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digest 2006-04-08 #001.txt
litsci-l-digest Saturday, April 8 2006 Volume 01 : Number
158
In this issue:
SUB 06 Of Actual Use or Too Abstruse?: Literature and Science in
the Classroom
SUB 06 Teaching Science with Theatre, and Theatre with Science
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2006 17:16:57 -0500
From: Ian Roberts
Subject: SUB 06 Of Actual Use or Too Abstruse?: Literature and Science
in the Classroom
Of Actual Use or Too Abstruse?: Literature and Science in the Classroom
While there have been no shortage of purely theoretical presentations
at
past Society meetings, the practical teaching of Literature and Science
has
been almost entirely ignored. Apart from one or two isolated papers
through
the years and one productive panel which I chaired in 2003, the place of
Literature and Science in the classroom remains sadly unexamined.
Unfortunately, the Society's syllabi archive has also somewhat
languished.
I argue that this pedagogical neglect has profound and far reaching
consequences for the field.
For example, perceptions of Literature and Science as little more than
a
trendy and ephemeral area of research without relevance to general
education or to broader social concerns are only reinforced by a failure
to
address teaching. Moreover, lack of pedagogical discussion also
discourages
the development of new courses in Literature and Science, even while it
impoverishes those classes that are currently taught. This, in turn,
limits
interest in and growth of the area. My presentation will consider such
aspects of Literature and Science as course design, choice of texts for
study, assignments, and enrollment.
I am happy to present with two or three others on similar topics or to
become part of a round-table discussion.
Keywords: teaching, pedagogy, course design, curriculum,
interdisciplinary
Ian F. Roberts, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of English
Missouri Western State University
robertsi@missouriwestern.edu
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2006 18:51:15 -0400
From: Lauren Gunderson
Subject: SUB 06 Teaching Science with Theatre, and Theatre with Science
Teaching Science with Theatre, and Theatre with Science
Three panelists will present ideas and experience in teaching science
=20=
by using theatre, plays, and dramatic retelling of science history; =20
as well as teaching drama and playwriting using science and =20
scientists. Dr. Perkowtiz, Professor Zides, and Steve Abott and =20
Cheryl Cherico have explored the teaching of physics and math through
=20=
the use of plays. Ms. Gunderson has written and taught playwriting =20
and creative writing using science and scientists as thematic and =20
structural tools. The three panelists will provide curriculum ideas =20
for teachers, explore using drama as scientific inspiration, and =20
discuss the evolution of teaching higher education through multi-=20
disciplinary approaches.
Lauren Gunderson
Playwright, Creative Writing Teacher and Panel Organizer, Atlanta GA
Lauren is an Atlanta-based playwright, screenwriter, short story =20
author, and actor. Her work has received national praise and awards =20
including the Berrilla Kerr Award for American Theatre, Young =20
Playwright=92s Award, Essential Theatre Prize, Virtual Theatre Prizes
=20=
and many others. Graduating from Emory University, she was a finalist
=20=
for the O=92Neill Playwrights Center, Chesterfield Screenwriting Award,
=20=
The Princess Grace Award, and the Heidmann Award for 10-minute plays.
=20=
She has been produced off-Broadway, off-off Broadway, regionally, and
=20=
locally in Atlanta. Her play Leap has just been published with =20
Theatre Emory=92s Playwriting Center, and her first collection of plays
=20=
Deepen The Mystery: Science and the South Onstage was published with =20
IUniverse this January. Her short story Cancer/Dish was recently =20
awarded the Noremberga Short Fiction Award, She has spoken nationally
=20=
and internationally on the intersection of science and theatre at =20
conference all over the world including University of Glamorgan, =20
University of Santa Barbara, Wofford College, and Texas Lutheran =20
University. She teaches at high schools, universities, and =20
organizations across the US. She is interested in science, history, =20
world intellect, social politics, feminism, and global humanism.
