About

Dr. Brian Martin

Professor Emeritus, Mathematics & Physics

Biography

Dr. Martin's research interests comprise two broad and overlapping areas. One is in science education with special emphasis on developing digital learning objects (DLOs). The second is in traditional astronomy, focused on the study of close binary systems and cataclysmic variables. His most recent work in scientific visualization (2005-present) is presented first in this curriculum vitae, followed by his research, education, and communication in astronomy.

In 2005, the King’s Centre for Visualization in Science was established and soon became a focal point for his work. Martin works in collaboration with colleagues in such diverse areas as elementary science education, developing DLOs in traditional chemistry and physics curricula, modelling emerging diseases such as West Nile Virus and creating new DLOs to better visualize the complex science of global climate change.


Publications

Book and chapters

  • Ahooja, A., Edwards, B, Levert, R., Martin, B.E., Szojka, M. (2011). PhysicsSource 11: Pearson Investigating Science. Pearson Education Canada, Toronto. Physics Source
  • Martin, B.E. (2009) Ptolemy, Claudius (Ptolemaic System). Pages 181-183 in Campbell, H.A., and H. Looy (Eds), A Science and Religion Primer. Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, MI.
  • Ackroyd, J.E., Anderson, M., Berg, C., Martin, B.E., McGuire, B., Sosnokwski, C., Szojka, M. and Wolfe, E. (2007). Physics. Pearson Education Canada, Toronto.

Articles in scholarly refereed journals (Recent - only 2006 to 2011 listed)

  • Martin, B. and Mahaffy, P. (2011). Using Climate Change to Create Rich Contexts for Physics and Chemistry Education, Alberta Science Education Journal, 42(1) (in press).
  • Gustafson, B., Martin, B. and Mahaffy, P. (2011). Elementary Children’s Shifting Views of Models and the Nature of Matter, Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching (in press).
  • Gustafson, B.J., Mahaffy, P. and Martin, B. (2009). Classroom chemistry: considering small, unseen particles, Alberta Science Education Journal, 40(1) (Sept): 27-32.
  • Martin, B.E. and van Kessel, H. (2009). Using Applets to Teach Modern Physics. Alberta Science Education Journal, 40(1) (Sept): 6-11.

Digital Learning Objects

  • Martin, B. and Mahaffy P. (2011). Visualizing and Understanding the Science of Climate Change. Nine interactive modules for 16-19 year old students, created as an International Year of Chemistry-2011 legacy project. Phase 1 (Modules 1-4) launched at the IYC-2011 opening ceremony, UNESCO Paris, Jan 26, 2011 and Phase 2 at the IYC-2011 closing ceremony in Brussels, Dec. 1, 2011 (www.explainingclimatechange.com). Visualizations created with a team of undergraduate student research collaborators and reviewed by both scientific and science education peers. Under the umbrella of the International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry, this resource results from a partnership of King’s Centre for Visualization in Science with UNESCO, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), and the American Chemical Society (USA).
  • Martin, B. and Mahaffy, P. (2010). Our Climate, Our Change – Using Digital Learning Objects to Present the Complex Science of Global Climate Change, Proceedings, 9th International Conference on Computer Based Learning in Science, Warsaw Poland.
  • Martin, B., Brouwer, W. and Austen, D. (2010). Creating Digital Learning Objects to Teach Abstract Ideas in Modern Physics and Astronomy, Proceedings, 9th International Conference on Computer Based Learning in Science, Warsaw Poland.
  • Martin, B. and P. Mahaffy (2005-2011), Digital Learning Objects in Physics, Chemistry, Elementary Science, and Climate Change Science. Visualizations created with a team of undergraduate student research collaborators and reviewed by peers. Visualizations are presently accessed by over 10,000 unique visits per month from about 90 countries.

Plenary, keynote, or invited scholarly talk (recent - only 2006 to 2011 listed)

  • Martin, B. Global Warnings. Climate Change Symposia Communicating Across the Disciplines, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, May 2011. (invited lecture and workshops)
  • Mahaffy, P. and Martin, B. Changing Climate, Changing Understanding, Boston University, March 11, 2011. (invited departmental seminar)
  • Mahaffy, P. and Martin, B. Changing Climate, Changing Understanding: A New Tool to Integrate Climate Change Science Into the Curriculum, at Chemistry Education in Ethiopia: Today and Tomorrow, February 21, 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (invited opening plenary lecture at Ethiopia’s launch of IYC-2011)
  • Martin, B. and Mahaffy, P. Changing Climate, Changing Understanding: Creating a Public Understanding of Climate Change, Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Jan 13, 2011. (also presented as invited lectures on Dec. 8, 2010 at Alberta Environment, Edmonton, and on Nov. 3, 2010 at the Edmonton Section of the Chemical Institute of Canada)
  • Mahaffy, P., Genuis, K., and Martin, B. Visualizing the Science Underlying Climate Change, UNESCO International Seminar on Climate Change Education, UNESCO Paris, July 27-29, 2009. (invited virtual lecture)
  • Mahaffy, P., Martin, B., et al. Tipping Points: the Chemistry underlying Climate Change, 90th Canadian Society for Chemistry conference, Winnipeg, MB, May 2007. (invited lecture)

Invited talks

  • Mahaffy, P., Martin, B. and Towns, M. Sustaining our Planet Through Engaged and Active Learning in Chemistry, Recipient of ACS-CEI Award for Incorporating Sustainability into the Chemistry Curriculum, 243rd ACS National Meeting, San Diego, March 25-29, 2012. (forthcoming)
  • Towns, M., Simpson, A., Mahaffy, P., Martin, B., Martin-Visscher, L., Kirchhoff, M. and McKenzie, L. General chemistry students' understanding of climate science principles relating to chemistry, Submitted to Research in Chemical Education Symposium, 243rd ACS National Meeting, San Diego, March 25-29, 2012. (forthcoming)
  • Towns, M., Mahaffy, P., Martin, B., Martin-Visscher, L., Kirchhoff, M., Simpson, A. and McKenzie, L. Visualizing the Chemistry of Climate Change, Invited presentation by NSF-Catalyzed Innovations in the Chemistry Curriculum Symposium, 243rd ACS National Meeting, San Diego, March 25-29, 2012. (forthcoming)
  • Mahaffy, P., Martin, B., Towns, M. and McKenzie, L. Meeting Chemistry and Climate Literacy Learning Outcomes in Introductory University Chemistry, ICCE/ECRICE 2012 Conference, Rome, July 15-20, 2012. (forthcoming)