tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165769205232647877.post2800059202292005801..comments2024-02-29T13:27:35.920+00:00Comments on Communicate Science: BBC Science Club and Plant BlindnessEoin Letticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071259029480033661noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165769205232647877.post-25786936764210330132012-11-29T16:24:51.638+00:002012-11-29T16:24:51.638+00:00Yes! And not only should plants have been mention...Yes! And not only should plants have been mentioned, a bit of digging would have revealed that plants in fact have earned ‘pride of place’ in space. <br /><br />One shining example stems from work done by Dr. Paul H. Williams, Professor Emeritus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in coordination with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In May of 1995, the presidents of the United States and Ukraine issued a joint statement on cooperation in space, directing NASA and the National Space Agency of Ukraine to cooperate on a joint Space Shuttle mission. NASA managers had to decide whether a space welding demonstration or experiments in plant space biology would have greater relevance. The decision tipped in the favor of plant space biology because experiments with Fast Plants could support NASA’s missions in education and outreach as well as research by engaging the public in the scientific process. As a result, Dr.Williams developed a middle and high school hands-on curriculum that adapted the shuttle’s in-flight experiment to the classroom. The full project involved AstroPlants, a special dwarf variety that was developed through selective breeding by Dr. Williams of his FastPlants stock (see below). <br /><br />This important, peace-promoting space mission allowed more than 200,000 students in the United States to join 20,000 students working with the Ukrainian version of the curriculum.<br /><br />In the years since, Dr. Williams has made significant and lasting contributions to increase public understanding of science. He has been a leader in creating and disseminating a variety of education and training programs that reach students and teachers as well as developing tools for helping members of the public learn that science is an ongoing enterprise aimed at studying how we know what we know. Most specifically, Dr. Williams has developed the FastPlants (www.fastplants.org) program. This rich, inquiry-based, FREE resource for teachers and students includes an impressive list of other plants-in-space options and opportunities at http://www.fastplants.org/activities/fast_plants_in_space.php paired with classroom-based explorations with plants.Katie Engenhttp://www.aspb.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165769205232647877.post-68578193071903406982012-11-28T07:15:59.904+00:002012-11-28T07:15:59.904+00:00Hi Eoin,
I agree! I like the show generally, but ...Hi Eoin, <br />I agree! I like the show generally, but it's seriously zoocentric. Episode 4, on space exploration, missed two great opportunities to include plants. First, they should have mentioned the effects of space, including zero gravity, on PLANTS, which would have to be grown to supply food for other-world colonists (and there is a LOT of research on this topic to draw from!). <br />But the part that really pushed me over the edge was the discussion about non-Earth based life, which was presented as if life equals animal (eyes and brains!). Astrobiologists look at how extra-terrestrial life forms would get energy (e.g. photosynthesis), not admire themselves in the mirror. Grrrrr! <br />Thanks for giving me a forum to vent my frustration :)<br />(@PlantTeaching)Mary Williamsnoreply@blogger.com