norman chance

@normanchance

About

The first inspiration formy creative life came from my high school English teacher who assured methat poor speling, poor grammer, and a highly experimental approach towriting would not necessarily limit my literary future. Later, as ananthropology graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, Igreatly admired the poignant beauty for Loren Eiseley's prose.Scientist, humanist, naturalist, and poet, his ability to interweavepaleontology with personal reflections on the human condition was mostinspiring. I especially remember two memorable occasions when we met forlunch at a nearby cafeteria where we shared our thoughts on science andhumanity - issues which emerged several years later in his highlypopular book, 'The Immense Journey.' While our interests soondiverged, his literary achievements continue to inspire me to this day.

In addition to teaching anthropology at theUniversity of Oklahoma, McGill, and Connecticut, I have served onnumerous national and international panels and boards including those ofthe National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, theAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science, the AmericanAnthropological Association, and the Arctic Institute of NorthAmerica.

Interests outside of anthropology andwriting include music and flying. Early musical studies at the EastmanSchool of Music and Oberlin Conservatory led to a decade-longinvolvement as jazz drummer and band leader; while washing planes forflying lessons culminated in a long term commitment to the joys andadventure of flight. Highlights of these flights included exploring themountains, river valleys, and wilderness areas of Canada and Alaska withmy anthropologist-pilot wife, Nancy Fogel-Chance.