Anything that Ticks: Clocks in Science and Society

Am I running late? A person’s ability to quickly and accurately answer this question, even to define “lateness” itself, has changed drastically over the course of human history. In this course we will explore how the evolution of timekeeping has affected society, from navigation and economics to the ability of governments and religions to project authority. Hands-on activities and astronomical observations will help students understand the ancient and modern clock technologies that facilitated this change. Students will write about their own perceptions of time and research unique timepieces and related technologies of their own choosing. Through reading and writing, both scientific and fictional, we will also investigate how humans define and perceive the flow of time.