Newsletter, Feb 10th 2023
Saturday is Women in Science Day. In honor of that, the Star Tribune ran an interview with 3M Chief Science Advocate Jayshree Seth. Couple things she said caught my attention:
There's research out there that men focus more on content [ideas] and women focus on context [applicability]. The way topics are described are often very content-heavy. Policymakers should pay more attention to context - a lot of underrepresented communities are more interested in solving community-based issues, so that context becomes critical.
If you want to solve problems, then come to science. If you want to be the one making the world a better place, science is for you. Yes, you have to work hard, like in any field where you want to make an impact. Don't let the stereotypes deter you about who belongs in science.
The biggest thing I think can help any underrepresented community, is having role models that look like them. Being the first in anything can be exhausting and not everyone wants or should have to go through that. Remember too when looking for role models for your kids, that you are one of them. And if you're thinking, but I'm not the “science type”, all you really need is curiosity - about the why, the how, and the what of the world around us. Anyone can do that! And have fun doing it :)
In the curiosity with fun department, The Thinking Spot Calendar is filling up:
Saturday Feb 11th 6:30-8:00pm - Evening in a Bookstore - We are ready to have some fun - scavenger hunt with prizes, non-alcoholic drinks and desserts, and blind-date-with-a-book! There are still some open spots.
Tuesday Feb 14th and 21st 4:00pm-6:00pm Reading with Getty - An amazing opportunity to make reading fun for kids of all ages. Getty - a Golden Retriever - will be in-store both days from 4-6pm. Kids can sign up for 10 min slots each day and come read to her. Details on event site. Event is setup to coincide with the Read-a-thon but the signup is open to everyone. You don't have to have a Deephaven kid to register.
Saturday Feb 26th 2:00pm - Our second Generative AI event is SOLD OUT. If you weren't able to get in, no worries, we're planning another session in March - coming soon.
AUTHOR EVENTS
Registration coming soon
Saturday March 11th 2:00pm - Heather Holm - Minnetonka's very own celebrity pollinator expert will speak about “Creating and Managing Landscapes for Native Bees”. Her books on Bees and Wasps are also now on our regional shelf! She is a prolific researcher and writer and speaker about all things pollination - check out her site.
Saturday March 18th 10:00am - Liz Heinecke - Our favorite local scientist is back with another book. Her latest - Ecology for Kids - releases on March 7th and this will be our “book launch” party for her. As usual, she will have experiments from her book for the kids (and adults) to watch and perform! Did you know that her previous book - Physics for Kids - is a finalist for the American Academy of Science Subaru Prize for hands-on activities. We wish her the best for the prize announcement coming soon!
BOOK CLUBS
We appear to have gone a bit crazy with clubs, so we will be taking a breather on setting up any NEW clubs for now. Below my attempt at presenting all the info in a hopefully easier-to-consume format.
BookClub | Genre | Age | Currently Reading | Next Meeting | Noteworthy |
Fiction | Sci-Fi, Cli-Fi, Mysteries, Literary Fiction | 16+ | Mar 5th 2:00pm | Reading Full book. Meetings once a month. This book is a current Science Friday Bookclub pick. SciFri is hosting a virtual Q&A with the author on Feb 23rd at 7:00pm. | |
Yoga For The Mind | Non-Fiction- All Genres | 16+ | Four Lost Cities | Feb 19th 2:00pm | Reading Ch 1 & 2. Meetings every 3 weeks |
BusinessTech | Business, Tech, AI | 16+ | Feb 19th 10:00am | Reading Ch 1 & 2. Meetings every 2 weeks. | |
NaturalistsToo | Nature | 16+ | Buzz - The nature and necessity of Bees | March 26th 2:00pm | Reading Full book. Meetings once a month. This group will be following the west metro master naturalist group picks. |
SmartReads | Fiction | 8-12 | A Rover's Story | March 12th 5:00pm | Reads Full Book. Meetings once a month.
