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SII Newsletter --------- --------------------- The mission of the Science Integration Institute is to conduct and support research and educational activities which use the process of science, and the insights gained about the universe by modern science, as tools to aid individuals in constructing realistic and meaningful views of their role in the universe. ------------- ---------------------- Background: Interest in SII: For me, the need for SII originates with the question "Why do we think it's valuable for people to know about science?" SII is built on answering that question in the following way: We, with our thoughts, feelings, hopes, and goals, are part of this universe described by science. Our ideas about how we want to develop as people and as a society are intertwined with what we believe about how this universe basically works. So we ought to be doing science and teaching it with the conscious objective of building up and modifying our individual "worldviews" of "how we fit into things." After all, it is really IDEAS, what people BELIEVE is important for them to do, that mostly shape society. By way of contrast, this
expression of the value of science is distinct from a more common
one -- that people mainly need to know about science because we
happen now to live in a technological society, so we have to know
about science in order to make decisions and function in that society.
While this is true, the value I'm talking about goes much deeper,
because it says that science would be important even if we did NOT
live in a high-tech world. No matter what kind of society we live
in, the context for our lives is set by the universe which produces
us and gives us the constraints and possibilities we experience.
We all are made of elements that once were in the cores of stars;
we all find that certain materials are necessary to keep us warm
or to keep us from being hungry; we all find that certain kinds
of vibrations in the air (called music) can make us feel certain
ways. Ultimately, I think, we must know what that context is, what
the properties of nature tell us about what it is "trying to
do," in order to make our lives fully meaningful. Science can
be an important tool for uncovering this context. SII is really
about getting this fact recognized, and setting things up so that
science is more fully used for this purpose. Amanda Duncan Background: Interest in SII: In graduate school I attended a conference for recipients of Computational Science Graduate Fellowships from the US Department of Energy. In preparation for a lunch discussion, we were asked why we thought our work was important. The audience consisted of engineers and scientists, and the answers were different for these 2 groups. The engineers spoke of how they hoped that the technology that they developed would advance science, while the scientists expressed their hope that their scientific findings would have technological applications. Each group justified its work by referring to the other group, while neither explained why the composite enterprise was worth doing. Technology can save us time spent on certain activities and increase the number of years in our lives, but it doesn't inherently make our lives more meaningful. I would argue that science does have the power to add meaning to our lives, but it does so through a different application of science, one which is not well developed, publicized, or understood. The findings of science can be applied to the development of our philosophies and worldviews, an application we call "science integration." Science describes the
stage on which we live out our lives. It reveals the constraints,
possibilities, and beauty in nature. Science can teach us a great
deal about what it means to be human. It can show us how we are
connected to the universe around us and suggest what characteristics
make mankind special. Can we afford to ignore this avenue for developing
and refining our worldviews if we want to lead lives more filled
with meaning and understanding? Unfortunately, many people do ignore
this avenue, because they either are unaware that science can be
used for this purpose or they do not have the expertise or time
to identify and process the scientific insights which might benefit
them. My vision of SII is an organization that will address both
of these problems by drawing attention to the value of science in
worldview development and by conducting research and educational
programs to increase this value for everyone. Claudine Kavanagh Interest in SII: I am currently writing
a thesis concentrating on cultural and historical approaches to
astronomy and cosmology. My relevant experience includes 2 years
as Board Treasurer at a Portland area women's shelter, and 5 years
in non-profit management. I'm working at SII as the Treasurer and
also as a summer intern. I spent 2 weeks this summer organizing
and presenting workshops in astronomy and scientific writing for
K -12 educators. I'm interested in how scientific processes reduce
phenomena into meaningful parcels of interpretation. I think science
should be taught in a manner in which the students are exposed to
unknown objects and phenomena and then work together to synthesize
the meaning of the experience. Devi Chandramohan Background: Interest in SII: I'm very happy to be involved with SII because of the opportunity it gives me to associate with some very interesting people with whom I can have discussions about the Universe and all of its splendors. I have often noticed ordinary people (not scientists or researchers) being very interested in news about our Universe. This is the only subject that holds us all together as humans. It affects us all, regardless of who we are or where we are. Such a wonderful subject, I'm sure, holds many possibilities. By being a part of SII, I want to explore such possibilities. ----------------------- - performing research
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