Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - November/December 2015 - (Page 12)

The Past in Focu NATIONAL HISTORY D THE KENNETH E. BEHRING NATIONAL HISTORY DAY COMPETITION IS THE CULMINATION OF A YEARLONG PROJECT IN WHICH STUDENTS IN GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE IDENTIFY A TOPIC RELATED TO AN ANNUAL THEME, RESEARCH THEIR TOPIC, AND PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS IN ONE OF FIVE CATEGORIES. AS THESE 2015 PARTICIPANTS EXPLAIN, STUDENTS WHO COMPETE IN NHD COME AWAY FROM THE EXPERIENCE WITH MUCH MORE THAN A GREATER APPRECIATION OF HISTORY. Justin Senzer, New Hyde Park, NY Third place, Senior Individual Documentary Slaying the Dragons of Eden: Carl Sagan's Crusade to Find Our Place in the Cosmos use of Cold War rhetoric to support the Strategic Defense Initiative, also known as Star Wars-a costly anti-ballistic missile system intended to prevent foreign attacks on the U.S. Using the documentary format for my project allowed me to showcase Sagan's brilliance as a communicator of complex scientific concepts. The title of my presentation refers to Sagan's book The Dragons of Eden, in which he explored the theory of evolution and human intelligence and contrasted these ideas with the theory of creationism. My title was meant to highlight Sagan's commitment to rational scientific reasoning as the basis for understanding the origins of the universe. Through this project, I learned to conduct research beyond the Internet, including accessing archives as well as primary sources from the Library of Congress. I also learned how to locate and connect with academics in various scientific fields, and I was even fortunate to interview two scientists who actually worked with Sagan. Their personal insights became an invaluable part of my documentary. THE PLANETARY SOCIETY While at Cornell University last year to help my brother move in, I visited the Johnson Art Museum where I saw a permanent LED light exhibit, which is a nightly campus attraction. The exhibit was dedicated to Carl Sagan, one of the school's most famous faculty members. While my brother and parents attended orientation, I conducted some preliminary research on Sagan and was immediately struck by not only his dedication to science education, but also his work as a political activist. Carl Sagan was an astronomer, educator, and political activist who believed it was vital for everyone in society to learn about and understand science. Sagan pioneered the effort to bring science to the masses by writing and producing the public television series Cosmos and by making frequent appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He was an eloquent speaker who engaged others with his easy manner and use of models and exciting visuals. Building on his celebrity status, Sagan also became a well-known and outspoken critic of President Reagan's Nov/Dec 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - November/December 2015

Big Picture
In My Own Words Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns
National Treasure Volunteering at the National Archives
Driving My Future, Exploring the Past The many rewards of genealogy
Past in Focus National History Day
People-Powered Movements Studying revolutions at Phillips Academy Andover
Hooked on History From paleontology to conservation science, four graduate students share their research
This is History My summer at Crow Canyon
The Benefits of Majoring in History
Making History My journey to the inaugural International History Olympiad
Historians in Training The Concord Review Summer Program
The Ultimate Game
In My Own Footsteps Putting my choreography in the spotlight
Selected Opportunities and Resources
Off the Shelf Review of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options Interview with archaeologist Inna Moore
One Step Ahead Be your own priority
Planning Ahead for College Choosing the best college for your major
Students Review: University of Washington
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - November/December 2015