Distinguished Taiwan Alumni Award Nomination 2018 | Steven A. Martin, Ph.D.

Distinguished Taiwan Alumni Award Nomination 2018 | Steven A. Martin, Ph.D.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Los Angeles

Distinguished Taiwan Alumni Award Nomination 2018

全球留臺傑出校友獎選拔作業推薦表

Taiwan Ministry of Education

Achievements Highlights

Steven A. Martin, Ph.D.

Steven’s outstanding achievements following his scholarship in the Taiwan Studies program at National Chengchi University, Taiwan

Steven’s experiences studying at National Chengchi University, Taiwan inspired him to become a lifelong learner and teacher. He has documented his personal journey in the form of a series of journals, videos, and Website instruction for his students. This has now grown to include a wide range of content: StevenAndrewMartin.com

Steven has dedicated several Web pages to his scholarship in Taiwan, including unique ethnographic fieldwork with the Bunun, fortunately being present at just the right time to document a traditional ethnic Taiwanese lifestyle and culture:

StevenAndrewMartin.com /Taiwan/

StevenAndrewMartin.com /Ethnographic-Research/

Ethnographic filmmaking and participation in the film industry of Taiwan led Steven to develop 3-online multimedia and educational resource agencies and consultancies, through which he continues to encourage others to follow a path of international education and learning:

StudyAbroadJournal.com/

UniversityFilmworks.com/

EducationAbroadAsia.com/

After graduating from National Chengchi University, Taipei, with a Master of Arts degree in Taiwan Studies, Steven was offered a lecturing position in the Faculty of International Studies, Prince of Songkla University in Phuket, Thailand. At this prestigious royal university, he incorporated Taiwan Studies into the curriculum for students of Eastern Civilization and Southeast Asian Civilization courses:

StevenAndrewMartin.com /Eastern-Civilization/

StevenAndrewMartin.com /Southeast-Asian-Civilization/

While teaching in Thailand, Steven also obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in Hospitality and Tourism Management, and received a full PhD scholarship in Environmental Management through Prince of Songkla University. For his PhD, Steven developed social, economic, and environmental sustainability indicators in Southeast Asia, and interviewed many of the world’s most famous surfers and surf research scientists, incorporating their insights into what became a ground-breaking study on SRSI (Surf Resource Sustainability Index). After being awarded the 2012 Best Paper Award in Green Tourism at the Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) conference in Taipei, this work became a series of five published papers in international journals and one book chapter:

StevenAndrewMartin.com /Surf-Tourism-Research/

Steven received tenure in 2013 in the Faculty of International Studies, Department of Thai and ASEAN Studies, at Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand, based on his teaching experience and publication record. He has continued to publish research in various fields, and in recognition of his ongoing work he has been officially nominated for the position of Assistant Professor in Social Sciences and Anthropology, Prince of Songkla University:

StevenAndrewMartin.com /Awards-Scholarship/

Further ethnographic research at Academia Sinica

The personal relationships Steven forged in Taiwan as an international post-graduate student made for long-term opportunities in filmmaking, publishing and scholarship. At National Chengchi University, Steven studied with world-leading researchers such as Professor David Blundell, who opened doors to indigenous communities in Southern Taiwan, especially the Bunun, whose rapidly-disappearing cultural heritage Steven documented in a series of unique films. Steven also worked with other renowned academics, including Professor Peter Bellwood (Australia National University) who he first met at Academia Sinica.

In 2014, Steven presented his research: “Contextualizing island Formosa through cultural heritage, digital mapping, and museology: A new trial for the journey home to the Bunun villages of old Laipunuk, Taiwan” at the 2014 International Conference on Formosan Indigenous peoples held at Academia Sinica, and was subsequently invited to National Chengchi University as an alumnus and guest speaker at the International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS).

The relationships formed in Taiwan’s research institutes led to the production of ethnographic films and research publications in peer-reviewed academic journals, and recently producing a chapter for a new publication coordinated and edited by Academia Sinica commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines:

Martin, Steven Andrew, and David Blundell. 2017. “Cultural Continuum among the Bunun of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu), Southern Taiwan.” Religion, Law, and State: Cultural Re-invigoration in a New Age. Hsun Chang and Chih-wei Tsai, eds. Chapter 8. Taipei: Academia Sinica and Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines. Pp. 217-248. [Refereed]

More than a decade since graduating from NCCU, Steven is very active in international academic conference presenting, filmmaking, and publishing:

Stevenandrewmartin.com /Publication/

Stevenandrewmartin.com /Video-Film/

Experiences in Taiwan Studies and Steven’s development through the years

Steven has often commented that one of the most outstanding aspects of being a graduate student in Taiwan was the way in which the experience opened his heart to research and learning.

Taiwan set him on a path of lifelong learning, and he still embraces this philosophy in the Chinese context of “Huo dao lao, xie dao lao” (活到老学到老), “Live arrive old, study arrive old”, an idea which is particularly relevant to the synergy of Taiwan’s unique academic culture and Taiwanese hospitality.

Steven has always been very open to communicating and collaborating with other students and scholars across disciplines and fields of study.

Today, Steven shares the intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm gained in Taiwan with his international undergraduate and graduate students from Thailand, Southeast Asia and beyond, as well as with the global audience of his many journal articles, conference proceedings and book chapters.

Steven’s success in Thailand links well the new Taiwan southbound initiative for progressively interacting with ASEAN countries in terms of economic and cultural exchanges.

Academic Publications and proceedings in Taiwan Studies

Martin, S. A. (2006). Ethnohistorical perspectives among the Bunun: A case study of Laipunuk, Taiwan. Master’s thesis. National Cheng-Chi University, Taipei, ROC.

Martin, S. A. (2010). Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu)—The last frontier of the Bunun during the Japanese occupation on Taiwan: Ethnographic narratives of an Isbukun elder. Scholarly presentation [PowerPoint]. 3rd Annual PSU Phuket Conference: Multidisciplinary Studies on Sustainable Development. Nov. 17–19. Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand.

Martin, S. A. (2011). Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu)—The last frontier of the Taiwan aborigines during the Japanese occupation on Taiwan: Ethnographic narratives of a Bunun elderThe International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies (IJAPS), 7(1) 123–142.

Martin, S. A. (2011). Music, marriage and adaptation among the Bunun from lost Laipunuk, southern Taiwan. CD Proceedings of the 4th Annual PSU Research Conference: Multidisciplinary Studies on Sustainable Development(p. 46). Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand, November 16–18.

Martin, S. A. (2011). Rebuilding mama’s house—An ethnohistorical reconstruction and homecoming of the Bunun on TaiwanJournal of International Studies1(2) 61–78. Phuket, Thailand: Faculty of International Studies, Prince of Songkla University.

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2014). Contextualizing island Formosa through cultural heritage, digital mapping, and museology: A new trial for the journey home to the Bunun villages of old Laipunuk, TaiwanProceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Formosan Indigenous peoples: Contemporary Perspectives (p. 89). Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, September 15–17.

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2014). Marginalization, social change, and heritage: A continuum of Bunun in southern Taiwan. Proceedings of the 20th Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association Congress Cambodia 2014 (p. 210). Siem Reap, Cambodia, January 12–18.

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2017). Cultural continuum among the Bunun of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu), southern Taiwan (pp. 215–246). In H. Chang and A. Mona [C. Tsai] (Eds.), Religion, law and state: Cultural re-invigoration in the new age. Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines and SMC: Taipei.

Taiwan Scholarship Program | Taiwan Studies Graduate Alumni Friends |Steven and Chris in Phuket, Thailand

News

News

BLOG POSTS  ♣  RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS & PROJECTS


SEPTEMBER 2022 | Certificate of Honor for Dedication and Service

Asst. Professor Steven "Surf Doctor" Martin Retires with a Certificate of Honor for Service and Dedication at the September 2022 Prince of Songkla University Retirement Ceremony in Phuket, Thailand


JANUARY 2022 | Research Publication

Journal of Sport & Tourism

From Shades of Grey to Web of Science: A Systematic Review of Surf Tourism Research in International Journals (2011-2020)

Web of Science (WoS) Indexed (Q2)

https://doi.org/10.1080/14775085.2022.2037453


DECEMBER 2022 | Research Publication

The Last Refuge and Forced Migration of a Taiwanese Indigenous People During the Japanese Colonization of Taiwan – An Ethnohistory

Journal of Nationalism and Ethnic Politics

Web of Science Indexed (Q2)

Scopus Indexed (Q2)


FEBRUARY 2020

TEACHING DEMO for Eastern Civilization | Silk Road Lecture Series 

In Thailand, a teaching demo is just one of the many elements required when applying for an academic title, such as assistant or associate professor...

Teaching Demo | Eastern Civilization | Silk Road


SEPTEMBER, 2020

Dr Steven A Martin Develops Knowledge Management Webinar for the Faculty of International Studies | How to Conduct a Systematic Review

Introduction to the systematic review – Foundation for long-term success in research and writing in the social sciences

 

Systematic Review Webinar | Knowledge Management Activity


JULY, 2020

University News | Research publication in SAGE Ethnography

Martin, S. A. (2020). A Taiwan knowledge keeper of indigenous Bunun – An ethnographic historical narrative of Laipunuk (內本鹿), southern mountain range. Ethnography. DOI: 10.1177/1466138120937037.


NOVEMBER, 2019

University News | Dr Steven Andrew Martin Promoted to Assistant Professor of Asian Studies in Sociology and Anthropology

The Faculty of International Studies hereby congratulates Dr. Steven Martin on his promotion to Assistant Professor of Asian Studies, as from 4th April 2018.


