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

Course Webpage: http://occamy.chemistry.jhu.edu/courses/AS.001.105/fall_2024/index.php

Last Updated: November 13th, 2024


FALL 2024


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 -- including the common question of "What is repair?".


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: Bloomberg 361 (on the campus map)

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.


1-ON-1 MEETINGS

We will meet individually several times during the semester to get to know each other and provide individual feedback. Meetings are held in Mudd Atrium. 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 (4 of 12)]
Week 2: Star Trek: 3 Vignettes (no class Monday) [Star Trek, 1-on-1s (4 of 12)]
Week 3: Mythical Materials [X-Men Origins, The Mandalorian, Black Panther, 1-on-1s (4 of 12)]
Week 4: Mythical and Useful Weapons [Star Wars, Avenger: Infinity War, Iron Man, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Week 5: Useful Gadgets [Batman, Kingsman, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Week 6: Useful Gadgets II: Human Augmentation [Maze Runner, Men in Black, Rick and Morty, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Week 7: Upgrading Humans Biologically [Ben Ten, Upgrade by Blake Crouch, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Week 8: From Minds Back to Space [Dune, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Week 9: Practical Space Travel [Interstellar, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Week 10: How to go faster than light [Aurora Rising, The Flash, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Week 11: Limits on Time Travel [Dr. Who, The Flash, Tenet, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Week 12: Does Quantum Save Us For Space and Time? [Ant-Man And The Wasp, Spiderman Into The Spiderverse, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Week 13: Visions of Future Dystopias [The Matrix, Divergent, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Thanksgiving week
Week 14: Are we in 1984? [George Orwell 1984, 1-on-1s (3 of 12)]
Reading Period: [1-on-1s (3 of 12)]

Activities

These will be posted as needed.


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!


Use of "AI" Assistants/Generative "AI"

As described in the first day of class, use of such assistive technologies is permitted. However, you MUST include all QUERIES and OUTPUTS from the use of such tools along with your analysis of their correctness with any responses. You might find this paper of interest: ChatGPT is bullshit


Late Adds

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