The "Imagining Science" Field Trip to New York City, 6-13 March 2008

This trip occurred in the context of a course I am offering this spring, which focuses on intersections between the humanities and the sciences. More specifically, we are investigating the aesthetic qualities of writing about science, examining modes of expression developed by both scientists and non-scientists to help non-specialists understand scientific issues and methods. Although the course readings span almost two centuries, the goal has not been to deliver an inclusive chronological overview of scientific writing. It is rather to spotlight several important texts that have become benchmarks in public thinking about science and to examine contemporary examples of excellent science writing.

An important subset of this overview has been an exploration of the ways natural history museums construct and present scientific knowledge. We have made a particular study of the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

We went to New York because it’s a city I know well and because I had formed relationships with several people there who could provide out-of-the-ordinary experiences for our students. In addition, New York is indisputably, among American cities, a world-class destination, providing more kinds of experiences and a broader array of cultural/multi-ethnic opportunities in a limited geography than anywhere else in the country.

I asked students to keep a journal of their experiences in New York. I further required that, in addition to the planned group activities, each of them visit at least two institutions and/or culturally important neighborhoods on their own. The balance of this report comes from these journals. I have collected excerpts to "narrate" the five whole-group experiences we had, followed by a section of general impressions of New York and the trip. They indicate that the trip was indeed transformative for these wonderful students, and I can testify that it was so for me, as well.

Gary Williams

Link to pictures here.

Being a non-scientist, I doubted the meeting on science publishing would interest me. I was surprised to learn that most (if not all) of the publishers we met there had been English majors. And their presentation and discussion far exceeded my expectations. I hadn’t been aware of the vagaries of journal publishing, nor the significance and history of Elsevier in that market, nor the level of politicization peer-reviewed journals engage. I hadn’t been aware, either, that publishing would be an option for an English major . . . The more I experience, the more I realize that the field of English is not relegated to professorships . . . from their desperation for capable writers, I infer that even in New York, the ability to write is highly desired (and in the right places, compensated). JK

I absolutely loved it. . . . It was very interesting for me to see the inside of the publishing world and all the work that is involved. I enjoyed how it was explained to us that "information and knowledge are different." AR

Of all the "official" things we did, I think talking with the folks at Elsevier was the most interesting. Peer-reviewed journals provide the backbone of science, and I learned a lot about the peer-review and publishing process. The transfer to electronic media is quite controversial… CD

Going to Elsevier was a great experience because I had always thought of publishing as a boring process. I did not realize that most of the people working there did not have a science background. That gives me great hope because I was really interested in everything they were talking about… AM

Elsevier was quiet and neat. . . . I pictured myself living here, working here, editing peer-reviewed journals in a quiet, gray cubicle wearing gray slacks with a classy matching pea coat . . . I imagined how proud my parents would be bragging to friends and relatives that I’d moved to New York, that I worked for a big publishing company… RC

Glen Campbell and the other publishers each defied my expectations. I was fortunate enough to be seated next to Glen Campbell, and during the wait for everyone to get their lunch, we fell into easy conversation. I mentioned that I am taking a course in Islam this semester, and as a result he shared with me the pictures of his recent trip to Egypt and the Islamic mosques to be found there. That he was genuinely interested in each of us in attendance seemed the opposite of the stereotypical executive in New York. Even more fascinating was the revelation that they each had backgrounds in the humanities—not science (one of the junior publishers even had the exact double degree of French and English that I am working toward). And yet, as Glen mentioned, they were able to work closely with science as a result of the journals they publish. This gave me hope: I have always loved science but lacked any talent to enter down that path. But here were people who did not need that specific skill to undertake the science, but instead worked side-by-side with it, incorporating it into the humanities. . . . Here were remarkable individuals with degrees in English, Italian literature, even French, who were using their skills in order to get medical information out there for everyone and quite probably saving lives each day, even though they were not the ones with a medical degree. MJ

