Institute for Chinese Studies

Max Woodworth, an associate professor in the Department of Geography, currently serves as Interim Director of the Institute for Chinese Studies. To read his bio, visit Leadership.

 

ICS is home to more than 30 China specialists, including faculty and teaching staff from numerous departments, colleges, and professional schools. Together, they offer a range of courses involving Chinese language and disciplinary and interdisciplinary courses on China. Moreover, other faculty in the professional schools (e.g., College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, College of Social Work, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences), the sciences (e.g., chemistry, geological sciences, statistics, physics education research), and engineering (agricultural engineering, architecture, industrial, welding and systems engineering) are involved in collaborative research with colleagues at Chinese institutions of higher learning. OSU faculty have engaged in wide-ranging collaborative research with colleagues in the Chinese-speaking world on topics such as sustainable agriculture, the development of Chinese securities markets, and nanotechnology, to name but a few examples.

 

ICS supports the university’s academic mission by contributing to China-related research and instruction in various ways. As the administrative home of the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Chinese Cultural Studies, ICS facilitates knowledge acquisition on China for graduate and professional students from numerous disciplines. ICS has also provided course development grants to faculty for innovative courses at OSU and for nationally unique faculty-led study abroad programs, been an integral partner in a postdoctoral researcher program, and expanded access to the less-commonly-taught languages of China, such as Tibetan, Mongolian, and conversational Cantonese.

ICS covers all areas of Chinese studies with a breadth of academic activities, and is especially well-known for its lively lecture series each academic year, featuring speakers from OSU, neighboring institutions in the state of Ohio, as well as institutions elsewhere in the U.S. and around the world. In 2016, ICS established the OCAPA Lecture Fund that supports the ICS lecture series, thanks to a donation from the non-profit organization, Ohio Chinese American Professional Association. In addition to the main English-language series, ICS also organizes a Chinese-language lecture series. ICS also regularly convenes and organizes symposia and conferences on key issues, inviting national and international specialists to share their research. Since 2011, ICS has hosted Graduate Forums each year to give OSU graduate students in China-related areas opportunities to present and discuss their research with faculty and peers. Further, working with numerous departments, other centers and institutes and China-related organizations, ICS co-sponsors a myriad of events including lectures, film screenings, performances, exhibits, symposia, and more. For information on upcoming ICS academic events, visit the East Asian Studies Center's Events Calendar. 

 

ICS reaches out beyond OSU to disseminate information on China to various constituencies. In addition to collaborating with other Ohio-based community colleges, colleges, and universities, ICS works closely with the Ohio Association of Teachers of Chinese and conducts outreach to K-12 schools. Further, ICS co-sponsors annual community events, such as the Ohio Chinese Festival, the Asian Festival, and the Dragon Lights Festival. For information on upcoming ICS outreach events, visit the East Asian Studies Center's Events Calendar.

 

ICS maintains lists of various resources and facilitates development of lesson plans for those interested in teaching or learning about China. Resources can be found at Resources. 

 

ICS provides a variety of giving opportunities in support of China-related programs. Tax-deductible gifts can be designated to the Institute for Chinese Studies Fund, Ohio Chinese American Professional Association (OCAPA) Lecture Fund, or the Cantonese Gamluhk Fund.  For details on giving to the Institute for Chinese Studies, visit EASC Giving Opportunities.
 

Information about ICS events and other China-related announcements can be found in the East Asian Studies Center’s weekly e-newsletter, EASC Express. To subscribe, follow the instructions to join the EASC Mailing List. Summaries and photos from many of ICS’s past events and programs can be found in the East Asian Studies Center’s newsletter, EASC expOSUre.

 

Institute for Chinese Studies, 140 Enarson Classroom Building, 2009 Millikin Road, Columbus, OH 43210; Phone: 614-247-6893; Email: easc@osu.edu