Photo by Gretchen Ertl
Felice Frankel is the author and photographer of the new young adult book Phenomenal Moments: Revealing the Hidden Science Around Us. Her other books include Picturing Science and Engineering. She is a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Q: What inspired you to create Phenomenal Moments?
A: I had been capturing all sorts of “every day” science through the years, when I saw something interesting. I am lucky to have a science background so that I know a bit about “seeing" the science.
When I started reviewing some of the images, I realized there might be a book here…especially for my teenage grandchildren. They always kid me about my wanting to explain things to them but underneath their kidding, I suspect there is genuine interest.
Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “This visually stimulating book dives deep into beautiful, rarely seen patterns of the natural and human-made worlds and the science behind them.” What do you think of that description?
A: Frankly, I was rather delighted to read it, but the only argument I would propose is that the images are not “rarely seen.” These are photographs of ordinary things that we all see around us. I am encouraging the viewer to pay attention because it’s really interesting and really “cool.”
Q: Can you say more about how you chose the images to include in the book?
A: As I mentioned, I had been capturing these images for a while and when I realized I might have a book I started getting more serious about what to include and what not to include. I also met with my grandson’s science class and they offered their advice about which they weren’t crazy about. I listened!
Q: What do you hope readers take away from Phenomenal Moments?
A: What I would love is for the reader to share the book with their parents and grandparents and play the guessing game.
And then, the best of all worlds would be this—when they walk around their neighborhood or park, for example, and see something that resembles what they remember from the book—they would take their own picture with their phone and show it off to their family while explaining the science!
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I do have a “day job” at MIT and continue collaborating with researchers on how best to visually communicate their work. However, I am already thinking of the next edition of Phenomenal Moments.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: We are living through difficult times which include a host of horrific misunderstandings about science. I believe that seeing science in intimate and beautiful ways will help the public to be less intimidated about scientific facts and start asking questions in order to make better choices.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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