Three new faculty books from the 91探花 cover wide-ranging topics: oysters, the moral contradictions of religion, and Cherokee creature names and environmental relationships. 91探花News talked with the authors to learn more.

Updated 鈥楬eaven on the Half Shell鈥� a 鈥榣ove letter鈥� to oysters

Oysters are a beloved food in the Pacific Northwest, but many people don鈥檛 realize what it鈥檚 taken to bring this bivalve from tide to table. 鈥溾�� dives into this very topic, providing readers with insight into the diverse history and communities involved with all things oysters

The book was written by and of the along with author . Originally published in 2001, 鈥淗eaven on the Half Shell鈥� has been updated and republished two decades later by 91探花Press.听 Double the length of the original, the new version includes an additional chapter as well as more photos and text.

鈥淥ver the course of 20 years, it needed a lot of updating,鈥� said Gordon. 鈥淭here was originally no mention, for example, of ocean acidification in the book. That is probably the biggest confrontational point nowadays, but it wasn’t on the radar then. I felt it badly needed some updating, and I’m glad that the Sea Grant people agreed with me.鈥�

The story of the oyster 鈥渋ncludes a lot of social history, environmental history and the development of what we know as the Pacific Northwest,鈥� Larson said.

鈥淥ne big focus that we had on this new edition was really elevating our treatment of the tribal history and carrying that history up to date with how important many tribes are in terms of owning and operating their own shellfish farms today,鈥� Larson said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 another slice of history that can be told and looked at through this kind of unique perspective.鈥�

Apart from oyster history, the book also provides readers with a behind-the-scenes look at modern-day oyster farming and recipes for how to enjoy oysters after the harvest.

鈥淭he ways that we’ve been eating them in the past and the ways that we鈥檙e eating them now are different,鈥� Wagner said. 鈥淚 personally wanted to document that and show how it changed over time and the different faces that have contributed to those recipes.鈥�

The oyster farming industry has evolved since the book鈥檚 initial publication, with environmental changes like ocean acidification and rising temperatures causing new issues for farmers. But the underlying theme of the book and the main requirement for a thriving oyster industry remains clean water, Gordon said. The Pacific Northwest still has pristine waters in many places and a growing population that understands its role in the industry.

鈥淭his book is basically a love letter to the oyster,鈥� Gordon said. 鈥淎nd it’s great, because I’ve always felt that in order to get people motivated to protect the natural resources, you have to get them to love the environment.鈥�

For more information, contact Wagner at maryannb@uw.edu, Larson at larsonsa@uw.edu, and Gordon at david@davidgeorgegordon.com.

Mark Smith鈥檚 鈥楻ight from Wrong鈥� reveals moral contradictions of religion

It seems harder and harder in today鈥檚 world for people to come together to respectfully debate an issue, consider alternative viewpoints and reach a consensus. But such a process is vital to determining how we will function and progress as a society, argues in his new book.

In 鈥�,鈥� published by Prometheus Books, Smith tackles religious and secular approaches to establishing a moral code. He underscores contradictions in the texts and challenges the defenses of Christianity 鈥� a form of theology known as apologetics.

鈥淥ne major part of my book explores how pious members of book-based religions grapple with scriptures that any modern person would have difficulty swallowing,鈥� said Smith, a 91探花professor of political science. 鈥淚f the text justifies genocide, or defends patriarchy, or requires capital punishment for minor offenses, how can the believer respond?

鈥淚f you鈥檙e absolutely convinced that God is good, and that a set of scriptures captures his speech either through inspiration, as in Christianity or directly as in Islam, you鈥檝e got to reconcile any challenges you face.鈥�

Smith proposes that a process of inclusive deliberation is a more thoughtful, rational basis for establishing objective morality and the means of working together in community. He points to what is today a practice widely recognized as immoral 鈥� slavery 鈥� and prohibited around the world. But it took centuries of heated debate (and a civil war in the United States), as well as the spreading of abolitionist views through the printing press, and the stories and speeches of formerly enslaved people.

Today, Smith said, the shrinking of traditional media and the rise of social media often keep people from engaging in meaningful discussion.

鈥淵ou can curate what you read, watch, and listen such that you never have to hear from people with contrary views. Social media, for its part, rewards those who preach to the choir.听 By doing so, you attract likes and followers. Anyone who tries to engage with the 鈥榦ther side鈥� gets quickly dismissed as a traitor to the cause,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭he result is that we have many siloed conversations that rely on distortion and straw man tactics rather than true deliberation across lines of political difference.鈥�

But it鈥檚 still possible, Smith said, among people of all faiths, or no faith.听 He writes in the book鈥檚 conclusion: 鈥淣o person has all the answers, but if we put our minds together, we can make progress on even the most difficult moral questions.鈥�

For more information, contact Smith at masmith@uw.edu.

Exploring nature through Cherokee creature names

In 鈥�,鈥� , professor and chair of American Indian Studies at the UW, explores nature and the world through Cherokee creature names, environmental relationships, traditional stories and philosophical discussions with fluent Cherokee speakers and knowledge keepers.

Published by 91探花Press, the book provides a unique perspective of the world we live in by bringing together decades of oral history. The creature names 鈥� Cherokee words for the natural world, including birds, animals, edible plants, reptiles, amphibians, trees, insects, plants and fish 鈥� were collected orally from elders over a 30-year span by , the late Cherokee cultural leader.