OCTOBER, 2019

Asst. Prof. Dr. Steven A. Martin offers the Faculty of International Studies’ 1st FIS Research Seminar at Prince of Songkla University

"An Introduction to Q and A Sharing in Research – Publication and Resource Strategies for Publishing in International Journals"

Writing articles for international journals

The seminar was aimed at sharing and fostering dialogue and knowledge on how best to conduct appropriate research for publication in international journals...

University News Online | Faculty of International Studies

Prince of Songkla University News | Faculty of International Studies 1st FIS Research Seminar | Click to read more...


AUGUST, 2019

New research publication on Thai Geography at Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand.

Dr. Steven A. Martin, Faculty of International Studies, and co-author Dr. Raymond J. Ritchie, Faculty of Technology and Environment, have published the results of their research on Thai Geography for ASEAN and international education in the Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography.

Thai Geography News | Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography

Martin, S. A., & Ritchie, R. J. (2020). Sourcing Thai geography literature for ASEAN and international educationSingapore Journal of Tropical Geography 41(1) 61–85


OCTOBER, 2018

Steven A. Martin, Ph.D., Nominated for the Taiwan Ministry of Education Distinguished Alumni Award by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Los Angeles

全球留臺傑出校友獎選拔作業推薦表

Graduates and alumni of the Taiwan Scholarship Program teaching in Phuket, Thailand | Steven and Chris

Achievements Highlights

Steven’s outstanding achievements following his scholarship in the Taiwan Studies program at National Chengchi University, Taiwan

Steven’s experiences studying at National Chengchi University, Taiwan inspired him to become a lifelong learner and teacher. He has documented his personal journey in the form of a series of journals, videos, and Website instruction for his students. This has now grown to include a wide range of content: Steven Andrew Martin / International Education Online

Steven has dedicated several Web pages to his scholarship in Taiwan, including unique ethnographic fieldwork with the Bunun, fortunately being present at just the right time to document a traditional ethnic Taiwanese lifestyle and culture:


MAY, 2018

New social science index methodology developed at Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand

Dr. Steven A. Martin, Faculty of International Studies, and co-author Dr. Raymond J. Ritchie, Faculty of Technology and Environment, have published the results of their research into a social science index and weighting schema for coastal planning and sustainable development in Phuket, Thailand.

Social Science Index Research | Environmental Management in Phuket, Thailand


 

2017 Book Chapter | Surf Resource System Boundaries

Martin, S. A., & O'Brien, D. (2017). Part 2: A systems approach – Chapter 2. Surf resource system boundaries. In G. Borne and J. Ponting (Eds.), Sustainable surfing (pp. 23–38). Routledge.

"Surf Resource System Boundaries" is an environmental management approach aimed at the conservation of surfing sites

Plymouth Sustainability and Surfing Research Group (PSSRG)

In 2013, Steven was invited by the Gold Coast City Council, Australia, to present a new research methodology – the Surf Resource Sustainability Index (SRSI). Speaking at the Global Surf Cities Conference at the Kirra Hill Community and Cultural Centre, Gold Coast, Queensland, Steven brought to light the topic of coastal resource sustainability in Phuket, Thailand.

Based on Steven’s presentation, Doctor Gregory Borne, Director of the Plymouth Sustainability and Surfing Research Group (PSSRG), offered Steven to participate in a new book titled Sustainable Surfing.

After four years of communication and collaboration, the university’s book is published and available to English readers.

About the research

Steven’s research explores the concept of a ‘surf resource system boundary’. His work develops a theoretical concept in environmental science, representing the intersecting and interrelated human and physical elements in the natural world at a given surf site. In the study, Co-authored with Assoc. Prof. Danny O’Brien at Bond University, Australia, Steven explores numerous stakeholder interests and factors related to the ‘whole’ surf system as a sustainable and dynamic model. The research addresses a knowledge gap in this area, broadening the understanding of surf system boundaries and providing clarity in two sets of dimensions: the physical boundaries of surf sites and the key resource stakeholders.

Please visit Steven's Surf Tourism Research page for more information.


 

2017 Book Chapter | Cultural Continuum among the Bunun of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu), Southern Taiwan

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2017). Cultural continuum among the Bunun of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu), southern Taiwan (pp. 215–246). In H. Chang and A. Mona [C. Tsai] (Eds.), Religion, law and state: Cultural re-invigoration in the new age. Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines and SMC: Taipei.

Next generation Bunun explore their ancestral homeland of Laipunuk (內本鹿) in southern Taiwan

20th anniversary of Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines

In 2014, Dr. Martin, was invited to Taiwan to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines in cooperation with Academia Sinica, the foremost research institute in Taipei, ROC. The Museum offered Steven a place in their upcoming publication, a book to commemorate their 20th anniversary: Religion, Law and State: Cultural Re-invigoration in the New Age.

After three years of communication and collaboration, the Museum’s book has been published and is now available to English and Chinese readers.

Religion, law and state: Cultural re-invigoration in the new age | Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines | Ch. 8 – Cultural Continuum among the Bunun of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu), Southern Taiwan

About the research

Steven’s research was focused on the remote, high-mountain jungle valley of Laipunuk (內本鹿), in the inaccessible mountains of southern Taiwan, home of the Bunun tribe, the last Taiwanese headhunters.

Having lived with the Bunun tribespeople for five years, he recorded their ways of life, their songs, their traditions and their histories, as part of an oral ethnography project.

According to Steven, “Taiwan is the source of the centuries-long process of the peopling of the Pacific, the so-called ‘Pacific Rainbow’ that maps the migration of peoples, materials and languages across the islands of the Pacific, from Taiwan all the way across to Hawaii.”

Speaking for the Faculty of International Studies (FIS), Steven shared his experience:

Their stories are the last of their kind, and it was an immense privilege to have the opportunity to document their lives.”


The Art of Welcome | University Filmworks

The Art of Welcome, with Edward E. Vaughan, is a new video series featuring hospitality and tourism students and their experiences abroad.

The concept is registered with the Writers Guild of America and features the lives of students who study and work in the hospitality and tourism industry. Each episode takes palace in a different country.

The Art of Welcome | Phuket Interns


What Makes a University Great? | University Filmworks

Dr Steven Martin wrote and hosted What Makes a University Great? under the direction of Edward E. Vaughan. The video explores the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) and focuses on the story of leadership and the Dean of School, Prof. Kaye Chon. The video was produced by University Filmworks.

At SHTM, Steven discovers a little universe where students, teachers and industry professionals come together with outstanding synergy, uncovering a story of outstanding educators and leadership.

Shooting in Hong Kong with University Filmworks | Read more...

What Makes a University Great?

Environmental Studies & Our Food Environs

Environmental Studies & Our Food Environs

Catch the Environmental Studies wave with Dr. Steven Martin | Click to visit the Surf Tourism Research Page

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Course Description

Concepts, objectives, and development of environmental studies; systems approach to environment; interaction between life and surroundings; patterns of environmental problems in both physical and biological aspects involved in society and economics; guidelines for designing environmental education processes, including theories and philosophy of environmental management that mitigate or solve environmental problems leading to the sustainable development.


 

STUDENT POSTER PROJECTS – ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCHERS

  1. Choose an environmental researcher with deep experience and present his or her personal and education background leading to their research. Emphasize his or her area of expertise, including fieldwork. Identify the significance of the research in the field of Environmental Studies.
  2. Develop an academic poster using PowerPoint or other software with the ability to incorporate text boxes, maps, tables and images.

Student Research Poster | Environmental Studies


ENVIRONMENTAL VIDEOS AND TRAILERS

Environmental films and videos are a valuable learning resource for students of environmental studies.

Through edX, Netflix, Ted Talks, YouTube, and public television, we learn about individuals who inspire positive change.

The videos listed on our new Environmental Video Page were selected by students in 805-282 Environmental Studies.

Please visit our page to learn more.

Jeremy Jackson | How we wrecked the ocean


FEATURED TOPIC – "FOOD ENVIRONMENT"

Welcome to "Food Environment", an emerging paradigm in Environmental Studies – A new way to think about food.

Food Environment is a concept which expresses a wide-range of topics and system boundaries related food production, distribution and consumption. Students learn from the personal perspective – That is, how human relationships with the environment are most intimate in our choice of what we put into our bodies.

Class projects and presentations develop an understanding of personal and social food environments as we explore how the environment flows into us in the food we choose to eat. The topic expands through class discussion to include contemporary dimensions, such as sustainable, toxic, local, or regional food environments, including private and public food networks and food deserts.

Food Environment | Central Ohio, USA

Intended learning outcomes include students gaining the ability to talk about personal and public health, diet and nutrition, and how personal choices and responsibility impact sustainability and the environment.


ENVIRONMENTAL WORKS OF LEONARDO DICAPRIO

In 2014, Hollywood super star, Leonardo DiCaprio, was appointed as a United Nations representative on climate change. Dedicated to shedding light on global environmental issues, his works include The11th Hour and Before the Flood.

As our class works together to uncover global environmental issues, we learn about the individual scholars featured in these and other films produced by DiCaprio. Representing social, economic, political and scientific interests and communities, experts lead us through stories and examples from around the world, sharing personal insights, history, scientific data and innovative solutions.

Students in 805-283 Environmental Studies are asked to select one of the scholars featured in any of these movies for an in-depth report and presentation on their life, education, and the events leading to the position they defend in the film. Scholars' current projects, research, challenges, and advancements in the field are discussed.

