Interactive Activities Inspired by Physics Observations and Research conducted by Historical Figures while Enduring Imprisonment, Racism, Sexism

Physics happens wherever we are. Physics goes on in: light and dark, motion and stability, breaking and making materials. At any place and time, there’s something physical to observe, interact with, and consider. This poster depicts activities trialed by physics teachers at MIT Edgerton Center during the 2025 Spring NES AAPT meeting. These open-ended activities are inspired by physical observations and research expressed in writings by historical figures who concurrently endured imprisonment, racism, and/or sexism. The poster lists materials used in the activities, and illustrates what teachers did with them. Most materials were everyday: toilet paper tubes; string; stones; weight; lifesaver candies; light; prism; dark room. Teacher participants were invited to read aloud from a handout, enact, respond to, recreate, reflect on… physical observations related in prison memoirs and research excerpts. This handout will be provided at the poster session. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) wrote on motion while imprisoned. Nobel Laureates who wrote under solitary confinement include: Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852-1934) Spain on camera obscura; Wole Soyinka (1934-) Nigeria invented mobiles; Narges Muḥammadī (1972-) Iran questions time. African American physicist Edward Bouchet (1852-1918) measured refraction in glass; US physicist Frances Wick (1875-1941) researched triboluminescence. Exploring these observations opens us to experience how humanity and history interrelate with learning physics.