Sharing My Space: Science and Society’s Mutual Ground | Reyhaneh Maktoufi | TEDxNorthwesternU

I am an alien no for real I’m I’m an

I am an alien no for real I’m I’m an alien so many differences to overcome we

alien so many differences to overcome we

alien so many differences to overcome we have food you can’t really eat if

have food you can’t really eat if

have food you can’t really eat if clothing you can really wear for more

clothing you can really wear for more

clothing you can really wear for more than an hour as you can say from an

than an hour as you can say from an

than an hour as you can say from an interesting outfit and we have letters

interesting outfit and we have letters

interesting outfit and we have letters that your throat is not even structured

that your throat is not even structured

that your throat is not even structured to pronounce like or C well according to

to pronounce like or C well according to

to pronounce like or C well according to the US law an alien is an individual who

the US law an alien is an individual who

the US law an alien is an individual who is not a US citizen or a u.s. national

is not a US citizen or a u.s. national

is not a US citizen or a u.s. national well and since I’m from Iran I also

well and since I’m from Iran I also

well and since I’m from Iran I also count as an alien I volunteered the

count as an alien I volunteered the

count as an alien I volunteered the space visualization lab of the Adler

space visualization lab of the Adler

space visualization lab of the Adler Planetarium and it’s kind of a nice

Planetarium and it’s kind of a nice

Planetarium and it’s kind of a nice place for an alien to be because you’re

place for an alien to be because you’re

place for an alien to be because you’re surrounded with all these space images

surrounded with all these space images

surrounded with all these space images you know some nice moon rock and space

you know some nice moon rock and space

you know some nice moon rock and space rock in a place that advocates for

rock in a place that advocates for

rock in a place that advocates for exploring the universe and is not

exploring the universe and is not

exploring the universe and is not obsessed with national boundaries well

obsessed with national boundaries well

obsessed with national boundaries well that things happen to you sometimes as

that things happen to you sometimes as

that things happen to you sometimes as when you’re an alien you just like click

when you’re an alien you just like click

when you’re an alien you just like click things and they suddenly turn into other