Lauren Gunderson
www.laurenGunderson.com
Lauren@laurengunderson.com
404-966-0534
206 Rogers St. Ste 101
Atlanta, GA 30317
Sid Perkowitz
Candler Professor of Physics at Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Sidney Perkowitz was born in Brooklyn, NY, and was educated at =20
Polytechnic University, New York, and at the University of =20
Pennsylvania. As Charles Howard Candler Professor of Physics at Emory
=20=
University, his research on the properties of solids has produced =20
over 100 scientific papers and books. He has been funded by most =20
major governmental agencies and has served as a consultant to =20
industry and to the U. S. and foreign governments.
In 1990, his interests turned to presenting science to non-=20
scientists via books and articles, the media, lectures, museum =20
exhibits, and stage works. His popular science books Empire of Light =20
and Universal Foam have been translated into six languages. He has =20
written for The Sciences , Technology Review , the Washington Post , =20
and others. Media appearances and lectures include CNN, National =20
Public Radio, European radio and TV, the Smithsonian Institution, and
=20=
the NASA Space Flight Center. He has written the performance-dance =20
piece Albert and Isadora , and the stage plays Friedmann's Balloon =20
and Glory Enough (in progress). His newest book is Digital People: =20
=46rom Bionic Humans to Androids. He is also a playwright whose =20
writing has covered early big bang theory, relativity, DNA discovery =20
and more.
Dr. Sidney Perkowitz
(404) 727-4321
physp@physics.emory.edu
Emory University
Department of Physics
N244 Mathematics and Science Center Building
400 Dowman Drive
Atlanta GA 30322-2430
Steven Zides
Physics Professor at Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC
Since joining the Wofford College Physics Department, in 1999, =20
Professor Zides have taught a wide variety of classes; everything =20
from astronomy to electrodynamics. In each of these teaching =20
opportunities, his goal has been to optimize student interest and =20
performance. For the last four years, this goal has manifested =20
itself in Wofford=92s Freshmen Learning Communities. Through the =20
intentional linking of science and humanities courses, these learning
=20=
communities offer the students a chance to make interdisciplinary =20
connections in a non-threatening environment. He has enjoyed =20
successful collaborations with the English, Philosophy, and Theatre =20
Departments.
Physics Department
Wofford College
429 North Church Street
Spartanburg, SC. 29303
(864) 597-4613
Email: zidessb@wofford.edu
Steve Abbott/Cheryl Faraone, Middlebury College
Steve Abbott joined the Mathematics Department at Middlebury College =20
in 1995. The majority of his published research during this time has =20
been in the areas of function theory and real analysis, but he has =20
also been a regular reviewer of theater and film related topics in =20
the monthly publications of the MAA (Mathematical Association of =20
America). Cheryl Faraone has been teaching and directing in =20
Middlebury=B9s Department of Theatre since 1986. Cheryl is also co-=20
founder and Producing Director of the Potomac Theater Project based =20
outside of Washington D.C. Recently, she has focused theatrically on =20
the teaching and direction of plays exploring issues of science (An =20
Experiment with an Air Pump; Lovesong of the Electric Bear, among =20
others). Cheryl and Steve=B9s early collaboration on a production of =20
Arcadia led to a series of interdisciplinary co-taught courses =20
exploring the growing list of critically acclaimed plays dealing with
=20=
science, scientists, and scientific ideas. In 2005, Middlebury was =20
invited to join in a major project convened at Harvard and sponsored =20
by the Spencer Foundation called =B3The Forum for Excellence and =20
Innovation in Higher Education,=B2 and Steve and Cheryl=B9s joint =
work-in-=20
progress has been put forward as one of two initiatives Middlebury is
=20=
undertaking as its contribution to this effort.
Lauren Gunderson
www.LaurenGunderson.com
"The purpose of the artist is to deepen the mystery." - Francis Bacon
Check out Lauren's New Book!
DEEPEN THE MYSTERY:
Science and the South Onstage
3 Award-Winning Plays!
