1. Visualization at The King’s University College
Peter Mahaffy
Brian Martin

2. Visualization is an integral part of learning:
Seeing and perception
Seeing in the “Minds Eye”
Visualization as metaphor for perceiving
Visualization plays a critical role in understanding – both the understanding of the student as well as the understanding of the researcher
Use of visualizations at King’s plays a vital role in our work with science students…
BUT!...

3. The Myth of Visualization as “Seeing is Believing”
A Simple Task…
Watch the white team and count the exact number of times the white team passes the ball back and forth

4. The King’s Center for Visualization in Science (KCVS)
Explore ways in which visualization (not just computer based) can be used to enhance understanding:
Among students
Among researchers
Explore ways to implement visualizations into teaching at both secondary and post secondary levels
To work within international communities of scholars researching topics related to visualization

5. First … a fast breaking news story
3D Visualization
at an Affordable Price!
The Geowall

6. Geowall – Technical Considerations
Left-channel image
Right-channel image
Left channel image is projected through the left channel DLP projector and is plane-polarized as shown
Right channel image is projected through the right channel DLP projector and is plane-polarized as shown

7. More on Creating Stereo Images
3D Image rendering software
Blender – freeware (outstanding package but steep learning curve)
Bryce (more accessible but not free)
Either offset “camera” or scene and render both L and R channel images.

8. KCVS: Past, Present, Future
Modular Approach to Physics Project (MAP) 1997 – 2004
Gordon Research Conferences
Centres for Research in Youth, Science Teaching and Learning - CRYSTALS

9. King’s, KCVS and CRYSTALS
5 year, 200K/a, Mahaffy (co-PI), Martin (management team &co-PI)
Project involves U of A, King’s, 3 other post-secondaries, Edmonton Schools, Telus World of Science and others
Current projects KCVS will play a role in:
Visualizing Global Climate Change (with NSF)
Ethical Use of Chemicals (with IUPAC)

10. Applets that Help the Student Visualize Complex Phenomena
Car on a banked roadway

11. Applets that Help the Student Visualize Complex Phenomena
Thin Film Interference

12. Visualizing the World Too Small To See:
Small Matters
Christina deMatteis, University of Nottingham

13. “The most powerful thing you can do when you’re learning chemistry is to zoom down, in your mind’s eye, to the molecular level and try to imagine what is going on and in a sense, try to understand the personalities of the reactants and products…
Having each type of model show a different aspect is ideal. Because then students don’t look at a particular model and say: that’s reality.”
The Importance of Multiple Representations at the Molecular Level Roy Tasker, Univ. Western Sydney Models in Chemistry

14. Broad spectrum antibacterial activity, including Helicobacter pylori
"Since garlic hath powers to save from death, bear with it though it makes unsavory breath" Robert of Normandy, 1100 AD
Literature Reports
Allium sativum
Broad spectrum antibacterial activity, including Helicobacter pylori
Antifungal activity
Antiviral activity
Normalization of plasma lipid levels
Stimulates lymphocytes and elicits anti-tumor effects
Anti-hypertensive effects
Bacillus anthracis inhibition?

15. inhibit Bacillus subtilis growth 2D TLC of dichloromethane
Several compounds
inhibit Bacillus subtilis growth
2D TLC of dichloromethane
garlic extract
2nd Dimension–More Polar Solvent
1st Dimension – Less Polar Solvent
Initial Spot

16. Bioactive Compound: Allicin
E. Block.Agnew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.
1992, 31,

18. Mode of Action of Allicin
Blocks the active site on sulfhydryl enzymes
Interferes with microbial cellular function
DNA & RNA synthesis
Signal transduction & apoptosis

19. Investigative laboratories
For majors and non-majors

21. Gordon Research Conference on Visualization in Science & Education,
Oxford, July 2005
Mahaffy (Chair)
Martin (Workshop Leader)
Flowing water in SE Jordan
NASA Satellite Image

23. Visualization in nanotechnology
New emphases
Visualization in nanotechnology
Best practices in production and dissemination of educational visualizations
Visualization in genomics and systems biology
Computer graphics / cognitive science interface
Visualization for public understanding of science
Physical models and touch in forming mental models
Geo-Wall 3D visualization applied to other disciplines