Promoting Science One High School at a Time
by Kenneth Hanson on Mar 29 2011 (11417 Views)I grew up in Foley, Minnesota, a small town (population: 1600 people) in the middle of nowhere. My early world view was shaped by a very homogeneous local population, television, and movies. For example, my isolated perspective made me think that Hollywood was a vision of wealth and fame. Then I moved to Los Angeles for graduate school and these visions were shattered in one fell swoop during my first trip to a shockingly crowded Hollywood strip that offered souvenir stands, sex-toy/lingerie shops, and shattered dreams.
Without meeting a scientist, a similar contrast between reality and imagination can also emerge. Impressions of science and scientists can instead be based on movies like Frankenstein, The Fly or others. For many, this impression can also be affected by anti-evolutionists and climate-change deniers who demonize scientists.
To help add reality into this equation I decided to do what I could, one talk at a time, starting with my former high school. At the beginning of March I was a visiting speaker for my former teacher, Dave Voeltz, in three chemistry classes and one physics class. This was my first attempt at showing the reality of being a scientist and, more specifically, the importance of science and chemistry.
Sam Mueller, my friend since high school, agreed to video tape my talk, cut together some of the more important points, and create a video. I am sharing this video with you with the hope of spreading the importance of science to an even greater audience. Here is the outcome of his 48 hour, video-editing binge (Thanks Sam). I apologize preemptively for my compulsive swaying. With much energy comes much movement.
If you are interested in more of Sam Mueller’s work check out the preview for his latest film Raising Sparrows, which is currently making the documentary film circuit.
The Brian Cox of chemistry. Very cool.
Awesome! This should be on Ted Talks. Please keep doing this!
I can't see the video through the great firewall...is there an alternative viewing location?
Also, i had a similar LA experience. My first night in LA for grad school I went to the beach as the sun was setting...
only to stumble into the home of the homeless.
Every winter after that made up for it, though.
Thanks for the comments. It was a fun talk to give.
@Chinabonding:
I am sorry but youtube is the only place that the video is hosted right now. Do you have an alternative suggestion that would allow you to view it?
You are an amazing motivator/speaker!
I would advocate for you to speak at my school, if I could.
I applaud the initiative!
I recommend the reading of the book The Public Image of Chemistry (Joachim Schummer, Bernadette Bensaude-Vincent, Brigitte Van Tiggelen, eds) World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. 2007. Part 1 is devoted to the popular (but wrong) images of chemistry given in fiction and movies.
@Juan R. González-Álvarez
Thanks for the reference. I will definitely take a look.
Ken,
I know I'm late to the party, but I finally sat down and watched the talk. Very inspiring stuff. I may have to use 'Syllabus Day' next semester to just show this talk
Well done.
Well I finally got around to watching these videos and agree that this has a TED talk feel to it! You do a great job of conveying your enthusiasm for science and chemistry and you I also thought you effectively weaved important points about the nature of scientific inquiry into your talk. I was recently introduced to Prezi as a presentation tool and have decided to try this tool for presentations targeted to high school students and encourage you to consider this as well as you will undoubtedly get more requests for these kinds of talks! I offer this advice because I think your slides would work well in Prezi and this style of presentation will also align with your style as a presenter. Good luck!
This is a great idea and you performed in a way that makes chemists proud. Very nice in thought and practice. You have plenty of great stuff and it's interesting, I suggest you try one where you force yourself to slow down - let your ideas sink in to those kids. You've inspired me - I'm off to all schools within two hours of my university.