Published: August 30, 2008 09:03 pm         

Science and music for children

• Local children’s musician Monty Harper plans series of Science Cafe sessions

A local music man is getting into science.

Monty Harper, who writes and performs music for children, is organizing a series of Science Cafe sessions at the Hardback Cafe at Hastings, “Born to Do Science.”

“This dovetails with my music,” he explained. “More and more, I’m interested in writing about science.”

During each of the four Science Cafe sessions, a scientist from Oklahoma State University will talk to both adults and children about his or her area of expertise. The sessions are designed for families with children in second grade and up, Harper wrote in a press release.

“We’ll be talking about the actual research these scientists are currently engaged in,” he said in the release. “In some cases that’s pretty technical stuff. But as host, it’s my job to help the speaker and the audience connect and have a conversation. I don’t want to water down the science. I want the kids and adults in attendance to come away feeling smart because they were able to get a handle on a complicated topic.”

Dr. Jeffrey Byrnes, assistant professor of geology, will discuss his research in volcanic land forms on Venus, Mars and Earth in the first Science Cafe at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in “Volcanoes of Venus! How Volcanism Shapes the Planets.”

Future sessions of “Born to Do Science” will be held on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Hardback Cafe at Hastings.

On Oct. 7, Dr. Wouter Hoff, associate professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, will discuss research he has conducted into the interaction of life and light through shape-changing proteins in “The Molecular Eye! How Bacteria See and React to Light.”

On Nov. 4, Dr. Mostafa Elshahed, assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, will talk about finding and identifying types of microbes in “The Microbe Hunter! How to Identify New Life Forms on Earth.”

And on Dec. 2, Dr. Jennifer Byrd-Craven, assistant professor of psychology, will discuss her research on cortisol, a social stress hormone, in “Stop Stressing Me Out! How Your Friendships May Cause Stress.”

Harper said he got the idea to hold the Science Cafe sessions after listening to NPR’s “Science Friday” podcasts.

“A guy was on talking about science cafes, and it piqued my interest,” he explained.

After researching the subject, he said, he decided it was something he could do and wanted to do.

“The Science Cafe itself is so compelling to me,” he said. “You get to talk to scientists and ask them questions. I thought it would be good for kids since I work with kids.

“When I was a kid, I would have loved it, and there was nothing like it.”

He stopped by the OSU website to find names of scientists and then sent them an e-mail explaining his idea, in very detailed terms, he said.

“It’s a self-selected group,” he added. “If they responded to the e-mail, they would probably do what I wanted. All four are very excited to be talking to kids.”

If the four fall Science Cafe sessions are successful, Harper said, he will continue the series in the spring.

     

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