The Story of Evolution and the Evolution of Stories

Though the question of any possible separation between cultural “subjective” influences and biological “objective” responses is an interesting one, what stood out to me most in this quote is the author’s presumptuous characterization of a scientist as cautious, uncertain, and full of conjecture. Described in this manner, this researcher definitely seems come from Dr Grobstein’s loopy school of science. But, when did this did this become the norm for scientists? As someone who has struggled with math and science my whole life, I have always thought of the empirical fields as hugely opaque and authoritative, and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t alone in this.

 While I am in full agreement with the notion of the “crack” of subjectivity, that each person’s “way of seeing” informs their research and finding, what was troubling to me about this assertion was that I did not think it was the general public’s “way of seeing” scientific research. But if the line from the NY Times article reflects a popular perception of science(which, we can maybe assume, as it is obviously not a scientific journal but rather a popular magazine) as cautious and uncertain, maybe everyone is well-aware of the “crack.” Certainly we see caution and uncertainty in Darwin, given his lengthy disclaimers regarding how much work is left to be done, but has this uncertainty always been a hallmark of science? And if so, why didn’t anybody tell me??  

Hello, I'm Laura Kelly-Bowditch and a Junior History major/Archaeology minor at BMC.I was born and raised just outside of Boston, so my surroundings have tended towards the liberal my whole life. I love reading and hearing stories but don't possess the patience to create them myself. While I don't usually seek out science, in classes or otherwise, I do my best to stay open minded about it, given how useful technology and other innovations are.

I tend to approach things from a historical point of view, so  learning about the characters involved in Darwin's journey towards new ideas, as well as current events would be very interesting to hear more about.

I would also question how the evolution of a story as an author writes differs from the path biological evolution takes, ie) if an author would feel "survival of the fittest" was an apt description of the finished story.

Also, how do creationists reconcile their beliefs with current science? How, for that matter, do those who follow Darwin and continue to keep their faith reconcile their beliefs?

Hi. My name is Cynthia Richards. I am 43 years old and happily married for 7 years.  I got married while attending Bryn Mawr College and had a couple students as my bridesmaids.  I was in the Navy for eight years, serving as a Quartermaster (navigation).  I lived in Iceland, Puerto Rico, Crete, Italy and worked under the Secretary of the Navy in Washington, DC.  I grew-up in Minnesota and have been living in Philadelphia for over ten years.  My husband and I live in Chestnut Hill, PA.  I am an English major and plan to graduate in the spring of 2009.  Following graduation, my husband David and I are adopting twin girls from China under the age of 12 months.  We are just waiting for our travel date to pick them up.  We have no other children and cannot wait to adopt these two girls.  I have always been interested in science and english.  My major is english and I have taken 10 courses in english at Bryn Mawr.  I invented a new insulin pump for diabetics (I am a diabetic on an insulin pump)-even though it was initially rejected from the US Patent and Trademark office in Washington DC, I can produce it as an innovation with FDA approval. We have a Labradoodle named Henry that is 10 months old.  He loves his toys the most, next to his parents. We love him too. I really look forward to this course because of my varied experiences and interests.

 Questions:

1.  How does evolution and english come together?

2.  How does letters to one another become books so quickly?

3.  How does the evolution of the animal correlate to the evolution of the letter? 

Hi, I'm Hilary.

It took me a bit to re-figure out all this techinical stuff, but I think I have the hang of it now! I'm a sophomore this year and I plan on majoring in biology. My hometown is the Seattle-Tacoma, WA area. I am an only child, but I have tons of cousins to make up for it! And the craziest family. Ever. I play the violin, guitar, flute, harmonica, and am a champion kazoo player. I love to write everything from movie scripts to making up song. Mixing bioligy and any other study fascinates me- it makes me want to look at the world wholistically.

I worked at a zoo and aquarium for three years, so I am more than happy to go on and on about random animal facts. I took Paul's C-Sem class last year in which we discussed some of these ideas on a broader scale. I'm really looking forward to focus directly on the scientfic aspects of evolution and to get everyone's viewpoints from class discussions plus here on the blog. 

My questions that I thought of in class were:

1. How do stories fit into  the biological forma of evolution?

2. When can stories mean truth and why over other stories?

3. How can I use this knowledge learned in the course towards a normal application of science?

Didn't realize I had to post here. Any way, Hi! I'm Marina. I'm a senior at Bryn Mawr and am from the Bronx, NY. I'm taking this class because I like stories. Plain and simple. I'm even writing my thesis on stories passed down in families and if/how they evolve, but that's another topic I may bring up when my research is more developed.

My initial questions were as follows:

1. What does the story of evolution look like?

2. How is this story changing right now?

3. What do people do with these stories?

My name is Dan Shanin and I am a junior at Haverford College.  I am majoring in psychology with a neural-behavioral concentration and will be applying to medical school this spring.  I am a lieutenant of emergency medical operations at the Llanerch fire company and have been doing ambulance-related things for over 5 years.  I have a very strong biology background and have done research fellowships in microbiology and yeast genetics.  I feel that I will bring a very science-oriented perspective and I am curious to see how it compares with that of those who study the humanities.