[At the beginning] I was intimidated to say the least, but Elsevier still stands as one of my favorite places that we visited. . . . it was interesting to hear their point of view on writing for the public and writing for the professional. Throughout our class, we have discussed how the boundary between scientific and non-scientific writing has [been] or could be blurred, but at Elsevier, they seemed quite resolute about that distinction. They know that they are writing for two different audiences, but they also acknowledge that people, including the professionals, tend to read less of the esoteric writing. I found this conflict between rigorous tradition and practicality interesting. Overall though, my favorite idea that Elsevier’s representatives conveyed was that theirs were publications not only reporting what is seen as objective medical news, but mediums to report empirically studied social inequalities. Maybe it is the liberal/counter-culture/idealist in me, but when they said that subscriptions were canceled because of the content of [one of] their publication[s], I felt a bit of pride for Elsevier. MO

I sort of expected them to be elitists, but they were incredibly down to earth, and it made us feel good that they treated us like equals. I was happy to hear they offer internships . . . I’d like to check into the idea of publishing and these people made me think that it’s really possible. All in all, they put together an extremely engaging presentation and opened some doors of possibility. AO

Elsevier was fascinating—I really didn’t expect liberal arts majors to be involved in a field that’s so science-heavy. They obviously cared about their work and about reaching our generation—they were taking notes on a lot of what we were saying. I’d never really considered journal-publishing as a career, but it is an appealing one. KK

I couldn’t help but realize how important the people we were sitting with probably were. They didn’t let on very much, but these people were probably some of the movers and shakers of the publishing industry and they were taking notes on us and what we were saying. …I was disappointed to find out that he was very much against Wikipedia and the open content movement. I understand that they are concerned about the bottom line, but he also made a point of talking about how they were trying to make information free to some developing and underdeveloped countries. BS

The MET was massive. . . . I was inspired by everything I saw. I couldn’t believe I was actually standing in front of Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh originals. I don’t believe most modern New Yorkers understand how significant and rare their museums and other cultural institutions are. JK

The Egyptian section was also an amazing sight to see. I had never seen a sarcophagus, let alone the multiple sarcophagi on display at the Met. The art produced by Egyptians was thoroughly impressive to me because they used such rudimentary tools compared to later cultures. AM

The place is so huge! And the art collections are beyond the imagination. AR

In one word…amazing. I was pleasantly surprised by the art. I didn’t think I was going to be all that appreciative of what was there, but I was wrong. MH

. . . completely blew me away. I had never considered myself the type of person who loved museums before but now all that has changed. I will seek them out, stalk them, even. . . . Of all the areas of the museum that I visited, I couldn’t help but love the section featuring African art the most. If the trip has taught me anything thus far it was to seek out more that was new, and this certainly fit the bill. . . . Not that the Greek art wasn’t incredible as well—some of the pieces that I saw were from the first century. RC

Along the way to the next exhibit, I stumbled upon some Celtic artifacts, which were perhaps my favorite part. Thousands of years old, and yet the jewelry and weapons held such a sophistication—it is easy in today’s world of technology to think of our century as the epitome of advancement—these artifacts helped to remind one of their place in the world, and everything we owe to the past. MJ

The way an Egyptian temple is designed and built, or the incredible realism and naturalism of greek and roman statues is awe-inspiring. Some of these pieces had to have even been completed before the invention of numbers. MO

I found the special Costume Institute exhibit terrifically interesting. Especially the necklace made from the various bodily fluids. AO

. . . these objects and peoples are timeless, and our culture, so ready to dispose of everything, is not. KK

Favorite exhibit: the origins of humans. I thought that one was very well done and thorough. It explained what scientists had and what they did not have, and complemented our Darwin reading very well. . . . I did not even realize that museums did original research. I could not believe how large of a collection they have behind the scenes. I could not believe how involved it all is. We talked in class about some of the art that goes into it, but until we went into the shop and really saw what was required, it just didn’t click. I mean, wow. And the fact that it took a year to plan out the new traveling exhibit? These are the same exhibits that I might have just breezed through without really paying attention. . . . I was really in awe when we went into the labs, because I realized that probably some of the serious research in the field is done in these labs. Wow, wow. I was beyond tired after all of that, but it was my favorite stop. BS

