"The goal is to see how many lenses we can stack in this game of virtual Jenga. The more lenses the group stacks up consecutively, the better everyone's chances at winning. Because if the community stacks 50 lenses successfully, everyone who participated gets a trophy."
To date, there have been 17 challenges issued and 16 wonderful lenses produced. We are currently waiting on the newest challenged lensmaster to complete her lens. Although all the lenses have been informative, helpful, fun and teaching, I found one that really touched me. chemknitsblog, a biochemist PhD candidate, was challenged to make a lens about chemistry and hope. Rebecca rose to the challenge with her lens titled The Chemistry of Hope.
In the intro, she points out that scientists are often depicted at intellectual, emotionless people that know big words. But, in reality, she says:
"...the life of a scientist revolves around hope and imagination. Hope is composed of dreams, optimism, belief and imagination. These are all components that are essential for any researcher."
She bridges the gap between how society percieves scientists and what it is really like to be a scientist. It is fascinating! Throughout the short lens, she considers the juncture of chemistry and hope. The world and life of a science is brought to us through the eyes of a scientist. One of my favorite sections is where she attacks the question with her scientific mind -- breaking down the chemical composition of hope.
If you were to break hope apart into it's most fundamental components, you would find optimism at the center suspended in a solution of dreams. If you stir in an aliquot of imagination, suddenly things start bubbling out. The final ingredient in our synthesis is belief. With this all mixed together, you have hope.
Rebecca shares a personal story of hope that makes me smile and believe in my fellow man/woman. The lens is beautifully put together, has a touch of teacher-humor and a large serving of wisdom that can be applied to life in general. I complemented Rebecca in the Jenga thread and she said she was blushing. I told her to blush as much as she wanted, it wouldn't change the fact that this lens renews my sense of hope. Does it renew yours?
Image Credit: Inspirational Word "Hope" Poster by donnabellasangels
Mandee, this was an inspiring review and an incredible lens! Very nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bev!
ReplyDeleteMandee, thank you so much for reviewing this fantastic lens. I had to wait until I had time to read the whole thing before commenting. I think her description of hope as a chemical solution was just brilliant and I liked this line, "the life of a scientist revolves around hope and imagination." It made me look at chemists in a whole new way.
ReplyDeleteThanks also for describing the Jenga Quest. Not being a regular on SquidU, I missed this one but it's fascinating.
Your welcome Kim and thank you! It is an interesting challenge and I was really blown away by Rebecca's interpretation of her challenge too!
ReplyDelete