Scientists Share Real-Life Experiences

This week, three US science classes brought theory to life when they heard presentations from career scientists. These men and women came to Parker through the University of Chicago’s France And Chicago Collaborating in The Sciences (FACCTS) program, which seeks to foster a broad range of networks and productive partnerships between Chicago-based researchers and France-based colleagues and institutions. Researchers receive seed funding to aid their respective projects. US science teachers George Austin, Kara Schupp and Xiao Zhang participate in the Confrères, the program’s Support Council initiated by Parker parent Tem Horwitz, so they know firsthand the importance of the scientists’ work and its impact on students.
 
U of C Assistant Professor of Microbiology E. Murat Meren spoke with Schupp’s Advanced Topics in Biology course about microbes and their role in the sustainability of life on Earth. Meren broke down the history of microbes, from their emergence as the first lifeforms on Earth millions of years ago, and its relationship to his current work on a microbe called Wolbachia, which can block the transmission of pathogens. He said, “If there was any way for life to understand itself, it’s through microbes.” 
 
Relativity and causality were the topics when U of C Assistant Professor of Physics Clay Córdova spoke to Austin’s Modern Physics and Philosophy class. Students offered a thoughtful dialogue about spacetime diagrams, causality and the theoretical possibility of wormholes, which ties directly to Córdova’s research to systematically understand the constraints of causality on quantum field theory, a unifying framework for diverse physical phenomena. With such intense subject matter, students were curious and encouraged to ask anything.
 
“I thought it was beneficial to actually talk with the experts instead of just reading a text or their work,” said senior Caleb Schatz. “Being able to ask clarifying questions throughout the presentation, I was definitely able to get a better grasp of what they were discussing.”
 
Finally, students in Zhang and US English teacher Mike Mahany’s Science and Fiction class heard from U of C Associate Professor in Geophysical Sciences Elizabeth Moyer and Sergey Khaykin, a research scientist at LATMOS atmosphere lab. Moyer and Khaykin discussed their work in measuring water vapor and ice clouds in the Asian Monoon via high-altitude aircrafts. Students learned about the different properties of clouds, the use of weather balloons and the importance of international cooperation in furthering scientific research.
 
Through this connection with FACCTS, Parker creates transformational opportunities that inspire students to stretch beyond their own points of view. Hearing directly from these career scientists inspired students and further demonstrated the ways to apply theories they learn on a page in real life. 

“It was definitely the most interesting of all the things that I learned all week!” senior Oscar Fardon exclaimed. “The major takeaway was that this is really applicable. You can make a career out of this. If it’s something you really enjoy, you can do it for a living.”
Back
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.