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A closer look into miniature worlds
There is an invisible world awaiting our attention: the world of the very small.
In this course, we will take a closer look at everyday objects through microscopes and macro lenses to bear witness to a surprisingly structured world only non-humans can ordinarily see. We will explore the anatomy of plants, the mouths they breathe through (stomata), and the architecture they construct for pollinators. We will look at humanmade objects and notice how color, texture, and the felt sense of our surroundings change with scale. We will view the rich ecosystem of a drop of pond water and see life forms ranging from the monstrous to the surprisingly cute.
Our discussions and reflections will take us through the aesthetics of Kobayashi Issa, Voltaire’s science fiction, the relational ecology of Robin Wall Kimmerer, the investigative wonder of Annie Dillard, and more.
By the end of this seminar, our attention to detail in the marginal and mundane will expand and widen the possibilities of our vision. We will leave with the ability to shift the scale of our attention and deepen our capacity to notice (and enter) these ever-present infinitesimal worlds.
Led by Renee Bell, assistant professor of mathematics at Lehman College.
Wednesdays, 6:30-9:00pm
October 7-21
Our courses cost $250, with a Supporter rate for students with an income above 100k. We also offer a Supported rate for students with constraining circumstances.
Please see our Refund Policy HERE.
Additionally, we offer three tuition-waiver scholarships per course. To apply for a scholarship, click HERE.
A closer look into miniature worlds
There is an invisible world awaiting our attention: the world of the very small.
In this course, we will take a closer look at everyday objects through microscopes and macro lenses to bear witness to a surprisingly structured world only non-humans can ordinarily see. We will explore the anatomy of plants, the mouths they breathe through (stomata), and the architecture they construct for pollinators. We will look at humanmade objects and notice how color, texture, and the felt sense of our surroundings change with scale. We will view the rich ecosystem of a drop of pond water and see life forms ranging from the monstrous to the surprisingly cute.
Our discussions and reflections will take us through the aesthetics of Kobayashi Issa, Voltaire’s science fiction, the relational ecology of Robin Wall Kimmerer, the investigative wonder of Annie Dillard, and more.
By the end of this seminar, our attention to detail in the marginal and mundane will expand and widen the possibilities of our vision. We will leave with the ability to shift the scale of our attention and deepen our capacity to notice (and enter) these ever-present infinitesimal worlds.
Led by Renee Bell, assistant professor of mathematics at Lehman College.
Wednesdays, 6:30-9:00pm
October 7-21
Our courses cost $250, with a Supporter rate for students with an income above 100k. We also offer a Supported rate for students with constraining circumstances.
Please see our Refund Policy HERE.
Additionally, we offer three tuition-waiver scholarships per course. To apply for a scholarship, click HERE.