PUSHING THE LIMITS
FIRST INFORMATION WEBINAR
Dan Rockmore (PI) and Marcelo Gleiser (Co-PI)
Al Bennett (Co-PI)
1. Overview of the Project
2. Science Partners and Their Key Role
3. The Four Programs: Topics, Books and Science
Science “Charms”
Questions for Discussion
Pedagogical Suggestions
Further Reading
1. PROJECT OVERVIEW
• WHAT IS “PUSHING THE LIMITS”
Pushing the Limits is a project that aims to create enjoyable
events (guided discussions) at your library, around
interesting topics that have a science connection.
The unifying theme is that each topic is presented in a
context of how humankind has “pushed the limits” in each
of these areas and the role that science has played in
pushing that limit.
• WHAT IS “PUSHING THE LIMITS” (cont.)
Topics: Nature, Knowledge, Survival, Connection
Ingredients:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Leaders: Librarian and a Science Advocate
Participants: adult patrons (of rural and small libraries)
Book (popular fiction or historical non-fiction)
Two Video Clips
• Author interview
• Human interest story (real people, real stories, real
science)
•
WHAT IS “PUSHING THE LIMITS” (cont.)
Some Goals:
1. Get new people exposed to science: “Lure” folks who are not necessarily interested
in science to the library for a book club/like evening of conversation with their
friends, and get them to have a positive experience thinking about and talking about
ideas that have scientific connections.
2. Get patrons to see the human connections to science
3. Get patrons to see “real people” talking about science and science that probably is
“relatable” (i.e., the science of the stories is relatable) and thus get them to see
themselves as “scientists”
4. Help the libraries and librarians see themselves as “portals” for informal science
education (“building capacity” for informal science education)
5. Help patrons see libraries as portals for informal science education
6. Create connections between the libraries and local science-knowledgeable people
7. Introduce patrons to science-knowledgeable people (sometimes “professional”
scientists – “put a face on science”)
8. Actually teach a little science! – but this is a hoped for by-product, not a targeted
goal
9. Inspire patrons and librarians to look more deeply at the science ideas in the
evenings
10. Get people who don’t identify as science-interested to at least become “sciencefriendly” or “science-curious”
• WHY IT MATTERS:
A. For patrons:
Science is everywhere! Science and scientific progress affects everyone!
Medical decisions
Social decisions
Government resource allocation
Employment possibilities
Economic decisions
Etc. (more?)
We are all “scientists” in the way that we approach the world – it’s not an
“us vs. them” paradigm
B. For libraries and librarians:
Libraries are places where folks go to find information – some of it
scientific. If librarians are more comfortable as science conduits everyone
benefits.
WHY RURAL LIBRARIES FOR INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION?
• In rural and small communities libraries are center for
socializing and information gathering
• Libraries are “non-threatening” venues
• Libraries are connected to the internet
• Rural communities are typically underexposed to science
as compared to densely-populated urban centers
•
HOW DOES IT WORK
We provide the materials:
1. Book (popular fiction or historical non-fiction)
2. Two Video Clips
•
Author interview
•
Human interest story (real people, real stories, real science)
Evening: (Approx 75 – 90 minutes)
1. Brief intro to the program and the moderators (librarian and science
advocate) ~ 5 minutes
2. Start a discussion on the topic, starting with the book, and moving as
is natural (see our list of suggested questions per book/topic) ~ 10
minutes
3. Watch the author interview ~ 5 minutes
4. Discuss what the author said, both in and of itself and in the context
of the book and topic (see our list of suggested questions per topic) ~
15 minutes
5. Watch the human interest video – 10-15 minutes
6. Discuss the video, both in and of itself and in the context of the topic
(see our list of suggested questions per topic) ~ 15 minutes
2. SCIENCE PARTNERS AND THEIR KEY ROLE
1. Partner with your librarian
2. Introduce and frame the events
3. Guide scientific conversations
3. Facilitate discussion – these are not lectures!! Think of these
events as parties that you are co-hosting with your librarian
partner
A few thoughts on facilitating discussion:
•
•
•
•
Pose questions designed for your audiences – make them relevant
for your communities!
Engage the audience – let them do the talking and ask questions.
