Tweet
Earthwatch Institute
3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100
Maynard, MA 01754
Phone: (978) 461-0081
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.earthwatch.org
PRESS RELEASE
May 14, 2007
Earthwatch Partners with Armenian Community to Support Architectural
Heritage
Arlington, MA--About 90 people gathered on the evening of Wednesday, May 9,
at the Armenian Cultural Foundation in Arlington to hear architect Jane
Britt Greenwood talk about the current building boom in the historic city of
Gyumri, and strategies for preserving this area's unique architectural
heritage.
`There is great potential for economic development here, but in the quest
for modernization, Armenia's distinct heritage and character is being lost,'
says Greenwood. `The skill and ingenuity of the people who want to
contribute to the built environment is great, and we can help those voices
get heard.'
Greenwood, a professor of architecture at Mississippi State University, is
leading an architectural research expedition this summer through Earthwatch,
a global volunteer organization headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts.
Earthwatch is providing a grant to Greenwood to document culturally
significant buildings and styles throughout the city, which Greenwood then
plans to provide to local planners to help retain Gyumri's character and
charm.
In addition to providing monetary support, Earthwatch also recruits members
of the public to help researchers gather the information they need, which
was part of the goal of this event.
`You don't even need to be able to draw a straight line,' said Greenwood to
the assembled group, as she described the volunteer tasks on her project. `I
will teach you everything you need to know.' Volunteers will help Greenwood
sketch, measure, and photograph historic buildings, clean and reconstruct
artifacts damaged by earthquakes, do archival research, and interview local
residents about the histories of their homes and neighborhoods.
Several members of the audience were inspired to sign up as volunteers on
Greenwood's `Armenia's Architectural Heritage' Earthwatch expedition.
Jeannette John plans to join the expedition with her great-nephew, Michael
Daniel, a ninth grader at Tyngsborough High School. `Michael has never been
to Armenia, and he wants to be an archaeologist or an architect, so this
expedition seemed like a perfect opportunity,' said John, who also plans to
make time to see family in Armenia.
Many of the attendees were excited to contribute to rebuilding Gyumri, and
made donations to support the work of Greenwood and Earthwatch. There are
still spaces available for four expedition dates in June and July 2007.
The evening included delicious Armenian hors d'oeuvres, with traditional
Armenian music by Garo Papazian on the dumbeg (drum), Harry Bedrossian on
the keyboard, and Joseph Kauyoumjian on the oud.
Speakers were introduced by Dr. Robert Mirak, President of the Armenian
Cultural Foundation, and included Ed Wilson, Earthwatch's President and CEO
presenting information about Earthwatch, Greenwood presenting slides on her
work in Armenia, and Jason Sohigian of Armenian Tree Project.
If you would like to find out more about this expedition, visit
www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/greenwood.html, or call an Earthwatch
Expedition Advisor at 800-776-0188.
Notes to Editors
Earthwatch scientist Jane Britt Greenwood is Associate Dean and Associate
Professor at Mississippi State University's College of Architecture, Art,
and Design.
Earthwatch Institute is an international environmental organization whose
mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and
education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a
sustainable environment.
Earthwatch was founded in 1971 and is based in Maynard, Massachusetts.
Affiliate offices are based in the UK, Australia, and Japan.
Earthwatch makes research grants of over $6 million in support of around 130
projects each year. Earthwatch recruits volunteers from the general public
and partner organizations to share the costs of a research project, and to
join it as research assistants.
In the past 30 years, Earthwatch field assistants have contributed 10
million man-hours to research internationally.
Earthwatch projects are divided into four primary research areas: climate
change, resource management, sustainable cultures, and oceans. Earthwatch
welcomes proposals for long-term support. Around 18 percent of Earthwatch
projects have been supported for over 10 years.