things and they suddenly turn into other

things and they suddenly turn into other things you like where’s like my

things you like where’s like my

things you like where’s like my superpowers don’t know I have those um

superpowers don’t know I have those um

superpowers don’t know I have those um I’m gonna go on and talk to you about

I’m gonna go on and talk to you about

I’m gonna go on and talk to you about the planetarium how it’s different from

the planetarium how it’s different from

the planetarium how it’s different from other places you know when you want to

other places you know when you want to

other places you know when you want to find your way you know when you want to

find your way you know when you want to

find your way you know when you want to know where you are you use a map like a

know where you are you use a map like a

know where you are you use a map like a normal map like this one

I am gonna wait for the map to appear

I am gonna wait for the map to appear and using this map you know where you

and using this map you know where you

and using this map you know where you are you know like this is where I’m

are you know like this is where I’m

are you know like this is where I’m standing on earth right but in the

standing on earth right but in the

standing on earth right but in the planetarium we use a different kind of

planetarium we use a different kind of

planetarium we use a different kind of map that is the map that we use in the

map that is the map that we use in the

map that is the map that we use in the planetarium voila

planetarium voila

planetarium voila that was my power of like I just look

that was my power of like I just look

that was my power of like I just look into those facts it’s as if they’re

into those facts it’s as if they’re

into those facts it’s as if they’re trying to use science to tell you that

trying to use science to tell you that

trying to use science to tell you that we’re all standing at the same point on

we’re all standing at the same point on

we’re all standing at the same point on earth in the same space and this is

earth in the same space and this is

earth in the same space and this is something very interesting when you

something very interesting when you

something very interesting when you think about it

think about it

think about it so I’ve spent the last year learning and

so I’ve spent the last year learning and

so I’ve spent the last year learning and studying science communication at the

studying science communication at the

studying science communication at the planetarium and I think the most

planetarium and I think the most

planetarium and I think the most important thing that I’ve learned is

important thing that I’ve learned is

important thing that I’ve learned is that science communication can bring

that science communication can bring

that science communication can bring people closer together I have this

people closer together I have this

people closer together I have this Japanese friend from my PhD program and

Japanese friend from my PhD program and

Japanese friend from my PhD program and he’s actually yes sitting with us today

he’s actually yes sitting with us today

he’s actually yes sitting with us today sometimes we sit together we have some

sometimes we sit together we have some

sometimes we sit together we have some nice green tea he opens his Japanese

nice green tea he opens his Japanese

nice green tea he opens his Japanese book of history and reads to me stories

book of history and reads to me stories

book of history and reads to me stories of the Edo era after samurai and the

of the Edo era after samurai and the

of the Edo era after samurai and the Shogun and their bravery but he reads

Shogun and their bravery but he reads

Shogun and their bravery but he reads them in Japanese and even though I don’t

them in Japanese and even though I don’t

them in Japanese and even though I don’t understand his words in my heart I feel

understand his words in my heart I feel

understand his words in my heart I feel them and he connect to them and what I

them and he connect to them and what I

them and he connect to them and what I do I open my Persian book of poetry and

do I open my Persian book of poetry and

do I open my Persian book of poetry and read to him a verse of Rumi he nods and

read to him a verse of Rumi he nods and

read to him a verse of Rumi he nods and lets me know that in his heart he also

lets me know that in his heart he also

lets me know that in his heart he also understand what I’m talking about now

understand what I’m talking about now

understand what I’m talking about now that’s just ridiculous we both speak

that’s just ridiculous we both speak

that’s just ridiculous we both speak English I would I

English I would I

English I would I I would seriously have no idea what you

I would seriously have no idea what you

I would seriously have no idea what you would be saying if you would be starting

would be saying if you would be starting

would be saying if you would be starting speaking Japanese that’s the same

speaking Japanese that’s the same

speaking Japanese that’s the same problem when science and society talked

problem when science and society talked

problem when science and society talked to each other science and society are

to each other science and society are

to each other science and society are completely two different languages and

completely two different languages and

completely two different languages and we need a neutral language to translate

we need a neutral language to translate

we need a neutral language to translate them to each other that mutual language

them to each other that mutual language

them to each other that mutual language that mutual point of reference

that mutual point of reference

that mutual point of reference could be basically a movie we have both

could be basically a movie we have both

could be basically a movie we have both watched it could be an example we both

watched it could be an example we both

watched it could be an example we both know it could be an analogy just

know it could be an analogy just

know it could be an analogy just anything that we could relate to you

anything that we could relate to you

anything that we could relate to you know it might be hard for people to

know it might be hard for people to

know it might be hard for people to relate to the language of jargon

relate to the language of jargon

relate to the language of jargon hypotheses numbers theories but it’s

hypotheses numbers theories but it’s

hypotheses numbers theories but it’s easier for us to connect to something

easier for us to connect to something

easier for us to connect to something that we already experienced maybe that’s

that we already experienced maybe that’s

that we already experienced maybe that’s an example that we already had in our

an example that we already had in our

an example that we already had in our life on an experience or an emotion so

life on an experience or an emotion so

life on an experience or an emotion so when a scientist tells you about their

when a scientist tells you about their

when a scientist tells you about their journey you could connect to their

journey you could connect to their

journey you could connect to their motivation their feared hardness of the

motivation their feared hardness of the

motivation their feared hardness of the journey the all the problems they have

journey the all the problems they have

journey the all the problems they have experienced but it would probably be

experienced but it would probably be

experienced but it would probably be harder if someone would say you know

harder if someone would say you know

harder if someone would say you know what

what

what black holes eat up everything around

black holes eat up everything around

black holes eat up everything around them I eat food I could totally relate

them I eat food I could totally relate

them I eat food I could totally relate to black holes I I don’t I don’t think

to black holes I I don’t I don’t think

to black holes I I don’t I don’t think so I don’t think that’s a thing and as

so I don’t think that’s a thing and as

so I don’t think that’s a thing and as an alien you soon realized that if you

an alien you soon realized that if you

an alien you soon realized that if you don’t have that neutral language you

don’t have that neutral language you

don’t have that neutral language you will be having a really hard time making

will be having a really hard time making

will be having a really hard time making sense of the world and an even harder

sense of the world and an even harder

sense of the world and an even harder time connecting and sharing your ideas

time connecting and sharing your ideas

time connecting and sharing your ideas with the world one way that you could

with the world one way that you could

with the world one way that you could share your ideas is through stories from

share your ideas is through stories from

share your ideas is through stories from real stories of scientists and inventors