Keep the evening moving and on time – note that we have provided
you with some example questions to help
Answer questions when you can, but don’t be afraid to say “I
don’t know” and to have resource to direct people – That said, it’s good
to do some prep to try to anticipate science questions. We have
provide a starter list of resources to that end.
Science Partner resources for Arctic Drift (C. Cussler) and Survival
AUVs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_underwater_vehicle
The actual NUMA:
http://www.numa.net/
Ruthenium:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthenium
John Franklin’s expedition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin%27s_lost_expedition
Opening of the Northwest Passage
http://news.discovery.com/earth/global-warming/northwest-passage-opening-faster-than-expected-120816.htm
Photosynthesis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g78utcLQrJ4
NYer article on swimming in frigid waters:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/04/21/080421fa_fact_cox
NYer article on deep diving:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/08/24/090824fa_fact_wilkinson
Science Partner resources for Land of Painted Caves (J. Auel) and
Knowledge
Human Ancestry:
http://darwiniana.org/hominid.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hobbit/tree-nf.html
Neanderthals:
NOVA programs: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/decoding-neanderthals.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/neanderthals/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_religion
New Yorker and Atlantic articles on Neanderthals:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/08/15/110815fa_fact_kolbert
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2011/09/it-wasnt-just-neanderthals-ancient-humans-had-sex-other-hominids/42117/
Neanderthals vs. Cro-Magnon:
http://www.history.com/videos/discovering-neanderthal#discovering-neanderthal
Cave Paintings:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/06/120614-neanderthal-cave-paintings-spain-science-pike/
http://www.clickinks.com/all-about-cave-paintings.html
Science Partner resources for Land of Painted Caves (J. Auel) and Knowledge
(cont.)
Science of Cooking:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/
http://www.amazon.com/Science-Cooking-Peter-Barham/dp/3540674667
http://www.scienceofcooking.com
Longevity of Seeds:
http://5e.plantphys.net/article.php?ch=t&id=9
Sean’s Brock Restaurant:
http://www.huskrestaurant.com/sean-brock-2/
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/interview-sean-brock
Knowledge/Information Transfer and Storage:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_transfer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_storage
Science Partner resources for Thunderstruck (E. Larson) and Connection
Electromagnetic Waves:
http://missionscience.nasa.gov/ems/01_intro.html
Radio:
Invention:
http://inventors.about.com/od/rstartinventions/a/radio.htm
How does it work:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-Does-the-Radio-Work-75702.shtml
Discovery of radio waves by Hertz:
http://www.juliantrubin.com/bigten/hertzexperiment.html
Titanic and Ocean Liners:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic
http://www.lastoceanliners.com
Oliver Lodge:
http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Oliver_Lodge
Marconi:
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1909/marconi-bio.html
Science Partner resources for Thunderstruck (E. Larson) and
Connection (cont.)
Adobe Architecture:
http://architecture-sf2.nm-unlimited.net
http://www.flickr.com/groups/adobearchitecture/
Roxanne Swentzell:
http://www.roxanneswentzell.net
http://www.swentzell.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyPSmFt2Qj0
Science of Clay:
http://classes.css.wsu.edu/soils201/Presentations/Lab%204%20Clay%20Minerals.pdf
Science Partner resource When the Killing’s
Done (T. C. Boyle) and Nature
Food webs
Build your own! http://www.gould.edu.au/foodwebs/kids_web.htm
Food web gallery: http://www.foodwebs.org/ (and click on gallery)
Some of the real story behind Anacapa:
http://articles.latimes.com/2002/dec/15/local/me-ratman15
Today at Anacapa:
http://www.nps.gov/chis/naturescience/restoring-anacapa-island-sea-bird-habitat.htm
http://www.montroserestoration.gov/2012/12/17/anacapa-island-rat-removal-boostsseabird-populations/
3. The Four Programs: Topics, Books and Science
(Presentation order up to individual libraries)
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Knowledge
Connection
Survival
Nature
THE FOUR PROGRAMS AND THEIR THEMES
Theme 1: Knowledge
Knowledge: How has humankind pushed the
limits of knowledge?
Book – “Clan of the Cave Bear,” Jean Auel
Science Charms: Different kinds of knowledge,
practical knowledge and book knowledge, Ayla’s
knowledge as a means of survival, pushing the
limits of mankind
Human Interest Story – Sean Brock, master chef.
