Streams of Consciousness

During summer 2016, I will be completing chapters for a textbook on short-form writing with a focus on strategies for precise observation, image density, and lyrical compression.

I intend to have students "test drive" these writing techniques as they engage with scientific data-collection and individual experiments under the mentorship of Visiting Assistant Professor in Biology Elizabeth Perkin. Together Liz and I will explore the science of storytelling (the systematic study of narrative structure through close reading and creating writing) and the storytelling of science (compelling ways that science can be shared in story form to appeal to a wider audience). While collecting insects from urban streams to study the effects of artificial light, students will keep “stream of consciousness” field journals. These field notes will provide the foundation for original creative work that tells the story of their scientific experiences. In addition to a literature review of scientific writing, students will read classic works, such as Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek to help shape their individual stories, and observe science storytelling in action as an audience member at OMSI’s Science Pub. The end game of this nine-week interdisciplinary collaboration would be a public presentation of original student creative work and scientific research.
Willamette University

Liberal Arts Research Collaborative

Address
900 State Street
Salem Oregon 97301 U.S.A.
Phone
503-370-6737

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