real stories of scientists and inventors

real stories of scientists and inventors coming up with all these fascinating

coming up with all these fascinating

coming up with all these fascinating things to fake mythological explanation

things to fake mythological explanation

things to fake mythological explanation of natural phenomena for example did you

of natural phenomena for example did you

of natural phenomena for example did you know that

know that

know that rainbows are actually unicorn burp yeah

rainbows are actually unicorn burp yeah

rainbows are actually unicorn burp yeah science growing gap I inherited a lot of

science growing gap I inherited a lot of

science growing gap I inherited a lot of my brothers book interest my favorite

my brothers book interest my favorite

my brothers book interest my favorite ones were Greek mythology there were

ones were Greek mythology there were

ones were Greek mythology there were these ridiculous weird stories of this

these ridiculous weird stories of this

these ridiculous weird stories of this gods and goddesses who fell in love and

gods and goddesses who fell in love and

gods and goddesses who fell in love and were revengeful and were happy and sad

were revengeful and were happy and sad

were revengeful and were happy and sad and for whatever reason would turn

and for whatever reason would turn

and for whatever reason would turn people into tears and bears and spiders

people into tears and bears and spiders

people into tears and bears and spiders and stuff and they’re kind of fun to

and stuff and they’re kind of fun to

and stuff and they’re kind of fun to read years later in high school my

read years later in high school my

read years later in high school my friend sangamam told me about her new

friend sangamam told me about her new

friend sangamam told me about her new interests astronomy and stargazing she

interests astronomy and stargazing she

interests astronomy and stargazing she taught me all these different

taught me all these different

taught me all these different constellations and told me about

constellations and told me about

constellations and told me about the stories behind them and I was really

the stories behind them and I was really

the stories behind them and I was really surprised because these stories were the

surprised because these stories were the

surprised because these stories were the same Greek mythology that it was reading