April's pick is “Da Vinci's Cat”.
|
KIDS WORKSHOPS
Robotics with STEM Builders
Sat February 25th 4-5:15pm - The ever-popular Robotics workshop with STEM Builders is back. This one is best for kids 6-10. Watch for more workshops coming in March/April.
CHESS Workshops with Dr. Fun - Registration coming soon.
Super excited to present two CHESS Workshops run by Dr. Fun. Did you know that chess can help improve analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as kids’ math and reading scores? America’s Fun Science presents four classes of fun learning chess basics from a championship chess coach; each class focuses on a different piece. Series culminates with a mini-tournament and prizes! And, you can learn to play Four-Way Chess!
Beginner Chess - 2 sessions. 2 hrs each. March 11th and 25th 10:30a-12:30p. Cost will be $60.
Intermediate Chess - 2 sessions. 2 hrs each. March 11th and 25th 10:30a-12:30p. Cost will be $60.
SCIENCE NEWS
While the generative AI battle is heating up among tech companies, there is plenty of other cool progress happening elsewhere too.
Quaoar rings: Astronomers found a new ring system in our Solar System. Quaoar is another dwarf planet like Pluto and the ring they found is farther away from the planet than they thought possible!
For those of us that don't like running - here's a way to speed up your daily walks. A Pittsburgh company has developed Moonwalkers that let you walk 250% faster!
And in the wait, what!? category - constructing a building from the top down! Apparently, they've been doing this for a while now!
READING
Some of us book club buddies have accepted the challenge of reading 60 books this year. That is 5 books a month. I thought that would be tough, but the timer has been my friend! I set the timer for 10, 15, 30 mins - whatever time I have - and pick up a book. The timer lets my brain stop worrying about the million other things I'm supposed to be doing. And it's surprising how much progress you can make in 10 min chunks! Join us and come tell us how many you plan to read this year!
More fodder for your reading below.
Happy reading and see you at The Spot soon,
Rima.
New Releases
Heart to Heart
By Dalai Lama
January 24 2023; Self-Help / Personal Growth / Happiness
From His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mutt’s cartoonist and award-winning author Patrick McDonnell comes a powerful and timely gem of a book on how to heal our relationship with the planet and each other.
At the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala, India, an unusual visitor has arrived. His Holiness interrupts his morning meditation to greet a troubled Giant Panda who has travelled many miles to see him. Welcoming him as a friend, His Holiness invites the Panda on a walk through a cedar forest. There in the shadow of the Himalayas, surrounded by beauty, they discuss matters great and small . . .
With a galvanizing message about the future of our planet—text by His Holiness accompanied by McDonnell’s masterful illustrations—Heart to Heart calls for a Compassionate Revolution, reminding us that “we are indeed all members of a single family, sharing one little house.” Told with whimsy, wisdom, and warmth, this beautiful book is deceptively simple in its approach and all the more powerful for it, as it elegantly and decisively conveys a message of joy, hope and change.
“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday, and one is called Tomorrow.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. A recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Albert Schweitzer Award, and a US Congressional Gold Medal, he is a tireless advocate for human rights and world peace and the pre-eminent spiritual leader bringing Buddhist teachings to the international community. Environmental conservation is an essential principle of the Dalai Lama’s in advocating universal responsibility.
Patrick McDonnell is the creator of the beloved comic strip MUTTS, which has appeared in over 700 newspapers in 20 countries for over 25 years. He is the author of several New York Times bestselling picture books, including The Gift of Nothing and the Caldecott Honor winning Me . . . Jane (a childhood biography of Jane Goodall). He has collaborated with spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle on Guardians of Being.