Loretta Shade, Hastings鈥� wife, and their son, Larry, shared the collection with Teuton and said they wanted to publish. Written in collaboration with the Shades, 鈥淐herokee Earth Dwellers鈥� documents more than 600 creature names.

鈥淎s we went over the collection and looked through all these different names, and all the stories that are attached to the creature names, we realized this is more than just something like a dictionary,鈥� Teuton said. 鈥淚t’s actually a Cherokee ecology through words and relationships. And so, we began to work together and reached out to other elders to get their input on the project and to reflect on the collection created by Hasting Shade.鈥�

This community-driven collaboration was written 鈥渨ith the goal of creating a work of art and a work of language, revitalization and cultural revitalization that would be valued by all Cherokee people.鈥� Teuton hopes it can be used as a resource by people studying the Cherokee language as it includes spellings, pronunciations, meanings for various names and stories told by traditional storytellers in the community.

鈥淭his book can teach about the natural world and about traditional ways of understanding oneself in relation to the relatives that we have among us 鈥攑lant relatives, animal relatives, fish relatives,鈥� Teuton said. 鈥淎ll the different creatures of the natural world with whom we have relationships, dependencies and reciprocal engagements with.鈥�

For more information, contact Teuton at teuton@uw.edu.

91探花Notebook, encouraged by the overlap between radio and podcasting, talked with the co-hosts of this prolific show with almost two dozen produced episodes so far. Also, below, EarthLab’s podcast “” releases a new season of timely topics.

“Coastal Caf茅” is a joint production of Washington Sea Grant and the College of the Environment. Its 23 episodes and counting explore “cutting-edge marine science and related topics with researchers, policy experts and people who live and work on the Washington coast.” The show is broadcast every Wednesday at 5:10 p.m. on KPTZ, 91.9 FM out of Port Townsend.

The podcast/radio show is co-hosted by , Washington Sea Grant’s assistant director for communications; and , its boating program specialist. Both have past radio experience: Wagner with Seattle’s Classic KING FM and Barnett with a public radio station in Alaska.

The two say they modeled the program after a Maine Sea Grant radio show called “.” They approached Port Townsend radio station KPTZ with the idea for a show and the selection of marine-related topics appealed to the station, whose listeners include many in the maritime industry.

What is the audience for ‘Coastal Caf茅’? 听

Aaron Barnett: The content is eclectic with a focus on Washington state but with national relevance. The audience we try to reach is composed of coastal stakeholders 鈥� vessel operators, marine trades, coastal homeowners, you name it.听 The show was also syndicated on Radio Free America for a year until they folded this summer.听

MaryAnn Wagner: Really, anyone who has an interest in what is happening in the Pacific Ocean or Salish Sea, and along those shorelines would be interested in our show topics, including anyone interested in learning about the latest news in marine science and policy, or even just fishing and boating.

What episode might be the best for a newcomer to listen to first?听

A.B.: That depends on what they are interested in. For example, if a newcomer is interested in the arts, we did a , whose band provides music for the show. We have many science-focused episodes, with most of those based at the UW. And we have a couple of shows focused on recreational boating and the commercial fishing industry.

M.W.: Aaron recently did an on-location show about aboard a U. S. Coast Guard Lifeboat, and we did a show on 91探花tsunami research in the Pacific Northwest 鈥� and another on abandoned and derelict boats and what to do about them. Coming up is a show for recreational boaters and beachgoers on how to help reduce marine debris, such as plastics and other garbage.

You are recording new episodes — what are the challenges of keeping the podcast going during the coronavirus shutdown?

A.B.: The biggest challenge we have faced during shutdown is finding a way to record good sound quality outside of the production and recording studio, since no one is allowed to tape in the station. We have experimented with different phone and internet platforms and think we have something that works now. However, good sound quality still hinges on good connection with the interviewee鈥檚 phone signal, which these days is usually from a cell phone.

M.W.: And cell phones are not always reliable! I really miss being in the studio setting with the interviewee sitting across the table with all the equipment.听 But that has not stopped us. Aaron and our excellent producer Jared DuFresne of KPTZ have experimented with a number of variations for taping the show remotely, and as Aaron said, they have found a good technical combination. The show must go on, and so it has.

We have found over the past two years that the number of marine topics we could report upon is endless. For example, there is so much research happening at the 91探花on marine and related environmental issues, that we could do multiple shows focused on 91探花projects alone.

I should add that we are always open to ideas from our listeners. So, please send us your ideas.

• To learn more or submit ideas, contact Wagner at maryannb@uw.edu or Barnett at aaronb5@uw.edu.

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EarthLab’s ‘Voices Unbound’ second season talks of social tensions from COVID-19

“” is a podcast created by EarthLab and 91探花Tacoma, and hosted by associate professor in the school’s Nursing and Healthcare Leadership Program. The podcast has now published its second season.

“In this series opener we go way-deep into the social tensions of our time,” show notes say, “discussing how racism in law enforcement and governmental responses to the COVID-19 epidemic contribute important environmental threats to communities in our region and elsewhere.”

The podcast also will continue to report on its analysis of answers to questions posed since 2019 about public attitudes toward environmental challenges.

Principal investigators for the work are Evans-Agnew and , urban ecologist and assistant professor in 91探花Tacoma鈥檚 School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences.

Read an earlier 91探花Notebook story about this podcast. For more information, contact Evans-Agnew at robagnew@uw.edu.