Joan Slonczewski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joan Lyn Slonczewski
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Slonczewski (far left) with students in 2022
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| Born | August 14, 1956 Hyde Park, New York, U.S.
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| Education | Bryn Mawr College (AB) Yale University (PhD) University of Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Microbiology professor Science fiction author |
| Employer | Kenyon College |
| Known for | A Door into Ocean |
Joan Lyn Slonczewski (born August 14, 1956) is an American scientist and author. She is a microbiologist (someone who studies tiny living things like bacteria) at Kenyon College. She is also a science fiction writer. Her books often combine ideas about biology and space travel.
Slonczewski's books have won a major award, the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, two times. She won for A Door into Ocean (1987) and The Highest Frontier (2011). She also helps write a textbook called Microbiology: An Evolving Science. This book helps college students learn about microbiology.
Contents
About Joan Slonczewski
Joan Slonczewski was born on August 14, 1956. Her hometown was Hyde Park, New York. She grew up in Katonah, New York.
Education and Teaching
Slonczewski studied biology at Bryn Mawr College. She earned her first degree there in 1977. Later, she earned a PhD from Yale University in 1982. A PhD is a very high academic degree. She then did more research at the University of Pennsylvania.
Since 1984, Slonczewski has taught at Kenyon College. She has also spent time doing research at other universities. These include Princeton University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Research in Microbiology
Slonczewski's science research focuses on how bacteria react to changes in their environment. Specifically, she studies how Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis bacteria handle changes in pH. pH measures how acidic or basic something is. She uses genetic methods in her research. This means she studies the genes of these bacteria.
She teaches both biology classes and science fiction writing classes. From 1996 to 2008, she received money from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She used this money to make science classes better for college students. She also used it to create summer science programs. These programs helped students from diverse backgrounds.
Slonczewski is a member of the Quakers. The Quakers are a religious group known for promoting peace. Ideas from the Quaker faith often appear in her novels.
Her Science Fiction Books
Joan Slonczewski's novels often mix exciting stories with real science. They also explore important social ideas.
A Door into Ocean
Her 1986 novel, A Door into Ocean, won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. This book shows her deep understanding of genetics and how ecosystems work. It also shares her beliefs in pacifism (being against war) and feminism (equal rights for women).
The story takes place on a planet completely covered by water. This planet is home to a group of women. These women are skilled at genetic engineering. This means they can change living things at a genetic level. Daughters of Elysium (1993), The Children Star (1998), and Brain Plague (2000) are other books that continue these themes.
The Children Star was first published in parts in Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazine. This magazine is famous for publishing "hard science fiction." Hard science fiction means stories that are very accurate scientifically.
Brain Plague
Brain Plague (2000) tells a story about a world where intelligent microbes live inside human brains. These tiny aliens can do both good and bad things. They change and grow, much like helpful bacteria in our bodies or harmful ones like HIV.
The book also explores a future where genetic engineering and nanotechnology are very advanced. Nanotechnology involves working with extremely tiny particles. These technologies can do amazing things, like shaping our bodies or building huge structures.
Slonczewski once shared a story about her book Brain Plague. Her students were discussing if the book was "liberal" or "conservative." One student thought it was conservative because characters were married. Another student disagreed, pointing out that many marriages in the book were between people of the same gender, and some even included robots!
The Highest Frontier
The Highest Frontier (2011) is a "coming of age" story. It follows Jennifer Ramos Kennedy during her first year of college. The year is 2108, and Jenny attends Frontera College. This college is located in a space habitat, a kind of city in space.
On Earth, human actions have caused big environmental problems. These problems are blamed on "ultraphytes," which are strange plant-animals from outer space. Some groups believe space habitats are the answer. However, these space cities can only hold a small number of people. The political system is stuck and cannot agree on solutions. The Highest Frontier explores political, social, and environmental issues.
Awards and Recognition
- Robert Tomsich Award, for excellent research in science, Kenyon College, 2001.
- Silver Medalist, National Professor of the Year program, 1989.
- John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, for A Door into Ocean, 1987.
- John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, for The Highest Frontier, 2012.
