Norman Chance
The first inspiration for
my creative life came from my high school English teacher who assured me
that poor speling, poor grammer, and a highly experimental approach to
writing would not necessarily limit my literary future. Later, as an
anthropology graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, I
greatly admired the poignant beauty for Loren Eiseley's prose.
Scientist, humanist, naturalist, and poet, his ability to interweave
paleontology with personal reflections on the human condition was most
inspiring. I especially remember two memorable occasions when we met for
lunch at a nearby cafeteria where we shared our thoughts on science and
humanity - issues which emerged several years later in his highly
popular book, 'The Immense Journey.' While our interests soon
diverged, his literary achievements continue to inspire me to this day.
In addition to teaching anthropology at the
University of Oklahoma, McGill, and Connecticut, I have served on
numerous national and international panels and boards including those of
the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, the
American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American
Anthropological Association, and the Arctic Institute of North
America.
Interests outside of anthropology and
writing include music and flying. Early musical studies at the Eastman
School of Music and Oberlin Conservatory led to a decade-long
involvement as jazz drummer and band leader; while washing planes for
flying lessons culminated in a long term commitment to the joys and
adventure of flight. Highlights of these flights included exploring the
mountains, river valleys, and wilderness areas of Canada and Alaska with
my anthropologist-pilot wife, Nancy Fogel-Chance.
