Critical roles of art and science to be discussed during ‘Five Days of Opening Minds’

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Sir Harold Kroto, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Florida State and co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996, will lead the series of discussions.
Sir Harold Kroto, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Florida State and co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996, will lead the series of discussions.

Beginning today (Sept. 19), Nobel Prize winner and Florida State University chemistry and biochemistry Professor Sir Harold Kroto will lead a series of discussions for FSU undergraduates that explore the important role of art and science in our lives. Called “Five Days of Opening Minds,” the series will run through Oct. 17 and will feature a different topic of discussion each week focused on opening minds to new ideas and new ways of thinking about our world and our place in the universe.

This week’s lecture, titled “Créativité Sans Frontières” (Creativity Without Borders), will focus on examples of the common links of creativity among the arts and sciences, with an emphasis on the patterns that abound in the physical and natural world and how our fascination with them has led to massive contributions to our civilization.

Upcoming lectures are as follows:

  • Wednesday, Sept. 26 — “Science, Society and Responsibility”: The discussion switches to the incredible usefulness of science in creating our modern civilization and how that has led to many significant issues that society must address.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 3 — “C60 Buckminsterfullerene: The Celestial Sphere That Fell to Earth”: The discussion will center on how scientific discoveries happen using the “buckyball” carbon molecule example that earned Kroto his Nobel Prize.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 10 —“The Birth of Natural Philosophy and Its Prodigal Son: Science”: An in-depth discussion on the traumatic birth of science and the brave people who risked everything to make it what it is today is scheduled.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 17 — “The GooYouWiki World and the Educational Revolution”: The series finale will look at the Internet and the astounding improvements this technological wonder has created for education on a global scale.

Each discussion is open to current Florida State students and will be held at FSU’s Student Life Center Theater. While a detailed knowledge of science is not necessary to attend any of the events, a general interest in the subject would help increase enjoyment. For more information, visit http://phy.fsu.edu/news/2012/kls/omp.pdf.