Science Charms: using knowledge to push his limits as
a chef, to push our limits as consumers of his food, to
push the limits of the kinds of cuisine and foods that
can be available, pushing limits in time (bringing back
heritage foods), preserving knowledge, chemistry of
the kitchen, any chef/cook is a scientist
Knowledge
1.
2.
Welcome
The Land of Painted Caves, by Jean M. Auel
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Starter questions: Were folks able to read the book? (Give
a very brief summary just to give a little context for those
who didn’t read it). What did people think of it?
Does it feel like life 10,000 years ago could have been like
this?
I was particularly struck by the descriptions and use of the
cave paintings. What did you think of them?
What did people think about the “great revelation” for
Ayla was about the need for men for procreation?
This book is part of our discussion of pushing the limits of
knowledge. Does anyone have any thoughts about how it
fits into that?
Knowledge (continued)
3. Jean Auel interview
1.
2.
3.
4.
Starter question: Were you surprised by how Auel comes
across?
What do you think about the idea of fiction or literature
influencing science? Can you think of any instances where it
has happened?
Any thoughts on the differing theories of why Cro-Magnon
“won” over the Neanderthals? Was it knowledge or just a
simple numbers thing – more Cro-Magnons? Different types
of memory? The ways of transmitting knowledge? All
combined? What do you think of Auel’s theory of how
memory influenced the outcome?
Can we ever know events from the distant past completely?
Knowledge (continued)
4. Human Interest video – Sean Brock – Master Chef
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Starter Question: What do we think about Sean Brock? Would
you eat in his restaurants?
Any thoughts on the notion of a kitchen as a “laboratory” and
the chef as an experimenter? Is that how you feel in the
kitchen?
What do we think about the idea of food as knowledge?
What kinds of food knowledge have been passed down in your
own families?
Any thoughts on the place of the tattoos in the story?
Do you think cooking has changed/benefitted from technology?
Should food be engineered or kept natural? Can technology
help solve world hunger?
THE FOUR PROGRAMS AND THEIR THEMES
Theme 2: Connection
Connection: How are we pushing the limits in
the way we connect with each other?
Book – “Thunderstruck,” Erik Larson
Science Charms: Radio as a novel technology
of connection; Theme of connection with
those who are not present, perhaps not even
alive!; how we use new technologies to
connect with one another; what we mean by
connection
Human Interest Story – Roxanne Swentzel, potter,
artist, and homebuilder.
Science Charms: pushing the limits of what can done
as a potter by using her connection to the past and in
so doing, allowing others to connect to her past and
building connections to the future (her children);
using those connections to the past for building a
home for her children, for connecting to the earth
and her own home.
Connection
1.
2.
Welcome
Thunderstruck, by Erik Larson
1.
2.
3.
4.
Were folks able to read the book? (Give a very brief summary
just to give a little context for those who didn’t read it). What
did people think of it?
Did you feel the book recreated well life at the beginning of the
twentieth century?
Marconi’s invention of the radio changed the world and the way
people communicated with each other. Do you feel we are
experiencing something comparable today?
We’re reading Thunderstruck as part of our “pushing the limits”
of Connection. In what ways does the book touch that theme?
(possible answers: at the technological level - radio, at the
emotional level - Crippen and his murder and his creepy ability
to connect with others, and connection with the dead through
Lodge and the séances).
Connection (continued)
3. Eric Larson interview
1.
2.
3.
4.
What do people think of Erik Larson? As you imagined him?
Larson mentions how Marconi’s new technology undermined
Crippen’s almost perfect crime. Is this a precursor of the CSI
series—technology helping to solve crimes? Can you think of
modern examples? How does this dovetail with the theme of
connection?
Oliver Lodge tried to study the supernatural with science. Do
you think leading scientists would do this today?
Connectivity and loneliness. Larson talks about texting his
daughter and people with their iPhones. Do you see modern
means of communication changing this in any way? Are we
too connected?
Connection (continued)
4. Human Interest video – Roxanne Swentzel – Artist & Builder
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Starter Question: What did you think of Roxanne and her
family? Did you like her art?
Any thoughts on the notion of the artist as an experimenter –
finding materials, mixing them, creating structures with them?
