Lecture Notes: The Intersection of Poetry and Science

Introduction

• Discussion on the role of poetry in factual conversation.
• Focus on communication, truth's compass, and persuasion.

The Historical Context

• Science and art both have prehistoric origins.
• Early myths were structured in meter and rhyme for memorability.
• Cave paintings represented meaningful elements of life.

Science and Art: Parallel Practices

• Both science and poetry involve discovery and distillation of complex thoughts.
• Science addresses questions with answers, while poetry addresses questions without definitive answers but requiring response.
• Both fields offer ways to explore human curiosity and joy of discovery.

Silence and Censorship

• Mention of censorship during the last administration (January 24, 2017), particularly around climate change.
• Poetry as a response to silence and censorship.
• Example: Poem written on the fifth day about censorship of scientists regarding environmental concerns.

The Role of Poetry in Advocacy

• Poetry at the March for Science was about advocating for shared emotion and existence, not specific actions.
• Emphasis on shared lives, fates, and existence being crucial to cultural change.

Quotes and Influences

• John Keats: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty..."
• Rachel Carson: Poetry naturally emerges when truthfully writing about the sea.
• Herbert Spencer: Unseen poetry surrounds those unfamiliar with scientific pursuits.
• Michael Attia: Mathematicians dream to inspire art, mathematics, and life.

Workshops and Discoveries

• Three online poetry workshops led by David Hassler and Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn.
• Focus on emotional truth in science.
• Emphasis on poetry as "the unsayable said."

Collective Poem: Origin Story

• Inspired by various poems, exploring interconnectedness and shared narratives with the Earth.
• Trust in circularity, community, and the shared origin with the planet.

Conclusion

• Poetry and science as instruments of discovery and shared human experience.
• Performance and celebration of poets for science.

This lecture emphasized the intersection of poetry and science, advocating for emotion and shared human experience in the pursuit of truth and understanding.