Chemistry in Science Fiction
My academic research interests focus on studying the use of chemistry as a science within the framework of science fiction literature.
Click HERE to download a PDF from my Google Drive of a presentation of our preliminary findings that I gave in 2021.
Research Objectives
How
Accuracy
How
How is chemistry used in speculative fiction? What areas of chemistry are more popular in speculative fiction?
Why
Accuracy
How
What roles does chemistry play within the framework of speculative fiction? Why are certain areas of chemistry used more than others in science fiction?
Accuracy
Accuracy
Prediction
How accurate are the portrayals of chemistry in speculative fiction?
Prediction
Chemical Education
Prediction
What predictions about the future of chemistry have been made in speculative fiction? Have any of these come to fruition? What is the likely future of chemistry in speculative fiction?
Trends
Chemical Education
Chemical Education
Have their been trends in the use of chemistry in speculative fiction? How is chemistry currently used in modern speculative fiction? Do these trends reflect the societal anxieties of their time?
Chemical Education
Chemical Education
Chemical Education
Many science professionals enter the field because of their early captivation with the science fiction genre. How can science fiction be used to enhance the undergraduate chemistry curriculum?
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate students do most of the research! They dig through the literature (academic and genre) to answer these questions, learning how to conduct research and fortifying their foundations in chemistry in the process.
Information for Prospective Research Students
Thank you for your interest in our research group! If you have a passion for science fiction and really dig chemistry, then you may be a good fit. You should note, however, that this is not laboratory research. You will spend your time reading/watching science fiction, analyzing the chemistry in it, and exploring potential applications in chemical education. Our primary focus is on science fiction literature, but examples in TV or film may be explored as well.
I am looking for a one-year commitment. It may be possible to receive academic credit for this research; if you're interested in this aspect, we'll need to chat. For each research credit, you would be expected to do 3-4 hours of research a week. Non-credit students are expected to do about 3-5 hours total of research-related activities a week (excluding group meetings).
Educational Requirements:
General Chemistry 1 and 2
Organic Chemistry 1 or currently enrolled
Good grades (A or possibly a B) in these courses.
If you do not meet these requirements (e.g., you're not a science major), but you are passionate and knowledgeable of science fiction literature, film, and TV with the willingness to learn some chemistry along the way, drop me a line and we'll see if there's a place for you.
Research Expectations:
1. Reading (or possibly watching) science fiction that involves chemistry as a central theme.
2. Extrapolating and evaluating the chemistry within these stories.
3. Extrapolating and evaluating how chemistry is used within the science fiction genre.
4. Identifying examples of science fiction that have potential use in one or more courses across the standard undergraduate chemistry curriculum.
5. Possibly participate in publishing and/or presenting the results of your work.
6. Attend and participate in bi-weekly group meetings.
7. Prepare a report at the end of each semester summarizing your research findings.
8. At the end of your research time with the group you must either : Prepare a chemistry-related flash fiction or short story (science fiction genre) for submission to a magazine or other outlet -OR- assist with the publication of your research for submission to a research journal, research symposium, or other appropriate outlet.
