KT Lowe

KT Lowe

The Practical World of Optical Illusions

The Practical World of Optical Illusions

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A picture may be worth a thousand words, but the perception of the viewer matters.  Optical illusions focus on the science of optics, which is concerned with both physical and psychological perceptions of light.  Far from being just a game or a party trick, however, optical illusions play an important role in a number of professional fields, including dentistry, entertainment and computer programming and security. Let’s start with false teeth.  Historically, dentures have been made of a variety of materials, such as bone, metal, porcelain and other people’s teeth.  Today, however, many dental implants, bridges and other devices are made of resin, a sturdy substance which can be colored and molded to fit the needs of the patient.  However, commercially … Continued
Digital Gardening: Instruction Librarian KT Lowe shares her first-person perspective

Digital Gardening: Instruction Librarian KT Lowe shares her first-person perspective

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In December 2021, I was fortunate to be a member of the inaugural class of Digital Gardening Faculty Fellows at Indiana University. Thirty-five faculty members from throughout the IU system were selected to participate in the Digital Gardening Initiative, which aims to pull together faculty from diverse IU institutions and backgrounds to help them develop digital literacy pedagogy. The Fellowship consisted of a series of required workshops and meetings every two weeks, plus additional workshops and speakers that were voluntary.  The required workshops covered topics such as Adobe Express and the Information Literacy Online Toolkit, while voluntary sessions brought in both student and professional presenters on topics such as Minecraft for Education. All IU East faculty, staff and students  have … Continued
Women in Protest Music

Women in Protest Music

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Women have played an integral role in American protest for the last 100 years, from raising their voices for equality to securing rights for themselves and others.  While the earliest women’s protest songs were written primarily by men, women have taken over as songwriters and have produced some of the most important protest music in American recorded history. Here is a profile of six of these remarkable performers, who come from a variety of backgrounds, religions and regions of the country.  United Mine Songwriters: Florence Reece and Aunt Molly Jackson Mining has always been dangerous work, made even more so by a lack of safety controls and, more importantly, dismal pay (sometimes not in cash but scrip, which undercut miners’ … Continued
Fact-checking in a time of crisis

Fact-checking in a time of crisis

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When major world events occur, facts can become harder to come by.  In a media climate where 53% of Americans get their news from social media, it is imperative that we as a society learn how to find good quality information when international conflicts can interrupt the flow of news coverage.  Here are some tips on how to stay informed. Double check images. Images are harder to check than text – they require extra effort to decipher their meaning and accuracy, and many people are more willing to believe fake news when there is a visual component.  Fake news sites will capitalize on fear and outrage by reusing images from older events or other locations that are unrelated to the … Continued
Black Contemporary Science Fiction

Black Contemporary Science Fiction

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In the wake of Octavia Butler’s groundbreaking work in the 1970s, including the Patternfinder series and Kindred, Black science fiction has taken on social justice, culture and history to create one of the freshest and most exciting art forms in contemporary literature.  In this blog, we’ll explore some of the biggest names in the field, covering everything from magical realism to postapocalyptic fiction. Nnedi Okorafor Dr. Okorafor was born in Cincinnati to parents of Nigerian descent,and grew up in Illinois.  Her writing career began with tragedy when an operation for scoliosis left her paralyzed from the waist down.  While recovering, a friend loaned her a copy of the Isaac Asimov classic I, Robot, which Okorafor marked up with notations in … Continued