Author Archives: Cynthia Coleman Emery

About Cynthia Coleman Emery

Professor and researcher at Portland State University who studies science communication, particularly issues that impact American Indians. Dr. Coleman is an enrolled citizen of the Osage Nation.

Doing What’s Ordinary

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Cynthia Coleman Emery

Our puppy lived with his brothers, sisters and trainer for five months before we got to take him home. We learned one important lesson the day the trainer handed over the leash: praise the pup royally when he goes potty … Continue reading →

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Do Media Matter? Maybe, Not So Much….

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Cynthia Coleman Emery

I get it. We long for answers. One step solutions. But life is complicated, and we can’t solve our problems with shortcuts. There’s no single pill to make you slim and no simple test to show you’re smart. Lately I’ve … Continue reading →

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Improvisation: A Formula for Teaching

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Cynthia Coleman Emery

Winding up spring term’s college classes, I ask students what they know now that they didn’t know ten weeks ago. The weight of ideas learned in one class is stunning, but what’s more impressive is how students learn how to … Continue reading →

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All Things are Relative in Camp Land

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Cynthia Coleman Emery

Our long weekend trip to the East Coast from the West took an unexpected turn: camping. I had booked an AirBnB that would be a close drive to our family–son and daughter-in-law–and one that welcomed–even encouraged–dogs. Photos online showed a … Continue reading →

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Little Theories

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Cynthia Coleman Emery

The Duality of Science and Morals Science and morals have something in common. Both cling to a common foundation. That is, scientific and moral-ethical theories each wrap around core beliefs supported by experience, practice and everyday existence. For example, Natives … Continue reading →

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Twisted Truths

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Cynthia Coleman Emery

Twisted Truths I just learned about a bill that will allow Florida schools to restrict how faculty teach American history in primary and secondary schools. The news report notes Governor Ron DeSantis says “woke ideology is an attempt to really … Continue reading →

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Don’t Feed the Rats

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Cynthia Coleman Emery

Signs in town remind you not to feed the rats. A reminder, it seems, that cities have their own culture, lingo, pests and pestilences. Chicago boasts the title of the best city in the United States for its rat problems, … Continue reading →

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Environmental Issues in Indonesia

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Cynthia Coleman Emery

I was thrilled to spend a chunk of an afternoon in a virtual meeting with a group of writers, scientists, analysts and academics from Indonesia who work with communities on environmental issues. My role was to offer some notes on … Continue reading →

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Habits, Norms and Horns

Posted on September 18, 2021 by Cynthia Coleman Emery

The good thing about traveling is that it encourages you to view foreign places through a new prism.By foreign I mean the United States. We spent the last few weeks visiting the East Coast, practicing the native tongue and observing … Continue reading →

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Pandemic PTSD

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Cynthia Coleman Emery

A friend admitted she suffered PTSD because of the pandemic.I first learned of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from news about Gulf War soldiers returning home and feeling miserable…disconnected.And PTSD implies that you may feel the effects long after the insult—hence the … Continue reading →

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