course home page: This course explores the urban environment as a natural phenomenon, human habitat, medium of expression, and forum for action. The course has several major themes: how ideas of nature influence the way cities are perceived, designed, built, and managed; how natural processes and urban form interact and the consequences for human health and welfare; how planners and designers can shape the urban natural environment. Each student researches and presents a case, either historical or an example of contemporary theory and practice.

The changing of the leaves can be seen in space by the SeaWiFS instrument. Shown here are 3 datasets that show the change.

Boston based artists discuss the meaning of Black art. Host Jim Spruill leads a discussion among 17 Boston-based artists on what Black art is and to whom the Black artist speaks. Group assembled includes Orma Jo Flint, Steve Hussein, Hakim Jami, Bob Nellums, Joanne Robinson, Robert Ruff, Joanne Sanders, Ralf Coleman, Ali Yusef, Carolyn Fitchert, Charles Holley, Gary Rickson, Dana Chandler, Jr., Lovett Thompson, John Wilson, and Elma Lewis. Program includes stills of the work of featured painters and sculptors woven into the discussion, with featured performances by the musicians, dancers and poets. Featured performers include Ali Yusef Trio and the Negro Repertory Theatre. Produced by Ray Richardson. Directed by Stan Lathan.

This class is an interdisciplinary survey that explores the experiences of people of African descent through the overlapping approaches of history, literature, anthropology, legal studies, media studies, performance, linguistics, and creative writing. It connects the experiences of African Americans and of other American minorities, focusing on social, political, and cultural histories, and on linguistic patterns. Activities include lectures, discussions, workshops, and required field trips that involve minimal cost to students.

'Blast from the Past' with vocalist Miriam Makeba. Program is divided into two halves: the first consisting of three segments related to African American theater in Boston, the second of newsmagazine-style segments. Harold Stuart, Director of the Boston Black Repertory Company and company actors Mattye 'Mama' Long and Frederick Tyson discuss the differences between 'theater' and 'Black theater,' how Black theater affects members of the community, how talented individuals find the time to act, problems financially supporting Black theater, and why there is so little Black theater in Boston. Following the discussion is an eleven minute excerpt from the Company's latest production, A Raisin in the Sun, and a short interview with two Emerson students who helped film the production (Stephen Farrier and Jacquie Gales, both members of the Emerson student group EBONI Productions). Additional program segments include 'Access' (about the Sav-Mor government-funded security program), 'Blast from the Past' (with an excerpt from a 1971 interview with vocalist Miriam Makeba on how her marriage to Stokely Carmichael affected her singing career and her opinion on Guinea's response to a recent invasion attempt by the Portuguese), 'Information' (on minority recruitment for the Peace Corps' Vista program), the 'Community Calendar,' 'Commentary' by Marita Rivero (who reads a reworked version of 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'), and three 'Philosophy of Life' segments with musician Herbie Hancock. Produced by Marita Rivero. Directed by Conrad White.

This excerpt from WGBH's Evening Compass news program summarizes events of the first year of the 1974 Boston school desegregation plan.

Transitions between relatively cloud free scenes of the region around Boston, using true color land and clouds with false color-chlorophyll water images, all from SeaWiFS.

This scene shows Landsat Thematic Mapper data from the shortwave infrared (TM band 5), infrared (TM band 4), and visible green (TM band 2) channels of Boston. Logan Airport is visible in the foreground, while high resolution images show the highway network running around the city.

Zoom onto metropolitan centers from wide angle views, 11 seconds each.

SeaWiFS false color (chlorophyll-phytoplankton levels) ocean and true color land of Boston for 36 dates from September 15, 1997 to August 2, 1998

SeaWiFS true color still images of Boston for 36 dates from September 15, 1997 to August 2, 1998

Transitions between relatively cloud free true color scenes of the Boston area from SeaWiFS

provides readings, maps, and lesson ideas about the first arboretum in the U.S., which opened to the public in the 1880s. This site, though focused on a place devoted to the study of trees, can help students learn how 19th-century urban conditions influenced the development of parks and how to research the history of parks in their own communities.

Examines the evolving structure of cities, the dynamic processes that shape them, and the significance of a city's history for its future development. Develops the ability to read urban form as an interplay of natural processes and human purposes over time. Field assignments in Boston provide the opportunity to use, develop, and refine these concepts.

This course introduces undergraduate planning students to the role of the planner in researching issues in cities both in the United States and abroad. This course is a practical, hands-on workshop that challenges students to research, write and present their ideas on two different cities: A U.S. City (preferably somewhere close) and Copenhagen. Students will be equipped to: select and research a thesis topic,work professionally with faculty and other experts on the topic of their choice, and research, write and present.

Action for Boston Community Development. Program discusses a variety of topics via a magazine-style format. Host John Slade introduces a moderated discussion led by Say Brother filmmaker Henry Johnson with Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) employees Barbara Brydie, Arnett Waters, and Russell Hill (who discuss the agency's threatened status due to a proposed withdrawal of federal aid in President Nixon's proposed budget), an interview and performance by vocalist Eddie B. with the Contemporary Jazz Trio; and an interview conducted by John Slade with Helaine Simmonds, Clarence Dilday, and Benjamin Jones of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (on Governor Francis Williams Sargent's judgeship nominations). Produced by John Slade. Directed by Russell Tillman.

Byron Rushing, Director of the Museum of Afro-American History, Boston, takes host Topper Carew on a tour of the Copps Hill Burial Ground in the North End.

Gregory Spence comments on new testing criteria for students. Host Barbara Barrow discusses the lack of communication between educators and students in the Boston school district, with community members Gregory Spence (an attorney for the City of Boston), Kenya Clemens (of the Youth Activities Commission), Jeannette Bolt (playwright and author of A Minority Child's Day), and Dr. Alvin Pouissant (noted psychiatrist and Harvard professor). Issues addressed include the different social backgrounds of educators and students, Black English in the classroom, the role of standardized achievement tests in student evaluations, and the need for more humanity in the classroom. Also included in the program are 'man on the street' interviews conducted by Associate Producer Vickie Jones (in which she asks people their opinion of African American schools with white educators and whether or not Black children should be taught by Black teachers), an interview with Barbara Sizemore conducted by Jon Brim (on the problems of the Washington, DC school system and Sizemore's experiences as a former Superintendent of Schools there), an excerpt from a filmed performance of Bolt's play A Minority Child's Day; and the 'Community Calendar.' Produced by Marita Muhammad Rivero. Directed by Conrad White.

recounts the creation of a series of parks in Boston in the 1880s. At that time, Boston was crammed with buildings and people. It was overcrowded, noisy, and dirty. City officials, concerned about the health and well-being of Bostonians, hired Frederick Law Olmsted, who had designed Central Park in New York, to create a park system that wove together a series of small parks?gardens, waterways, meadows, tree museums, and others?into what became known as Boston's Emerald Necklace.