Bizarre
By Marc Dingman
February 7th 2023; Medical / Neuroscience
The human brain is an impossibly complex and delicate instrument - capable of extraordinary calculations, abundant creativity and linguistic dexterity. But the brain is not just the most brilliant of evolutionary wonders. It's also one of the most bizarre. This book shows a whole other side of how brains work - from the patient who is afraid to take a shower because she fears her body will slip down the drain to a man who is convinced, against all evidence, that he is a cat, and a woman who compulsively snacks on cigarette ashes. Entertaining though they are, these cases are more than just oddities. In attempting to understand them, neuroscientists have uncovered important details about how the brain works. BIZARRE will examine these details while explaining what neuroscience's most unusual patients have taught us about normal brain function -ideal both for readers seeking a better appreciation of the inner workings of the brain and those who simply want some extraordinary topics for dinner-party conversation.
Marc Dingman received his Ph.D. in neuroscience in 2013 from the Pennsylvania State University. Since then, he has been a faculty member in the Biobehavioral Health Department at the Pennsylvania State University, where teaches courses in neuroscience and the health sciences. He received the Teaching Excellence Award from the College of Health and Human Development in each of the past four years, the Health and Human Development Alumni Society Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017, and the Biobehavioral Health Outstanding Teaching Award in 2015.
The Curious World of Bacteria
By Ludger Wess
February 7th 2023; Science / Life Sciences / Bacteriology
Bacteria were the first life on Earth. But what do we really know about them? In this captivating, science-driven book, you’ll learn everything you need to know about these often misunderstood—and incredibly interesting—microbes.
In this engagingly written and scientifically rigorous book, author and scientist Ludger Wess introduces an eclectic collection of impressive, useful, weird, and dangerous bacterial species. Wess reveals everything he knows about bacteria, including their ability to survive almost anywhere, to “sleep” for millions of years before becoming active again, to maintain their own immune systems (a discovery that has led to medical breakthroughs for humans), and to—hypothetically—live on other planets.
In part two, Wess moves on to his curious compendium of bacterial species, presenting fifty fascinating portraits grouped by useful categories: bacteria that are record holders, extreme-habitat dwellers, unusual consumers, people-helpers, and people-harmers. Beautiful black-and-white illustrations accompany each portrait. At the end of this engrossing read, Wess recognizes how much we still don’t know about bacteria. But by starting here, we can come closer to understanding the first life on Earth.
Ludger Wess holds a degree in biology and chemistry and a PhD in social studies of sciences. He worked as a molecular biologist before turning to a career as a science writer, focusing on genetic engineering and biotechnology. A member of the National Association of Science Writers, his articles have appeared in BioWorld, BioTech International, Chemistry & Industry, and The Scientist, amongst other publications
Racism, Not Race
By Joseph L. Graves
February 7th 2023; Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects
In this book, two distinguished scientists tackle common misconceptions about race, human biology, and racism. Using an accessible question-and-answer format, Joseph L. Graves Jr. and Alan H. Goodman show readers why antiracist principles are both just and backed by sound science.The science on race is clear. Common categories like “Black,” “white,” and “Asian” do not represent genetic differences among groups. But if race is a pernicious fiction according to natural science, it is all too significant in the day-to-day lives of racialized people across the globe. Inequities in health, wealth, and an array of other life outcomes cannot be explained without referring to “race”—but their true source is racism. What do we need to know about the pseudoscience of race in order to fight racism and fulfill human potential? Graves and Goodman provide persuasive and timely answers to key questions about race and racism for a moment when people of all backgrounds are striving for social justice. Racism, Not Race shows readers why antiracist principles are both just and backed by sound science.
Joseph L. Graves Jr. is a professor in the Department of Biology at North Carolina A&T State University. He is a fellow of the Council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His books include A Voice in the Wilderness: A Pioneering Biologist Explains How Evolution Can Help Us Solve Our Biggest Problems (2022). Alan H. Goodman is a professor of biological anthropology and a former vice president of academic affairs at Hampshire College. He is a past president of the American Anthropological Association and codirects its public education project on race. He is a coauthor of Race: Are We So Different? (second edition, 2019), among other books.
