Visualization at The King’s University College Peter Mahaffy Brian Martin
Jan 03, 2016
Visualization at The King’s University College
Peter Mahaffy
Brian Martin
Visualization is an integral part of learning: Seeing and perception Seeing in the “Minds Eye” Visualization as metaphor for perceiving Visualization plays a critical role in understanding –
both the understanding of the student as well as the understanding of the researcher
Use of visualizations at King’s plays a vital role in our work with science students…
BUT!...
The Myth of Visualization as “Seeing is Believing” A Simple Task…
Watch the white team and count the exact number of times the white team passes the ball back and forth
The King’s Center for Visualization in Science (KCVS)
Explore ways in which visualization (not just computer based) can be used to enhance understanding: Among students Among researchers
Explore ways to implement visualizations into teaching at both secondary and post secondary levels
To work within international communities of scholars researching topics related to visualization
First … a fast breaking news story
Geowall – Technical Considerations
Left-channel image Right-channel image
Left channel image is projected through the
left channel DLP projector and is plane-polarized as shown
Right channel image is projected through the
right channel DLP projector and is plane-
polarized as shown
More on Creating Stereo Images 3D Image rendering
software Blender – freeware
(outstanding package but steep learning curve)
Bryce (more accessible but not free)
Either offset “camera” or scene and render both L and R channel images.
KCVS: Past, Present, Future
Modular Approach to Physics Project (MAP) 1997 – 2004
Gordon Research Conferences Centres for Research in Youth, Science
Teaching and Learning - CRYSTALS
King’s, KCVS and CRYSTALS
5 year, 200K/a, Mahaffy (co-PI), Martin (management team &co-PI)
Project involves U of A, King’s, 3 other post-secondaries, Edmonton Schools, Telus World of Science and others
Current projects KCVS will play a role in: Visualizing Global Climate Change (with NSF)
Ethical Use of Chemicals (with IUPAC)
Car on a banked roadway
Applets that Help the Student Visualize Complex Phenomena
Thin Film Interference
Applets that Help the Student Visualize Complex Phenomena
Visualizing the World Too Small To See:
Small Matters Christina deMatteis, University of Nottingham
The Importance of Multiple Representations at the Molecular LevelRoy Tasker, Univ. Western SydneyModels in Chemistry
“The most powerful thing you can do when you’re learning chemistry is to zoom down, in your mind’s eye, to the molecular level and try to imagine what is going on and in a sense, try to understand the personalities of the reactants and products…
Having each type of model show a different aspect is ideal. Because then students don’t look at a particular model and say: that’s reality.”
"Since garlic hath powers to save from death, bear with it though it makes unsavory breath"
Robert of Normandy, 1100 AD Literature Reports
Allium sativum
• Broad spectrum antibacterial activity, including Helicobacter pylori• Antifungal activity• Antiviral activity• Normalization of plasma lipid levels• Stimulates lymphocytes and elicits
anti-tumor effects• Anti-hypertensive effects• Bacillus anthracis inhibition?
2D TLC of dichloromethane
garlic extract
Several compounds
inhibit Bacillus subtilis growth
1st D
imen
sion
– L
ess
Pola
r S
olv
en
t
2nd Dimension–More Polar Solvent
Initial Spot
AllicinAllicin
Bioactive Compound: Allicin
E. Block.Agnew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1992, 31, 1135-1178
Mode of Action of Allicin
Interferes with microbial cellular function
DNA & RNA synthesisSignal transduction & apoptosis
Blocks the active site on sulfhydryl enzymes
Investigative laboratoriesFor majors and non-majors
SH
sulfhydryl enzyme
SH
sulfhydryl enzyme
SSR
Gordon Research Conference on Visualization in
Science & Education,Oxford, July 2005
Mahaffy (Chair)Martin (Workshop Leader)
Flowing water in SE Jordan
NASA Satellite Image
New emphases
Visualization in nanotechnology Best practices in production and dissemination of
educational visualizations Visualization in genomics and systems biology Computer graphics / cognitive science interface Visualization for public understanding of science Physical models and touch in forming mental models Geo-Wall 3D visualization applied to other disciplines
http://www.grc.org/