The Scientific Advent Calendar and E=mc2
Just because you're a student now doesn't mean advent calendars are not worthy of serious thought or investigation. You know, E=mc2? Or to put it another way, Energy = masses of chocolate squares! Now that's an equation worthy of Einstein himself. Bet he would have loved it, too!
In fact, talking of Einstein and other famous scientists, what about a scientific advent calendar – no, not a scientific advent calculator. Listen up. Let's get serious here. Anyway, all the chocolate buttons would melt, wouldn't they?
Advent calendars are tricky little gizmos. They kind of lie there on the window sill, or under the Christmas tree, or on the bed, and don't do much of anything. Yet, somehow, they seem to make their presence felt, encroach on day-to-day student activities and studies, get in the way of pure scientific thought and genius.
Don't they just. But don't you love them nonetheless. Yes, it's the thought of that smooth piece of delicious chocolate just lying there, motionless, behind each little window or door ready and waiting for you to prise open. The reward-driven advent calendar. Temptation on a daily basis.
But wait a moment. Let's turn this feedback loop to our advantage. Open all the doors and windows and get rid of all that delicious chocolate. It just gets in the way of our quest for learning and knowledge. Right? So scoff the lot. We don't need oodles of delicious chocolate preventing us creating the world's first scientific advent calendar. It'll be a triumph for students, everywhere.
Now grab the nearest pen and a sheet of A4 paper. Cut the paper into small strips. We'll need 24 of them, one for each day leading up to Christmas. Now, using your favourite search engine, find the name of a scientist, author, or historical figure or famous event for December 1, then December 2, and so on, all the way up to Christmas Eve.
For example, December 1, 1821 saw the first constitution of Costa Rica issued. Simply stunning. An excellent piece of really useful information on which to ponder and meditate upon. December 2, 1901 and Gillette patents the first disposable razor. Cutting edge, or what. December 3, 1834 saw the first US dental society organized in New York. Wow! December 4, 1812 and Peter Gaillard of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, patents a horse-drawn mower. You can almost see the grass growing.
Do you get the idea? Can't you just feel the excitement of it all? December 5, 1894 and Philip K. Wrigley, of Wrigley chewing gum fame, was born. Now you know who to thank for all the gooey mess sticking to pavements up and down the land. December 6, 1876 and the first crematorium in the United States begins operations in Washington, Pennsylvania. Dead interesting.
Now, when you've found 24 amazing facts, figures or historical events, write each one on a strip of paper, scrunch into a little ball and place behind the appropriate window or door and fill up the empty advent calendar with your wonderful and new-found knowledge! Voilà, the first scientific advent calendar.
Psst... It's up to you whether you tell your student mates about this or not. Maybe it's not quite perfected yet? Thought so. Better grab another advent calendar and repeat!