Chasing Icebergs
By Matthew H. Birkhold
February 7th 2023; Science / Global Warming & Climate Change
A deeply intelligent and engrossing narrative that will transform our relationship with water and how we view climate change. The global water crisis is upon us. 1 in 3 people do not have access to safe drinking water; nearly 1 million people die each year as a result. Even in places with adequate freshwater, pollution and poor infrastructure have left residents without basic water security. Luckily, there is a solution to this crisis where we least expect it. Icebergs—frozen mountains of freshwater—are more than a symbol of climate change. In his spellbinding Chasing Icebergs, Matthew Birkhold argues the glistening leviathans of the ocean may very well hold the key to saving the planet. Harvesting icebergs for drinking water is not a new idea. But for the first time in human history, doing so on a massive global scale is both increasingly feasible and necessary for our survival. Chasing Icebergs delivers a kaleidoscopic history of humans’ relationship with icebergs, and offers an urgent assessment of the technological, cultural, and legal obstacles we must overcome to harness this freshwater resource. Birkhold takes readers around the globe, introducing them to a colorful cast of characters with wildly different ideas about how (and if) humans should use icebergs. Sturdy bureaucrats committed to avoiding another Titanic square off against “iceberg cowboys” who wrangle the frozen beasts for profit. Entrepreneurs selling luxury iceberg water for an eye-popping price clash with fearless humanitarians trying to tow icebergs across the globe to eradicate water shortages. Along the way, we meet some of the world’s most renowned scientists to determine how industrial-scale iceberg harvesting could affect the oceans and the poles. And we see firsthand the looming conflict between Indigenous peoples like the Greenlandic Inuit with claims to icebergs and the private corporations that stand to reap massive profits. As Birkhold shepherds readers from Connecticut to South Africa, from Newfoundland to Norway, to Greenland and beyond, he unfurls a visionary argument for cooperation over conflict. It’s not too late for icebergs to save humanity. But we must act fast to form a coalition of scientists, visionaries, engineers, lawyers and diplomats to ensure that the “Cold Rush” doesn’t become a free-for-all.
Matthew Birkhold is a professor at The Ohio State University, focusing on law, environmental humanities, intellectual property, and Indigenous studies. He is the author of Characters before Copyright and his essays and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, the Washington Post, the Paris Review, and Indian Country Today.
The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers
By Alfred S. Posamentier
February 10th 2023; Mathematics / Geometry / Algebraic
The most ubiquitous, and perhaps the most intriguing, number pattern in mathematics is the Fibonacci sequence. In this simple pattern beginning with two ones, each succeeding number is the sum of the two numbers immediately preceding it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ad infinitum). Far from being just a curiosity, this sequence recurs in structures found throughout nature - from the arrangement of whorls on a pinecone to the branches of certain plant stems.
All of which is astounding evidence for the deep mathematical basis of the natural world. With admirable clarity, two veteran math educators take us on a fascinating tour of the many ramifications of the Fibonacci numbers. They begin with a brief history of a distinguished Italian discoverer, who, among other accomplishments, was responsible for popularizing the use of Arabic numerals in the West.
Turning to botany, the authors demonstrate, through illustrative diagrams, the unbelievable connections between Fibonacci numbers and natural forms (pineapples, sunflowers, and daisies are just a few examples). In art, architecture, the stock market, and other areas of society and culture, they point out numerous examples of the Fibonacci sequence as well as its derivative, the "golden ratio."
And of course in mathematics, as the authors amply demonstrate, there are almost boundless applications in probability, number theory, geometry, algebra, and Pascal's triangle, to name a few.
Accessible and appealing to even the most math-phobic individual, this fun and enlightening book allows the reader to appreciate the elegance of mathematics and its amazing applications in both natural and cultural settings.
