undergrad exhibits in the roller reading room
:: history of science collections :: bizzell library, 5th floor :: university of oklahoma
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Because 2009 marked the 150th anniversary of Origin of Species, it provided a handy rationale for celebrations of Charles Darwin's science -- and a good marketing hook for new children's titles on Darwin and evolution. What can children's literature teach us about cultural views of science? And how can it help us to analyze the history of science in public? Let's take a look!
Children's literature is a useful gauge of what adults think is important to impart to the next generation in terms of knowledge, values, and cultural beliefs about the world -- including science. In fact, looking at children's books about science is especially important, because science and math have conventionally been viewed as nerdy and unappealing subjects, so seeing how presentations of scientists and science are handled during the impressionable years of grade school can provide important clues as to what scientific ideas look like when they circulate among those being exposed to them for the first time.
Some of the questions we can ask are: What kinds of science get written about the most? Which scientists get spotlighted, and what reasons are given? What approaches to discussing scientific ideas are taken? Are famous scientists' lives written about in ways that are different from the biographies of other famous people? Are the books written to appeal to a wide range of readers, or to a smaller segment who are already fans of the topic or person? What values do they convey about how science is done, and by who and for what reasons? How might all of these aspects change over time?
The specific topic of Charles Darwin, however, is an especially intriguing one, because evolutionary theory is such a controversial topic in the grown-up world of religion and politics, in the public school curriculum, and in media reports. What then, do authors choose to tell youngsters about the man and his work? We've brought together a dozen books that were part of the
(some of the books on display in the exhibit)
recent media blitz or appeared in the few years before, for you to take a look at and see what ideas occur to you as you look through them.
We would love for you to record as many of your impressions and thoughts as you would like, either in the comment book next to the exhibit, or online in the comments at our blog entry for "the children's darwin" (via wifi in the collections right now if you have a laptop or other device that connects to the internet.) The url for the comments page is:
http://scipop.typepad.com/undergrads_collections/2010/02/the-childrens-darwin.html
What can you discover about the choices that were made in literally picturing Darwin and his world, in establishing relationships with the reader, or explaining evolution, and relating these events as history of science? Are there common themes that allow you to group the books -- or are they so individual that they defy categorization? Is there one in particular that you found to be the most interesting, or surprising, or beautifully done? Are there some that you didn't like as well, due to the presentation in the text, or the nature of the illustrations, or the tone of the book? Share your ideas, and together we can begin to interpret what meanings about science, Darwin and his world, evolution, and children and nature get expressed through writing and illustrating episodes in the history of science for the young.
You've taken the first step to doing original research on a topic in the history of science, by taking the time to look through the books and recording your initial impressions -- whether you realized you were doing research or not! And that's part of what these Undergrad Exhibits in the Roller Room are all about: sharing interesting aspects of the history of science, technology and medicine with you, and spotlighting the different ways in which undergraduates can begin to think of research projects of their own and get started on making them a reality, whether for a class or independent study, or designing a presentation at Undergraduate Research Day, or to pursue your own special interests.
Join us as a partner in making history! Want to know more? Any professor can help, or drop a line to the Collection's Curator (Dr. Kerry Magruder) or the Collection's Librarian (Dr. JoAnn Palmeri) or the Undergraduate Exhibits Coordinator from the History of Science Department (Dr. Katherine Pandora).
(some of the books on display in the exhibit)
url for the comments page:
http://scipop.typepad.com/undergrads_collections/2010/02/the-childrens-darwin.html
Books included in "the children's darwin" exhibit:
Alan Gibbons, Charles Darwin (Kingfisher, 2008)
Deborah Hopkinson, The Humblebee Hunter (Hyperion Books, 2010)
Laurie Krebs, We're Sailing to Galapagos (Barefoot Books, 2007)
Kathryn Lasky, One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin (Candlewick, 2009)
Kristin Lawson, Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (Chicago Review Press, 2003)
Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom, What Mr Darwin Saw (Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2009)
Sandra Markle, Animals Charles Darwin Saw (Chronicle Books, 2009)
Alice B. McGinty, Darwin (Houghton Mifflin, 2009)
Rosalyn Schanzer, What Darwin Saw: The Journey That Changed the World (National Geographic Children's Books, 2009)
Peter Sis, The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003)
Anne H. Weaver, The Voyage of the Beetle (U of New Mexico Pr, 2007)
A.J. Wood, Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure (Templar, 2009)
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