Poet Laureate
An important part of the Schiller Institute’s mission is to meld the humanistic with the scientific. To address this aspect of our mission, we appointed a Poet Laureate. The first Schiller Poet Laureate is BC undergraduate student Jesse Julian. Jesse has been writing beautiful, thought-provoking poetry that you can explore below.
ripe by Jesse Julian (read at the October 3, 2024 Schiller Abroad event)
Notes on ripe- Jesse Julian
In attempting to embody the uniqueness of Schiller Abroad through poetry, I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Munachi Onyiuke. Munachi is a current senior who participated in the first Working For and With Communities, an innovative, project-based course that sends students on an immersive trip. In Cambodia, Munachi worked with JRS on sustainable farming solutions, sharing information back-and-forth in a collaborative manner.
Our conversation led me to this idea of growth. When thinking about the future, how do we decide on the direction we want to take? Sylvia Plath’s fig tree metaphor came to mind, illustrating a ripened future waiting for our grasp. “ripe” places the narrator not below the tree, but figuratively as the tree. The imagery of a tree also came from Munachi’s special experiences with a “blessing the tree” ceremony from the religious community in Cambodia. I wanted to capture this wholesome preciousness.
I emphasized Munachi’s point regarding their focus. The goal of the course was not to cure or resolve a problem, yet rather to be curious and willing to learn. It was about taking that leap of faith towards a future that might not be so clear. Growth and curiosity are sacred characteristics we should all venture to have. So ask those questions, and explore beyond the scope of your mind. -- Jesse Julian
Astronomical by Jesse Julian (read at the September 24th, 2024 Schiller Institute welcome reception for new faculty)
Notes on Astronomical - Jesse Julian
The big question I try to answer is, what does it mean to start anew? It means to continue forward while remembering the past; to take inspiration off of what came before. I spoke with new faculty members to try and gather what starting new positions felt like. It feels like the start of a new voyage, informed by previous experiences and motives close to the heart.
I spoke with Director Mary Murphy about the political relationship between Ireland and the US, and I reference the Irish Hall windows in Gasson as a nod to this. Her role emphasizes the contemporary, political connections that Ireland has with BC and beyond. Her institute ventures into a post-conflict conversation, addressing themes such as reconciliation and public policy implementation.
I then spoke with Professor Justin Henriques, who brought to light the wonderful student work occurring with international communities in the Human-Centered Engineering Program; students whom he referred to as “budding engineers.” The program is fueled by the selfless work of students dedicated to service.
I finally spoke to Professor Jesse Swann-Quinn regarding his teaching position at BC. His class, Ecologies of Power, excites him because of the amount of student engagement put into examining the intersection between power and the environment. These stories drive politics, impacting our society—which reminds us that society is rooted in nature.
Cheers to the astronomical accomplishments of the new faculty, who are working together to lift BC up beyond the echo chambers of academia and into real-world progress!
hourglass by Jesse Julian (read at the December, 1 2023 Research Symposium)
Notes on Hourglass - Jesse Julian
Sonnets often sing of strong emotions, most popularized by Shakespeare. With a structure and rhyme scheme reminiscent of a sonnet, "hourglass" focuses on intense human love and joy in the face of a finite life. Whether you are a dreamer or a mental machine, a mother or an adolescent, your health and wellbeing greatly impacts the quality of your life. We as humans aim to live healthy lives filled with love despite the hours ticking towards finitude. The health-based research in this symposium all aim for a similar feat by improving the everyday lives of people, creating a healthcare system centered on humans.
Catalysis by Jesse Julian (read at the November 6, 2023 Research Symposia)
Notes on Catalysis - Jesse Julian
Whether you’re a quantum physicist or a curious kid, you’re likely familiar with Newton’s cradle. It often sits still on desks until you initiate motion by grabbing one of the silver balls and allowing it to fall, and all the spheres continue to collide in a cradle-like motion until energy is lost to its surroundings. Under this metaphor, humans hope to maintain the optimistic and progressive energy of the universe, yet environmental concerns such as heat waste or harmful carbon emissions enact the waste of our developing technology and science. However, the back-and-forth collision of ideas through collaboration across multiple disciplines, all present within this symposium, help in catalyzing the creation of a sustainable society.
once upon a time by Jesse Julian (read at the October 18, 2023 Research Symposia)
Notes on once upon a time - Jesse Julian
"once upon a time" came from a reflection on youth wellbeing, which appeared as a running theme in today's symposia. Although we may only dream that our children could live in a fairy tale, they are challenged with prevalent topics such as mental health and immigration. However, the research done by the Schiller grantees aims to resolve and investigate these areas of concern, propelling us towards a better reality for our youth.
the human touch by Jesse Julian (read at the April 27, 2023 Lunch and Learn Seminar)
Notes on the human touch - Jesse Julian
"the human touch" focuses on the warm, comforting feeling associated with the good in humanity. My poem begins by acknowledging the compounded effect of conflict (such as war) which negatively impacts a child's malleable cognitive skills and intelligence. Yet, I believe all humans harness a warmth, encompassed in their ability to reach and touch the hearts of those in need. Upon meeting them, Matias and Sarah embodied their compassionate dedication to implementation science, bringing skills, support, and the warmth of the human touch to children.
Modern Magic by Jesse Julian
Notes on Modern Magic - Jesse Julian
"Modern Magic" struck me while admiring the fluid and mesmerizing complexity of GIS. I sat in Professor Noah Snyder's lab, admiring the captivating visuals on the screen while his welcoming team discussed the depictions. They displayed an aura of exciting wonder, especially for the capabilities that GIS had in developing their research.
As a theme, I toyed with the idea of traditional magic. I incorporated references to this language domain; for instance, the phrase "Presto Chango" alludes to the "quick change" of modern technology today.
I understand, though, that magic shows appear somewhat corny, like a kids' birthday party. GIS, in contrast, was sophisticated, told a factual story, and relied on technological advances, and so I defined the difference between traditional versus modern magic.
Each layer of the Chattahoochee River was revealed with a satisfying click of a mouse, captured by bathymetry and LiDAR. The ease of this captured my attention, and I felt like a kid watching a card trick — except GIS isn't an illusion at all.
15 by Jesse Julian (read at the January 26, 2023, SI-GECS Symposium)
Notes on 15 - Jesse Julian
"'15' describes the personal impact on my life from the COVID-19 pandemic, which struck right through the middle of my high school career. It changed the way I interacted with people; the way I learned; how I found entertainment. Adapting to an Internet-based life was a struggle, especially for my mental health. A decline in mental health was a common adolescent issue amongst my peers; I wanted to reflect this in my poem. However, the research performed by Jan. 26th’s symposia brings comfort to this younger generation, which will eventually rise from the dark of the pandemic and return to their curious sparks, thanks to the effort made by researchers today." - Jesse Julian
trailblazing by Jesse Julian (read at the January 19, 2023 SI-GECS Symposium
Notes on trailblazing - Jesse Julian
Growing up, I was a passive child, refusing to take action regarding any issues surrounding me. I was often advised to not “fight fire with fire,” which essentially means to respond to an attack with a similar attack. However, I transformed this saying into a much more uplifting and motivating phrase, provoking people to take action. My poem characterizes January 19th's researchers as “trailblazers” who took profound action against climate change. This is proven by their commitment to their respective research. Thus, I devoted a stanza to each of their projects, after studying and asking them about their work. “trailblazing” commemorates the ways in which these “trailblazers” have chosen to fight climate change, or, “fight fire with fire.” - Jesse Julian