England-2011-assignments

Due Tuesday 15 February

Following our visit to Kew Gardens, consider the following questions and write-up your response in a wiki journal entry titled Science at Kew:

• What science do they do at Kew? What evidence of scientific underpinnings did you find in the displays? Why is it important to society, that is why should society support the work Kew does? What are the principle near-term and long-term benefits that are likely to accrue from their work? Another way to ask this question is who benefits from their research and why? (Hint, they provide good information about these topics in their exhibits and on-line materials.)
• Bonus question (5 points) - Identify as many places as you can at Kew where you encounter the Fibonacci sequence (Wikipedia). List these in a wiki journal entry tittled Fibonacci at Kew.

Due Monday 14 February

1. Write a short review of Greenland and post it in your journal on the wiki. Consider the accuracy of the information presented and the effectiveness of that medium, and that particular play, as a tools for shaping public opinion about climate change, clearly label this entry Greenland Review.
2. Reflect on what you learned over the past couple of weeks about climate change and consider the questions below. Write-up your thoughts about all this in your journal on the wiki, clearly label this entry Reflections on Climate Change.
   • What do you believe the take-away message to be?
   • Which of the modalities did you find most effective at communicating that message: reading, museum, or theatre? Why?
   • What's different about the message here in England than what you hear in your home country about climate change? Different than at Earlham?

Due Friday 11 February

1. Greenland at the National Theatre, see the page for the details.
2. Before the play listen to a segment from This American Life about climate change and public opinion about it. This segment is embedded in a show called Kid Politics, the segment you should listen to is Act 2, Climates Change, People Don't, begins at 24:27.

Due Tuesday 8 February

1. Read chapter 4 (The Atom) in Science Matters.
2. Develop at least 3 questions written or emailed to me before class about concepts, technologies, etc. that didn't stick from the reading in chapter 4.

Due Monday 7 February

1. Teach yourself a couple of new MediaWiki formatting commands. Using the edit link (at the top of the page) to view the source of say a Wikipedia page that does something you think is cool is a great way to learn how to use the markup language. Just press the Cancel link (at the bottom of the page) when you are done.
2. Consider your first experience at Atmosphere in light of the questions listed below. Write-up your thoughts in your journal on the wiki, clearly label this entry Atmosphere I. This entry should reflect some of your new found skills from item 1. above.
   • Which specific aspects of climate change did the designers of atmosphere choose to focus on?
   • How well sourced was the science and technology discussed in the kiosks?
   • What was the most surprising thing you learned?
   • Which of the interactive kiosks did you find most engaging? Why?
   • Which of the interactive kiosks did you find least engaging? Why?

Due Saturday 5 February

1. Write-up due, Lab 1: Where Am I?. Send me email when it's done so I know when I can review it.

Due Tuesday 1 February

1. Read chapter 14 (Earth Cycles) and chapter 19 (Ecosystems) in Science Matters. Come to class on Tuesday with 3 or more written or emailed to me before class questions about the material.

Due Monday 31 January

1. Start work on the write-up for Lab 1: Where Am I?, come to class with questions, etc.

Saturday 29 January

1. Greenwich excursion, field work for Lab 1: Where Am I?

Due Friday 28 January

1. First written responses in your wiki-based journal due, the question to address is:
   

In your view what are the three most important challenges facing society in the near term (say 50 years)? Why are each of these so important? What does science have to offer for each? What does technology have to offer for each? Your entry should clearly address which are science based and which are technology based. You can describe both science and technology approaches for each of the problems you identify.

• You can find your wiki-based journals for this class here

Due Tuesday 25 January

1. Read the pages listed under Greenwich on the Supplemental Material page
2. Come to class with any questions you have about what they cover, the implications, etc.

Due Monday 24 January

1. Read Chapter 2 (Energy) in Science Matters.
2. Come to class with a written list of questions about concepts, etc. that didn't stick from chapters 1 and 2.

Due Tuesday 17 January

1. Read Henry Petroski's short article about science and technology which can be found on the Supplemental Material page

Due Monday 16 January

1. Read the Introduction and Chapter 1 (Knowing) in Science Matters.

Due Tuesday 11 January

1. If you haven't completed the reading for Monday do so now.

Due Monday 10 January

1. Read the syllabus and general education rational, come to class with questions, etc.