same Greek mythology that it was reading

same Greek mythology that it was reading while growing up and suddenly knowing

while growing up and suddenly knowing

while growing up and suddenly knowing these stories this foreign weird science

these stories this foreign weird science

these stories this foreign weird science of astronomy was not that strange and

of astronomy was not that strange and

of astronomy was not that strange and unrelatable anymore my favorite story is

unrelatable anymore my favorite story is

unrelatable anymore my favorite story is of the constellation the jaja the Swan

of the constellation the jaja the Swan

of the constellation the jaja the Swan our sickness this Greek mythology

our sickness this Greek mythology

our sickness this Greek mythology follows the adventure of zeus the god of

follows the adventure of zeus the god of

follows the adventure of zeus the god of all the gods who follows in love with

all the gods who follows in love with

all the gods who follows in love with Leda the superhot wife of Spartan King

Leda the superhot wife of Spartan King

Leda the superhot wife of Spartan King and for whatever reason he decides to

and for whatever reason he decides to

and for whatever reason he decides to turn himself into a swan to seduce

turn himself into a swan to seduce

turn himself into a swan to seduce letter successfully and unless that swan

letter successfully and unless that swan

letter successfully and unless that swan has the face of George Clooney I don’t

has the face of George Clooney I don’t

has the face of George Clooney I don’t really know how that story could be

really know how that story could be

really know how that story could be realistic

realistic

realistic I just don’t know and some versions of

I just don’t know and some versions of

I just don’t know and some versions of the story letter later lays two eggs

the story letter later lays two eggs

the story letter later lays two eggs giving birth to her own children with

giving birth to her own children with

giving birth to her own children with Zeus and the children of the Spartan

Zeus and the children of the Spartan

Zeus and the children of the Spartan King now what is really fascinating

King now what is really fascinating

King now what is really fascinating about this constellation apart from the

about this constellation apart from the

about this constellation apart from the weird story that I just told you about

weird story that I just told you about

weird story that I just told you about try to forget that it’s very weird is

try to forget that it’s very weird is

try to forget that it’s very weird is what hides in this constellation

what hides in this constellation

what hides in this constellation somewhere deep in the neck of Zeus there

somewhere deep in the neck of Zeus there

somewhere deep in the neck of Zeus there is a black hole just think about it Zeus

is a black hole just think about it Zeus

is a black hole just think about it Zeus is just like flying by and then he finds

is just like flying by and then he finds

is just like flying by and then he finds this super tiny super-heavy black hole

this super tiny super-heavy black hole

this super tiny super-heavy black hole and he’s like hey I could be dad

and he’s like hey I could be dad

and he’s like hey I could be dad uh-uh he can can’t be dad he tries and

uh-uh he can can’t be dad he tries and

uh-uh he can can’t be dad he tries and it just like gets stuck somewhere in his

it just like gets stuck somewhere in his

it just like gets stuck somewhere in his throat and you can’t swallow it and

throat and you can’t swallow it and

throat and you can’t swallow it and there there is a black hole in his

there there is a black hole in his

there there is a black hole in his throat now knowing this weird story and

throat now knowing this weird story and

throat now knowing this weird story and being able to see that constellation and

being able to see that constellation and

being able to see that constellation and know that somewhere there there’s a

know that somewhere there there’s a

know that somewhere there there’s a black hole that was my first hook-up

black hole that was my first hook-up

black hole that was my first hook-up experience with astronomy and man I’d

experience with astronomy and man I’d

experience with astronomy and man I’d never broke up with it just that was

never broke up with it just that was

never broke up with it just that was pretty damn good science storytelling

pretty damn good science storytelling

pretty damn good science storytelling you don’t always have to come up with

you don’t always have to come up with

you don’t always have to come up with good stories to help people relate to

good stories to help people relate to

good stories to help people relate to science sometimes you could draw upon

science sometimes you could draw upon

science sometimes you could draw upon things that people already know about

things that people already know about

things that people already know about through analogies so

through analogies so

through analogies so what’s the big deal about the super tiny

what’s the big deal about the super tiny

what’s the big deal about the super tiny super heavy black hole that eats up

super heavy black hole that eats up

super heavy black hole that eats up everything around it

everything around it

everything around it well that’s closely related to

well that’s closely related to

well that’s closely related to Einstein’s theory of general relativity

Einstein’s theory of general relativity

Einstein’s theory of general relativity that every object produces a curve in

that every object produces a curve in

that every object produces a curve in space-time I want you to imagine a Tod

space-time I want you to imagine a Tod

space-time I want you to imagine a Tod blanket if you put a ping-pong ball what

blanket if you put a ping-pong ball what

blanket if you put a ping-pong ball what happens it causes a little curve from

happens it causes a little curve from

happens it causes a little curve from the blanket right now if you put on that

the blanket right now if you put on that

the blanket right now if you put on that blanket a bowling ball the curve becomes

blanket a bowling ball the curve becomes

blanket a bowling ball the curve becomes deeper right and if you put some marbles

