Shawn Carlson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shawn Carlson
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Dr. Shawn in his LabRats Uniform
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Physicist, science writer, and STEM educator |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Known for | Society for Amateur Scientists, LabRats |
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Works
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"The Amateur Scientist" |
| Awards | MacArthur Fellowship |
Shawn Carlson (born in 1960) is an American physicist, a science writer, and a STEM educator. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. He is known for helping people learn about science in fun and hands-on ways.
Contents
Shawn Carlson's Education
Shawn Carlson went to the University of California, Berkeley. He earned two degrees there in 1981. These were in Applied Mathematics and Physics.
Later, he studied at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He received his master's degree in physics in 1983. In 1989, he earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics.
Shawn Carlson's Career
Testing Astrology
When Shawn Carlson was in college, he did an interesting experiment. He wanted to test if astrology really worked. Astrology is the idea that the positions of stars and planets affect people's lives.
He set up a special test called a double-blind experiment. This means neither the astrologers nor the people being tested knew who was who. Twenty-eight skilled astrologers took part. They tried to match people's birth charts to their personality descriptions.
The personality descriptions came from a well-known test called the California Psychological Inventory. The astrologers agreed this was a fair way to test their skills. They also helped decide what part of astrology to test.
The results were published in a science magazine called Nature in 1985. The study showed that astrologers could not match the charts to personalities better than just guessing. Even when they felt sure, they were not more accurate. Shawn Carlson concluded that the test showed astrology was not true.
Helping Amateur Scientists
In 1994, Shawn Carlson started the Society for Amateur Scientists. This group helps people who love science do their own experiments. He also wrote for several science magazines.
From 1995 to 2001, he wrote a column called "The Amateur Scientist" for Scientific American. He also wrote for Make magazine.
In 2010, he created the LabRats Science Education Program. This program organizes fun science activities for kids and teens. It encourages them to become amateur scientists. Shawn Carlson is currently the leader of this organization.
Awards and Honors
- 1999 MacArthur Fellowship
Selected Works