The project is designed so that student projects can bring to light, in their own words, the interdisciplinary context of Environmental Studies in social, physical, and applied sciences.

Leonardo DiCaprio at the United Nations Climate Change Summit with Ban Ki-moon

DiCaprio's UN Speech

Before the Flood

The 11th Hour Movie Trailer

Before the Flood – Full Movie | National Geographic – Archive.org

Before the Flood – Official Website


NATIONAL PARKS OF THAILAND

Taking into consideration that 805-283 Environmental Studies is taught in Phuket, Thailand, course content includes contemporary local and regional issues concerning national and trans-boundary park systems and management.

Students are encouraged to gain personal experience and conduct field research at terrestrial and marine national parks. Nearly any topic is worth sharing with our class, including history, current events, successes, failures, and challenges in park management.

Ao Phang Nga Marine National Park, Thailand | Click to visit my Karst Topography Research PDF

Khao Yai Thailand's first national park

As the first national park founded in Thailand, the significance of Khao Yai has matured and expanded to include five important protected areas in the region. Combined, these natural areas form the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO.

Deer | Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Monkey | Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Landscape | Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Haew Narok Waterfall | Khao Yai National Park, Thailand


SURFING AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The sport of surfing is fundamentally dependent on limited coastal resources which are more than physical and tangible settings—they encompass the people who interact with the coastal environment and each other.

From the perspective of sustainability and conservation, coastal resources are normally discussed in the scheme of Coastal Resource Management (CRM).

CRM is an increasingly in-style field of study which integrates our understanding of natural and human elements, much like the discipline of geography includes physical and human geography (Martin, 2010).

La'a Loa, Hawaii – Surf Resource System Boundaries | Click to learn more...

Surf Resource System Boundaries

A ‘system boundary’ is a theoretical concept in environmental science representing the intersecting and interrelated human and physical elements in the natural world at a given site. This lecture, based on Martin and O'Brien (2017), develops a system boundary discussion on surf sites, recognizing ‘surf system boundaries’ as more than the beach and sea; they encompass numerous stakeholder interests and factors related to the scope of the ‘whole’ surf system as a sustainable and dynamic model.

Martin, S. A., & O'Brien, D. (2017). Part 2: A systems approach – Chapter 2. Surf resource system boundaries. In G. Borne and J. Ponting (Eds.), Sustainable surfing. Routledge: London.

Kalim Beach, Phuket, Thailand | Click to learn more about surf tourism research...

Thailand Case Study

The tropical resort island of Phuket Thailand has exotic beaches, a dynamic tourism economy, and a distinct new surfing culture. In recent years, recreational surfing in Phuket has gained rapid popularity—It has also gained attention in domestic and international magazines and on the internet. Nonetheless, Thailand’s Andaman Coast remains a mysterious and nostalgic place—in the minds of the people who make up the tapestry of coastal cultures—and in the memories of the tourists who come each year (Martin, 2010).

Martin, S. A. (2010). Coastal resource and surfing in ThailandThailand Surfrider, (1) (pp. 42–50). Thalang, Phuket: Purple Diamond Ltd.


AMAZON RAINFOREST AND GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

One of the most rewarding experiences that I have had in Environmental Studies was the opportunity to visit the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon Basin, and the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific in 2004. The research was supported in part by the University of San Francisco De Quito (USFQ), Ecuador, and the Study Abroad Journal.

Through sharing my photos and National Geographic videos with students, key topics and issues are open for discussion.

Moi Enomenga, Huaorani Indian | Amazon eco-warrior and environmental celebrity | Click to learn more about Moi's story...

Amazon River House | Rio Napo

Quechua guides | Tiputini, Ecuador

Napo River | Coca, Ecuador

Parrot | Coca, Ecuador

San Cristobal Island | Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and Study Abroad Journal | Click to learn more...

Seals on the beach | San Cristobal

Galapagos Brown Pelican | San Cristobal

Galapagos Tortoise | San Cristobal

Galapagos Marine Iguana | San Cristobal


Thank you for visiting the Environmental Studies Page.

I hope you enjoy the photos and information in the links provided. If you feel motivated to know more about my other courses or other Learning Adventures, or would like to arrange for me to give a public talk, please let me know – I’d love to hear from you.

–Steven Martin

Eastern Civilization & Chinese Culture

Eastern Civilization & Chinese Culture

Tibetan Culture at Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan Province, China

EASTERN CIVILIZATION 

Course description

Civilization of Persia, India, China, Japan and Korea; Development of political, economic, social, and cultural thinking; The dawn of Eastern philosophy; Epoch of changes through western civilization and its influence on social systems and philosophy of the East, and Eastern civilization’s adaptation towards globalization; The Impact of Islamic, Indian, and Chinese civilizations on other Far East countries.

Teaching Demo | Eastern Civilization | The Silk Road

Backstory

In 1995, I applied to Peking University (北京大学) and the  University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH) to study Chinese philosophy after a professor captured my imagination when he said:

"Go to China – learn many things – change your life."

He was right; it did!

Since that time, I have been fortunate to study with outstanding Chinese professors, such as Yang Xin and John H.L. Cheng during summer study abroad programs with the Department of Philosophy at Peking University, widely considered to be China's top university in Humanities and Social Sciences, earning the nickname "Bei Da" (北大), literally "North Big".

At Peking University 北京大学 1995

Professor Cheng

University of Hawaii Professor John H.L. Cheng | 1995 Chinese Culture Study Tour with Peking University

One lifetime is not long enough to allow for a complete understanding of Chinese culture. Once a student, always a student – As reflected in the Chinese proverb: "Huo dao lao, xue dao lao," that is, "Live arrive old, study arrive old," an age-old Chinese belief in life-long learning.

Combining 20 years of academic experience with 5 University of Hawaii and Peking University Chinese Culture Study Tours, and as many accredited independent study travels in mainland China, I am happy to share my personal and practical knowledge with students through several introductory presentations featured here.

The topics and links provided are intended to guide open discussions and encourage active learning among students.

STUDENT POSTER PROJECTS | ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND FIELDWORK IN EAST ASIA

PROJECT TYPE | ACADEMIC POSTER PRESENTATION

Develop an academic poster using PowerPoint or other software which can incorporate images, maps, tables, and text boxes.

PROJECT THEME | ARCHAEOLOGY IN EAST ASIA

Choose an archaeologist with deep experience in East Asia and discuss his/her education and personal background leading to their fieldwork. Emphasize the archaeological site or group of sites where s/he conducted fieldwork and research.

Note: Archaeology is the study of the ancient and recent human past, cultures, and civilizations through material remains and may include Cultural Resource Management (CRM) concerning the measures related to handling recovered materials.

POSTER SIZE | INTERNATIONAL A3

Set slide dimensions for international A3, portrait or landscape (297 x 420 mm) (11.7 x 16.5 in)

Best Eastern Civilization Midterm Poster | By Pupae 2018

INTRODUCTION TO CHINESE CULTURE

Chinese Culture | Typical art featuring the guardian-philosopher

Introduction to Chinese Thought in the Eastern Tradition | PDF

Introduction to Chinese Philosophy in the Context of Eastern Civilization | PDF

FEATURE PRESENTATION SERIES

THE CHINESE SILK ROAD

I first traveled the Chinese Silk Road in 1995 (Xian to Kashgar) and again in 2001 (Beijing, China, to Delhi, India).

The presentations featured here are based on my personal experience, that is, teaching through storytelling. As part of the Learning Adventure series, I have designed two website instruction pages: Part I – The Silk Road, and Part II – Pakistan and the Indus Valley.

On Ancient Tracks | The Silk Road and My Journey to the West | Click to learn more...

2011 scholarly presentation on the archaeology of the Silk Road by Colin Renfrew at the Penn Museum

Unsolved Mysteries of the Silk Road | Colin Renfrew | Penn Museum | 1:00:07

I have been fortunate to visit and explore a number of the sites and topics featured in Renfew's presentation. For our class discussion today, here are a few of Renfew’s "Questions of east-west exchange before Silk Road: one wheel, few horses".

  1. Earliest contacts: the millet question?
  2. First settlements in Xinjiang? : wheat at Xioahe
  3. The first copper metallurgy in China?
  4. How did the chariot reach China?
  5. The first mounted warriors in China?
  6. Indo-European origins seen from the east

National Geographic | Treasure Seekers: China's Frozen Desert

Based on the lives of Sir Aurel Stein and the 7th century Buddhist Monk, Xuanzang: "As commerce flourished along the Silk Road, Central Asia became a melting pot of cultures. Here on the edges of the Taklmakan Desert, an exotic blend of Indian, Mongol, Chinese, and European influences fueled an astonishing cultural Renaissance. In the 7th century, a Chinese monk, Xuanzang, plunged into the desert while on a Buddhist pilgrimage to India...

...His descriptions of the oasis-cities he encountered would prove invaluable to another explorer, more than a thousand years later. 20th century archeologist Sir Aurel Stein took on the deadly Taklamakan to prove his own theories about Western China's lost civilization. Again and again Xuanzang's writings led him to archeological treasure - once thriving cities now buried in the sand. On their monk's trail, Stein made his greatest discovery, a thousand-year-old Buddhist library in near-perfect condition " (National Geographic, 2001).

