Dr. Ian Stewart and his tutorial, holding Plato texts, in 2003. (Courtesy of King’s College Archives).
and eighteenth centuries, as well as an un- engineering survey class. “In fact, it was the as a concept and physical reality, is so central canny interest in the “media” dimensions of Faculty of Engineering that approached us; to the philosophy, literature and culture of science, like science in film. As the director they wanted us to design a course that could the West.” of the Newton Project Canada, Dr. Snobelen give their students a humanities experience Its alumni agree. One of the first HOST affiliated King’s with the UK-based project, tailored to their study.” graduates, Emily Tector (BSc ’03), said, “In which digitizes the texts of one of the most Dr. Frappier took up the challenge. my experience, there’s nothing like HOST influential figures in history and gives the “The course has been a fantastic addition and there’s nothing like HOST at King’s. I school some international reach. to the programme,” said Dr. Frappier, add- loved the teachers, the content, the primary By the mid-2000s, scholarship in the his- ing that it enables the faculty to grasp the texts, the approach, the inspiration, and the tory of science was booming. The increase of science in the media and the abundance of technology in our homes made our connec“HOST also complements Humanities tion to this tradition increasingly relevant. The HOST Programme at King’s is particidegrees beautifully. Nature, as a pating in an exciting and dynamic field. The concept and physical reality, is so five-part “Trust in Science Lecture Series,” distinguished visiting scholars, and vibrant central to the philosophy, literature student societies were signs of a vital and and culture of the West.” valuable academic community. With the addition of Dr. Melanie Frappier, King’s gained “a genius at teaching and understanding modernity,” Dr. McOuat symbiosis between science and technology. relative newness of the field itself. I wanted says, “especially with her own scholarship “The students we’ve had in these courses more.” Now the project coordinator at Situregarding that bundle of perplexing concepts, have been a tremendous source of inspira- ating Science, Tector began teaching HOSTQuantum Mechanics.” With the help of Dr. tion through their questions and personal related courses at CEGEP in Montreal after Stewart, collaboration between HOST and research projects, which have covered ev- an MA in the History of Medicine at McGill. Dalhousie’s Faculty of Engineering moved erything from the creation of the broom to After graduating with a combined honfuturistic flying windmills.” This hands-on ours degree in HOST and English, Charles into new terrain. “HOST really values that chance to element appeals to the various areas and Bourne (BA ’12) was accepted as an intern branch out and teach engineering students strengths. at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s something about the history of their profes- “HOST also complements humanities de- (IAEA) Division of Human Health (NAHU) sion,” Dr. Stewart said of the technology and grees beautifully,” Dr. Stewart said, “Nature, in Vienna, Austria this summer. Using skills 18
Tidings | winter 2013