12667 - Foundation Seminar 091-22

 

Syllabus

 

Title: SCIENCE AND SCIENCE FICTION

Web address: http://www.eg.bucknell.edu/physics/scifi

 

INSTRUCTOR: Ran "Ron" Sivron, E-mail: rsivron@bucknell.edu,

Personal web address: www.eg.bucknell.edu/physics/rsivron

Office: Olin Science 174 (Physics department).

 

CLASS TIMES (SMITH HALL, ROOM 106) Tue, Th 2:30-3:52 p.m.

 

OFFICE HOURS: Monday 11:00-11:52 a.m., Friday 9:00-9:52 a.m.

Special office hours for advisees: Friday 11:00-11:52 a.m., 4:00-4:52 p.m.

IMPORTANT DATES: First day of classes - Wednesday, August 24.

Last day to drop AND add classes – Tuesday, September 12.

Last day to drop a course with permissions – Tuesday, September 26.

Fall Break – October 6, 5:00 p.m. – October 11, 8:00 a.m.

Hour Test I – Thursday, September 28.

Academic advising week begins – Monday, October 30.

Last day to drop under duress – Thursday, November 2.

Hour test II – Thursday, November 9.

Thanksgiving break – November 21, 5:00 p.m. – November 27, 8:00 a.m.

Final project due – Monday, December 11, 5:00 p.m.

Classes end – Tuesday, December 12.

Final exam, project return: (to be announced.)

 

TEXTBOOKS: (1) Science fiction hall of fame Vol. I (1967). Editor: R. Silverberg.

(2) Billions and billions (1998), Carl Sagan.

(3) The star diaries (1979), S. Lem.

(4) Coming of age in the Milky Way (1993), T. Ferris.

(5) Various scientific & science fiction publications handed out in class.

NOTE: All books should be in the bookstore on the SECOND week of classes

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

 

DESCRIPTION: An examination of the interconnectedness between various scientific fields and their science fiction counterparts. Exploration of the frontiers of science and the challenges of the future as described by science fiction literature and films. Topics include but are not limited to general relativity and black holes and quantum uncertainty, the possibility of time travel.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES: I hope and expect that you improve some of the following skills: questioning (learning how to phrase your questions in the most effective way), constructive criticism, effective preparation of presentations, use of the scientific method, organization of presentations and collaboration with your peers. Above all I expect oodles of enthusiasm, heaps of original ideas and creativity.

 

LECTURES: If you want to pass this course with flying colors - come to every class! Demonstrations, film segments discussions and challenges that you cannot learn from the books will all be part of our meetings. Tests and HW questions will relate directly to stuff you encountered in class. HW questions will be assigned each week. Some oral and poster presentations by students will also be required.

Typically the class will be structured as follows: I will outline a scientific topic in the first half of each class using all sorts of methods to explain it. Then, in the second half of the class, we will discuss a short science fiction story, a scientific article, or a short segment from a film. Depending on the subject we may also discuss important questions that face our society as a whole.

 

Topical Outline by Week:

 

1 Course introduction

2 Life in the universe

3 The environmental crisis

4 Intelligence

5 Artificial intelligence

6 Gravity, black holes

7 Relativity

8 The possibility of time travel

9 Probability and Quantum Mechanics concepts

10 In search of the infinitely small

11 In search of the infinitely large

12 Temperature extremes

13 Optical wonders

14 "Beam me up", transportation for the future

 

EXAMINATIONS AND PROJECTS:

 

This schedule of exams will be followed provided there are no unscheduled interruptions:

First Test: Thursday, Sep 28 Week 5 2:30 p.m.

Second Test: Thursday, Nov 9 Week 11 2:30 p.m.

Final Project due: Monday, Dec 11 Week 16 2:30 p.m.

Final Exam: TBA

Unless otherwise noted, all exams will be held in Room 106 Smith Hall.

 

GRADING: The following weighting factors will be used to determine your final grade:

Homework 10%

1st Hour Test 10%

2nd Hour test 10%

Final 10%

Presentations 10%

Project 50%

-------------------------------------------------

100%

 

The following grading scale will be used:

 

A- 90-94

A 95-100

(No A+ grades)

B- 80-82

B 83-86

B+ 87-89

C- 70-72

C 73-76

C+ 77-79

(No D- grades)

D 63-66

D+ 67-69

 

F 0-59

 

 

 

 

Each of the components of your final grade will be graded by this straight scale. However, if the class average for a component is below a reasonable average, I may adjust the scores upward.

Homework will be assigned and due BI-weekly. Late problem sets will not be accepted, but I will drop the two HW with lowest grades. All exams are with closed book and closed notes. The two exams are not cumulative.

 

HOMEWORK:

 

The emphasis is on understanding the scientific concepts and discussing the related sci-fi literature and films.

 

PROJECT: You should choose your project topic by mid-semester (October 12). Please see me during office hours to discuss feasibility. As this project represents 1/2 of your grade a significant amount of effort and results are expected. The project will be graded on all facets including writing, organization, originality, and scientific accuracy and presentation skills. You will be required to give a short (5 minutes) presentation about the scientific portion of your project between October 12 and December 1. I will NOT grade your presentation skills. This presentation will help me gauge the scientific level of your project (more on this statement in class). In the last week of the semester you will tell us about your project. Final extended approved projects are due by 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 11 (the last week of classes).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live Long and Prosper!