HON 115: Art of Scientific Discovery

Course Description: art (ärt) n. Skill acquired by experience, study, or observation; the conscious use of skill and creative imagination. "The Art of Scientific Discovery" will explore how the creative process is manifested in science. We will draw on the lives and achievements of scientists to reveal scientific inquiry in action and to examine the roles of inspiration, tenacity, opportunity, adversity, and chance in scientific discovery. A minilab module "Measurement at the Nanoscale: Exploring the Invisible" will allow student participants to experience art in science and make their own unique discovery.

Class sessions emphasize student discussion and use exploratory assignments as a format for promoting conversations that develop critical thinking ability. Participation in this course will encourage the student to ask questions about the scientific process and to develop confidence in her/his oral communication skills.

Required Textbooks: None. We will use publicly available internet educational material:

American Association for Advancement of Science http://www.aaas.org/programs/education/SciPublic/index.shtml
Discover Magazine http://discovermagazine.com/
How Stuff Works http://science.howstuffworks.com/
Just Garcia Hill http://justgarciahill.org/jghdocs/webabout.asp
NMSU library http://lib.nmsu.edu/siteindex.shtml
Nobel Laureates http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/lists/all/
NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/index.html
Science News http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070825/timeline.asp

DATE	THEME	SELECTED TOPICS
28-Aug	Introduction What is science? What is a discovery? What are sources of knowledge and information and how do we determine veracity? How is creativity nurtured? What motivates individuals to make scientific discoveries? What is the role of education and environment in this process? What is the role of precedence in a discovery?	Sources NMSU library http://lib.nmsu.edu/siteindex.shtml Discover Magazine http://discovermagazine.com/ NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/index.html Science News http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070825/timeline.asp How Stuff Works http://science.howstuffworks.com/ American Association for Advancement of Science http://www.aaas.org/programs/education/SciPublic/index.shtml
4-Sep	The Hunt for Discoveries	Living World Health and Medicine *Portfolio entries:* 1. What are sources of knowledge and information and how do we determine veracity?(1-2 paragraphs) 2. Browse the internet and bring 1-2 articles to class on the week’s topic that capture your interest. Suggested Links: Discover Magazine http://discovermagazine.com/
11-Sep	The Hunt for Discoveries	Space Environment *Portfolio entries: 1. What is of greater interest to you, discoveries about planet earth or discoveries about our galaxy? Why?* (1-2 paragraphs) 2. What is SETI? (1-2 paragraphs) 3. What summer programs are available for undergraduate students at NASA? 4. Browse the internet and bring 1-2 articles to class on the week’s topic that capture your interest. Suggested Links: Discover Magazine http://discovermagazine.com/ USGS http://www.usgs.gov/themes/environ.html NASA http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/postsecondary/internet/index.html Earth Observatory (you can build an animation here) http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/datasets.html
18-Sep	Profile of a Scientist	Nobel Laureates in Medicine & Physiology http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/lists/all/ *Portfolio entries:* 1. Read the autobiographies of Dr. Sydney Brenner and Dr. Barbara McClintock. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2002/brenner-autobio.html http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1983/mcclintock-autobio.html 3. Read the following pages of their speeches pages 1-6 http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1983/mcclintock-lecture.pdf pages 1-4 http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2002/brenner-lecture.pdf 3. Write a paragraph for Dr. Brenner and one for Dr. McClintock in response to this question: What factors (inspiration, tenacity, opportunity, adversity, chance, etc.) have played a role in their discoveries? 4. Browse the Nobel Laureates page for Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/ 5. Print the biographies of TWO Nobel Laureates in Medicine whose biographies you find intriguing or inspiring. Come prepared to tell the class why you found them so. (1-2 paragraphs)
