Progress+Reports

Progress Report #1 (Due Wednesday, October 7, 2009)

1. What progress have you made on your **project and research** in the past few weeks? a. Explain how you met your goals, or b. If you did not meet your goals, explain why this did not happen, what progress you did make and how you will make up for this.

Over the past several weeks I have kept at least on par with the pace of the course. As such, I am meeting my goals for the time being, especially seeing as the primarily student-driven portion of the course is only now coming into focus. The important advances that I have made thus far pertain to narrowing down my topic and finding information relevant to it. Recently, in a source about the Many-World Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, I took notes on a section specifically about the ethical implications of the theory. I found another article dealing with the structure of the universe and its theological implications. While not directly my topic, theology is deeply related to both ontology and cosmology (the two main branches of metaphysics). It is encouraging to find sources that relate directly to my question, as this precludes the need for additional synthesis of information. In terms of my project, I have narrowed down its scope and idea, but I have yet to deal with the specifics. This is in line with my present timeline. Overall, I am meeting all of my goals thus far.

2. What three goals do you have to accomplish before the next progress report is due?

Before the due date of the next progress report, I will have decided upon the exact format and content of my project. It is likely I will have a venue decided by then as well, but this is not a goal. Additionally, I plan on determining precisely how much background information on parallel universes I will include in my presentation. There is enough material here along to fill the time, but my focus must be true to me thesis, and as such I must not have the technical aspects overshadow the philosophical. It is necessary for the metaphysical argument of the thesis to go in depth with this topic. By the end of October I will have determined what is relevant to the presentation and paper. Finally, I will find a way to make my topic relevant to the interests of my peers. While the thesis editing rounds yielded few suggestions from the class, I found that my topic was poorly understood and only marginally accessible/relevant to the high school audience. While this is a rather nebulous goal, I will find a way to make parallel universes interesting without watering down the content and analysis of my presentation. The most likely strategy at this point seems to be using analogies to explain metaphysical implications, and hypotheticals/examples to explain ethical implications.

3. What input has your topic expert and/or mentor contributed to your progress in the last week? Have you asked anyone else for advice or help?

I have yet to contact a topic expert, and as such I have gotten little topic-specific advice. In the past week, I have explained my progress on the project to my mentor, but overall have asked for little advice. This is primarily because I feel that I am on track with the assignment and that my product will indeed by worthwhile.

Progress Report #2 (Due Tuesday, October 27, 2009)

1. What progress have you made on your **project and research** in the past few weeks? a. Explain how you met your goals, or b.   If you did not meet your goals, explain why this did not happen, what progress you did make and how you will make up for this.

In the past few weeks, I have completed all of my physics-related preliminary research. I have begun the rough draft of my paper, to be completed this week. In fact, I have almost completed the section of the paper on quantum mechanics (likely to be approximately one half of the overall product). I have not yet incorporated many independent philosophical sources, partially due to the arcane nature of my physics subject matter. Synthesizing the physics work with the ideas of specific philosophers will just make my product more confusing, and as such I will keep those references to a minimum so as to promote clarity. I have not yet finalized the subject matter for my project. This is because I was planning on finishing it by the end of October. There is still time left. Essentially, I am on time with the project. I have determined almost all of the specifics of my paper and presentation. 2.  What three goals do you have to accomplish before the next progress report is due?

Before the third progress report is completed, I will need to finish my paper and go through a rigorous revision process. This will likely involve incorporating a few new sources to account for the historical and philosophical references that are present in my first draft. Additionally, upon finalizing the material for my project (by the end of the week), I will begin the process of asking instructors if I will be able to present in their classes. I will begin this process with Mrs. Pirmann. In all likelihood, I will have completed my presentation by the end of November. It is possible that it will require December. Furthermore, I will need to begin amassing images for the presentation at the end of the course. I will begin this process with the books that I have cited as sources, as a decent amount of them include diagrams and pictures relevant to my topic (specifically string / membrane theory and Schrödinger’s cat). 3.  What input has your topic expert and/or mentor contributed to your progress in the last week? Have you asked anyone else for advice or help? My mentor, Elaine Seredinski, is a continuing source of emotional support. In the interim between the first two progress reports, I have mainly been working independently, and as such have not asked for much in terms of support from my mentor. However, she was helpful in acquiring a few volumes by Michio Kaku which are directly related to my topic. In fact, she bought four of his books for me (more than what I asked). I have not asked anyone else for advice or help, though Brady is a continuing source of vocal challenges to my topic and examples.

