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The Inspired Scientist: A Program for High School Students

April 29, 2009 | Instituto Cervantes | NYC

With Majora Carter, Tijs Goldschmidt, Kimiko Hahn, Sandeep Jauhar, and Harriet A. Washington

Presenting to students from New York City’s five boroughs, our panel discussed science writing as a highly creative form that works to free readers’ imaginations. Panelists spoke from across professions— poet, medical doctor, biomedical ethicist, environmental activist, and evolutionary biologist. On stage conversation ranged from the subjective elements of “science,” and the ways in which theory, fact, and narrative come together to make an authoritative record of what we know and what has yet to be discovered. Each professional discussed their sometimes unexpected path to the world of science and how they maintain passion in their work.

>> See the World Voices Festival event page for photos, video, and additional audio

Thank you to our sponsors: The Kaplen Foundation; the Horace Goldsmith Foundation; the New York Department of Cultural Affairs; Axe-Houghton Foundation; Spanish Cultural Mission in New York; Starbucks Coffee; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Random House Publishing Group; W.W. Norton; volunteers Katherine Telischak, Mayla Schulman, and Edward Kearns; and PEN senior programming intern Victoria McCoy.

READINGS AND HIGHLIGHTS ON CRAFT

Science as Social Change: Majora Carter reads an excerpt from her article, “Saving the World, Starting in the South Bronx.”

Fast-Evolving Fish: Tijs Goldschmidt reads an excerpt from his book, Darwin’s Dreampond: Drama in Lake Victoria, about how his time studying a species of fish in East Africa became a social experience.

Science in Poetry: Kimiko Hahn reads two poems from her forthcoming book, Toxic Flora, a collection of poems inspired by science articles.

Where Medicine and Writing Intersect: Sandeep Jauhar talks about how he entered medicine, and what is at the heart of the long tradition of doctor-writers—both professions tell people’s stories.

The Artist as a Citizen of the World: Kimiko Hahn talks about reading to experience the exotic and finding inspiration in science, and the writer’s responsibility to uphold the poetic truth.

DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS

Forbidden Knowledge: Harriet Washington explains how good scientists are subversive, and the forbidden knowledge that serves as inspiration for her book.

Hippies of the Primate World: Tijs Goldschmidt talks about his favorite animals: humans and bonobo monkeys.

Who Can Be a Scientist: Harriet Washington talks about what it means to be a scientist, and the bad advice that led her there.

Humanizing Science: Majora Carter talks about the storytelling aspect of science, and how we can use that to make people’s lives better.

What You Want: Sandeep Jauhar shares advice on figuring out what you want to do with your life, and going for it.


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