Marc Aurel Stein's Century-old Adventure Diary | Treasure Buried in the Sands

Click on the image below to view or download this 2013 CCTV-9 (China) English Documentary

Treasure Buried in the Sands

Century-old Adventure Diaries

Marc Aurel Stein [CCTV-9 Documentary English] 48 Minutes – Download

Click on the image or button below to view Stein's 1915 survey map of "Innermost Asia" (China's Taklimakan Desert) or his 1933 book "On Ancient Central-Asian Tracks"

Stein's 1933 "Innermost Asia" Map

CCTV Documentary Series Xuan Zang's Pilgrimage

In 2016, China's CCTV produced "Xuanzang's Pilgrimage", a documentary series on Xuan Zang's travels on the Silk Road. Narrated in English, the 12 segments are posted in 6 videos on YouTube. Runtime of each video is approximately 48 minuets.

Xuan Zang (1-2)

Xuan Zang (3-4)

Xuan Zang (5-6)

Xuan Zang (7-8)

Xuan Zang (9-10)

Xuan Zang (11-12)

2016 Biographical Drama Da Tang Xuan Zang

The 2016 Mandarin language historical drama “Da Tang Xuan Zang” is based on the life and travels of Xuan Zang during the Tang Dynasty. The film maps the young monk’s travels to India and quest for Buddhist teachings, featuring some of the challenges and struggles he faced.

Xuan Zang 2016 Historical Drama (Trailer)

INTRODUCTION TO CHINESE PHILOSOPHY

A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy

Chan, W. (1969). A sourcebook in Chinese philosophy. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Available online at Archive.org

Click to view or download this book | PDF

Key chapter reviews by Dr Steven A Martin

CONFUCIUS AND THE CONFUCIUS TRADITION

2010 Biographical Drama | Confucius

Confucius Motion Picture | Full HD | 2:05:00

TAI SHAN (Mt. Tai) THE SOUL OF CHINA

Tai Shan, China | PDF Presentation

Cultural continuum on the North China Plain

Tai Shan | UNESCO World Heritage

According to UNESCO: "The sacred Mount Tai ('shan' means 'mountain') was the object of an imperial cult for nearly 2,000 years, and the artistic masterpieces found there are in perfect harmony with the natural landscape. It has always been a source of inspiration for Chinese artists and scholars and symbolizes ancient Chinese civilizations and beliefs."

GB Times | Tai Shan 2:41

Pilgrimage to Tai Shan | 1997

Dawenkuo Archaeological Site | 1997

THE GREAT WALL | SKATEBOARDING THROUGH TIME

Between 1995 and 2002, I studied abroad during summers at Peking University in Beijing. Hiking on the Great Wall quickly became my favorite activity, outside of attending lectures in Chinese philosophy on campus.

University of Hawaii students at Jin Shan Ling Great Wall

Each time I traveled to the Wall, I learned something new, and the more I visited different areas, the more I wanted to learn about the history and culture behind this amazing symbol of the Chinese people.

Peking University Professor Yang Xin was able to provide me with what I was looking for, namely historical and esthetic perspectives from philosophical viewpoints.

Today, my own Great Wall presentations reflect these expediences.

Great Wall of China Presentation | 57 Slides | 20 MB PDF

Hiking the Huang Hua Great Wall near Beijing | Online

Smithsonian | 5:00

TED-ed | 4:30

TAIWAN | WINDOW TO HISTORY

TAIWAN STUDIES PLAYLIST | Steven A Martin, PhD | National Chengchi University | University Filmworks

In recent years, the Taiwan (ROC) - China (PRC) relationship plays out on the geopolitical stage. However, Taiwan has its own rich history, which I have generally organized into six sections.

  • Early indigenous Austronesian-speaking peoples inhabited the island for an estimated 5,000 years.
  • Dutch, Spanish, French, British, and other cultures prior to Chinese colonization of the Taiwan.
  • A loosely administered territory of China during the Qing Dynasty.
  • The island's annexation by Japanese after the treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.
  • Post WWII period, as Taiwan became a stronghold for the Chinese Nationalist regime supported by the USA, and the economic miracle which catapulted the country into the 21st century.
  • Democratic Taiwan, including the indigenous rights movement.

Ethnohistorical Research on the Bunun of Taiwan

The Bunun, an Austronesian-speaking peoples on Taiwan | In Our Hearts and Minds | Steven Martin 6:25

Other research and videos on indigenous Bunun and Paiwan ethnolinguistic groups in Taiwan

The Sage Hunter | Full movie 1:40:00

Eat Drink Man Woman 飲食男女 1994 Taiwanese film directed by Ang Lee

飲食男女 refers to the basic human desires and accepting them as natural as expressed in the Book of Rites, one of the Confucian classics.

Why this film is appropriate for students in Eastern Civilization

In this film, the ancient art of Chinese cuisine connects with the personal lives of a contemporary Taiwanese household. Through watching the film, students realize that the thinking, detail and complexity of cooking mirrors Chinese life and philosophy as intricate and integrated processes. In Eastern civilizations, food is prepared and served in accordance with age old traditions – socially, culturally and politically.

The way we eat is the way we think.

Eat Drink Man Woman | Official Trailer

Download and view Eat Drink Man Woman (Full Movie) here on Google Drive


INDIAN CIVILIZATION | Key Words for Student Presentations

Taj Mahal, Agra, India | Mughal Empire | Photo 2001

Choose a key word from the list below and develop a 15 minute PowerPoint presentation with text, images, maps and one video link.

Key words offered here reflect a variety of concepts, including art, civilization, culture, dynasty, empire, geography, language, literature, people, politics, and religion.

Key words: Indus Valley, Harappa, Dravidian, Aryan, Sanskrit, Vedas, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Maurya, Ashoka, Taxila, Kushan, Bactria, Gandhara, Gupta, Islam, Sikhism, Mughal, British Raj, Scheduled Tribes, Pakistan, Bangladesh

Jivita's Story | Dr B R Ambedkar's social transformation through Buddhism | Original footage for "Arising Light" by David Blundell, content selection by Steven A Martin, and editing by Dean Karalekas

Kushan Empire | Connecting East & West

Gupta Dynasty | India's Golden Age

Mughals | Rise and Fall of an Empire


EASTERN CIVILIZATION | FINAL POSTER PROJECTS

ANTHROPOLOGISTS AND ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUPS IN EAST AND SOUTH ASIA

PROJECT TYPE ACADEMIC POSTER PRESENTATION

Develop an academic poster using PowerPoint or other software which can incorporate text, maps, tables, and images.

PROJECT THEME | ANTHROPOLOGY, ETHNICITY, AND LANGUAGE IN EAST AND SOUTH ASIA

  1. Choose an anthropologist with deep experience in living among, or studying, an ethnolinguistic group in East or South Asia.
  2. Discuss the events or interests which led the anthropologist to study the ethnic group or culture.
  3. Emphasize the language, culture, history, and location of the ethnic group.
  4. Identify the significance of the ethnic group in terms of East Asian civilization.

POSTER SIZE | INTERNATIONAL A3

Set slide dimensions for international A3, landscape (297 x 420 mm) (11.7 x 16.5 in)

Ethnic Uyghurs greeting tourists at the Gaochang ruins near Turpan, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China, 2001

Examples | Scheduled Tribes of India


A FEW PHOTOS FROM MY EASTERN TRAVELS

Hindu Culture - Agra India - Eastern Civilization - Steven A Martin - Study Abroad Journal

Hindu Culture | Agra, India

Dawenkuo, China | Archaeological Site

Buddhist Culture | Lhasa | Click to Tibet page

Kung Fu School - Shaolin Temple China - Dr Steven A Martin

Kung Fu School | Shaolin Temple, China

Islamic culture | Kashgar, Xinjiang | Click to Silk Road page

Chinese Opera | Taipei, Taiwan | Click to Taiwan page


ONLINE RESOURCES

Thank you for visiting Eastern Civilization Online.

If you feel motivated to know more about my courses or Learning Adventures, or would like to arrange for me to give a public talk, please let me know – I’d love to hear from you.

–Steven A. Martin

Monks in Xian, China, at the start of Silk Road | 1995

Chinese Philosophy

Chinese Philosophy

CONFUCIUS' TEACHINGS AND CHINESE PHILOSOPHY

Course Description

Chinese philosophy and thoughts of pre-eminent philosophers in the past, including Confucianism, Mencianism, Taoism, and the religious thinking from the core of Confucius’ teaching.

 Course Objectives

  • To obtain the fundamental concepts of Chinese Philosophy, especially the extensive topics of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
  • To determine a broad understanding of the life, values, and legacies of Confucian scholars with emphasis on Confucius, Mencius, and Zhu Xi.
  • To gain fundamental insights into classical Chinese philosophy during Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC to 480 BC) and Warring States Period (479 BC to 221 BC), including Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, and Legalism.
  • To gain a scholarly understanding of the development of Chinese thought and philosophy in a comparative context with Western philosophical development. To investigate and present a selected topic to stimulate ideas and approaches to understanding Chinese philosophical thought and tradition.

