Adam Johnston Erik Stern

Adam Johnston and Erik Stern are professors at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and known for their ground-breaking interdisciplinary work in education. Erik Stern co-directs an in- ternationally touring dance company that has pioneered con- nections between dance and mathematics. He is a designated teaching artist with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners  in  Education  Program,  and  has  co-authored  the book Math Dance with Dr. Schaffer and Mr. Stern. Adam John- ston is a physics professor with a focus in science education. He works with teachers and students throughout the state to bring science into classrooms and everyday life, earning him awards from the Utah Science Teachers Association and the Governor’s Science and Technology Medal.
Science   and   the   Arts   are   different,   right?   In   Forces   at Play, Adam and Erik, along with three accomplished dancers, take  the  audience  on  a  whimsical,  accessible,  and  visually packed  ride  into the  surprising  and  valuable  connections  be- tween dance and physics. Audience members become experi- menters too. The result of three years of collaboration, Adam and Erik have performed their work for thousands of students and educators (3rd grade through college), as well as general audiences. The accompanying workshops have been presented nationally for science and dance conferences. Participants expe- rience easy to use activities that build on the shows’ concepts and connect to learning standards and reform efforts in both science  and  arts  education.  Experience  how  these  two  disci- plines of study can draw on our human potential to reinforce one another.