The theory of evolution involves the idea of "success".  In biology success is easy to define; the creation of viable offspring carrying your genome.  How does the idea of success, an integral part of the theory of evolution, manifest itself when evolution is studied outside of the biological realm and it becomes more complicated than living vs. dead?

Evolutionary change in biology is the result of random mutations that are then acted upon by natural selection.  What is the driving force for change in literature since it certainly isn't random mutation?

Are all stories simply the evolution of an earlier tale or genre?   

I'm Anisha Chirmule a junior Biology major and Dance minor at Bryn Mawr College.  I am pretty local to the Bryn Mawr area, attending high school at the end of the R5 (Paoli), but I have recently relocated to the greater Los Angeles area.  I have always been very interested in the field of Biology, specifically Developmental and Molecular Biology, and am anticipating on pursuing medical school in the near future.  In addition, I am also involved in the dance community at Bryn Mawr.  I have studied classical ballet for a number of years but have more recently become interested in hip hop and more contemporary forms of dance.  Before this class, I have not considered a parallel between dance (which as a form of expression and history is a way to tell stories) and biology.  The relationship between the two could uncover some interesting ideas!

Some questions:

1. Does studying the evolution of stories and storytelling give us significant insight into the past and perhapseven the future?

2.  Besides being studied in Biology cirriculum, does evolution still have an effect on new scientific developments today?

3. How does the evolution of stories relate to evolution in a biological context?

Hi, My name is Lucie. I grew up in New York City and now live off-campus in downtown Philadelphia. I am a senior, double-major in History of Art and Cultural Anthropology. After completing an Art History thesis that largely focused on museum studies last year, this year I am expanding upon some thoughts begun there for a thesis in Anthropology. My anthro thesis is based on my fieldwork as an intern and research assistant at Philadelphia’s Mutter Museum. As a museum of medical history that primarily displays the remains of human medical “anomalies,” the Mutter is an apt site for exploring how museums shape the manner in which we think about our bodies and about difference. Furthermore, as a relic of a time in which humanistic thought and scientific exploration were by and large conducted by the same people, the Mutter is also ripe for engaging the intersections of the humanities and the sciences that I believe we will explore in this class. I am looking forward to learning more about the history of science, as well as about how evolutionary theory has informed the stories we tell about ourselves on a broader scale.  Sidebar: I am looking for some people to participate in a survey I am conducting at the museum. Please let me know if you can help me out! I also encourage everyone to visit the Mutter in general—it is a very unique experience not to be missed during your time near Philadelphia, and I'd be happy to show you around.  Some initial questions include:

-Both historically and currently, how important is stylistic flair in scientific writing? If, historically, science has attempted to obscure the subjectivity of its claims,  what is the role of The Author in writing about empiricisms?

                -On an aesthetic level, how do we know what the world and species looked like pre-us? I know that fossils can provide some insight into the shape and perhaps texture of early species, but how do the people creating the renderings of dinosaurs, etc  for natural history museums know, say, what color animals were then? Are these just approximations?

                -Has, and if so, how, the story and implications of evolution participated in the production of prejudicial and marginalizing tendencies in our society? More generally, what role does science play in the formation of (sometimes pernicious) cultural norms?

Hey everybody, I’m a local girl who wanted to stay close to her horse(s).  We are so close that my pony and I sleep under the same roof, her in a stall with straw, me in bedroom and bed.  Other than my love of horses, I am really interested in literature.  There are stacks and stacks of novels in my apartment and my younger horse is named for a character in a Faulkner novel.  However, reading has been mainly a hobby or relaxation for me.  I am a double major in biology and chemistry.  This course seemed like the perfect opportunity to combine my academic and personal interests. 

As a potential high school science teacher, I would love to develop a perspective on evolution beyond a brief biological definition or the religion vs. science debate.  At least add some breadth to the discussion of evolution?

It occurs to me that any conversation about the story of evolution or the evolution of stories is about a many things, organisms, people as opposed to one.  In a course I took last semester on mental health and the brain, our discussion seemed to be more about individual stories and personal transformations.  Is this distinction meaningful or useful?

I am also taking a class on the historical roots of evolutionary developmental biology.  I wonder how history fits into the interdisciplinary space between science and literature?

Hi, I'm Sarah Bechdel. I'm a junior at Bryn Mawr studying anthropology and trying to learn Spanish. I took this class because I'm interested in learning about evolution and biology, especially since they relate to my major, and this class seems different than anything else I've ever taken before. I have no past experience with biology other than falling asleep in high school bio, although I have taken some really great lit classes. Right now I am muddling through The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse, and as it is conceptually completely over my head but very much related to your subject matter, I would be interested in talking to you guys about it if you've read it before.

My questions:

1. What qualifies as a story in this class? how is a story defined?

2. How will discourses of creationism affect this class? are evolutionary and creationist discourses actually that different?