Progress Report #3 (Due Monday, November 2, 2009)

1.   What progress have you made on your **project and research ** in the past few weeks? a.   Explain how you met your goals, or b.   If you did not meet your goals, explain why this did not happen, what progress you did make and how you will make up for this.

 I have completed my rough draft, as planned. I am quite happy with the way that the draft turned out, and hope to go through and include additional philosophical and historical citations throughout the work over the next two weeks. I have decided upon the subject matter for my project presentation to a class at the school. I will focus upon string theory and how it explains the abundance of basic particles. I will begin with an explanation of scale (the size of a string being miniscule, even compared to an electron), and then go into an explanation of how the vibration of tiny strings determines the particle. To do this, I will likely use a guitar or other stringed instrument to show how different vibrations can produce different results. I will also be using a rubber band to show that strings can be closed circuits also capable of vibration. This week, I will go about the process of finding a teacher who will allow me to present this to the class. I am essentially on track.

2.  What three goals do you have to accomplish before the next progress report is due?

a) Find a class to host my project b) Present my project (may end up being after the next progress report) c) Revise my paper, especially to include more detailed information on solipsism and nihilism d) Begin finding relevant images for my eventual presentation

3. What input has your topic expert and/or mentor contributed to your progress in the last week? Have you asked anyone else for advice or help? 

My project mentor was helpful in editing my paper (I completed the first round of edits myself). She pointed out areas of high ambiguity. I have since added to these sections to promote clarity. My father also reviewed my rough draft.

Progress Report #4 (Due Monday, November 30, 2009)

1.  What progress have you made on your **project and research ** in the past few weeks? a.  Explain how you met your goals, or b. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 7pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you did not meet your goals, explain why this did not happen, what progress you did make and how you will make up for this. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">

I have met my goals for the most part, the only change being the date on which I will present my project to a class. On Friday, December 11, I will run a discussion/presentation on time travel and relativity, especially as relating to wormholes (I still need to inform Pirmann of the date, as I was informed that any day during the week of December 7 works, and I have only recently decided upon the Friday). To do this, I will use accessible media (movies like //Terminator//, //Back to the Future//, //the Time Machine//, and //Planet of the Apes)// to explain the potential for time travel. I will then go more into how wormholes are potentially structured. At this point, I will open up discussion on the potential of this, and maybe the philosophical implications of it (see //the Time Machine//).

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 7pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What three goals do you have to accomplish before the next progress report is due? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">a) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Finalize the content of the presentation <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">b)  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Create a poster for reference during the presentation <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">c) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Work substantially on the powerpoint aspect of the project

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">3. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 7pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What input has your topic expert and/or mentor contributed to your progress in the last week? Have you asked anyone else for advice or help? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">

I have not asked for any input over the past week, primarily due to break. I will be calling upon my mentor for feedback on my finalized project material, and possibly for aid in the aesthetics of the poster I will be making.

Progress Report #5 (Due Monday, December 13, 2009)

1. What progress have you made on your **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">project and research ** in the past few weeks? a. Explain how you met your goals, or b. If you did not meet your goals, explain why this did not happen, what progress you did make and how you will make up for this. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> I have successfully complete my goals in the past few weeks. I completed and presented my project in a successful fashion. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I would like to have been farther on my presentation PowerPoint by now, but the “PowerPoint Zen” presentation by Dr. Valenza proved very confounding to my efforts, and I am now having difficulty in crafting slides to go along with my topic and the various aspects that must be included within the slides. I would have attempted to ignore these desired visual aspects of the presentation as they have no weight on the depth of my topic, nor are they very appropriate for so scientific an inquiry, but Dr. Valenza will be one of the graders at my presentation, and as such I see no way out of my present dilemma. I’ll manage to make a fine presentation, it will just be more stressful and difficult, and I will likely be less happy with the product. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> 2. What three goals do you have to accomplish before the next progress report is due? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">a) Create the PowerPoint for the final presentation <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">b) Rehearse the PowerPoint appropriately <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">c) Put together the portfolio (update the wikispace)

3. What input has your topic expert and/or mentor contributed to your progress in the last week? Have you asked anyone else for advice or help? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">

This past week, I presented my project to my mentor at least four times at various stages of development (the first time with content alone and all subsequent times with the aid of the PowerPoint). Through doing this, I found out what worked and what did not work when it came to explaining time travel, parallel universes and wormholes. It was with her help that I eliminated one slide’s content that was too confusing (as it was using something that required explanation to try and explain something even more complex). I also ran aspect of my presentation by Jon Shapiro in the block before my final presentation. This was helpful in terms of practicing.