Resources

Background for Everyone

    What is science? What makes it tick? How is it relevant? These are not easy questions to answer. But if we are going to describe why science is a worthwhile endeavor, it might make sense to "see" what science does and what kinds of questions it can answer about ourselves and our place in the universe.

    The activity below is designed to help you get a better feel for what science does.

Step 1: Go to Science Friday: The Elegant Universe and investigate this site.

Step 2: Go to String Theory Basics and read about the basic ideas behind string theory.

Step 3: Read the following article: A Theory of Everything?

Step 4: View these slide shows and animations: A Sense of Scale, Resonance in Strings, and Imagining Other Dimensions .

Step5: Go to String People: Brian Greene. Read the page and listen to the "five ears." Click on them to hear them and make sure your speakers are on.

Step 6: Go to October 24, 2003, Hour One: The Elegant Universe, scroll down and click on "Listen to this program in  RealAudio." You will hear a discussion about String Theory with the host of Science Friday and Brian Greene--famous String Theorist from Columbia University. Listen to this 45 minute discussion.

Step 7: Go to A Conversation with Brian Greene, read the interview between NOVA and Brian Greene.

Step 8: Go to Viewpoints on String Theory, read four or more of the interviews on this site with famous physicists. 

Step 9: Go to Why Take High School Physics and read "Eight Reasons Why No Student Should Go Through High School Without Taking Physics."

Other Resources

NPR : Physicist Brian Greene on 'The Elegant Universe'

Science as Metaphor - Where does Brian Greene stand in the pantheon of physicists? By Amanda Schaffer

The Morning News - Birnbaum v. Brian Greene, by Robert Birnbaum

Microsoft Office Training: Create your first presentation

Actually teaches you how to make your first PowerPoint presentation through a series of lessons.

Inspiration 7 interactive demo

Demonstrates the main features of the Inspiration Program.