Dear Earth
By Isabel Otter
February 7th 2023; Juvenile Fiction / Science & Nature / Environment; Ages 3 to 7, Grades P to 2
This inspiring picture book celebrates the wonders of our world and reminds us that if we all work together to spread the message that Earth is special and worth saving, we can keep our planet beautiful for many years to come. The message that Earth is special and worth saving is an important one, especially now, when climate issues are so prevalent. Dear Earth is an inspiring story of a young girl named Tessa, who writes a love letter to the Earth in celebration of its many wonderful components. Tessa has the opportunity to blow bubbles with majestic whales, soar with the birds, and join in the noise and excitement of the rain forest. She believes that if we all work together to spread the message that Earth is special and worth saving, we will be able to keep our planet beautiful for many years to come. Includes back matter with ways to help save the Earth, as well as a letter template for children to write their own letter to Earth.
Isabel Otter is a children's book editor and writer. She grew up in rural Herefordshire, England, and spent much of her childhood in trees. Isabel loves weaving stories and writing about the world around her. She currently lives in London. Clara Anganuzzi was raised in the Seychelles Islands, where she would draw on every surface she could find. She has always had a fond love for the sea and all types of critters, who often inhabit her drawings. Clara now spends her days doodling in her plant-filled studio overlooking Bristol.
To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights
By Angela Dalton
January 17th 2023; Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Performing Arts; Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3
A vibrant, empowering picture book biography of Nichelle Nichols, who as Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek was the first to boldly go where no Black actor had gone before.
As Lieutenant Uhura on the iconic prime-time television show Star Trek, Nichelle Nichols played the first Black female astronaut anyone had ever seen on-screen. A smart, strong, independent Black woman aboard the starship Enterprise was revolutionary in the 1960s when only white men had traveled to outer space in real life and most Black characters on TV were servants. Nichelle not only inspired a generation to pursue their dreams but also opened the door for the real-life pioneering astronauts Sally Ride, Dr. Mae Jemison, and more.
This empowering tribute to the trailblazing pop-culture icon reminds us of the importance of perseverance and the power of representation in storytelling. You just might be inspired to boldly go where no one like you has ever gone before!
Angela Dalton is a children’s book author living in Oakland, CA. Her picture books include Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner, Show the World!, and her award-winning debut, If You Look Up to the Sky. Visit her online at angeladalton.com.
Lauren Semmer is an artist, bestselling children’s book illustrator, and designer whose work is featured on everything from kids’ wall art to children’s apparel. She is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling picture book The ABC’s of Black History by Rio Cortez. Visit Lauren at laurensemmer.com.
Destiny Finds Her Way
By Margarita Engle
February 7th 2023; Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Jungle Animals; Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3
Explore the Costa Rican rainforest with Destiny, a rescued orphan baby sloth who must learn to return to the wild, in this heartwarming true story from Newbery Honor winner Margarita Engle. Destiny must learn to be strong and confident after she loses the use of one of her eyes. Without her mother to protect her or teach her, Destiny is found and taken to a rescue center in Costa Rica. The little sloth soon befriends other orphaned sloths. Her poor eyesight, however, makes it hard for her to keep her balance. Eventually Destiny begins to use all of her senses to explore the world around her. But can she learn to climb? Can she master the other skills she needs to survive on her own? And will Destiny be brave enough to return to her wild, forest home? Join award-winning author Margarita Engle and photographer Sam Trull as they introduce you to the world of sloths in this inspiring story about overcoming obstacles and believing in yourself. Author Bio: Margarita Engle is a Newbery Honor–winning, Cuban-American author of many books about Cuba and Central America. She is a botanist and agronomist as well as a poet. Her STEM books include Bravo, Summer Birds, The Sky Painter, Mountain Dog, and Forest World, which received a Green Earth Book Award. Other awards include multiple Pura Belpré Awards, and the NSK Neustadt Prize. She lives in Central California with her husband. Illustrator Bio: Sam Trull has been a photographer and a wildlife biologist for decades. After multiple expeditions to Madagascar, West Africa, and Central America, in January 2013 she settled in Costa Rica, where she co-founded and is the executive director of the Sloth Institute. Her first photo book, Slothlove, was published in April 2016.
