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Astronomy Education Review / Volume 1 / Issue 2 / RESOURCES

2002, AER, 1 (2), 112, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3847/AER2002009

Teaching Astronomy with Science Fiction: A Resource Guide

Published 11 February 2003

Andrew Fraknoi

Foothill College and Astronomical Society of the Pacific

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One of the great challenges of teaching modern astronomy is that many of the concepts seem abstract and removed from everyday experience. One way to make astrophysical ideas become more concrete and easy to visualize is to introduce your students to science fiction stories based on accurate science.

© 2003 Andrew Fraknoi. Copyright assigned to the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.

KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords

College non-majors, Interdisciplinary (astronomy and other fields), Science fiction in education, Teaching approaches

PACS

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN

1539-1515 (online)

Publisher

$abstract.society.value is a Member of CrossRef Andrew Fraknoi. Copyright assigned to the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.

ARTICLE DATA

History
Published online 11 February 2003
Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.3847/AER2002009

    References

  1. Bova, B., & Lewis, A. 1997, Space Travel: A Writers Guide to the Science of Interplanetary and Interstellar Travel, Writer's Digest Books.
  2. Czerneda, J. 1999, No Limits: Developing Scientific Literacy Using Science Fiction, Toronto: Trifolium Books. Teacher guide, anthology, and workbook for high school level and above.
  3. DeGraff, D. 2000, Fictional Telescopes: Astronomy through Science Fiction Eyes, in Cosmos in the Classroom 2000, A. Fraknoi (Editor), Astronomical Society of the Pacific (available through the Societys catalog at www.astrosociety.org).
  4. Dubeck, L. 1998, Science Fiction in the Classroom, Mercury, Nov./Dec., 24.
  5. Dubeck, L. et al. 1994, Fantastic Voyages: Learning Science Through Science Fiction Films, College Park, MD.: American Institute of Physics. Quick skim of science in a number of films.
  6. Fraknoi, A. 1990, Science Fiction Stories with Reasonable Astronomy, Mercury, Jan./Feb., 26. An annotated reading list.
  7. Fraknoi, A. 1990, Interdisciplinary Approaches to Astronomy, in The Teaching of Astronomy, J. Pasachoff & J. Percy (Editors), Cambridge University Press. Includes a section on science fiction stories and authors.
  8. Gillett, S. 1996, World-Building: A Writer's Guide to Constructing Star Systems and Life-Supporting Planets, Writer's Digest Books.
  9. Guthke, K. 1990, The Last Frontier: Imagining Other Worlds from the Copernican Revolution to Modern Science Fiction, Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. A scholarly study of the theme of extraterrestrial life in literature, philosophy, and science.
  10. Irion, R. 2001, Frozen Species, Deep Time, and Marauding Black Holes, Science 239, 1984. A profile of physicist and science fiction writer Gregory Benford.
  11. Kitchin, C. 2001, The Man Who Wrote a Universe, Astronomy Now, May, 58. An introduction to the science in the science fiction of Larry Niven.
  12. Lambourne, R. et al. 1990, Close Encounters: Science and Science Fiction, Bristol, U. K.: Institute of Physics Press. Using science fiction in science teaching.
  13. Lark, N. 1976, Astronomy in Science Fiction, Mercury, May/June, 16.
  14. Nahin, P. 1993, Time Machines: Time Travel in Physics, Metaphysics, and Science Fiction, College Park, MD: American Institute of Physics. An exhaustive study of time travel ideas and stories.
  15. Nahin, P. 1997, Time Travel: A Writer's Guide to the Real Science of Plausible Time Travel, Writer's Digest Books.
  16. Nicholls, P. et al. 1983, The Science in Science Fiction, Westminster, MD: Alfred A. Knopf. An encyclopedic reference book on science themes in modern science fiction.
  17. Parker, H. 1984, Biological Themes in Modern Science Fiction, Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Research Press.
  18. Plait, P. 1998, Hollywood: A Full Moon in Every Plot, Astronomy, April, 49. On problems with science in many films about space., (See also his book Bad Astronomy).
  19. B. Preiss, & A. Fraknoi, Editors. 1987, The Universe, New York: Bantam. A further collection of essays by leading astronomers and science fiction stories with good science; deals with the realms outside our solar system.
  20. B. Preiss, Editor 1985, The Planets, New York: Bantam. A collection of essays by noted astronomers about the planets in the solar system and science fiction stories inspired by our current understanding of each world.
  21. Sagan, C. 1979, Science Fiction—A Personal View, in Broca's Brain, Chapter 9. New York: Random House. Sagan discusses how he was influenced by science fiction and names some stories and films that inspired and annoyed him.
  22. Schmidt, S. 1980, Science Fiction and the Science Teacher, Teaching Science Fiction: Education for Tomorrow, Owlswick Press.
  23. Schmidt, S. 1995, Aliens and Alien Societies: A Writer's Guide to Creating Extra-terrestrial Life-Forms, Writer's Digest Books.
  24. Taubes, G. 1983, Profile of Gregory Benford, Discover, Aug., 66. Benford is a physicist who writes superb, scientifically correct science fiction.
  25. Theison, D. 2000, Mars in Fact and Fiction, in Cosmos in the Classroom 2000, A. Fraknoi (Editor), Astronomical Society of the Pacific (available through the Society's catalog at www.astrosociety.org).



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