The event took place March 14-18 on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus.

During the course, participants examined the many levels of Galileo’s story, the ways that is has been subsequently used, and the historical puzzles that it still presents. Students focus on the ability of his story invoke to a discussion of the nature of science, the relationship between science and religion, science and the humanities, science and the arts, and the ethics and politics of scientific research. 

The class was led by Mark Peterson, a professor in both the physics and mathematics departments at Mount Holyoke.

Professor Peterson’s work often explores the intersection of science and the humanities. He has written on the scientific speculations of Dante, programmed a pioneering computer program for introductory Chinese language courses, and, in 1997, published the cover article on the painter Piero della Francesco in The Mathematical Intelligencer. Much of Peterson’s scientific research has been in modeling microhydrodynamics in biophysical settings. His interests in the integration of mathematics and the humanities in a liberal arts education and in promoting summer research experiences in mathematics for undergraduates.

Small groups of students selected from Oklahoma’s four-year colleges and universities have the opportunity to study with distinguished visiting scholars during the intensive seminars presented by the state-funded OSLEP program. Additionally, participants can earn college credit for each seminar they complete successfully. Most of the visiting scholars present a free public lecture, open to the community.