deeper right and if you put some marbles

deeper right and if you put some marbles around it it goes around it until it

around it it goes around it until it

around it it goes around it until it falls into it if you think about the

falls into it if you think about the

falls into it if you think about the context of space and the texture of

context of space and the texture of

context of space and the texture of space as a blanket it produces the same

space as a blanket it produces the same

space as a blanket it produces the same kind of curves when you have an object

kind of curves when you have an object

kind of curves when you have an object in it and those object

in it and those object

in it and those object effect objects around it in the same way

effect objects around it in the same way

effect objects around it in the same way as well and that’s the basic of the

as well and that’s the basic of the

as well and that’s the basic of the theory of relativity general theory or

theory of relativity general theory or

theory of relativity general theory or life deity okay now let’s remove that

life deity okay now let’s remove that

life deity okay now let’s remove that bowling ball and replace it with a dot

bowling ball and replace it with a dot

bowling ball and replace it with a dot if you squeeze in that dot not just the

if you squeeze in that dot not just the

if you squeeze in that dot not just the mass of one Sun but the mass of fifteen

mass of one Sun but the mass of fifteen

mass of one Sun but the mass of fifteen Suns then you have a black hole like the

Suns then you have a black hole like the

Suns then you have a black hole like the one in the neck of the Swan called

one in the neck of the Swan called

one in the neck of the Swan called Cygnus x1 this black hole causes a curve

Cygnus x1 this black hole causes a curve

Cygnus x1 this black hole causes a curve and a gravity so deep and so strong that

and a gravity so deep and so strong that

and a gravity so deep and so strong that nothing that comes close enough to it

nothing that comes close enough to it

nothing that comes close enough to it could get away from it not even light

could get away from it not even light

could get away from it not even light how close is that that’s 40 kilometer

how close is that that’s 40 kilometer

how close is that that’s 40 kilometer let’s look at a half an hour drive from

let’s look at a half an hour drive from

let’s look at a half an hour drive from the black hole it’s pretty scary if you

the black hole it’s pretty scary if you

the black hole it’s pretty scary if you think about it and it’s human nature to

think about it and it’s human nature to

think about it and it’s human nature to be scared of the unknown unknown

be scared of the unknown unknown

be scared of the unknown unknown situations unknown creatures or unknown

situations unknown creatures or unknown

situations unknown creatures or unknown numbers growing up I was scared of three

numbers growing up I was scared of three

numbers growing up I was scared of three things sharks

piranhas yeah and black holes my parents

piranhas yeah and black holes my parents used to collect this German science

used to collect this German science

used to collect this German science magazine it was called the PM and I

magazine it was called the PM and I

magazine it was called the PM and I remember on one of the issues I see this

remember on one of the issues I see this

remember on one of the issues I see this picture by the way that’s actually that

picture by the way that’s actually that

picture by the way that’s actually that issue that I’m talking about and I asked

issue that I’m talking about and I asked

issue that I’m talking about and I asked my mom like say on this she said oh it’s

