Summary of the Global Natural Science Quest educational programs

©Bob Field 2006

My Global Natural Science Quest is based on the principles of thematic interpretation and on my interests in natural history, global evolution, and natural systems. I prepare and present animated slide shows and create temporary poster displays. For example, the theme of my Ocean Science Quest tabloid newspapers is that the origin, evolution, diversity, abundance, and distribution of life depend on interactions of energy and matter in the oceans, atmosphere, solid Earth, and Sun. The theme of my astrophysics project is that interactions of energy and matter control the formation, composition, structure, and evolution of stars and planets. I am a fan of Art Sussman, Sam Ham, Lawrence Krauss, Christian de Duve, William Schopf, John Bonner, Andrew Knoll, and Eric Chaisson. I am an adjunct physics professor at Cal Poly who supervises senior projects and works with students and faculty. I have been a state park docent for seven years. As a consulting physicist, I designed and analyzed advanced laser optical systems for 20 years.

“The Natural History of Planet Earth” explores the structure and evolution of eight physical and biological systems: oceans, atmosphere, solid Earth, Sun, molecules, cells, organisms, and ecosystems. The theme is that complex natural systems evolve when energy flows under non-equilibrium conditions. The eight evolving systems can provide content for a book, a two day seminar, a two week student summer camp or teacher summer institute, eight monthly museum or school lectures, a one quarter or one semester high school or college course, discussion groups, outdoor field trips, poster displays, and museum exhibits. This effort is evolving into the Global Evolution Education Project GEEP).

There are many opportunities for participation on these projects. Students and scientists can analyze physical and biological systems. Artwork, animation, photography, websites, displays, and videos can be created. Interpretive and educational programs can be developed, evaluated, and presented to a variety of audiences including students, teachers, professionals, environmentalists, nature lovers, and general audiences.

Current and future efforts include the following:

1. Physics projects to analyze the structure, formation, and evolution of the Sun and the Earth.

2. Slide shows on the diversity of life and the evolution of cells, organisms, and ecosystems.

3. Displays, discussion groups, courses, education materials, and field trips based on global evolution themes.

4. Science projects to study the origin of life, coevolution, photobiology, marine ecology, and astrobiology.

Previous efforts include the following:

1.  Exploring Evolution in the Museum – one hour thematic walking tour of museum of natural history.

2. Evolution of the Montana de Oro State Park Bluff walk based on evolution and ocean science themes.

3. Five slide shows on light and color in nature: sunsets, rainbows, moonlight, iridescence, and bird vision.

4. Two slide shows on periodic change in nature: tide pools and seasonal change.

5. Four slide shows on sunlight and sea life, global climate change, and the interior of the Earth and the Sun.

6. The first two slide shows on the origin and diversity of life.

7. Many slide show presentations at teacher workshops for Cal Poly’s Central Coast Science Project.

8. Numerous global natural science presentations to local organizations.

9. Temporary museum displays on tide pools, seasonal change, and iridescence.

10. Elfin Forest walk on seasonal change, the influence of oceans, and other global themes.

11. Natural Enquirer on the Monarch Butterfly life cycle: milkweed, metamorphosis, migration, and mating.

12. Ocean Science Quest poster display based on tabloid newspaper stories of a sea otter in a kelp forest.

13. Osher Institute Ocean Science Quest course taught using “ROAD reporters” educational approach.

14. Conceptual design of a science museum that I call the Global Natural Science Center.

15. Physics senior project to design, build, and evaluate a stainless steel “lobster eye” optical system.

16. Physics senior project to analyze variations in sunlight with latitude, season, and atmospheric composition.

17. Physics senior project to analyze variations in sunlight with ocean depth and composition.

18. Physics student project to analyze energy associated with the formation of the Earth.

19. Physics student projects to analyze energy transport in the interior of the Sun.

20. Numerous other ideas for projects that were offered to state park and/or Cal Poly people.