 


A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy

Chan, W. (1969). A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Available online at Archive.org

Key chapter reviews by Dr Steven A Martin for discussion in Confucius' Teachings and Chinese Philosophy


 

Special Topic – Chinese Medicine and Philosophy

Chinese Medicine is deeply connected with ancient Yin Yang philosophy and acupuncture

The Foundations of Chinese Medicine is an excellent resource for English language readers interested in this field of study

Foundations Chinese Medicine (Giovanni Maciocia 2015) 1319 pages | 58 MB

Dr Steven Andrew Martin | Chinese Medicine and Philosophy | Yin Yang | Eastern Civilization

 

Introduction to Chinese Thought in the Eastern Tradition | PDF


 

Introduction to Chinese Philosophy in the Context of Eastern Asia | PDF


 

CONFUCIUS (KUNG TZE) Biographical Drama (2010)

2010 Biographical Drama | Confucius (Kung Tze)


 

CURRENT RESEARCH

Hierarchy and Harmony — Confucius’ Five Cardinal Relationships

Steven A. Martin, PhD

As one of the central pillars in occidental culture, Confucianism has been one of the central philosophies of Eastern Civilization. This paper reviews concepts put forth in Confucius’ Five Cardinal Relationships and discusses the vertical hierarchy and harmony of Confucian doctrine in five short essays: morality in order, nature and order, education and order, power and order and globalization and order. My research aims to discern Confucius’ philosophy of social order in these contexts, offering contemporary criticism and a framework for future discussion.

Please contact me if you are interested in this research or reviewing a draft of my paper.

Thank you for visiting my Chinese Philosophy page.

This course is no longer offered at the university.

Relevant content has been moved to the Eastern Civilization and Silk Road course pages.

Research Methodology

Research Methodology

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

Course Description

Meaning and types of research; an introduction to research methodology; quantitative and qualitative methods.

Course Objectives

  • To introduce the meaning and importance of research methodology in social sciences.
  • To understand different types and strategies of research processes.
  • To identify various concept of research, such as topics, objectives, literature reviews, hypotheses, measurements, data collection, and data analysis.
  • To follow the ethics of social sciences research and researcher’s code of conduct.

Qualitative and quantitative research methodology | Interdisciplinary Studies

Research methods are progressively important

In this course, I share the meaning and significance of academic methods and methodologies in personal, educational, and professional contexts through personal and practical experience and research across a variety of topic areas and disciplines.

Learning and mastering research methods strengthen and validate our objective minds while gaining self-respect and self-confidence.

Given the importance and complexity of understanding, developing and applying research methodology, it is inevitably one of the least welcomed or understood courses among undergraduate and graduate students alike.

However, Research Methodology is one of the best courses to take at university! It opens the mind to the ways and means of deep learning, and opens the door to the meaning and experience of science, including the scientific method, that is, exploring our observations, and carrying out experiments in order to address the mysteries of life, and answer important and meaningful questions.

Social science research methods are no exception – they are profoundly significant life-long skills.

Conducting a personal interview on surf tourism | Click to learn more...

Is research a worthwhile skill for personal development?

Learning how to engage in academic discourse and innovate original work are dynamic life-long skills. In this way, conducting research strengthens and validates the objective mind while gaining self-respect and self-confidence.

  • Publishing opens doors to other professional opportunities.
  • Research increases graduate school and scholarship prospects.
  • Research provides the practical ability to meet personal and professional needs.
  • Understanding research methods and publishing are key to individual and academic development.

Is a research adviser important for students and new researchers?

A research adviser provides structure and guidance throughout the research process, including topic selection, identifying appropriate methods, and helping you to organize field results into narrative discussion worthy of publication.

A research adviser may also help to:

  • Open doors to local organizations and businesses.
  • Inspire field experiences and arrange personal interviews.
  • Forge life-long networks leading to future academic accomplishment.
  • Develop and outline the publication process across fields and disciplines.
  • Receive feedback from other scholars, reviewers and conference participants.

Understanding the disciplines of study

Historical viewpoint | The Margarita Philosophica and the 7 Liberal Arts

The Maragrita Philosophica [pdf] (the philosophic pearl) is an outstanding starting point to understanding the disciplines of study and from where methods of research developed. The book provides deep historical perspective and imagination into the seven Liberal Arts, featured as seven angels on the cover (see below).

The Margarita is a magnificently illustrated encyclopedia compiled in 1503 by a Carthusian monk named Gregor Reisch (c.1467-1525). Reisch produced what is essentially the world’s first interdisciplinary textbook, covering all seven liberal arts and providing appropriate background across disciplines and courses.

The Margarita Philosophica | Reich, 1503 | Click to enlarge

Widely used as a university textbook in the early sixteenth century, particularly in Germany, it is a book of historical significance and sheds light on university curriculum and collective scientific knowledge at the close of the Middle Ages, 500-600 years ago.

Separated into twelve chapters, Maragrita Philosophica covers traditional subjects of the trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric) and quadrivium (arithmetic, music, geometry, astronomy); and four chapters address natural philosophy, including the elements, meteorology, alchemy, the plant and animal kingdoms, optics and memory. The final sections and topics include heaven, hell, purgatory; and the book concludes with a chapter on moral philosophy, reflecting the period when church, state and education were closely integrated.

The scientific method and publishing academic research in an international journal

When looking to publish our research, the scientific method should be formatted in nine sections.

  1. Abstract
  2. Introduction
  3. Literature review
  4. Methods and materials
  5. Results
  6. Discussion
  7. Conclusion
  8. References
  9. Appendix

Workshop on how to publish papers in international journals

Coordinator : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Raymond J. Ritchie

Technical and Online Support : Asst. Prof. Dr. Steven A. Martin

For the scholar who studies or works in a university, doing scholarly research and publishing the findings in the form of articles in peer-reviewed international journals are some of the most important academic activities. It is important to learn how to do it yourself so you can set-up your own career.

This workshop includes a number of advanced topics regarding how to publish a paper in international journals. It is very good opportunity for learning from the experience and techniques of an experienced publisher of papers. Emphasis is on practical information on how to do it, and what Dr. Ritchie has leant from experience, that is, what works and what does not.

Assoc. Prof. Raymond J. Ritchie is a Ph.D. graduate of the University of Sydney and has post-doctoral experience in Scotland, USA, Canada and Australia. He has published 98 peer reviewed academic papers on a wide variety of topics, including animals, bacteria, plants, science education, social sciences, and theoretical biology.

Aim and content of the workshop

The aim of this workshop is to teach students and staff how to publish papers in international journals rather than simply writing in English. The complete procedure of getting a paper published will be covered step by step. Conceiving the paper, getting organized, how to use references and choosing the most suitable journal. The problem of nefarious journals will be discussed, including the use of Beall’s List and the Thomson-Reuters ISI rating to identify journals which you should, or should not, submit papers to.

Choosing a journal and developing the paper

The core of the workshop will consist of choosing a journal that you judge to be suitable, how to write the introduction, how to write the materials and methods, how to describe your results with its graphs, tables and captions for figures, and how to write a proper discussion of your results and their implications from what the results show and compared to what was already known. The critical importance of using and formatting references correctly, and making sure that all references are included, will be discussed.

Scholar-One and ethical practices

Submitting a paper using online systems, such as Scholar-One, will be demonstrated, as will the standard journal procedures required after you submit a paper. Lastly, ethical practices will be discussed including plagiarism, self-plagiarism, double publication, and the delicate issue of scientific fraud.

Examples of videotaped personal interviews

Personal interviews are good way to collect original information from individuals and experts on a given topic. Recording personal interviews on video provides an accountable record which can be reviewed and shared with others.

Please visit my Personal Interview Page for more examples.

Prof. Peter Bellwood | Austronesian Studies | Batanes Philippines

Prof. Wilhelm Solheim | Archaeology in Southeast Asia

Prof. Kay Chon | Asian Paradigm

“Learn and accumulate the results of learning, pose questions and differentiate among the results, dwell unambiguously in what has been attained, and carry it into practice with benevolence.” – Confucius

Surf Tourism Research & Publication

Surf Tourism Research & Publication

SURF TOURISM RESEARCH AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF SURFING SITES 

One of my favorite research areas is surf tourism, especially when addressing the conservation of coastal surfing resources. It has been a great way to bring together my personal experience in surfing, surf travel, managing an international surf school (1998-2003), and academic research and publication.

Celebrities from Bangkok try surfing for the first time in Phuket

My personal experience and research indicate that the world's surfing breaks are iconic locations worthy of protection for future generations. Surf sites are also significant economic engines for local communities with sustainability a key issue.

To address these problems, I developed the Surf Resource Sustainability Index (SRSI), a methodology aimed at measuring the conservation aptitude at surf sites. SRSI is a metric-orientated planning and development methodology – a theoretical compass which points toward sustainability, representing the summation of assessable qualities or attributes a site possesses which can make a positive contribution to sustainability.

NEWS | Surfers save the Eisbach River wave in downtown Munich, Germany

The Eisbach River Wave (Eisbachwelle) is one of the best and most consistent city-center river surfing spots in the world.

When local authorities planned to destroy the Eisbachwelle, local and international surfers responded with a public campaign and online petition to "save the wave"... Read more...

NEWS | Surfing the Eisbach River Wave | Munich, Germany


Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Management

Thesis Title: A Surf Resource Sustainability Index for Surf Site Conservation and Tourism Management

Abstract

Surf sites around the world are under ever-increasing pressures from tourism, coastal development, pollution and other anthropogenic factors, and this research introduces and illuminates surfing areas as integral natural resources. The dissertation develops a Surf Resource Sustainability Index (SRSI) and presents it through a series of three peer-reviewed journal papers. The SRSI is designed as a global model and framework of indicators and methods for the assessment of surf site conservation attributes. A systematic literature review of surf tourism research was used in conjunction with the author’s personal experience and discussion with experienced surfers and scholars to develop twenty-seven sustainability indicators. Framing them as social, economic, environmental and governance indices, the study defines the criteria, implications and applicability for each indicator in context. A progression of field studies was carried out in Phuket, Thailand, where an emerging surf tourism market segment is additive to the island’s bustling tourism economy and escalating coastal resource management issues. The SRSI has proven effective in assessing sites and pinpointing key areas of concern. SRSI metrics are particularly applicable to the cross-sectional evaluation of surf sites and serve as a direct method in the prioritization of sites for surfing reserve development. This research contributes to the fields of surf resource conservation and tourism management through the innovation and application of a new and pragmatic methodology.