Hear Them Roar
By June Smalls
February 8th 2023; Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Endangered; Ages 5 to 7, Grades K to 2
A Children's Book Council Hot of the Press Selection All around the world, animals that were once thriving are now endangered, from the black-footed ferret to the kakapo. Eventually, these amazing animals could be lost. With this fully illustrated guidebook + sound pad, kids can learn about the calls, snorts, squeaks, and roars of 14 endangered animals, discover the characteristics that make them special, and see how we are helping bring them back from the edge of extinction. Hear Them Roar: 14 Endangered Animals from Around the World will make sure these animals are around for many generations to come!
June Smalls is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and a lover of literature. She resides in Northern Virginia with her hubby, The Kid, and an ever-growing assortment of animals.
Jungle Junk
By Richard Turner
February 1st 2023; Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Jungle Animals; Ages 6 to 11, Grades 1 to 3
Six animal friends decide to clean up their jungle home, make musical instruments from the junk, and start an orchestra.When six animal friends see their beautiful jungle home covered in trash, they are all shocked and dismayed. But Monkey has a plan to return their home to perfection! What if they collect all the trash, turn it into musical instruments, and start a “junkstrument” orchestra? In this amusing tale told in lyrical and rhyming language, with hilarious made-up words, children will learn the importance of working as a team, not dropping trash, and of reusing and recycling.
Richard Turner is an author and Performing Arts teacher in Adelaide South Australia, who supports children's creative voices through drama and dance. He has directed and choreographed musicals, working with students who can sing and dance way better than he can. Like most people, Richard has to be told to eat his peas, but never has to be told to eat his jellybeans or ice cream. He has been on a skateboard, a rollercoaster, an elephant and a camel. He has also been on a spaceship to the moon, but only in his dreams!
Giulia Lombardo was born in Florence, Italy on Christmas Eve, 1991. She lives and works in a small studio surrounded by cats, dogs and other animals, as well as her colleague Arianna. Giulia graduated from the Nemo Academy of Digital Arts in 2013, and since then has worked as a children's book illustrator alongside several international publishers. In her spare time, Giulia builds vintage chicken coops, produces homemade yoghurt and enjoys trekking.
The World of Plants
By Michael Leach
Feb 1st 2023; Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Nature / Flowers & Plants; Ages 8 to 12
Why do trees grow so tall? Are tomato plants really carnivorous? And why do mushrooms appear in rings? This exciting and eye-opening hardback takes young readers on a journey of discovery through the kingdoms of plants and fungi, demonstrating the extraordinary variety of our planet's life, and showcasing many fascinating species that will be unfamiliar to most people. Brimming over with beautiful full-color illustrations, this volume presents a wonderful opportunity to discover lesser known lifeforms from all over the world, and to see familiar plants and fungi in a whole new light. Annotated maps give context to readers' discoveries. Ideal for nature-loving kids aged 8+.
Dr. Michael Leach is a full time wildlife author and photographer. He has travelled to all 7 continents and worked with many of the world's most charismatic animals - polar bears in the Arctic, gorillas in central Africa, lemurs in Madagascar, sperm whales in the mid-Atlantic, monkeys in the Amazon, penguins in the Antarctic and elephants in Kenya. He is the author of 36 books and has given more than 4000 illustrated talks. Dr. Meriel Lland is a writer, researcher, photographer, and film-artist entranced by the natural world. She's travelled with reindeer in Scandanavia, elephants in Africa, and camels in Morocco. Meriel lectures in university and runs workshops in school and the wider community. Her writing and images have appeared in publications worldwide. Juanita Londoño-Gaviria was born in Colombia, and has always lived amidst the mountains, surrounded by nature, birds and flowers. She studied fashion design in her hometown, Medellín, and graduated in Concept Art from Vancouver Film School in 2018 and has been freelancing as an illustrator and a textile designer since then.