Caltech’s online Behind the Book series features educator and astrophotographer Eric Garen on Tuesday, October 19, as he explains how he combined his love of language and scientific training into “Poems of the Planets: Solar System Science in Verse and Prose.”
Originally written for the middle-school student in mind, the book invites readers of all ages to delight in the hidden wonders of the solar system – from the giant volcanoes on Venus’ moons to the icy rings of Saturn, and everything in-between.
“While I’ve tried to make every concept as clear as possible, I also tried not to over-simplify either the words or the science,” Garen writes about the book. “As the book explores the solar system, you’ll be introduced to important basic concepts in chemistry, physics, biology, geology, and oceanography, as well as topics in geography, history and mythology. The interrelationships between these disciplines creates a more comprehensive understanding of each, and of our amazing solar system.”
Garen holds a BS in Electrical Engineering degree from Caltech and has been deeply involved in education for close to 50 years. In 1974, he co-founded and served as the President of Learning Tree International, a company that trained over 2.5 million IT professionals and managers from over 60,000 companies in over 100 countries.
In 2002, he founded Bright Prospect, a non-profit organization that has succeeded in helping thousands of low-income students get to and through college. For 18 years, he chaired the board of the nonprofit.
For over 15 years, Garen has served on the board of Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. In addition to his interest in science, technology and education, he is an ardent supporter of the arts and served for over 15 years on the board of Center Theatre Group, the largest regional theater organization in the U.S.
Garen will be joined on Tuesday by Katherine de Kleer, science advisor and professor of Planetary Science and Astronomy at Caltech.
For more information and to reserve your space for Behind the Book, call (626) 395-4652 or visit https://events.caltech.edu/