Keywords: coastal management, conservation, sustainability indicators, surf resource sustainability index, surf tourism, Phuket, Thailand

My PhD process

My PhD was research-based and followed a standard protocol set forth by the Faculty of Environmental Management. I was required to prepare a qualifying exam, supplemental exam, thesis proposal, thesis defense, thesis poster, and three international journal publications.


Master of Business Administration in Hospitality and Tourism Management

Thesis Title: Coastal resource assessment for surf tourism in Thailand

Abstract

Framed as an exploratory research of Thailand’s physical environment, this study identifies and assesses the natural surfing resources of the Andaman Coast, including the sources, types and locations of waves in relationship to the regional and coastal topography. Underpinning the research is the collection and review of the literature on coastal resource management, surfing in Thailand, and the scholarly works pertaining to surf tourism. From a social science standpoint, personal interviews with Thai and foreign resident surfers, tourists, and members of local communities were carried out. The investigation locates a wide range of areas suitable for surf tourism and indicates that Thailand’s natural resources are somewhat limited and coupled with issues of water quality, ocean safety, regularity and quality of surfing waves, and the accessibility to remote coastal areas during the southwest monsoon. The study finds that surf tourism in Thailand is at a stage of infancy, has potential, and affords an opportunity to develop sustainably. The research advances the overall understanding of surfing in Thailand and offers a series of recommendations for the coastal resource management and conservation of surfing areas.

Keywords: surf tourism, coastal resource, coastal assessment, Andaman, Phuket, Thailand


Academic papers and publications

Martin, S. A. (2022). From shades of grey to Web of Science: A systematic review of surf tourism research in international journals (2011–2020). Journal of Sport & Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/14775085.2022.2037453

Previous research outlined the genesis of a new body of surf tourism research based on a wide array of grey and published literature (Martin & Assenov, 2012). The aim of this paper is to further investigate the development of the field through an evidence-based informetric analysis of international journal articles listed in Web of Science or Scopus databases. Employing a systematic review of journal papers published from 2011 to 2020, the study addresses the previous grey literature problem of accessibility and eligibility criteria for citation. Findings are drawn from explicit and tangential studies which capture an up-to-date overview of the evolution of surf tourism research. The study identifies active journals, authors, field locations, and leading areas of research, suggesting that the field has entered a period of ‘academic professionalization’. A bibliography of 96 journal articles presents academics and readers with a corpus of accessible research.

Keywords: citation criteria; Scopus; surf tourism research; systematic review; Web of Science


Martin, S. A., & Ritchie, R. (2019). A social science index and conceptual framework for assigning weights in surf tourism planning and development.Tourism Planning and Development, 16(3) 281–303. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2018.1470999

This paper develops a social science weighting schema for surf tourism planning and sustainable development, eco-tourism, and conservation studies using surf tourism as a representative worked example. Assessment scores from a previously published surf resource sustainability field study of nine beaches in Phuket, Thailand, were weighted against data taken from surveys of expert scholars and surfers from a range of diverse backgrounds. The study measured levels of significance among weighted and unweighted means and bias ratio for 27 social, economic, environmental and governance indicators. Differences between scores and weighted scores were, in general, low, but this was not the case in key areas of concern, notably governance, and areas where poor governance had negative consequences, such as water quality. The findings indicate that analysis of weighted data helps identify key metrics. We show that analysis of weighted data provides insights not apparent from working on unweighted data. The procedures and weighting strategies employed in this research can be used for tourism planning and other related research activities which use interview data, such as research on, ecotourism, national park surveys, amateur fishing, snorkeling and reef tours. This study provides a conceptual framework for comparisons of different studies using similar protocols.

Keywords: conservation; surf resource sustainability index; surf tourism; Thailand; tourism planning; weights


Martin, S. A., & O'Brien, D. (2017). Part 2: A systems approach – Chapter 2. Surf resource system boundaries. In G. Borne and J. Ponting (Eds.), Sustainable surfing (pp. 23–38). Routledge: London.

Ch.2 (pp. 23–38) PDF

Read more...

Introduction

A ‘system boundary’ is a theoretical concept in environmental science representing the intersecting and interrelated human and physical elements in the natural world at a given site. This chapter develops a system boundary discussion on surf sites, recognizing ‘surf system boundaries’ as more than the beach and sea; they encompass numerous stakeholder interests and factors related to the scope of the ‘whole’ surf system as a sustainable and dynamic model. The following discussion serves to review and broaden the knowledge of surf system boundaries and provide clarity in two sets of dimensions: the physical boundaries of surf sites and the resource stakeholders.

Keywords: surf tourism; surf resource; system boundaries; environmental management

University News: Dr. Steven Andrew Martin Recognized for Social Science Research and Publication in Environmental Studies with a New Book Chapter on Surf Resource System Boundaries.


Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2015). Measuring the conservation aptitude of surf beaches in Phuket, Thailand: An application of the surf resource sustainability index. International Journal of Tourism Research, 17(2) 105–117. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.1961

Abstract

The research seeks to measure the conservation aptitude of nine surf beaches in Phuket, Thailand by employing the Surf Resource Sustainability Index, an assessment methodology comprising 27 social, economic, environmental and governance indicators used to frame and quantify attributes for conservation development. The research identifies and documents key areas of concern for the sustainability of the island's coastal surfing resources and distinguishes steps forward to address emergent issues. The study finds that by improving the awareness, legislative status and management of surfing sites, the overall conservation aptitude for the island could be raised considerably.

Keywordssurf resource sustainability index; surf tourism; conservation; Phuket, Thailand


Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2014). Investigating the importance of surf resource sustainability indicators: Stakeholder perspectives for surf tourism planning and development. Tourism Planning and Development11(2) 127–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2013.864990

Abstract

The sustainability and conservation of coastal surfing resources have gained considerable attention in the twenty-first century. Scholars, graduate students, not-for-profit organizations, and commercial and governmental sectors have entered the surf tourism research field in order to better understand and manage surf sites. This research investigates the significance of 27 social, economic, environmental, and governance indicators outlined in the Surf Resource Sustainability Index, a contemporary methodology for measuring the conservation aptitude of surf sites. Twenty-one highly experienced surfers from diverse backgrounds were chosen for in-depth interviews based on their position as key stakeholders and for their practical experience, knowledge, and interaction with the resource. The study finds that surfers placed the highest importance for conservation aptitude on beach quality, water quality, legislative status, biodiversity, and history. Overall, environmental and governance indicators were slightly more significant than social indicators, and economic indicators were the least significant. Stakeholders' comments and corresponding ratings are listed for each indicator and provide insight to their perspectives and evaluations. The research contributes to surf tourism planning and development though the clarification of sustainability indicators and the discernment of indicator importance by surfers. A surf resource conservation action matrix is developed for future policy design and management.

Keywords: sustainability indicators; surf resource sustainability index; surf tourism; conservation aptitude


Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2014). Developing a surf resource sustainability index as a global model for surf beach conservation and tourism research. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 19(7) 760–792. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2013.806942

Abstract

The growth of surfing activities and surf tourism has gained significant attention in the academia during the past decade. This paper is aimed at developing a framework of indicators and methods used in assessing the sustainability factors of surf sites. The research puts forward a Surf Resource Sustainability Index (SRSI) as a conceptual model to study the sustainability of surf tourism sites. The literature review, previous experience, and discussion with veteran surfers and scholars were used to develop indicators and determine their measurability and aptitude. Index pilot testing was carried out in Phuket, Thailand, where an emerging surf culture and tourism market segment add to the island's bustling economy and coastal resource-management issues. The case study underpins the importance of social, economic, environmental, and governance factors in the conservation process. The SRSI metrics provide a direct method for assessing surf sites and offer tangible benefits to surfers and other stakeholders.

Keywords: surf tourismcoastal resourcessustainability indicatorsindexThailand


Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2012). The genesis of a new body of sport tourism literature: A systematic review of surf tourism research (1997-2011). Journal of Sport and Tourism, 17(4), 257–287. https://doi.org/10.1080/14775085.2013.766528

Abstract

Surf tourism is a rapidly expanding market segment of the wider sport tourism industry and the purpose of this study is to provide an analytical interpretation of surf tourism research. Published and unpublished literature from 1997 through to 2011 was collected through searching a variety of academic databases and communicating directly with the authors themselves. A systematic review was employed to identify and analyze the types of research emerging from international journals, universities, governments, and the not-for-profit sector. The study indicates a genesis in sport tourism literature, representing a new and available body of surf tourism research. We find that this new area of research has arisen mainly from the grey literature through the works of graduate students and consultants. Surfing events, artificial surfing reefs, and the sustainability of surf sites and host communities are among the most prolific areas under discussion and key arguments include socioeconomics, coastal management, and sustainable tourism. Approximately 10% of countries in the world with coastal surfing resources have been studied, and this and other findings indicate the potential for new areas of research in domestic and international tourism. A bibliography provides 156 documentary materials compiled for the systematic review.