my mom like say on this she said oh it’s

my mom like say on this she said oh it’s about this black hole that it’s near us

about this black hole that it’s near us

about this black hole that it’s near us but don’t worry it’s fine it’s like

but don’t worry it’s fine it’s like

but don’t worry it’s fine it’s like really far away I can’t remember much

really far away I can’t remember much

really far away I can’t remember much but I remember I was scared out of my

but I remember I was scared out of my

but I remember I was scared out of my mind what there’s a black hole and it’s

mind what there’s a black hole and it’s

mind what there’s a black hole and it’s coming towards us and it’s gonna just

coming towards us and it’s gonna just

coming towards us and it’s gonna just eat us all up and we’re all gonna die

eat us all up and we’re all gonna die

eat us all up and we’re all gonna die I’m too young for this can’t happen to

I’m too young for this can’t happen to

I’m too young for this can’t happen to me it was pretty traumatic but when you

me it was pretty traumatic but when you

me it was pretty traumatic but when you don’t know what numbers look like

don’t know what numbers look like

don’t know what numbers look like especially when during scale is too big

especially when during scale is too big

especially when during scale is too big or too small you start making up things

or too small you start making up things

or too small you start making up things that might or might not be true my

that might or might not be true my

that might or might not be true my analogies might not make that much sense

analogies might not make that much sense

analogies might not make that much sense if I don’t know what are the numbers

if I don’t know what are the numbers

if I don’t know what are the numbers that are using them what are these

that are using them what are these

that are using them what are these numbers in relation to each other what

numbers in relation to each other what

numbers in relation to each other what are the contexts in which the numbers

are the contexts in which the numbers

are the contexts in which the numbers are used so numbers matter a lot and we

are used so numbers matter a lot and we

are used so numbers matter a lot and we have to make them imaginable and

have to make them imaginable and

have to make them imaginable and tangible so should we be scared of

tangible so should we be scared of

tangible so should we be scared of cygnus x-1 the black hole in the neck of

cygnus x-1 the black hole in the neck of

cygnus x-1 the black hole in the neck of the swamp no cygnus x-1 is 6070

the swamp no cygnus x-1 is 6070

the swamp no cygnus x-1 is 6070 light-years away that means if that

light-years away that means if that

light-years away that means if that black hole even if it’s coming towards

black hole even if it’s coming towards

black hole even if it’s coming towards us which is not with the speed of light

us which is not with the speed of light

us which is not with the speed of light which is not it will take it as long as

which is not it will take it as long as

which is not it will take it as long as it took for human civilization to get to

it took for human civilization to get to

it took for human civilization to get to where we are right now that’s a long

where we are right now that’s a long

where we are right now that’s a long time those same ancient civilizations

time those same ancient civilizations

time those same ancient civilizations use stories to make sense of the

use stories to make sense of the

use stories to make sense of the universe what our constellations but

universe what our constellations but

universe what our constellations but just some stars scattered in the sky but

just some stars scattered in the sky but

just some stars scattered in the sky but they gave them

they gave them

they gave them they gave them emotions that they could

they gave them emotions that they could

they gave them emotions that they could understand they turned them into lovers

understand they turned them into lovers

understand they turned them into lovers siblings parents and sometimes all of

siblings parents and sometimes all of

siblings parents and sometimes all of them all at once quick mythology but we

them all at once quick mythology but we

them all at once quick mythology but we need stories to make sense of the

need stories to make sense of the

need stories to make sense of the uncertainty of the universe up until

uncertainty of the universe up until

uncertainty of the universe up until today even though we know that sickness

today even though we know that sickness

today even though we know that sickness is not a weirdo creepy Swan we still

is not a weirdo creepy Swan we still

is not a weirdo creepy Swan we still could enjoy a ridiculous soap opera

could enjoy a ridiculous soap opera

could enjoy a ridiculous soap opera story about it getting through the

story about it getting through the

story about it getting through the jargon the hard to understand scientific

jargon the hard to understand scientific

jargon the hard to understand scientific terminology the complicated explanations

terminology the complicated explanations

terminology the complicated explanations have always been a problem for

have always been a problem for

have always been a problem for scientists when they try to explain

scientists when they try to explain

scientists when they try to explain their work they have to make them self

their work they have to make them self

their work they have to make them self understandable and relatable in order to

understandable and relatable in order to

understandable and relatable in order to build relationships

what makes communication work is a

what makes communication work is a mutual ground for science to talk to the

mutual ground for science to talk to the

mutual ground for science to talk to the society they need mutual grounds like

society they need mutual grounds like

society they need mutual grounds like analogies and examples and stories and

analogies and examples and stories and

analogies and examples and stories and sometimes just really bad drawings to

sometimes just really bad drawings to

sometimes just really bad drawings to build a visual mutual ground but we’re

build a visual mutual ground but we’re

build a visual mutual ground but we’re using those shared experiences to

using those shared experiences to

using those shared experiences to understand something more important that

understand something more important that

understand something more important that is human beings with all of our

is human beings with all of our

is human beings with all of our differences we share a greater neutral

differences we share a greater neutral

differences we share a greater neutral ground

the same shop Sun that shines on us

the same shop Sun that shines on us every day and the same night sky what is

every day and the same night sky what is

every day and the same night sky what is constellations that puts us to sleep the

constellations that puts us to sleep the

constellations that puts us to sleep the laws of physics are human beings mutual

laws of physics are human beings mutual

laws of physics are human beings mutual ground and understanding that help us

ground and understanding that help us

ground and understanding that help us change our view from being obsessed over

change our view from being obsessed over

change our view from being obsessed over thinking that we’re here aliens to each

thinking that we’re here aliens to each

thinking that we’re here aliens to each other to realize that we’re all here

other to realize that we’re all here

other to realize that we’re all here together

together

together thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]