AS.001.105 First Year Seminar: The Science Behind the Fiction

Course Webpage: http://occamy.chemistry.jhu.edu/courses/AS.001.105/fall_2022/index.php

Last Updated: December 5, 2022


FALL 2022


TOPIC

We will seek to answer questions including: could you forge Beskar? What would it take to make a light saber? Is "Image, enhance" really possible? What is possible today? What might be possible in the future? And what may never be possible as it violates the laws of nature as we know them? We will take an empiricists approach, gathering data on the needed properties via screenings and related research, and then applying physical principles to reveal (in?)feasibility. The hope is that all of us will learn more about the world and how is works, and the potential for the future.


ABOUT FIRST YEAR SEMINARS

One goal of the First-Year Seminars is to provide an introduction to our intellectual community, to begin to inculcate the habit of respectful, rigorous communication and exchange, to facilitate interactions between students and faculty, and to provide an experience that can help build camaraderie among first-year students. The seminars will help develop foundational critical reading, writing, thinking, and logical deduction skills that will help you flourish in college and beyond.


FORMAT

We meet twice a week, and also have screenings of select movies/shows. Before coming to class, you will conduct literature research, and contribute topics to be discussed in class. Our weekly conversations will be driven primarily by your questions and by your curiosity.


Class Times: MW 12-1:15 PM Eastern Time
Classroom: Remsen 300 (on the campus map) [NOTE: Class on December 5th in Bloomberg 475]

INSTRUCTOR
Prof. Tyrel M. McQueen
mcqueen@jhu.edu
Zoom Office: Login to view details.
Office: New Chemistry Building #312 and Bloomberg #301
Office Hours: By appointment or just stopping by ("open door policy")

GRADING

This course is graded S/U, but note that to get an S you must complete all assigned work and participate in all class meetings.


LUNCHES

Most weeks I will be eating lunch on Friday in one of the campus cafeterias. I hope you will join me when interested and able.


1-ON-1 MEETINGS

We will meet individually several times during the semester to get to know each other and provide individual feedback. Sign up for one slot in each colored region at https://livejohnshopkins-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/g/personal/tmcquee2_jh_edu/EYDBEZVuXwxPrdzaYmIZZUcB_4zVUunPz5LPJM2LT3j2fQ?e=BwSDpL


REQUIRED TEXTS:

"None" (but the supplementary resources will be of value)


Tentative Schedule (can and will change!)
Week 1: Big Picture, Frozen [Frozen, 1-on-1s (6 of 12)]
Week 2: Star Trek: 3 Vignettes [Star Trek]
Week 3: Space/Time Travel and Fabric of Universe [Back to the Future, Avatar, Project Hail Mary, 1-on-1s (6 of 12)]
Week 4: Space/Time/Fabric Continued, Mythical Materials I [X-Men, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, 1-on-1s (2-4 of 12)]
Week 5: Mythical Materials II to Unusual Energy Forms [Umbrella Academy, Light Sabers, Dragonball Z, 1-on-1s (2-4 of 12)]
Week 6: Unusual Energy Forms to Sentience [Transformers, 1-on-1s (2-4 of 12)]
Week 7: Sentience to AI [Terminator, 1-on-1s (2-4 of 12)]
Week 8: AI, Fall Break Surprise [Demos]
Week 9: Biological/Synthetic Hybrids [Spiderman, Darkest Minds, The Flash, 1-on-1s (2-4 of 12)]
Week 10: Biological/Synthetic Hybrids to Novel Life Forms [Anamorphs, 1-on-1s (2-4 of 12)]
Week 11: Novel Forms of Life [WWZ, Project Hail Mary, Gremlins (3 rules, ?), Vampire Diaries (?), 1-on-1s (2-4 of 12)]
Week 12: Entering the Digital Realm [Jumangi, Ready Player One, The Matrix, 1-on-1s (2-4 of 12)]
Week 13: Science of Society [Hunger Games, Divergent, Illuminae Books, 1-on-1s (2-4 of 12)]
Week 14: Mind and Physical Travel, Back to Space [1-on-1s (2-4 of 12)]
Reading Period: One-on-Ones (12 of 12)

Overflow Topics

Activities
  1. Chemistry Interactive Demos: Friday, October 14th, 2:30 PM in Bloomberg Center of Physics and Astronomy Courtyard
  2. Inside STScI Tour: Thursday, December 8th, starting at 4:15 PM. RSVP Here!

Handouts

These will be posted as mentioned in the class.


Lecture Notes

The nature of this course is such that there are no lecture notes. Please come and attend to get the full experience!


Late Adds

Joining the course late is generally accommodateable. Reach out if this applies to you!