The Surfer's Guide to the Universe: In the Domain of Waves
First presented at the International Big History Conference August 3, 2012
Synopsis: This talk reports on the development of a Little Big History of waves. The project is based on my 90-minute
stage presentation called The Surfer’s
Guide to the Universe which explores the nature of waves as a fundamental
component of the universe. In the Surfer’s
Guide we trace waves back to their source, all the while, referring to the
great equations of physics.
Excerpt: Whether or not
we surf, we live in the domain of waves. I know this because in between the
sets of waves, a surfer has time to ponder them. As a scientist, I have
calculated wave functions, amplitudes, and periods, while as a surfer, I have
simply felt their thrill, power and pummelings. In this project I tell a
"little big history" of the wave as contemplated by a scientist and surfer. It is a performance imbued with quantum physics and photons, meteorology, music, and marine geology. I'll carve a line that reconciles conceptual knowledge with the
lived-experience of waves. It is science, but not above the inevitable poetic
"stoke" that comes with experiencing a wave on its terms; wet.
"The
goal of this lecture is to instill an audience of young art students
with a deeper meaning to their art using the cosmic narrative. Thus, my
task here (according to the arguments and conceptual framework of my PhD
dissertation) is to... more
""The
Surfer's Guide to the Universe is a traveling, public lecture series
that combines multimedia science visualizations, storytelling, and
musical collaboration, to create immersive, emotionally rich and
transformative phenomenological... more
The
Cosmic Background Explorer App: The Cosmic Background Explorer is the
first in a series of “Epiphany” apps that enhance the education and
communication of Big History ideas. This App teaches users what the
cosmic background radiation... more
""The
Surfer’s Guide to the Universe: In the Domain of Waves explores waves
as fundamental aspect of the universe The Surfer’s Guide to the
Universe: In the Domain of Waves - This facet of the PhD is primarily a
curriculum development... more
"Some
Preliminary Findings: We can only visualize solutions to big problems
if we can see the big picture. Big History provides the biggest possible
perspective and thus serves as an excellent framework upon which to
hang visualizations.... more
