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/