Keywords: surfingsurf tourismliterature reviewsustainabilitycoastal management


Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2011). Beach and coastal survey of Thailand: What future for surf tourism. Journal of Tourism, Hospitality & Culinary Arts, 3(1), 77–87.

Abstract

Surfing and surf tourism run parallel: they are focused upon location-specific destinations where natural resources and phenomena occur conducive to the sport, and traveling for the sake of surfing new places is as old as the sport itself. The research investigates the broad environment of Thailand through the survey and assessment of coastal resources in order to determine the plausibility of developing surf tourism in Thailand. The study also examines surf tourist characteristics in Phuket, Thailand, through unstructured and semi-structured personal interviews. The research identified five Thai provinces best suited for surf tourism and suggests that there are suitable locations for surfing and surf tourism, including those for advanced, intermediate, and beginner surfers. A Thailand-specific definition for surf tourism is put forward, reflecting the natural environment and the characteristics of current surf tourists. The paper identifies future prospects, challenges, and issues for developing sustainable surf tourism in Thailand.

Keywords: surf tourism; sustainable surfing; surf site assessment; Thailand


Global Surf Cities Conference, Surfer's Paradise, Australia

In 2013, I was invited to give several talks to the international surfing community at the Global Surf Cities Conference in Australia. I was asked to present research on the Surf Resource Sustainability Index (SRSI) and the surf tourism industry in Phuket, Thailand. Please click the buttons below to view or share these presentations.


National and International Surfing Reserves

Surf tourism is a new and dynamic area of research, with most studies targeting the economics and sustainable management of coastal resources, including stakeholder perspectives, conservation, water quality and biodiversity of marine organisms (Martin & Assenov, 2012).

Brad Farmer, a leading advocate for the "Conservation of oceans, waves and beaches, and the salty communities who share them," and global chair of the non-profit organization National Surfing Reserves (NSR), met with me in Phuket to discuss my research and the protection of surf sites in Thailand for future generations (Phuket Gazette, 2011).

Conservation Leadership

Farmer is an outstanding example of personal commitment and proactive engagement in surf site conservation. He developed the Surfing Reserve program in order to recognize surf sites as "Iconic places of intrinsic environmental, heritage, sporting and cultural value, and to embrace all peoples to enjoy, understand and protect special coastal environments of universal value to the surfing world" (NSR, 2017). Farmer maintains the core values of conservation: "A Surfing Reserve does not attempt to exclude any user group."

For more information, please surf to these websites:

NSR – National Surfing Reserves

WSR – World Surfing Reserves


Nalu Longboarder's Magazine (Japan) – Surf Tourism Research in Phuket

In 2008, Japanese surf magazine "Nalu" came to Phuket to write a story featuring the island's waves and my surf tourism research. The article, written by Riku Emoto and photographed by Yasuma Miura, was centered on the concept of a surfer conducting research on surfing for an academic degree (published in Japanese).


Conferences and Proceedings

In recent years, I have been active in presenting surf tourism research at conferences and raising awareness of the value and significance of surfing as a coastal resource.

At the 18th Asia Pacific Tourism Association Annual Conference (APTA) in 2012, "Towards a surf resource sustainability index: A global model for surf site conservation and Thailand case study" won the Best Paper Award (Green Aspect on Tourism Development Research), selected out of 171 papers.

Martin, S. A. (2009). Rethinking the monsoon: Sustainable surf tourism in Thailand. Paper presented at the International Tourism Conference on Sustainable Hospitality and Tourism Management: Beyond the Global Recession. Silpakon University, Bangkok, Thailand, May 14–15.

Martin, S. A. (2010). The conservation of coastal surfing resources in Thailand: The Andaman Sea. Proceedings of the International Conference on the Environment and Natural Resources (ICENR) 2010  The Changing Environment: Challenges for Society (pp. 262–280), Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Bangkok, Thailand, November 10–12.

Martin, S. A. (2013). Surf tourism and resource sustainability in Phuket, Thailand. Scholarly presentation [PowerPoint]. Global Surf Cities Conference: Destination Innovation Collaboration, Kirra Hill Community and Cultural Centre, Gold Coast, QLD, February 28 – March 1. Gold Coast: Gold Coast Surf City, Inc.

Martin, S. A. (2013). The surf resource sustainability index and Thailand case trial. Scholarly presentation [PowerPoint]. Global Surf Cities Conference: Destination Innovation Collaboration, Kirra Hill Community and Cultural Centre, Gold Coast, QLD, February 28 – March 1. Gold Coast: Gold Coast Surf City, Inc.

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2008). Beach and coastal survey: What future for surf tourism. CD Proceedings of the 7th Asia Pacific Forum for Graduate Students’ Research in Tourism – Advances in Tourism Practices: Pointing the Way Forward (p. 12). University Teknologi Mara, Selangor, Malaysia, June 3–5.

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2008). Interdisciplinary approaches toward sustainable surf tourism in Thailand. Paper presented at the 1st PSU Sustainability Conference. Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus, Thailand, November 19–21.

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2011). A statistical analysis of surf tourism research literatureCD Proceedings of the 4th Annual PSU Research Conference: Multidisciplinary Studies on Sustainable Development (p. 57). Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand, November 16–18.

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2012). Measuring the importance of social, economic, environmental and governance indicators for the surf resource sustainability index. Proceedings of the 1st Annual PSU Phuket International Conference: Multidisciplinary Studies on Sustainable Development (p. 51). Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand, January 10–12, 2013.

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2012). Towards a surf resource sustainability index: A global model for surf site conservation and Thailand case studyProceedings of the 18th Asia Pacific Tourism Association Annual Conference (APTA) Hospitality & Tourism Education: New Tourism & New Waves (pp. 745–760). Taipei, ROC, June 26–29. Busan, Korea: School of International Tourism, Dong-A University. [+ best paper award]

Martin, S. A., Assenov, I., & Ritchie, R. (2014). Towards a social science index and conceptual framework for assigning weights in sustainability research. Proceedings of the 3rd Annual PSU Phuket International Conference: Multidisciplinary Studies on Sustainable Development (p. 70). Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand, November 13–14. [+ best paper award]

Thank you for visiting my Surf Tourism Research Page.

I hope you enjoy the information in the links provided. If you feel motivated to learn more about surf tourism or the environmental management of surf sites, or would like to arrange a public talk, please let me know – I’d love to hear from you.

–Steven 'Surf Doctor' Martin

My Story – Read More

My Story – Read More

From Homepage...

From GED to PhD –

After reading the Swiss Family Robinson at 15 years old, I left home in the Ohio rustbelt in 1978 and flew to Hawaii where I planned to live in a treehouse. I found work as cook and trained to become a chef.

 At the same time, I discovered Hawaii's big waves and surfing.

Over the following few years, I learned American Red Cross lifesaving skills, became a County of Hawaii beach lifeguard, and went on to start a surf school. I taught surf skills to hundreds of people including international celebrities, movie stars and astronauts from NASA.

 

Continued from Homepage...

My love for surfing, learning, and meeting new people led me to the University of Hawaii's Chinese philosophy summer program at Peking University. It was a great way to travel and earn a B.A. at the same time. This path led to study abroad in China, Costa Rica, South Africa, and Spain.

After graduating, I was fortunate enough to obtain a prestigious Taiwan Scholarship to study for a Master's degree. My research took me to the mountains of Taiwan to live among the world's last headhunters, the Formosan aborigines, and document their lives in ethnographic films.

But surfing remained my true passion, and after discovering perfect uncrowded waves on the Andaman Coast, I moved to Phuket, Thailand, to join the Faculty of International Studies at Prince of Songkla University.

My ongoing research on surf tourism and the environment has led to an MBA, a PhD, and a growing list of publications.

I hope others can benefit from my story and find success in their own lives.

Food Environment

Food Environment

YOUR FOOD ENVIRONMENT | WHEN OUTSIDE BECOMES INSIDE

Welcome to "Food Environment", an emerging paradigm in Environmental Studies – A new way to think about food.

Intended learning outcomes include students gaining the ability to talk about personal and public health, diet and nutrition, and how personal choices and responsibility impact sustainability and the environment.

Food Environment Class at Prince of Songkla University

The environment flows into us through food

Our relationship with the environment is most intimate in our choice of what we put into our bodies. Consider that the environment flows into us in the food we choose to eat – When outside becomes inside.

Defining the food environment – An emerging paradigm

Managing your home and personal food environments [click to "Juice Me" slides]

 A food environment suggests the system boundaries of food production, distribution and consumption.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2014), the food environment is mainly:

"The physical presence of food that affects a person’s diet, a person’s proximity to food store locations, the distribution of food stores, food service, and any physical entity by which food may be obtained, or a connected system that allows access to food."

Food environment or "Food environments"

Can food environments be expressed as community food environments, local food environments, sustainable food environments, nutritional food environments, toxic food environments, and even personal food environments?

When considering that our relationship with the food environment is most intimate in our choice of what we put into our bodies, editor and lecturer Peter Coan suggests, "Perhaps we can draw a further useful distinction between an individual's available, or potential, food environment and his/her actual food environment – that is, between the foods a person has the opportunity to eat, and the foods s/he actually eats."

Students in Food Environment class preparing traditional Thai foods without meat, dairy or added sugar

Supporting this idea, Coan notes that corporate supermarkets largely mediate the potential food environment for many people simply by limiting the range of foods available on their shelves, and corporate advertising further distorts the choices and preferences which people have in buying foods – that is, selecting the inputs to their actual food environment, located typically in their kitchens and refrigerators.