The dioramas really were constructed with such exquisite care and with such an eye for detail that Akeley’s obvious love for the work shone through. KK

This might have been the coolest thing we did in New York, which is funny, because if I hadn’t been visiting with a class, I’m sure I’d never have taken the time to see it. . . . I can see how people can get so excited about science when you actually see it in front of you. . . . Plus, I got to see carrion beetles eat the flesh off a flamingo. Nobody knows about stuff like that. AO

The scientific work and the taxonomic work being done, as well as the preparation of animals for study and display was just as [Stephen] Asma had written about, but it was the artistic studio that interested me the most. There the anatomical study, scientific research about time periods and biodiversity, and pure artistic skill were combined to create the displays. MO

. . . my favorite stop on the trip. I have always liked museums, but I never thought to think about them like Asma or others we have read in class. . . . I actually separated myself from the group in order to maximize my time with the inner dinosaur. The backstage pass was amazing. . . . I never thought of a museum as a place of creating knowledge. MR

I am all for edutainment! MJ

A week after the trip, I am still telling people about this place! I look back fondly through the pictures, and share the ancient deer with complete strangers who nod but do not share my enthusiasm for these bones. RC

I didn’t know the extent to which the Museum acts as a scholarly institution; I knew they collected vast numbers of specimens, but I didn’t know they had biochem labs. CD

One of the parts of the tour that I enjoyed the most was the explanation of the African Hall of Mammals. The detail and work that goes into collecting the specimens and then replicating their habitat just astonished me. It was also pretty cool to hear, "Oh yes that elephant was collected by Roosevelt and this one by Akeley." AR

In viewing the original Akeley dioramas, I found myself becoming persuaded by [Donna] Haraway’s article. These are not impartial exhibits, they are works of art, and therefore subject to all the artist’s ideas and perceptions, whether conscious or not. Haraway’s article was much more convincing when I was physically in front of the exhibits—the male-dominance idea, at least, seemed clear. . . . The areas closed off to the public are an entirely different world. It is much less aesthetic but more functional. There the minds who imagine and produce the exhibits stay. I was impressed with everyone we met, especially the artists working on [the horse] exhibit . . . I wouldn’t mind the job of editing and overseeing the writing of the exhibits. JK

I was utterly speechless going to UNICEF. . . . Being so close to someone working for the progress of those affected by HIV/AIDS in impoverished countries was something I never thought I would be able to do. . . . Every time I see a video like the one we saw at the UNICEF presentation, I am physically affected and I know that I am called to help, volunteer, or work for the change of such devastating situations around the world. Being at UNICEF and hearing such knowledgeable and powerful individuals talk about their goals and progress thus far was a dream fulfilled. I knew after going to UNICEF that I had found what I want to work for in my life after college. AM

What struck me most about [Kolker’s] presentation was how much non-scientists are responsible for implementing scientific advances. Such a huge part of making science useful is implementation—and this is often a step that is under-emphasized. JK

I loved it. The best part was when we started to talk about Paul Farmer, about how they didn’t really hold his views. I felt a little vindicated in not swallowing everything Farmer had to offer. And after meeting with the woman who was sitting by me and hearing her say that they try to help these governments, to try to make them responsible for their people . . . that was it for me. I could work for UNICEF. Before this trip, there would have been no way that I would ever have considered a position there, but now . . . I could do it. MH

The speakers at UNICEF were informative and their passion is what struck me most about them—despite how fancy this building looked, this was not just a job to them. RC

The UNICEF presentation was enlightening. I really knew next to nothing about AIDS, and it made me realize how important education of these issues is. This goes back slightly to Elsevier—people who use their communication skills (cultivated within the humanities) in order to help with scientific and medical concerns. MJ

