What do “A Wrinkle in Time,” “Cat’s Cradle,” and the Koran all have in common?
For the School of Engineering and Applied Science, they’re all works that have significantly shaped the lives of faculty members.
From now through Oct. 18, students can see the books that have influenced their favorite SEAS professors on display in Low Rotunda. Twenty-seven members of the faculty from the School of Engineering and Applied Science chose works to display that they said have impacted their careers or lives, along with comments explaining their selections.
While some professors chose the usual suspects—physicist Richard Feynman and neuroscientist and University Professor Eric Kandel both made appearances—other selections were surprising to visitors. The exhibition includes children’s books, classic literature, and even collections of poetry.
Lenfest Earth Institute assistant professor of applied climate science Ah-Hyung Park, for instance, chose the children’s book “Hope for the Flowers,” by Trina Paulus.
“This children’s book reminds me that we always have time to stop and think about what is really important. As we find our way to the things that truly matter, the questions that drive us often have simple answers. You never get lost if you listen to your heart,” Park explained in a displayed note.
While the number of picks outside the science field may surprise a few at first glance, Andrea Metz, BC ’14, said she feels the selections aren’t as unusual as they seem.
“I don’t think a person’s whole character is made up of what they choose to study—so it doesn’t really surprise me that the Koran is in there, because that may be a big part of you even though you’re an engineer,” Metz said.
Still, some professors stuck with books inside their comfort zones, opting for Gilbert Strang’s “Introduction to Applied Mathematics” or Roland Stull’s “An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology.” Some works deepened their understanding of their subjects as more recent reads, while others introduced them to the subject they now research and live by.
Klaus Lackner, the Maurice Ewing and J. Lamar Worzel professor of geophysics, found joy in science through George Gamow’s “One Two Three…Infinity: Facts and Speculations of Science.”
“Gamow was a well-known 20th Century physicist who is perhaps best remembered for his contribution to big-bang theory development, and in this book, he explores a range of topics in science and mathematics such as relativity, quantum theory, and cosmology. For me, it introduced the joy and wonder of modern science. He convinced me that science was fun!” Lackner said in a written note.
Some faculty members approached selecting a favorite book differently. Ward Whitt, professor of industrial engineering and operations research, spoke about his thought process in choosing Harper Lee’s classic “To Kill a Mockingbird” for the display.
“Even before being asked to nominate a book, I had noticed that this was the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee’s book. I was struck by the fact that it was thus almost the 50th anniversary of the time that I read the book,” Whitt said in an email. “I know that this is a popular book, but I am pleased to be one of the many moved by it.”
Teachers College student Christie Stewart enjoyed seeing the selections that seemed outside the engineering purview.
“I think it’s great when fields reach across to other fields,” Stewart said. “It’s great not to get stuck in just thinking in a box.”
The books on display will be donated to the Columbia library system by the faculty once the exhibit closes.
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