Check out Harvard University's T. H. Chan School of Public Health: Healthy Food Environment Recommendations – Complete List


Health, Diet and Nutrition

While conducting research on personal health management for Food Environment, I developed a shortlist of key topics, namely diet, exercise, toxins and stress.

I soon discovered that I was not the first to make this list.

My personal research led me to the story of Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, French physician and neuroscientist, who developed the "Four Pillars" to examine the rising issue of cancer and other chronic diseases through the lens of prevention, rather than treatment.

The "Four Pillars" of anti-cancer

  • Exercise
  • Nutrition
  • Avoid toxins
  • Manage stress

Dr. Servan-Schreiber's best-selling book "Anticancer: A New Way Of Life (2007)" and research-based insights were brought to life by Morgan Freeman, executive producer and narrator of "The C Word", the 2016 documentary.

The C Word

Research by T. Colin Campbell

"You need to know the truth about food and why eating the right way can save your life."

T. Colin Campbell, PhD., Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University.

According to Campbell, understanding and implementing a whole food, plant-based diet is scientifically proven to improve health, wellness, and to mitigate many of the chronic illnesses of our time, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Much more than a diet, Campbell considers living on whole and plant-based foods as, "Living a whole life."

Popular quotes on food and health

  • "Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food." – Hippocrates
  • "He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the time of his doctor." – Ancient Chinese Proverb
  • "One quarter of what you eat keeps you alive. The other three-quarters keeps your doctor alive." – Ancient Egyptian Proverb
  • "The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition." – Thomas Edison

Popular videos on food and health

Forks Over Knives | Trailer

Food Choices | Trailer

Food Matters | Trailer

TEDx Talks | Exceptional doctors and nutrition experts supporting a plant-based diet

Neal Barnard | TEDxBismarck

T. Colin Campbell | TEDxCornellUniversity

Caldwell Esselstyn | TEDxCambridge

Joel Fuhrman | TEDxCharlottesville

Michael Greger | TEDxSedona

Michael Klaper | TEDxTraverseCity

John McDougall | TEDxFremont

Dean Ornish | TEDxSan Francisco

Other experts supporting a plant-based diet


Sustainable food environment

Among environmental managers, "sustainability" is a foundational idea whereby people consciously and accountably take action in mitigating or avoiding the depletion of natural resources.

A sustainable food environment includes a system of food production, transportation, and consumption, which maintains an ecological balance while meeting our health and nutritional needs.

Sustainable | Trailer


Whole foods vs processed foods

Examples of whole foods

  • Beans
  • Fruits
  • Grains
  • Nuts
  • Seeds
  • Vegetables

Examples of processed foods

  • Canned foods
  • Dairy products
  • Meat products
  • Processed grains (such as white rice)
  • Refined sugars
  • Refined oils

Case example: What is “white” rice, and is it a "processed" food?

White rice is a processed food. All white rice (milled rice) starts out as brown rice (whole grain rice). In the late 1800’s, a milling process was developed to remove the husk, bran, and germ from brown rice, which gave the rice a smooth texture and increased its shelf life. However, milling also removes most of the rice’s nutrition and health benefits, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals. As the mechanical milling process was further perfected in the 1950’s in Japan, the attractiveness and popularity of white rice spread globally.

Consider other examples of processed grains, such as wheat in the case of 'white flour' versus 'whole wheat' flour.


Toxic food environment

Chemicals in our food system range from man made to those which occur naturally.

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Man-made chemicals that may be harmful to you

  • Chemical fertilizers (petrochemicals, inorganics, etc.)
  • Fungicides
  • Herbicides (agriculture and military defoliants, such as Agent Orange)
  • Pesticides
  • Plastics (such as Bisphenol A or BPA)
  • Preservatives
  • Radiation (irradiated foods, farming near contaminated areas)
  • Stabilizers

Naturally-occurring food toxins that may be harmful to you

Naturally-occurring food toxins (Dolan, Matulka & Burdock, 2009) can be studied from a variety of perspectives. For example, even too much of a healthy food can have a toxic effect on the body. Healthy foods that contain natural toxins can include vegetables, beans and grains.

Other natural toxins can result from spoiled foods or are produced in certain types of moulds and algae. For example, Funji, including some varieties of mushrooms, can be highly toxic to humans. Ergot fungi (Schmale & Munkvold, 2017) found in flowering grass or cereal, such as rye, are linked with physical and mental health issues as far back as the Middle Ages. Metalloids, such as arsenic (see CDC, 2023), are naturally occurring elements strongly linked to public health issues world-wide.

Shortlist of common natural toxins in food.

  • Algae
  • Funji
  • Metalloids
  • Mould

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) provides a database of information about toxic substances and how they affect human health.

According to Harvard University, addressing the complex problems associated with toxic food environments requires urgent communication and collaboration among government, industry and local institutions. As individuals, what steps can we take toward personal and public health responsibility to best mitigate a toxic food environment?

Human Experiment | Trailer

Cowspiracy | Trailer

What the Health | Trailer


Food Deserts

In an article published in Nutrition Digest (2011), the American Nutrition Association (ANA) outlines a “Food Desert” as a geographic location, area or region where fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods are, for the most part, unavailable.

Food deserts are typically located in low income, disadvantaged areas with limited access to healthy, nutritional foods, including farmers’ markets and modern grocery stores offering fresh fruits and vegetables (Nutrition Digest, 2011). For example, a typical food desert is a food environment with fast food chains and convenience stores located at or near gas stations selling processed, imperishable products, such as canned and packaged foods.

Typical canned and processed foods in the rural US

Arguably, a food desert is actually a nutrition desert, meaning that while food is generally available, the food environment does not provide appropriate nourishment to people who rely on these products to survive – That is, fast foods and processed foods which are particularly high in processed sugars, fats, and salt.

To address the issue, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2017) suggests that individuals and communities can create community gardens (CDC, 2011a), share in the upkeep and production of the garden, and organize local farmers’ markets (CDC, 2011b).

Topics for class discussion

  • Can food deserts can be transformed into "Food oases"?
  • Rural and urban food deserts.
  • Urban farming.

References

  • (ANA, 2017) The Community for Science-Based Nutrition
  • (Barthel & Isendahl, 2013) Urban gardens, agriculture, and water management: Sources of resilience for long-term food security in cities
  • (CDC, 2011a) Healthy Places: Community Gardens
  • (CDC, 2011b) Healthy Places: Farmers Markets, Community Supported Agriculture, and Local Food Distribution
  • (CDC, 2017) Gateway to Health Communication & Social Marketing Practice
  • (Nutrition Digest, 2011) USDA Defines Food Deserts
  • (USDA, 2017) Food Access Research Atlas

Contemporary terms and trends in healthy dietary lifestyles for discussion

  • Fruitarian
  • Juicing
  • Organic (agriculture) – Not using artificial chemicals in the growing of plants and animals (Biology Online, 2018)
  • Plant-based diet
  • Plant-rich diet
  • Raw foods
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Whole foods
  • "Whole Life" (Campbell, 2018)
  • WFPB (Whole Food Plant-Based) (Campbell, 2018)

Food environment and the media

  • Who owns the food companies?
  • What marketing strategies are used by major food companies?
  • Do food advertisements tell the truth?
  • Where can we find honest information about food?

Three reasons to think about what we eat

  • For your health and the health of your loved ones.
  • For the environment and whole earth systems.
  • For animals and other sentient life forms.

Resources

  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
  • American Nutrition Association (ANA)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Harvard University's T. H. Chan School of Public Health
  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)
Environmental Videos

Environmental Videos

ENVIRONMENTAL VIDEOS AND TRAILERS

The Environmental Videos Page is the result of collective effort, supported by students in 805-282 Environmental Studies at Prince of Songkla University.

As part of ongoing class projects, we  locate, review, and select films and videos to discuss in class.

Students identify individuals who dedicate their lives to conducting research and sharing results through talks, shows, and educational programming intended to touch our lives.

Please contact us with your thoughts and comments.

Yasuni National Park and Tiputini Biodiversity Station | Western Amazon

DOCUMENTARIES BY PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR JEFF ORLOWSKI

Chasing Ice | Official Trailer

Learn more about James Balog and his Extreme Ice Survey (EIS) at chasingice.com

Chasing Coral | Official Trailer

Learn more about our changing oceans at chasingcoral.com

PLASTIC AND MARINE DEBRIS

A Plastic Ocean | Official Trailer

Plastic Ocean | United Nations 7:28

LEONARDO DICAPRIO United Nations Environmental Ambassador of Peace

Before the Flood | Official Trailer | National Geographic

The 11th Hour | Official Trailer | 11thhourfilm.com

TED TALKS

TED, or TED Talks, is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas through short inspiring videos from expert speakers on education, science, technology, and increasingly, topics in environmental studies.

"TED" is and acronym for "Technology, Entertainment, Design".

Jeremy Jackson | How we wrecked the ocean

Johan Rockstrom | Let the environment guide our development

Enric Sala | Let's turn the high seas into the world's largest nature reserve

Al Gore | New thinking on the climate crisis

James Balog | Time-lapse proof of extreme ice loss

Naomi Klein | Addicted to risk – What's the backup plan?

CONSERVATION

Virunga | Official Trailer [Netflix]

The Ivory Game | Official Trailer [Netflix]

TEXTILE AND CLOTHING INDUSTRIES

The True Cost | Official Trailer

NATURE TECH

Biomimicry | Janine Benyus – Biomimicry Institute

edX ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES COURSES AND TRAILERS