What I found most amazing was that they had set realistic goals with the technology and work that was actually reachable. . . . For example, their study in communicating with the people at risk for HIV, they involved a lot of science in order to fill their moral goal. They approached a situation from a very moral standpoint and then used science as a tool to help them reach their goal. If this was not the mix of science and humanities that we look for in our class, I don’t know what is. MR

Our last group event, the UNICEF HIV/AIDS presentation and discussion, was by far the most powerful and meaningful exhibit. It also drew close relationships and comparisons between what we have read and discussed in class. It was a look into how politics, economics, science, and labor intersected to create positive change in the world. MO

The meeting with Jimmy Kolker was also one of my highlights. I really enjoyed listening to him talk and getting to discuss the situation in Africa with a person who’d been there and knew firsthand what’s actually going on. I admire the program for trying to provide aid in such a way as to mesh with the existing culture and not force Western ideals on the populations. I did get the impression that there were more politicians and liberal arts people involved in the planning than scientists, and I think that might actually be a good thing—it really seemed like they knew what would work for the people. KK

[The whole group attended a matinee of this Broadway musical on the last day of the trip—one kind of fitting climax to a class that began by discussing Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. Most of the students also saw other plays and musicals on their own.]

I saw what Broadway really means: Mel Brooks, live orchestra, some big-name celebrities. BS

Absolutely hilarious. I ended up buying the soundtrack. . . . Also, I think it’s possible to see the play as encouraging scientists to put themselves in positions encouraging a broader focus on what’s going on in their lives, instead of the narrow focus on research they’re conducting at whatever time. KK

Although I’m a fan of the theater, I had never been to Broadway and could only sigh in longing when people would talk about the magic of the theater here. All my expectations were fulfilled and exceeded. the lighting was incredible, the music almost overwhelming . . . hilarious and just overall fantastic. AO

The whole production reminded me of a part of New York City: flashy, grandiose, big, and utterly unique. Having never seen a musical performed at this scale, it would be an understatement to say that I was completely amazed. MO

Erotic, hilarious, and very entertaining. AM

The play completely swept me away. By these words I mean that for the hours that I watched Young Frankenstein, there was not theatre, no audience, no bustling city outside the double doors . . . I felt so captured by the performance, so drawn into the world of the narrative by the elaborate sets that I was positively beside myself. Brava! I clapped so long and hard that my hands hurt. RC

This trip has been a transformative experience. It has opened my eyes to so many things. I enjoy the eclectic atmosphere of the city, the feeling that there is always something to explore and discover. it is overwhelming. Our group itself is unique, a combination of vastly different interests and personalities somehow blending together. . . . I feel changed in so many small but significant ways. JK

Such strange, random moments have occurred in New York City. The situations are stimulating and rekindling my wanderlust. Trapped in the confines of academia, I had forgotten the meaning of meeting new, random strangers in strange settings. WW

It was an experience that I will hold close to my heart for a long time because this class have given us all an incredible opportunity to learn outside of the classroom from first hand experience. I got to step outside myself and see and learn things that I never considered previously. AR

I had far too much delicious ethnic food. . . . we would go in groups and share entrees—allowing us to eat cheap and sample lots of great food. Indian food, Thai food, Nepali food, Greek, Chinese . . . not to mention quite a few hot dogs. CD

Several friends and I visited Strawberry Fields, a tribute to the legendary musician John Lennon. The site is comprised of a small circle of pavement with IMAGINE at the center, with simple black and grey designs radiating outward, adorned with flowers. I enjoyed this simple, touching memorial very much, and I played Lennon’s famous song, "Imagine," on my cell phone as I stood at the brink of the circle. JD

