Monday, April 24, 2006

The U of T had a strong intramural program. The Engineering School was 
known as "Skule". We were the Skule football team. I played both ways; 
center and center linebacker. Nickname: hardrock. Still have my 1953 sweater.

A page from the "1953 Torontonensis":


Favourite courses: minerology and historical geology (paleontology). Mining and 
Mining Geology students used mine surveying methods outdoors.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Prof. Al Blatherwick created Mechanics and Materials 142, an undergraduate experimental 
course with both hands on and lecture sessions. I lectured in a studio with two TV cameras. 
One was directed at me and the other at teaching objects.

I was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy on the ninth of June 1962. Mother and 
Dad and brother Bruce came from Toronto to take parts in the award events. The statue of 
John Sargent Pillsbury handed me my degree. Dad played Professor.

 

I was a party member on the 1962-63 field season U of M US Antarctic Research Program.
I rappeled into crevasses on what became known as the Bowie Crevasse Field on the Minnesota
Glacier. In 1963-64 I taught Elements of Statics using the two-camera technique. I reserved a 
few minutes before or after each class hour for me to stunt. My connection with students was 
through laughter coming from classrooms to the studio.

I began one lecture by saying: "Now class let us consider the possibility of wrapping a rope 
around one's shoulder -- " Hip students would know a stunt was coming. Atwood machine 
theory was explained until a bell sounded end of class hour. Then I said: "What good is all this 
if we cannot use it? I'll see you in the stairwell".

A rope was tied to the pipe railing extending down the stairwell from third floor to basement. 
Students lined the stairs. They cheered when I reached the basement. Fellow staff members 
just assumed I was stunting again. They did not bother to come out of offices to check.

Perhaps the 1964 Outstanding Teacher Award was given to me because I did try to capture 
student interests. 

Thursday, April 20, 2006

le Marteleur is a bronze statue. He stands in front of Mines.
He is clothed in leather, to protect him from sparks.
Alma Mater, 1955: Detlef Kramer left, Alfred Weiss right.
Rear: Dr. Ko Suzuki left, me in middle, Scott Campbell right.
Lamont Geological Observatory. Mrs. Lamont built a house on top of 
the bluff, overlooking the Hudson for Lab Director, Maurice Ewing. 

Feel free to ask me about Lamont anecdotal details.

On the occasion of the 250th school annniversary in 1994, Dean Zvi 
Galil welcomed me as a charter member of the Golden Lions Society, 
since the Society is for grads of 50 or more years. My year was 1954.

It takes a bit of effort:

http://webpages.charter.net/glennbowie/careers.html

From April 2002 until March 2006, my wife Nancy and I volunteered
at the Goodhue County Adult Detention Center on Tue. and Wed. mornings.
Nancy helped detainees select books and magazines and I helped
with personal computer.

We had many opportunities either to talk with detainees or just listen
to their stories. Substance abuse was a frequent topic. I found parallels
between their experiences and things I did in and around crevasses in
the 1962-63 US Antarctic Research Program (USARP).