648 Moonstruck: Our Fascination with and Connection to Earth’s Nearest Celestial Neighbor

Class | Registration opens 2/3/2025 11:00 AM

SPRING RUN CONFERENCE ROOM 115 Farley Circle, SRCR Lewisburg, PA 17837 United States
Conference Rm.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025-Wednesday, April 16, 2025
1:30 PM-3:00 PM on Wed
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$60.00

648 Moonstruck: Our Fascination with and Connection to Earth’s Nearest Celestial Neighbor

Class | Registration opens 2/3/2025 11:00 AM

The Moon makes Earth unique, certainly in our solar system and possibly in the broader cosmos. It made us who we are, in ways that scientists are just beginning to understand…” (Boyle, 2024, p. XVIII).

People have long been fascinated by and felt connected to the moon. They have stared hypnotically as tidal forces moved water, carefully planning military maneuvers. They have used the moon to plan the planting of their crops, attributed supernatural changes in humans to its effect, and even explained mental health changes with its variations. This golden orb that dominates the nighttime sky, has inspired stories, music, films, and art. How was our nearest celestial neighbor formed? How has it impacted life on Earth? How does it continue to inspire us? What secrets does it hold? 

Drawing its inspiration from Rebecca Boyle’s book, Our Moon (2024), this six-week course will examine all things lunar, from the astronomical and geological to the mythological, literary, and artistic. As a co-taught course, instructors will take the lead on alternate weeks, using lecture, discussion, PowerPoints, and instructor-provided materials. Each class will examine a lunar topic ranging from the creation of the moon and its geology to its impact on the evolution of life to the art, music and literature that has been inspired by it. 

  • Expectations of Participants: Computer Literacy/Access, Email.
Gary Nottis

GARY NOTTIS earned his bachelor’s degree in geology, with honors, from Bucknell University. During his time at Bucknell, he worked for several semesters as a teaching assistant in the Department of Geology, as well as the education department. Professionally, Gary was employed by the New York State Geological Survey (NYSGS) for 16 years to study earthquakes. He is a recognized authority on the historical earthquakes of eastern North America and has served as an adjunct instructor with FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute, Emmitsburg, Md. in regards to earthquake education. Gary’s other scientific interests include geomorphology, geohazards and astronomy. 

Katharyn Nottis

KATHARYN E. K. NOTTIS is professor emerita in education at Bucknell University where she developed and taught a course on the teaching of science to teacher education majors, as well as courses on research, educational psychology, development, and gender. She has been a quantitative researcher in STEM areas, primarily geology, chemical engineering and astronomy. She received her doctorate in educational psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Prior to coming to Bucknell she was the Education Specialist at the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research.