February 16, 2005 Boise State Physics Professor Gives Presentation Feb. 25 On His Experiences Teaching Tibetan Scholar Monks in India

click on images below for full size view Dewey Dykstra works with Tibetan monks on exploring the nature of light and images during a workshop held in northern India as part of the Science for Monks Project. Dykstra poses with other teachers and scholar monks who participated in the Science for Monks workshop held over winter break. A Boise State University physics professor who traveled to India over winter break to teach exiled Tibetan monks about the nature of light and images will present a multi-media lecture about his experiences at 12:40-1:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25, in Room 101 of the Multipurpose Building.   The public is invited. The Multipurpose Building is located east of the parking structure off of University and Brady streets.   Dewey Dykstra taught the three-week workshop at a school near Dehra Dun, India, as part of the Science for Monks Project established in 1998 by the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. The program is an effort to introduce scientific knowledge and methods to Tibetan monks, develop a scientific vocabulary in Tibetan and introduce Western scientists to Buddhist philosophy.   “It was an incredible experience. I was thrilled I had the opportunity to do this,” Dykstra said about the trip.   The monks in Dykstra’s class ranged in age from 28 to their mid-40s. Most spoke no English and had little, if any, understanding of Western science. Dykstra and a colleague from Black Hills State University communicated with the help of interpreters who were science and math teachers from Tibetan Children’s Village schools in India.   Dykstra employed the inquiry-based methods he developed during 23 years of teaching physics at BSU to engage his pupils. His presentation on Feb. 25 will include photos, video, sound clips and demonstrations. More information on the Science For Monks project is at scienceformonks.org.   -30-   Contact: Dewey Dykstra, Department of Physics, (208) 426-3105, ddykstra@boisestate.edu                                                               Media Contact: Janelle Brown, News Services, (208) 426-1790, jbrown2@boisestate.edu