PHOTO CAPTION: Dr. Robert Mirak, President of the Armenian Cultural
Foundation, introduces the evening's program in the Foundation's elegant
library
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100
Maynard, MA 01754
Phone: (978) 461-0081
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.earthwatch.org
PRESS RELEASE
May 14, 2007
Earthwatch Partners with Armenian Community to Support Architectural
Heritage
Arlington, MA--About 90 people gathered on the evening of Wednesday, May 9,
at the Armenian Cultural Foundation in Arlington to hear architect Jane
Britt Greenwood talk about the current building boom in the historic city of
Gyumri, and strategies for preserving this area's unique architectural
heritage.
`There is great potential for economic development here, but in the quest
for modernization, Armenia's distinct heritage and character is being lost,'
says Greenwood. `The skill and ingenuity of the people who want to
contribute to the built environment is great, and we can help those voices
get heard.'
Greenwood, a professor of architecture at Mississippi State University, is
leading an architectural research expedition this summer through Earthwatch,
a global volunteer organization headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts.
Earthwatch is providing a grant to Greenwood to document culturally
significant buildings and styles throughout the city, which Greenwood then
plans to provide to local planners to help retain Gyumri's character and
charm.
In addition to providing monetary support, Earthwatch also recruits members
of the public to help researchers gather the information they need, which
was part of the goal of this event.
`You don't even need to be able to draw a straight line,' said Greenwood to
the assembled group, as she described the volunteer tasks on her project. `I
will teach you everything you need to know.' Volunteers will help Greenwood
sketch, measure, and photograph historic buildings, clean and reconstruct
artifacts damaged by earthquakes, do archival research, and interview local
residents about the histories of their homes and neighborhoods.
Several members of the audience were inspired to sign up as volunteers on
Greenwood's `Armenia's Architectural Heritage' Earthwatch expedition.
Jeannette John plans to join the expedition with her great-nephew, Michael
Daniel, a ninth grader at Tyngsborough High School. `Michael has never been
to Armenia, and he wants to be an archaeologist or an architect, so this
expedition seemed like a perfect opportunity,' said John, who also plans to
make time to see family in Armenia.
Many of the attendees were excited to contribute to rebuilding Gyumri, and
made donations to support the work of Greenwood and Earthwatch. There are
still spaces available for four expedition dates in June and July 2007.
The evening included delicious Armenian hors d'oeuvres, with traditional
Armenian music by Garo Papazian on the dumbeg (drum), Harry Bedrossian on
the keyboard, and Joseph Kauyoumjian on the oud.
Speakers were introduced by Dr. Robert Mirak, President of the Armenian
Cultural Foundation, and included Ed Wilson, Earthwatch's President and CEO
presenting information about Earthwatch, Greenwood presenting slides on her
work in Armenia, and Jason Sohigian of Armenian Tree Project.
If you would like to find out more about this expedition, visit
www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/greenwood.html, or call an Earthwatch
Expedition Advisor at 800-776-0188.
Notes to Editors
Earthwatch scientist Jane Britt Greenwood is Associate Dean and Associate
Professor at Mississippi State University's College of Architecture, Art,
and Design.
Earthwatch Institute is an international environmental organization whose
mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and
education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a
sustainable environment.
Earthwatch was founded in 1971 and is based in Maynard, Massachusetts.
Affiliate offices are based in the UK, Australia, and Japan.
Earthwatch makes research grants of over $6 million in support of around 130
projects each year. Earthwatch recruits volunteers from the general public
and partner organizations to share the costs of a research project, and to
join it as research assistants.
In the past 30 years, Earthwatch field assistants have contributed 10
million man-hours to research internationally.
Earthwatch projects are divided into four primary research areas: climate
change, resource management, sustainable cultures, and oceans. Earthwatch
welcomes proposals for long-term support. Around 18 percent of Earthwatch
projects have been supported for over 10 years.
PHOTO CAPTION: Dr. Robert Mirak, President of the Armenian Cultural
Foundation, introduces the evening's program in the Foundation's elegant
library
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress