ILLINOISMATHEMATICSAN DSCIENCEACADEMY R1— I IVI^A ^ Pioneering Educational Community
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• ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY r1— I IVI^A ^ Pioneering Educational Community Volume 13 No. 1 • Fall-Winter 1998-99 IMSA Great Minds Program Hits the Ground Running Students and Staff Rub Shoulders with Renowned Scholars o "bring the best minds in the discuss topics such as particle physics, Great Minds to T world to IMSA," the Illinois holography, and social and political Visit in 1999 Mathematics and Science Academy problems confronting humanity. In its inaugural year, launched its Great Minds Program in Early visiting scholars included there are three primary the Fall of 1998. Leading the program Dr. Jan Visser of the UNESCO Learning components to the is Nobel Laureate Dr. Leon Lederman, Without Frontiers Program, Nobel IMSA Great Minds a "founding father of IMSA." Laureate and physicist Dr. Jack Program: This story is the first in a series to Steinberger, and Dr. Tung H. Jeong, appear in upcoming NOVAs, charting professor and director of the Center • Great Minds the development of the program and its for Photonics Studies at Lake Forest Dialogues for impact on IMSA students and staff, and College. In addition, Resident Scholar Illinois educators other students and teachers in Illinois. Dr. Lederman presented four seminars and students The IMSA Great Minds Program, to IMSA students on topics such as • Great Minds although only a few months old, already How Science Works and the History Seminars for has brought additional Nobel Laureates of Physics. IMSA students, to meet with students and staff to These seminars for IMSA students, staff and invited staff and invited guests are only one guests component of the Great Minds Program. Soon the program will serve other • Great Minds Community Lectures students and teachers from throughout for the general public the state, as well as the general public. "Beginning in February, IMSA will The events on page 3 are planned for kick off the Great Minds Dialogue Series Winter and Spring of 1999; all will be for students and educators throughout held on the IMSA campus. Illinois to engage in discussion with world-renowned experts in such areas (Continued on page 3) as cancer research, genetics and science education," said Dr. Judith Scheppler, IMSA coordinator of student inquiry. D E Ameritech Teleconference to Capitol Hill 6 Dr. Tung H. Jeong, IMSA Alumni REN Weekend 4 Visiting Scholar, Professor and Director of the Center Great Minds Program Events 3 for Photonics Studies, Lake Forest College (far left), and Horwitz Lecture on Ethics 5 Dr. Jack Steinberger, IMSA National Television Debut 6 Visiting Scholar, Nobel Laureate, Senior Scientist, News in Brief 7 CERN Switzerland Statewide Service Programs 4 r^lMSA From IMSA's Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy 1500 West Sullivan Road Resident Scholar Aurora, Illinois 60506-1000 630/907-5000 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman John H. McEachern Jr. President Dear IMSA Shareholders, Wayne Circuits Incorporated Trustees Dr. Joseph Cipfl s the Inaugural Resident Scholar of the new IMSA Great Minds Program, I'd like Executive Director to share with you some thoughts on ways in which IMSA and its students can help Illinois Community College Board A further global science education and public understanding of science. Fred Conforti President and Chief Executive Officer Amidst the plethora of events celebrating the new millennium, there is the "World Pittway Systems Technology Group Conference on Science" (WCS). This conference, to be held in Budapest in June 1999, Dr. Sherry R. Eagle is co-sponsored by UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Superintendent Aurora West School District #129 Organization) and by ICSU (International Council of Scientific Unions), two major Dr. Forest Etheredge global organizations. The event provides a unique forum at which scientists, political Dean decision-makers and others from all over the world, can discuss how science is to School of Business and Professional Studies Aurora University serve society in the decades to come. Sheila MB Griffin Because I believe that the WCS could be a tremendous learning opportunity for Vice President and Director Strategic Marketing Office IMSA students, I have proposed that the WCS should listen to students, the future Motorola Incorporated scientists of the 21st Century, and have an interactive dialogue with the 20th Century Steve Isoye scientists who come to Budapest. There are many issues these young scientists Science Department Chairperson Highland Park High School (Yes, IMSA students!) could raise. They include: Dr. Glenn "Max" McGee 1) 20th Century science was in part driven by military and commercial forces. State Superintendent What are the prospects if we shift priorities to the well being of humanity? Illinois State Board of Education 2) What is there left to do? Is there any substance to the "end-of-science" James D. Pearson President pundits who maintain that it is almost all over? Aurora Metals Division L.L.C. 3) What are the most interesting problems in your field? Dr. Marsha R. Rosner Professor 4) What will be the most interesting fields in the next century? The Ben May Institute for Cancer Research 5) How can we use the international traditions of science to insure that the The University of Chicago applications of science are wise, ethical and moral? Dr. Keith Sanders Executive Director 6) How could you have allowed the mismanagement of science which produced Illinois Board of Higher Education environmental degradation, pollution, climate change, natural resource Jesus Manuel Sosa depletion, and bio-diversity calamity on such a global scale? Administrator Chicago Public Schools, Region One One could imagine a very lively and thought-provoking panel discussion along Dr. Alfonzo Thurman these lines. WCS, in response, organized an "International Forum of Young Scientists." Dean, College of Education Northern Illinois University I hope to take several IMSA students to Budapest. This would be a great component of the Great Minds Program! Dr. Michael S. Turner Department Chairman As a forerunner, the Chicago Historical Society is putting on a similar panel, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics The University of Chicago but more closely focused on the history of science in Chicago. This takes place in January and IMSA students are participating. President Thank you for your support of IMSA and our efforts to help improve public Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall understanding of science. NOVA is published three times a year by the IMSA Office of Institutional Advancement Sincerely, and Public Policy. Send comments or questions to: Editor and Writer Brenda Buschbacher [email protected] Leon M. Lederman Resident Scholar, IMSA Great Minds Program 1999 Great Minds Program Calendar of Events Great Minds Seminars-far IMSA students, staff and invited guests January 11 Dr. Chris Quigg, Senior Physicist What Is Theoretical Physics? 4:15-6:00 p.m. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory January 28 Dr. Dudley Herschbach, Nobel Laureate The Impossible Takes a Little Longer 3:00-4:30 p.m. in Chemistry, Harvard University February 1 Dr. Michael Turner and other leading The Golden Age of Cosmology 4:15-6:00 p.m. cosmologists from The University of Chicago February 15 March 15 May 10 Great Minds Dialogues- for Illinois educators and students February 24 Dr. Leon M. Lederman, Nobel Laureate Stories of a Scientist 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Physics and IMSA Resident Scholar and Mr. Ira Flatow, National Public Radio Host of Talk of the Nation: Science Friday March 17 Dr. Leon M. Lederman Science and Society: Real World *10:30a.m.-4:00p.m. Dr. Marsha Rosner Issues for Students and Teachers * note: this time also includes University of Chicago Cancer Researcher (Focus on Genetics) an afternoon Professor Lori Andrews hands-on Chicago-Kent College of Law workshop April 8 Dr. Leon Lederman Physics First? Redesigning the 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. And a panel of science education experts Science Curriculum for High Schools Great Minds Community Lectures- for the general public March 1 Dr. Leon M. Lederman The God Particle 7:00-8:30 p.m. April 6 Dr. Michael Turner From Quark Soup to IMSA 7:00-8:30 p.m. For more information on a particular event, contact Dr. Scheppler at (630) 907-5053 or email [email protected]. IMSA Great Minds (continued from page 1) Great Minds Science in a shared research project to document In the next few months, IMSA Biography Project important breakthroughs in 20th Century students also will attend and present at In addition to the seminars, dialogues science. annual national science conferences and lectures, a multi-year project, Great Their work will culminate in a book including the American Association Minds Science Biography Project- for middle school students written by for the Advancement of Science in Milestones in 20th Century Science, will IMSA students and Dr. Lederman, California and the American Educational allow 12 students from IMSA and area profiling 12-15 key scientists who Research Association in Montreal. high schools to work with Dr. Lederman significantly influenced life on the planet. IMSA FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS REN Weekend Broadens Chairman President IMSA Community's Horizons James R. Thompson Michael J. Birck Chairman of the President and CEO Executive CommitteeTellabs , Inc. Winston & Strawn By Michael Peil '90, IMSA Alumni Association President Vice President Vice President William J. White Robert Malott Professor Retired Chairman Northwestern University he inaugural IMSA Alumni current IMSA students, parents (past and FMC Corporation Secretary/Treasurer TAssociation REN Weekend event present) and friends of the Academy. The Susan S. Schanlaber was held January 8-9, 1999 at IMSA. goal of the weekend was to foster discus President The Landmark Group, Inc. What is REN Weekend? REN Weekend sion and consideration of a wide variety is a gathering of alumni, faculty, staff, of topics, and perhaps "shed more light Directors students, parents, board members and than heat" on important current issues.