Book Set Helps Explain the Science Behind the Five Senses
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07/01/2024
By Brooke Coupal
Walking through a park, you stumble upon a lilac bush. You take in its vibrant purple color, touch its velvety petals and breathe in its fragrant scent. You hear a bee flying nearby before it drinks the flower鈥檚 sweet nectar. A smile stretches across your face.
People and animals perceive the world around them through sight, sound, touch, smell and taste, but how do the five senses work?聽Kennedy College of Sciences Dean Noureddine Melikechi聽breaks down the science behind the five senses in his new children鈥檚 books, 鈥溾�� and the 鈥溾�� set.
Image by Brooke Coupal
鈥淎t a young age, kids are developing their curiosity and trying to understand the world around them,鈥� says Melikechi, an expert in optical physics. 鈥淎s scientists, it is our responsibility to teach the next generation.鈥�
Through kid-friendly explanations, 鈥淗ow Do You See the World?鈥� delves into how eyes function as well as a variety of eye conditions, including astigmatism, colorblindness and glaucoma.
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The book 鈥渃ultivates an appreciation for the gift of sight and fosters empathy for those who navigate the world with different visual perspectives,鈥� optometrist Erica Meltzer wrote in a review of the book, which came out in May and is targeted toward children ages 7 to 10.
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Ingrid Hess, an associate professor in the聽Department of Art & Design, illustrated 鈥淥ur Five Senses鈥� using cut paper.
鈥淜ids鈥� books are a wonderful vehicle for getting all kinds of information to children,鈥� says Hess, an accomplished children鈥檚 book writer and illustrator. 鈥淚 want these books to awaken children鈥檚 curiosity in both art and science.鈥�
Melikechi echoed that sentiment.
鈥淲ith this collaboration between science and art, I hope kids get more curious and dig further,鈥� he says.
