SCCC professor accepted to prestigious institute

NEWTON — Sussex County Community College (SCCC) recently announced that Jumana Hablawi, professor of biology and anatomy, has been accepted to attend the prestigious science section of the 12th annual Reacting to the Past (RTTP) institute at Barnard College. There, Hablawi will participate in three educational and elaborate games based off of major historic events. This year, RTTP science students will be assigned roles for the Trial of Galileo: Aristotelianism, the New Cosmology, the Catholic Church, 1616-33, The Pluto Debate, 1999-2006, and Climate Change in Copenhagen 2009. These games have been developed by over 40 different educational institutions to create a curriculum that transcends disciplinary structures and explores multiple other disciplines. In 2004, RTTP was awarded the Theodore Hesburgh Award for pedagogical innovation. "Hopefully, I will take what I learn at the conference and present it to the college during the fall faculty meetings," wrote Hablawi of her acceptance. Success through innovative teaching is not a new concept for Hablawi, who found her passion for teaching while studying to become a doctor. She has gained popularity at SCCC for the many resources she provides for her science students. Aside from several interactive websites where she posts class notes, she also publishes podcasts of her lectures, allowing students to attend class as many times as needed to understand the difficult subject matter. These podcasts have gained positive responses from students as far as South America.