Science-based Magic to improve Science Education and to enhance learning

Miquel Duran, Silvia Simon, Josep Duran, Fernando Blasco

Alex Stone in “Fooling Houdini”

• There is a wealth of connections between magic and science: psychology, neuroscience, mathematics, physics [+ chemistry]

• The world of magic is filled with scientists and the world of science is filled with magicians

• Scientists and magicians are people who take an interest in mysteries

Alex Stone, “Fouling Houdini. Magicinas, Mentalists, Math Geeks and the Hidden Power of the Mind”. Harper Collins, New York, 2012

Outline of the talk

• Magic and formal/non-formal science education Our project

• Use of magic in health Collaboration with medical projects Collabortion with charities

• Debunk of pseudoscience Randi, Gardner and others Practical examples

Project “From the Magic of Science to the Science of Magic” (#magsci, 2015-16) Funding Agency: Spain’s FECyT

• Stage show, The Mathemagic of Science• Stage show, The Magic of the Periodic Table• I Meeting on Science, Magic and Education• MOOC on Magic and Science• Participative activities at schools and @c4dudg• Mobile apps on magic and science, gamification of

recreational science• The Magic of Food• Science Communication School• Intergenerational Science Club• Junior Magic+Science Summer Camp

#cemc16 4-8/7/2016+ Magic & Science Itinerary through

Girona

Teaching key Science terms

• Magic, when used wisely, is able to make things more attractive

• Magic should be used cautiously: students should remember the concept, rather that the surprise the effect brings about

• Magic should be combined with other motivational tools

Magic as part of the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Magic to help people in hospitals, and social disadvantaged

Two Key Quotes

• The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...‘ (Isaasc Asimov) (also “Oh My God!, as noted by Nobel Prize S Glashow)

• Martin Gardner has turned hundreds of mathematicians into magicians and hundreds of magicians into mathematicians (Persis Diaconis)

CSICOPan organization promoting scientific inquiry and the use of reason in examining extraordinary claims

Martin Gardner was amateur magician

Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, B.F. Skinner, Philip J. Klass Paul Kurtz, James Randi,Martin Gardner, Rye Hyman

A good understanding of science can prevent us to fall in pseudoscienfic tricks

James Randi Educational Foundation

An example

@miquelduran@silviasimonr@pepduran@fblascoxyz

Thank you for your attention