25-Sep	Profile of a Mathematician The 115 Interview	*Dr. Alan Garfinkel,* Professor of Medicine and Physiological Sciences, UCLA http://heartlab.mednet.ucla.edu/agarfinkel.htm *Portfolio entries:* Please prepare your interview article in this simple format: http://central.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/journ2/discuss/msgReader$90 Q. XXXX A. XXXX You will most likely remember your own questions, but not those of others. Do not worry about this, just state "Matt's question" or "Darko's question" under Q, then transcribe what you wrote as the Answer. Write your interview soon before you forget what was said. We will retrieve the questions in the next class. The Garfinkel interview should be submitted with your Portfolio on Oct 9. *Interview Hints:* The indicator of a productive interview lies in the ability of the questions to elicit thoughtful and sometimes unexpected responses from the interviewee. For this to occur, the questions must probe deeply and the interviewers must be good listeners. This first interview had all these characteristics. http://webquest.sdsu.edu/processguides/interviewing.html
2-Oct	The Hunt for Discoveries	Mind and Brain Physics and Math *Portfolio entries:* 1. Visit the Society for Neuroscience web site. What is the purpose of the society? http://www.sfn.org/ (1-2 paragraphs) 2. Visit SFN Brain Briefings and identify two topics of interest to you. Write a brief paragraph about each topic and come prepared to discuss these in class. http://www.sfn.org/index.cfm?pagename=brainBriefings_main&section=publications 3. What are the origins of the word physics and what is encompassed by the study of physics? (1-2 paragraphs) 4. Summarize the key points of two biographies and one discovery on this website that interest you (1 written paragraph each). Come prepared to explain what you found remarkable (or not) about your selected topics. Great discoveries in 20th century physics: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/physastro.html 5. Who was Nicola Tesla? What are some his accomplishments? What was his opinion on eugenics? http://www.pbs.org/tesla/res/res_art01.html (1-2 paragraphs) 6. What is mathematics? Is mathematics a science? Is mathematics an art? Is there beauty in mathematics? Why or why not? (1-2 paragraphs) 7. What is chaos theory? What are fractals? Bring an example of fractal art to class. (1-2 paragraphs) 8. What is the relationship between the brain, math and physics? (1-2 paragraphs)
9-Oct	Promoting Student Success: Academic Opportunities Portfolio 1 due	*Dr. William Eamon, Regents Professor of History Dean of the Honors College http://honors.nmsu.edu/weamon/ Portfolio entries:* 1. Prepare 5 interview questions for Professor Stevens. At least 1 should address the process of discovery in art. 2. Identify two Honors College Scholarships or two Honors courses that interest you for the future
16-Oct	Profile of an Artist The 115 Interview MEET AT 3:45 PM IN HONORS COLLEGE PARKING LOT	*Rachel Stevens, Professor of Art, NMSU http://artdepartment.nmsu.edu/people/stevens.htm http://artdepartment.nmsu.edu/faculty/stevens/index.html MEET AT 3:45 PM IN HONORS COLLEGE PARKING LOT* *Portfolio entries:* Please prepare your interview article in this simple format: http://central.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/journ2/discuss/msgReader$90 Q. XXXX A. XXXX
23-Oct	Profile of a Scientist Ernest Everett Just, 1883-1941 Fabian Garcia, 1871 – 1948 Rosa Minoka Hill, 1875 – 1952 Emilie du Chatelet 1706-1749	*Portfolio entries:* 1. Who were Ernest Everett Just, Fabian Garcia, Rosa Minoka Hill, and Emilie du Chatelet? 2. What is the purpose of the JustGarciaHill website? http://justgarciahill.org/jghdocs/webabout.asp Choose three biographies of interest to you that are posted on the website and explain why they caught your attention. 3. Who was Percy Julian and what did he discover?
30-Oct	Hot Topics: 21^st century	Resources. These sites will help you to prepare your portfolio entries. http://www.nano.gov/html/res/pdf/Nanotechnology_BigThingsfromaTinyWorld.pdf http://www.nano.gov/html/about/home_about.html (see menu frame on the left) http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/ http://dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/Understanding_Stem_Cells.pdf Nanoscience: Exploring the Invisible Portfolio entries 1. What is the nanoscale? What are nanoscience and nanotechnology and what are some anticipated applications and potential benefits of research in these fields?? 2. What is the National Nanotechnology Initiative and what are its goals? What is the federal NNI budget requested for 2008? What are top three agencies for funding and how much is requested for them for fiscal year 2008? 3. Find five REU programs that support undergraduate summer internships in nanoscience or nanotechnology Stem Cells: Promise or Hype? Portfolio entries 1. What is a stem cell? 2. What are some applications for stem cells in the treatment of disease? 3. What are some of the ethical and legal issues surrounding their use?
6-Nov	Ethics in Science