[About the climax of the first act of the musical Wicked:] It was the single most awe-inspiring, amazing spectacle I have ever seen. It was indescribable, beautiful, and emotional. Tears came to my eyes. I think I stopped breathing. It was this moment that reaffirmed what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. To bring out emotions that powerful, create atmospheres that are so evocative, and devise such stunning displays of color and effect . . . I have no words. All I know is that when I was sitting in that theater (even though I was sitting as far back as I could possibly be) my soul was singing, "this is your life, right here, you can create this, you can do this, and you will do this!" KC

My eyes were stinging a little as our plane took off. New York, it is my kind of town. I didn’t want to leave. I now want to move there. . . . I want so much more than I was going to give myself. I’ve already talked to my son and he is ready to move there. I feel as though I belong there. MH

[Whole-group pizza dinner at Arturo’s the last night:] The pizza was delicious, but it was the company that I was savoring that evening. Food was passed and enjoyed between all of us, but the camaraderie that I felt at the table was such a stark contrast to our first meal almost a week previous that I knew that more had happened on this trip than I was even aware of. I’ve never traveled anywhere too terribly exciting, especially during Spring Break. But to quote a fellow student, this trip was the best capstone to my college experience that I could have asked for. The things I saw and felt opened my eyes. For around $500, I got an experience so beyond what I imagined it would be that I would have happily spent twice that much had I known it would be so much fun. RC

My most proud accomplishment of this day was braving the subways on my own: Number 7 to Grand Central Station, transfer to the 4, 5, or 6 heading downtown to Union Square. It does not sound very complicated, I admit, but that I did not lose my way once is, for me, a triumph. MJ

[About an exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum:] The coolest thing I saw was how artful the science was. It definitely took a ton of creativity to understand the mechanics of science and organize it in such a way that it takes both a creative and a scientific mind to mesh the two. MR

New York defied my expectations in many ways, almost every way in fact. I left the city knowing that I could have spent days, weeks, or years living there. I also left with a broader view of what it means to conglomerate different talents to achieve a meaningful purpose. I couldn’t be more thankful for this trip, and I can not wait to return. MO

It was the most culturally educating experience I’ve ever had. Manhattan was absolutely spellbinding, and a totally different world than that which I’m used to out here. Back here, I miss the access to diverse cultures, incredible food, and constant flow of potential entertainment. Now I have access to a contrasting part of America, and a context for where the states I’ve lived fit in when compared to the East Coast. AO

[About visiting a friend in Harlem and going to a laundromat:] While at the laundromat I reveled in the feeling of being the only white girl in the room; basking in the odd feeling of being a minority. In Idaho this opportunity doesn’t exist. It was as if I were in a completely different world that I’d been missing out on for so long. JR

The Cloisters were fascinating—I loved that they’d taken actual architecture from monasteries and incorporated it into the building. Actually being in the presence of some of those works of art and tapestries was almost spiritual, in a way. All the things there have lasted for so long, and were created with such care, that it made me take a step back and think about the sort of effect I’ll be leaving on the world, and about the readings we’ve been doing. KK

As I was on the plane thinking about the trip, I was blown away by how cool NYC is. When there is an island like that, that holds the urban sprawl, it really changes the dynamics of the area, and puts a lot of great things to see very close together. BS

Going into the trip I did not know anyone in the class, except [X] from another class. Throughout the week, everyone opened up and we all got to know each other really well. I was definitely outside my normal group of friends and it was great. This class, and the people in it, was exactly what I needed to feel intellectually stimulated. For example, several times in the subway we engaged in discussion about philosophical free will vs. determinism, or Freud, or subjects related to our readings. Participating in those conversations, I often sat back and wondered where had these people been and why was I not already a friend of theirs. . . . Everyone in the class is so different. Hearing their perspectives in class and now knowing the story behind those opinions has definitely made me understand and respect my classmates more. I can honestly say, without any pretension or agenda, that I have learned more in this class than any other class I have ever taken. Not only have I learned from the readings and discussion, but also I have gained life experience from the New York trip and the new friendships I have started. AM