This week there is a Global Hands On Universe/ Gallileo Teacher Training Program- conference at Stord Haugesund University College. 45 astro-physisits and particle-physisits, other scientists and educators from 5 continents gathered in Stord. It´s been an amazing week! Long, inspiring days has left no time  left to write anything on the blog. But tonight I just had to post some photos!
I was part of the team conducting a 4-hour workshop in how to “Write-a-Science-Opera (WASO)”! Operas usually last for four hours, now we have to make one in the same amount of time! Well, of course we didn´t make a 4-hour opera, it lasted maybe only 4 minutes. But the four hours were a practical introduction to the methodology of the WASO/GSO (Global Science Opera)
Kirsti, the never-resting drama-instructor lead the way, with musical Frode and me pitching in. We chose the theme for the opera from last nights news: the discovery of a new exoplanet in our next-door solar-system, only 4, 23 lightyears away: Proxima Centuri b.
We tried to do as much of a democratic process time would allow us, but in order to actually make something, I had prepared the materials for the participants to use. My three groups were divided into set-design, costume-design and lighting-design. In the end, we only had 35 minutes to actually work practically with this part of the process. But everyone was super-motivated, and the level of creativity was really high!
The set-group constructed a landscape-environment on the surface of the planet, made with bamboo-sticks and paper-tape. The light-group worked together with them, very low-fi, using overhead-projectors, colored filters and water. The costume-group experimented with draping, twisting, folding fabrics. Two of the costumes even changed during the show. One of them illustrating a seed appearing from the black soil. Another one illustrating solar-flares! Amazing! I am so proud of them!
The other groups managed to make both lyrics and melody for a song, and three different musical backgrounds. I am truly amazed at whet these people achieved in 35 minutes!
We were pretty tired after a long day, but good company at dinner afterwards restore the energy. Here with some of my new friends from Japan, USA, Austria and China. Again, I can only say I am honored to be in the presence of these brilliant minds and kind souls!