Saturday, May 12, 2012

Profanity to Profundity

It is an attempt to capture in words my reaction to a result of science.  It has been an influence that made me think and feel the world at large very differently from what it was before this experience.  These experiences make anyone, in my opinion, a profound person! He or she is no longer profane.

All of us are taught in school about solar system.  Solar system helps us understand our environment and quite a few of the natural phenomena.  Let us take a quick tour of the Solar System.  It is made up of planets, asteroids, and a star called the Sun.  There are five planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) among the eight that are visible to the naked eye.  Some of the interesting facts are that one can only see Mercury during sunrise or sunset and the planet Saturn has beautiful rings. 

As I reflect on the enormous space that these objects occupy and all other distant stars that are visible in the night sky, I wonder, like every curious child would, what keeps them from falling together or flying apart?  It was later in school and then college that the nuances of the organisation of planets around the Sun were explained.  It partially answered the question ‘why are things the way they are?’ 

Another question that crops up is ‘for how long can this go on?’ Will this Solar system with all its constituents, be there forever? I am curious to know, and am sure the reader is too.  There may be philosophical overtones for the reason why someone asks this question.  This in science is referred as stability of the system.  So, rephrasing the above question, we ask ‘is the solar system stable?’

Interestingly, the above question has occurred to many scientists at various times in history.  The French mathematician, Henri Poincare, answered this question in the affirmative in early 1900s.  The intuitive or instinctive answer, the “yes”, was confirmed mathematically and would not have been possible without the progress in 19th century mathematics.  This was very satisfying physics-wise and mathematically. Personally, understanding the arguments to this effect was a great exhilarating experience.  It was a kind of bliss, indescribable happiness; it was the ’pleasure of finding things out’; it was sheer joy.

In another context, Subramanyam Chandrashekar, the Nobel laureate in Physics (1983), wrote about his experience to a friend thus: ‘In my entire scientific life, extending over forty-five years, the most shattering experience has been the realisation that [New Zealand mathematician Roy Kerr's] exact solution of Einstein's equations of general relativity provides the *absolutely* exact representation of untold numbers of massive black holes that populate the universe.  

This "shuddering before the beautiful," this incredible fact that a discovery motivated by a search after the beautiful in mathematics should find its exact replica in Nature, persuades me to say that beauty is that to which the human mind responds at its deepest and most profound.  I could not agree any less than Prof Chandra.

For the common man who had seen all the benefits from sciences this allows him a settled understanding of his environment and to feel safe physically and philosophically!

Friday, February 24, 2012

Musings in Kannada

ಮೆದುಳು ಕೊಯ್ದು ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಮನಸೆಲ್ಲೋ ಹೋಗಿತ್ತು
ಮನಸು ಛೀರಿ ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಮಾಯಾವಾಗಿತ್ತು
ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಕೊಡವಿ ನಿ೦ತಾಗ ಆನಿಸಿತ್ತು
ಮನುಶ್ಯ ಬರೀ ’ಮೂಳೆ ಮಾ೦ಸದ ತಡಿಕೆ’!!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Math Lab

"Maths is the queen of sciences", said once the Prince of Mathematicians, Carl Freidreich Gauss. Being the queen, the subject is not accessible to all but a few who are very close to her. Many are in awe of the subject. The magic of producing numbers and shapes and relationships have led to an unknown fear amongst some of us. This has led many cultures to believe that is even a sort of black magic. This esoteric subject is believed to be accessible to the fortunate few and barred from the rest.

Not any more. Many successful mathematicians and teachers have broken that myth and created pathways of learning that make this beautiful subject appreciable by everyone. Demonstrations in Maths focuses on dispelling myths related to the subject, creating interest in the subject, nurture mathematical skills, develop mathematical intuition through exploratory approach. It also helps in some measure to remove the difficulty of abstraction that is associated with the subject by providing a concrete approach.

Science through Activities

Sciences are considered to be the jewel of knowledge as they have immensely helped mankind and has been instrumental in the way we live today. Their importance lies in the fact that sciences are quantitative subjects. They help us control the environment in which we live. Further, study of sciences has led to development of an approach - scientific method consisting of observation, experimentation, model building and idealisation (theory) - that has survived the test of time.

It is known that there are three modes of learning. These are auditory, visual and kinaesthetic. The last one, is usually neglected and is left for the learner to decide its use. The lack of kinaesthetic approach has led to many a misunderstanding and a deep rooted misconception in some of the concepts. Also, some of us are quick to appreciate a concept being taught/learnt when we use the kinaesthetic approach. It is relevant here to remind ourselves of the Multiple Intelligence theory. This theory not only helps identify the strengths of an individual it also helps in suggesting and even dictating the fastest learning style of the individual.

The science demonstrations conducted by BrainSTARS (SEED Programme) will cover most of the concepts taught in the various levels (standards III - XII). These demonstrations help clarify concepts using simple, easily available materials. Many of the experiments have been designed to show the surprising behaviour thus creating a lot of curiosity in the children.

MindMaping

Research in brain sciences has revealed many facets of our thinking process. This has led us to consider the seat of creative processes in the brain. Mr. Tony Buzan and Mr. de Bono have created methods, powerful approaches, and exercises that help make this into a habit of an individual. Understanding the patterns of neuron connections that form the memory and hence knowledge in us has led to identification of a form of thinking known as radial thinking. This form when penned on paper is known as mindmapping. These days you can download a free software (freemind) to do the same on the computer.

All of us have random thoughts but mindmaps help organise them enabling structured thinking. This has been proven to be of great help to clarify concepts, ideas and their interrelationships for one and all in the classroom setting. This then must help students as the pedagogical skills of a teacher is greatly enhanced after they are trained to practice their learning in this form of thinking.

Multiple Intelligence Theory

Intelligence is defined as the potential of an individual. It encompasses all levels of existence - our body and mind. Dr Howard Gardner, in a ground breaking work identified seven different intelligences. These are Math-Logical, Verbal-Linguistic, Body-Kiinaesthetic, Visual Spatial, Interpersonal, Natural, Musical.

Each of us are endowed with all these intelligences in some measure. Some more and or some less. BrainSTARS' Programme aims to identify individuals' (teachers and parents) strengths and create awareness among them and also to help identify the same in their children during classroom/other sessions. Furthermore, activities conducted during the programme and other suggested activities should help teachers utilise it in classroom training sessions to identify, develop and nurture them on a long term basis in a child.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Sci Fest 2010

Sci Fest 2010: "Wanna know how stuff works?

Wanna know why are the things the way they are?

Come and have a gala time with fun-filled activities based on science and mathematics ..."

Contact: Brainstars at 080 2658 4118