Teaching with Salsa

You probably wonder why I used this title, maybe to indicate that I am teaching now here in a more spicy way compared to Wageningen?? No, it is simply referring to the fact that the practicals in the afternoon were in room at the campus bordering the "Media torta", an open stage where all kind of performances are being scheduled. Last week it was hardrock but today it was good Colombian salsa! Loud salsa with good trumpets and percusion but as you can also see on the picture only a small crowd, including for some short moments the "Profe" (that is how they call me here). 

So this formed a very nice setting to introduce the students into the use of Daisyworld, an extremly simply model of how growing daisies (in NL, Madeliefjes, a espagnol; Margarita's, not the Mexican drink) can regulate their own environment such that it optimizes their conditions to survive under a wide range of climate conditions. But also how with such a very simple model, that considers the interactions between the biosphere and physical climate, you can simulate and explain the occurrence of hysteresis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysteresis) in the Earth system, e.g., the slow and more gradual transition from a deglaciated Earth to a glaciated Earth compared to the rather fast transition from a glaciated to a deglaciated Earth (I assume that putting this detailed information on some of the science might get some of you distracted from the generally "light" info provided at this blog).

The teaching is going well, a small group but very motivated students and teaching for a group of five, instead of normally having 80 students for this course, makes it much more interactive but definitely not less intense. It takes as much time and energy to prepare and to teach and do the practicals compared to having 80 students. It is a pity that I have heard already about so many people that would have liked to attend the course but that were simply not informed.....


On the other hand, have to say that my impression of the Universidad de Los Andes is very positive; a university with great facilities for teaching but also to make life at the campus very comfortable.

Marcela and I went to check out the sports facilities, actually hope to get access to this the upcoming days to avoid getting gordito. But there is also all kinds of places to get good Colombian food like the Cantina or the "Profe's" restaurant, in the forests surrounding the campus, where the professors are generally going with their guests por su almuerzo (lunch). Or we go for a real good shot of Colombia coffee at Oma's  coffee place right next to the office!

Anyhow, you can see that we are enjoying life here, with all this new impressions now being in Colombia not solely for holidays but working here during the daytime and meeting family and friends and experiencing Bogota/Colombian "culture" in the night and weekends. I anyhow hope to be able next time to dance again (see previous blog) when we have this good salsa! Will ask Marcela to write the next blog on "las adventuras de Marcela y Lorenzo en Colombia"

ciao, Laurens