Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine

The University of Redlands, Armacost Library, is pleased to announce we will be hosting a traveling exhibition developed and produced by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, titled Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine. Armacost Library will host the exhibition from February 13th - March 26th and is open to the public during library hours.

Several exciting events will be held throughout the duration of the exhibit. This blog post will be updated frequently to address any changes in the event schedule. Events are as follows:

Opening Speaker and Reception, Heather King, PhD
Tuesday, February 15th, 6:00 – 7:45 p.m. in Armacost Library’s Redlands Room, 3rd floor of the Library
Heather King, Associate Professor of English at the University of Redlands, learned much of what she knows about Harry Potter through a seminar on the series she was able to co-teach with a student. Using the (perhaps) unlikely framework of economic structures, she will endeavor to tease out how the redoubtable Weasley twins provide insight into shifting paradigms of individual development and agency from the Renaissance to the present in her talk, “Harry Potter and the Invisible Hand.” The reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by Heather King at 7:00 p.m.

Environmental Learning Center and Rooftop Garden Tour
Thursday, February 17th, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Highland Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center
Strange creatures, beasts, and flora are common elements in J. K. Rowling's masterpiece. On a tour of the Environmental Learning Center, view a collection of 200 animals from 40 different species! Explore the scents of local plants as you wander about a rooftop garden...

Frugal Frigate, a Children's Bookstore
Thursday, March 3rd, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., outside the Armacost Library
Now that you've finished the Harry Potter series, what will you read next? The Frugal Frigate, a Redlands community bookstore for children, will be visiting campus to recommend books for your reading pleasure. Great works of fantasy with similar Potter elements will be available for purchase.

The Magic of Chemistry, Teri Longin, PhD
Wednesday, March 9th, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Gregory Hall, Room 272
Chemistry developed out of the alchemist movement mentioned in the Harry Potter series and deals with the mysterious changes undergone by matter. Dr. Teri Longin, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Redlands, will demonstrate how chemical reactions and temperature can change the colors of certain liquids and will also teach the audience how to create slime!

Frugal Frigate, a Children's Bookstore
Thursday, March 10th, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., outside the Armacost Library
Frugal Frigate will be joining the University of Redlands one more time to recommend exciting fantasy titles!

Botany and Herbology
Thursday, March 17th, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Highland Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center
The Master Gardeners will discuss native plants as well as the usefulness of certain herbs in the pleasant atmosphere of the library's rooftop garden.

Observing Celestial Objects, Tyler Nordgren, PhD
Tuesday, March 22nd, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m., outside between Gregory and Lewis Halls
Astronomy is an ancient discipline studied by many including students at Hogwarts. J.K. Rowling was inspired to name several of her characters after stars and galaxies, such as Draco, Sirius, Bellatrix and Andromeda. In the exhibit’s last event, Dr. Tyler Nordgren, Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Redlands, will point telescopes to these distant objects.