Do you see Roxanne work as a means of connecting the past
and the future?
Do you think Roxanne’s efforts to preserve past knowledge and
use it in the present is relevant?
Are there ways in which science forms a connection to the
history of our community?
Can you think of examples where science and art overlap?
THE FOUR PROGRAMS AND THEIR THEMES
Theme 3: Survival
Survival: How humanity has used and uses its
ingenuity to survive
Book – “Arctic Drift,” Clive Cussler
Science Charms: having to use science to push
the limits of the kinds of environments that
we can survive in; pushing the limits of our
energy consumption and the ways in which
we can derive energy
Human Interest Story – The Shrum Family, farmers
Science Charms: pushing their limits in the combine
derby, pushing the limits of the machine and
themselves, “farmer engineers,” being pushed to
their limits by the demands of farming; survival of the
family farm
Survival
1. Welcome
2. Arctic Drift, by Clive Cussler
1. Starter questions: Were folks able to read the
book? (Give a very brief summary just to give a
little context for those who didn’t read it). What
did people think of it?
2. Did aspects of it feel realistic? Did the
technology seem realistic? What about the
environmental fears?
3. Did anyone reflect on the multiple themes of
survival?
4. Does science and technology come into play in a
theme of survival in your life or your
community’s life?
Survival (continued)
3. Clive Cussler interview
1. Were you surprised by how Cussler came across
on camera?
2. Can you think of any instances where fiction has
“predicted” the future?
3. Were you surprised by the state of technology in
Franklin’s time?
4. Do humans still push the limits of survival in
exploration?
Survival (continued)
4. Human Interest video – The Shrum Family
1. What did people think of the Shrums?
2. Does the “fix it” mentality resonate with anyone? Are
most or any people “engineers” with their own equipment
and technology?
3. Are there any aspects of our own lives and communities in
which we may need to “push the limits” in order to
survive?
4. Are other kinds of professions engaged in a battle for
“survival”?
5. Doe anyone here engage in a form of recreation that has a
“survival” aspect to it? Does that depend on technology?
THE FOUR PROGRAMS AND THEIR THEMES
Theme 4: Nature
Nature: pushing the limits of what is “natural”
Book – “When the Killing’s Done,” T. C. Boyle
Science Charms: what are “indigenous
species”? Notion of chance in that; to what
extent can we control Nature?
Human Interest Story – Cameron Clapp, handicapped
athlete
Science Charms: pushing the limits of how we define
human; marriage of technology and medicine to
improve quality of life
Nature
1.
2.
Welcome
When the Killing’s Done, by T. C. Boyle
1.
2.
3.
4.
Starter questions: Were folks able to read the book? (Give
a very brief summary just to give a little context for those
who didn’t read it - Might be useful to make the point of
the paired heroines, each of whom thinks they are doing
the right thing with respect to protecting nature.). What
did people think of it?
Has our community faced similar issues? (This may or may
not be appropriate and/or sensitive – follow your instinct
as to whether or not it is a good question)
Any thoughts on what kinds of comments were being
made on the question of “what is natural”? What is a
“natural environment?”
Were either of the heroes/heroines in the right?
Nature (continued)
3. T. C. Boyle interview
1. Were you surprised by how Boyle came across on
camera?
2. Were the rats on the islands “naturally”?
3. What is a “natural state”? Does chance play a role?
4. Does it seem possible to “engineer nature”? Does it
even make sense?
5. Humans are a part of nature, are their actions part
of the natural events that shape an ecology?
6. How do humans fit into the idea of balance in
nature?
Nature (continued)
4.
Human Interest video – Cameron Clapp’s Story
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What did people think of Cameron?
Do you think that risk-taking is part of one’s nature?
What did people think of Cameron’s prosthetics? Does anyone here
know people who use prosthetics? How do they compare? Any
thoughts on the kinds of technologies and understandings that need
to be incorporated into the development of these new prosthetics?
Have people heard about the new uses of brainwaves to drive
prosthetics?
Have people heard of the debates in athletics about whether or not
those with prosthetics should be allowed to compete with “natural”
athletes? Can these prosthetics be thought of as improvements?
What about steroids and athletes?
Where do we draw the line between “natural” and “scienceassisted”?