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For the Love of Science: A community building initiative
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This page was created on August 11, 2009. It is still under construction. More detail is expected to be added soon.
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For the Love of Science
This page was created on August 11, 2009 by Jan Visser, who serves as its principal editor. As the page develops, formative feedback from the community (see below) will be greatly appreciated.
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Basic Books in Science
For the Love of Science (FTLOS for short) is an initiative supported and facilitated by the Learning Development Institute. The initiative results in freely available books written by accomplished scientists. These Basic Books in Science are typically targeted at young (and older) people who have a passion for the sciences, often wishing to pursue a career in them. In many parts of the world such dedicated learners will find it hard to come across resources that can help them getting initiated in the sciences. The initiative in question is a modest attempt to try and resolve this problem. The cover of one of the books in the series For the Love of Science is depicted in the left margin adjacent to this text. Its author is Roy McWeeny, Emeritus Professor in Theoretical Chemistry
Building a community of translators
It is worth noting that we explore possibilities for translation of these books. Some of them have already been translated into Spanish, thanks to the voluntary help of a bright young Spanish theoretical physicist, Angel Sanz (see Por Amor a la Ciencia and also the sample cover of one of the Spanish books on the right). We are looking for more such dedicated people, including for Spanish, to alleviate the burden on Angel's shoulders, as well as for French. We may have some opportunities for translation into Arabic, but welcome others who wish to volunteer and join the effort. Some of the material has spontaneously already been translated locally into Bahasa Indonesia for use in Indonesia. We appreciate any such initiatives to make the work available in as many languages as relevant, expecting to be kept informed by those who engage in such spontaneous action. This Wiki may help build a community of translators. Typically, we are looking for translators who share out passion for:
- the sciences,
- humanity, and
- the beauty of literary expression, including through mathematical symbol systems.
- Furthermore, familiarity with LaTeX is essential for translating the books that contain elaborate mathematical formulations.
Building a user community of learners and facilitators
Though the materials developed as part of the For the Love of Science initiative cannot be made available via the WikiEducator because of their different Creative Commons licensing status, we are nevertheless interested in building a user community of learners and facilitators under the WikiEducator umbrella. Such a user community can then develop complementary materials, such as exercises, guide books, etc, that can be used in conjunction with the For the Love of Science materials. Such complementary materials can then be shared and collaboratively authored as part of the WikiEducator efforts.
Overview of titles and authors
Following is a list of titles for the current initial conception of the series of Basic Books in Science planned in the framework of the For the Love of Science initiative. The titles appearing in bold face can already be downloaded from the For the Love of Science site. Some of the material translated into Spanish can be downloaded from the Por Amor a la Ciencia site. English titles are also available via the Web site of the Pari Center for New Learning (David Peat, Director)
- Book 1. Number and symbols -- from counting to abstract algebras by Roy McWeeny.
- Book 2. Space -- from Euclid to Einstein by Roy McWeeny.
- Book 3. Relationships, change -- and Mathematical Analysis by Roy McWeeny.
- Book 3A. Calculus and differential equations by John Avery.
- Book 4. Motion and mass -- first steps into Physics by Roy McWeeny.
- Book 5. Atoms, molecules and matter -- the stuff of Chemistry by Roy McWeeny.
- Book 6. The planet we live on – starting on the Earth Sciences by Chris King.
- Book 7. The beginnings of life – from one cell to many.
- Book 8. Life in the oceans, life on land.
- Book 9. The evolution of living creatures – who were our ancestors?
- Book 10. More Physics: electric charges and fields – electromagnetism by Roy McWeeny.
The entire series is being created under the editorial responsibility and visionary leadership of Roy McWeeny.
Currently, and thanks to collaboration with the European Molecular Biology Organization, an additional group of authors is starting work on three or four volumes of Basic Books in Science for the Life Sciences. They include Maria Christophorou; Toni Gabaldon; Maurijn van der Zee; and Jordi Villà i Freixa. In ways still to be decided upon, the books will explore areas such as life as we know it, life as it evolved and evolves, and we and our ancestors. These are working ideas for now, rather than actual book titles. In addition to these Life Sciences books, Roy McWeeny has meanwhile started on a volume on the quantum revolution.
Notes and Feedback from my Wiki Neighbours
Past formative feedback was accepted with thanks, but has now been removed. Any further comments from the WikiEducator community will be greatly appreciated. It will be most useful if such feedback can be left in my talk box.
Feedback received regarding the development of this page
--Jvisser.ldi 09:59, 18 September 2009 (UTC)
