{"id":15555,"date":"2017-03-15T23:14:20","date_gmt":"2017-03-15T23:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.golive.clarku.edu\/news\/2017\/03\/15\/sarah-wells-17-perceives-the-poetry-in-physics\/"},"modified":"2025-04-04T14:39:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T18:39:21","slug":"sarah-wells-17-perceives-the-poetry-in-physics","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/news\/2017\/03\/15\/sarah-wells-17-perceives-the-poetry-in-physics\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarah Wells \u201917 perceives the poetry in physics"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

If you’re a student of physics, you might understand the abstract concepts behind Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle of quantum mechanics or Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, which describes gravitation. But if you’re an English major, you might think about the words “uncertainty” or “gravity” in a more poetic sense. They are, after all, words found in Shakespeare’s sonnets.<\/p>\n

That is, unless you’re Sarah Wells ’17, a Clark University student who combines a passion for literature, language and writing with a love of science.<\/p>\n

Wells is exploring those diverse interests in an interdisciplinary honors thesis titled “I Don’t Quite Follow … : An Introduction to Problematic Academic Linguistics,” working with English Professor James Elliott<\/a>. She will be presenting a poster about her research at Clark’s Academic Spree Day<\/a> on April 26.<\/p>\n

“My thesis looks at the ways in which different areas of academia communicate — among themselves and to others,” Wells says. “Having had one foot in the sciences and one foot in the humanities throughout my time at Clark, I’ve noticed some very interesting similarities between the two areas that, I fear, are often disregarded by both sides.”<\/p>\n

She also got the chance to combine her interests through an internship last summer at the Smithsonian Science Education Center<\/a> in Washington, where she worked as a digital science writer. The center has offered her a freelance opportunity this spring and summer.<\/p>\n

“They have provided me with amazing opportunities to gain experience in many different forms of science writing and communicating,” she says, including researching and writing articles for the center’s STEMVisions Blog<\/a> and writing pieces for an elementary and middle school textbook curriculum. Wells’ blog articles have explored everything from “The Beauty and Science of Snowflakes<\/a>” to “Why Do Squirrels Bury Nuts? (and Other Mysteries).”<\/a><\/p>\n

Wells is a testament to interdisciplinary studies. She entered Clark with the idea to study English, but her plans changed after she took “Introduction to Physics” her first semester.<\/p>\n

“Choosing what to study at Clark has, without a doubt, been a personal journey,” says Wells, who comes from Montpelier, Vermont. “I had always enjoyed physics in high school, but after taking the intro course at Clark, I realized that I couldn’t not <\/em>incorporate physics into my studies in some way. I loved the subject too much to abandon it.”<\/p>\n

She credits instructor Louis Colonna-Romano<\/a> for encouraging her to continue studying physics. “When I talked to him about whether my dream of a physics minor was plausible or a pipe dream,” she recalls, “he encouraged me unwaveringly to pursue it, and that decision has made a world of difference.”<\/p>\n

Wells ended up majoring in English<\/a> and minoring in physics<\/a> and computer science<\/a>, with a concentration in computational science<\/a> — something she hopes will someday help her become a science writer and communicator for outlets like Smithsonian Magazine<\/em><\/a> or PBS’s “NOVA.” <\/a> She’s also interested in applying to graduate school.<\/p>\n

“One thing I’ve really appreciated at Clark, and have found within all of the three areas I study, is the dedication of the faculty and the tight-knit community of students that form around them. Professors are always ready and willing for students to come in and have a conversation with them about anything that might be on their minds. That kind of support has been extremely beneficial to me throughout my career at Clark.”<\/p>\n