What happens when animals defy the law and what shenanigans could they get into?
For people wanting to find out, consider dropping by one of the many events hosted by the College of Science and Engineering’s very own book club!
Nicole Williams, the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering helped make this event a reality by collaborating with Winona State University’s English department. As a reader herself, she was eager to intersect science and literature and share this book with Winona State students, after hearing about Fuzz through a community book club.
“It’s not all that common that a book includes both so much science and humor,” Williams said.
Author, Mary Roach, wrote Fuzz to help educate readers about animals and the inner workings of their minds, to show her readers what a step in their shoes, or paws rather, would look like.
“Intrepid as ever, she travels from leopard-terrorized hamlets in the Indian Himalaya to St. Peter’s Square in the early hours before the pope arrives for Easter Mass, when vandal gulls swoop in to destroy the elaborate floral display,” as stated on Roach’s official website.
The book is a wild adventure and must-read for all majors alike.
“We reached out to all of our faculty, and 40 faculty members got Fuzz for free so they could read over the summer,” Williams said. “And then Larry and Will Reuter provided free copies of the book to all of our biology orientation sections.”
If you missed the first book club discussion, don’t fret, as there will be another related event held on October 14th from 3:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. in Stark Laboratory Center 120. Inspired by Fuzz, Winona State will host a panel on local flora and fauna, open to the public. Williams also detailed some of the special guest speakers who will be speaking on the panel.
“We have the DNR [Department of Natural Resources] coming as well as US Fish and Wildlife coming and they’re going to talk about species management and plant safety wildlife responses in a fun, interactive setting,” Williams said.
On October 27th, Mary Roach will be visiting the Winona State campus. There will be a meet and greet for students from 3:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. and then from 7:00p.m. to 9:00p.m., an event open to the public where she’ll be reading some excerpts from Fuzz and sharing more of her latest research pertaining to the relationship between humans and animals. Roach has been published in National Geographic and The New York Times Magazine and has won the American Engineering Societies’ journalism award.
The first book club discussion, that took place on September 23rd, was a hit. Blandine Berthelot, The College of Science & Engineering Dean’s Assistant, took attendance at the event and reported that there were thirty-five student attendees. Students of any major and faculty from any department are welcome to join the book club.
“It makes you see things from two sides of view about the interaction between animals and humans. So you see it from the human standpoint, but you also see it from the animal standpoint which is really special,” Williams said. “And I just think everyone should read for fun. Regardless of your major. It’s such a big thing.”