3. Will we learn about theories of creation/evolution that are earlier than Charles Darwin and the modern era?

Hello everyone, My name is Fatima Quadri. I’m a  sophomore at Bryn Mawr. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always loved studying Biology and English. It’s why I’m very excited to be in this class because I can combine my two favorite disciplines into one of my most favorite topics: Evolution. I never knew much about Evolution and Darwin until I took A.P Biology my junior year of high school, but even then, the exposure was brief. I was re-introduced to the topic in college during Bio 102 which revived my interest and caused me to sign up for Evolution 236 last semester. Whether it was Darwin, dinosaurs, Neanderthals, or Wallace, I loved learning about the evolution of the world and the evolution of the theory itself from biological, geological, and anthropologic perspectives. I’m excited about this class because now I can see Evolution from a literary perspective and learn how it has affected the thinking of people from the past and today. I am also interested in learning about people’s perceptions on Evolution, especially in the context of personal and religious beliefs.

Here are three questions I came up with in class:

1)      Is the teaching of evolution in schools only controversial in the United States? If so, why is that?

2)      Have modern technology and medicine gotten in the way of nature’s biological evolution or are they a part of evolution?

3)       Evolution is a very long process that cannot be seen in one’s lifetime in the biological world. However, are there any exceptions to this? Can we see ourselves, our culture, and our stories evolving right now or do we need for some significant amount of time to pass before seeing this?

Hi everyone. I'm a freshmen here at Bryn Mawr. I lived in Adana, Turkey until the end of 8th grade. During this time I lived with a very liberal American mother and a very conservative Turkish father in a fairly liberal Muslim nation. I am very much interested in studying psychology in my years here and that is part of the reason why I wanted to take this class. I like to discuss different opinions about controversial issues such as evolution. I would also like to improve my ability in writing essays, so this class is pretty perfect as it encompasses so much I like. I'm excited to be taking this class and am looking forward to the semester.

Qs

1- Do stories told in life contribute to change over time? 

2- How are we going to relate change in stories with evolution? 

3- How have stories evolved over time?  

Hello everybody! My name is Keely and I am a SophomoreSpanish major, but I am interested in many subjects outside of Spanish.  In the past I have enjoyed learningscience concepts, but have avoided science classes due to my dislike oflabs.  In high school I tookEnvironmental Science, which I loved. I am intrigued by the combination of English and Biology (two subjectsthat I enjoy).  I am not surespecifically what I will bring. Like everybody, I have had unique experiences that will help mecontribute to our learning. However, I’m not yet sure exactly how my experiences will behelpful.  Although I have notstudied English or Biology extensively, I bring a desire to learn and a senseof curiosity that will contribute to the class atmosphere.

1. Is the concept of evolution relevant to other parts oflife?  For example, can the idea ofevolution be applied to history? Or is evolution irrelevant to life outsideBiology?

2. How does the idea of evolution connect English andBiology?

3. Is Darwin’s theory in particular relevant to life outsidescience?

I'm Jackie, a junior French major at Bryn Mawr, but I have devoted just as much (if not more) of my studies here on the pre-med curriculum in hopes of continuing to dental school. I chose French as my major because it applies to my life an interests in ways that I already know and that I'm continuing to discover. It has added a sense of balance to my life and gets me thinking 'out of the box,' which I hope to do in this course as well! Both of my parents are in the medical field, I always preferred math and science courses in school, and I tend to accept the stories that scientific discoveries/phenomena tell as the basis of my personal reality. As a Catholic who attended Catholic high school, my mind has long been opened to alternative realities, and I find it fascinating to study these sorts of things. When I was in France this summer, immersed in French culture, I was constantly noticing cultural differences, and thus constantly reflected on myself and my own values (and the values of the American culture). I was forever amazed at how much I learned about myself, the basis of my beliefs/behaviors, and perhaps humanity as well... just by keeping an open mind. I see the same potential in this class to deepen my understanding of how I understand things! So here were my questions:

1) What tools will we use to determine how stories evolve?

2). What will we be defining as a story in the first place...fiction, biography, mystery, fairy tales, narratives?

3). Do Darwin's works represent a turning point in storytelling, or is their role less significant to literature than it appears to be in scientific fields?

I am a McBride student (non-traditional aged returning adult student). What I bring to the class is a lifetime of experiences which have shaped my actions and thoughts. I am looking forward to blending both science, literature and religion in a way that makes sense. I am a deeply religious person and have been in search of "the truth" for most of my life. I have witnessed first hand Darwin's theory of evolution while traveling in the Galapagos Islands. I have also been to the Cradle of Humankind in South Africa to see first hand where some believe human life began. I visited the dig sites and spent a goodly period of time with a Post-doc archeologist. It is my hope that through the readings, lectures and open discussions I can absorb more truths about this wonderful world we live in.

My questions are:

1.  Is it really possible to blend religious and scientific thought with regard to the origin of life?

2.  Why is there this on-going conflict about teaching differing schools of thought about the origin of life in high schools?

3.  What is the pop-culture thought about intelligent design and why is it so threatening?