3.0

Average Course Rating

The connection between scientific thinking and musical aptitude is amazing and widely known. This first-year seminar will build on this connection to develop a music-based introduction to materials science and its surrounding disciplines, such as solid-state physics, mechanics, electronics, energy, data science, biomaterials, and neuroscience. At the same time, the understanding of how we might appreciate, produce, and preserve music is increased using fundamental principles of science and engineering that are at the heart of modern, ancient, and even extraterrestrial materials. Societal impacts of materials and music will be topics of discussion, as will other topics suggested by student participants. The course content will be drawn from stimulating writings in which science and music are intertwined, and students will be encouraged to share experiences where one of these disciplines could inform the other. No formal background in either science or music is required, though a high school level understanding of physical sciences, and prior basic music instruction or group experience, will be helpful. The course will culminate in a final presentation that can draw from any combination of scientific or mathematical analysis, musical performance, and/or literary narrative. The instructor has undergraduate concentrations in chemistry and music theory, a longstanding materials chemistry and electronics research program, and extensive musical performance experience with multiple instruments and genres that will facilitate in-class demonstrations.