Step 3: You can't hope to understand
Step 3 is recognising that we can’t hope to understand the science. For the reasons given in Step 2, this is broadly because we are too far behind & our brains weren't built for it! Nevermind.
Try to take this as a positive. One of the reasons for engaging a company like Kilter to work with science is in recognition of the fact that some people's brains switch off in a traditional 'chalk-&-talk' format. Some people have been trained from an early age to believe that science is not for them. It's rubbish of course but that doesn't mean some harsh words in an 11-year old's report card don't have an impact.
For us, this is a good point to remember how science should be for EVERYONE. If we can create imagery, characters, stories & feelings around science & its impact in all of our lives every day then we will be doing the world a huge favour! We can ignite imaginations & draw people into the conversation for the betterment of individuals, communities, researchers & society as a whole.
With our last collaboration in Synthetic Biology, we made a critical discovery at about this point in the process. We don't actually need to understand the research. We are in the room to talk about the impact of scientific developments on people's lives. We don't know how our phones works but we know how we use them. We don't know how to make our own paracetemol - there's someone else who makes tablets for when we have a head-ache.
And so we move on to thinking about what we do best. We think about the future, 10, 20, 100 years from now. We think about people's lives & behaviour & relationships & about the potential impact of current research in Quantum & VR.
We are very lucky to have several fantastic, independent local bookshops in Bath. Our favourite for helpfulness is Mr Bs Emporium of Reading Delights. Imagine the conversation below when I called them to ask for help:
RING RING RING RING
Hello, Mr Bs Emporium of Reading Delights
Hi, yes, I'd like to read a bit more about Quantum Computing. But I have no science grounding at all. In fact I don't want to learn about Quantum. I'd rather think about the impacts of Quantum if it became functionally applied in real-life in the future. Ideally, I'd prefer a novel or a book with lots of pictures that gives me a feeling for Quantum rather than tries to explain it to me. Sorry, am I making any sense?
Quantum Computing did you say?
Yes. Sorry.
That's alright. Let me take your email address. I'll talk to all the staff & we'll come up with a list over the next few days.
--
And sure enough, they did:
Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Flatlands by Edwin Aboott
Unflattening by Nick Sousanis (Graphic Novel)
The Quantum Astrologer's Handbook by Michale Brooks (non-fiction but really interesting & easy to read)
--
I've just finished Dark Matter. Un-put-downable. A thriller. A multiverse. Is this really what they are doing in Bristol?
--
PS.
It's worth remembering at this point in the collaboration that as well as the fact of us being 'artists' doesn't disqualify us from also being 'scientists' so the reverse is true. Science is based in creativity. The most influential & radical scientists in history are the ones that have been able to visualise & communicate their ideas differently. All the researchers we've met have had hugely creative ideas & need to remind ourselves regularly to let that into the process & not create an artificial divide. That's why we share our early draft scripts & run open rehearsals so that everyone can pop in and chip in.
That's why we hope to have researchers contributing to this blog.
Try to take this as a positive. One of the reasons for engaging a company like Kilter to work with science is in recognition of the fact that some people's brains switch off in a traditional 'chalk-&-talk' format. Some people have been trained from an early age to believe that science is not for them. It's rubbish of course but that doesn't mean some harsh words in an 11-year old's report card don't have an impact.
For us, this is a good point to remember how science should be for EVERYONE. If we can create imagery, characters, stories & feelings around science & its impact in all of our lives every day then we will be doing the world a huge favour! We can ignite imaginations & draw people into the conversation for the betterment of individuals, communities, researchers & society as a whole.
With our last collaboration in Synthetic Biology, we made a critical discovery at about this point in the process. We don't actually need to understand the research. We are in the room to talk about the impact of scientific developments on people's lives. We don't know how our phones works but we know how we use them. We don't know how to make our own paracetemol - there's someone else who makes tablets for when we have a head-ache.
We are very lucky to have several fantastic, independent local bookshops in Bath. Our favourite for helpfulness is Mr Bs Emporium of Reading Delights. Imagine the conversation below when I called them to ask for help:
RING RING RING RING
Hello, Mr Bs Emporium of Reading Delights
Hi, yes, I'd like to read a bit more about Quantum Computing. But I have no science grounding at all. In fact I don't want to learn about Quantum. I'd rather think about the impacts of Quantum if it became functionally applied in real-life in the future. Ideally, I'd prefer a novel or a book with lots of pictures that gives me a feeling for Quantum rather than tries to explain it to me. Sorry, am I making any sense?
Quantum Computing did you say?
Yes. Sorry.
That's alright. Let me take your email address. I'll talk to all the staff & we'll come up with a list over the next few days.
--
And sure enough, they did:
Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Flatlands by Edwin Aboott
Unflattening by Nick Sousanis (Graphic Novel)
The Quantum Astrologer's Handbook by Michale Brooks (non-fiction but really interesting & easy to read)
--
I've just finished Dark Matter. Un-put-downable. A thriller. A multiverse. Is this really what they are doing in Bristol?
--
PS.
It's worth remembering at this point in the collaboration that as well as the fact of us being 'artists' doesn't disqualify us from also being 'scientists' so the reverse is true. Science is based in creativity. The most influential & radical scientists in history are the ones that have been able to visualise & communicate their ideas differently. All the researchers we've met have had hugely creative ideas & need to remind ourselves regularly to let that into the process & not create an artificial divide. That's why we share our early draft scripts & run open rehearsals so that everyone can pop in and chip in.
That's why we hope to have researchers contributing to this blog.
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