NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Award winning author of children's books Chris Van Allsburg joined NASA engineer Jennifer Keyes, Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate, as the celebrity guest of NASA's Digital Learning Network videoconferences at Langley Research Center on Nov. 16. The conferences were part of a daylong event that included a luncheon and book signing with Center employees, as well as a Center tour.

Image Left: Author of children's books Chris Van Allsburg (right) and NASA engineer Jennifer Keyes (center) speak with Digital Learning Network host Rachael Manzer during a live videoconference on Nov. 16 at Langley Research Center. Photo by Jeff Caplan.

During the videoconferences students from as far away as Alaska were allowed to ask both Van Allsburg and Keyes questions about science or about Van Allsburg's book "Zathura," which was recently made into a major motion picture. Other books by Van Allsburg include "The Polar Express" and "Jumanji," both acclaimed for their imaginative subject matter.

"Scientific investigation is really a product of imagination, the same way artistic achievement is," said Van Allsburg. "I think most scientists who've become serious about their science understand that that's true too."

Van Allsburg came to Langley at the inviation of Bob Starr, manager of NASA's Digital Learning Network. Starr suggested that both art and science are a series of investigations involving the imagination.

"Bringing a NASA scientist and well-known author/artist together to discuss the role imagination plays in exploration was the original goal of this project," said Robert Starr, Office of Communication and Education, Program Manager for the DLN. Using NASA's Digital Learning Network to have students actually meet and interact with our guests in real time, served to heighten the instructional effectiveness of this technology." When talking with children and students, Van Allsburg encourages them to ask the same question that NASA asks everyday: "What if…?"

"I think sometimes the hard part is figuring out which is the next 'what if' you need to answer," said Langley engineer Jennifer Keyes.

The videoconferences brought questions from elementary and middle school students from Texas, Virginia, Mississippi, Florida, Idaho, California, Alaska, Wisconsin, Illinois and North Carolina. Both scientist and author believed that speaking with the students was a success.

"The students are sitting there still. They aren't antsying about in their chairs, or tapping their fingers or even talking to the kid next to them," said Keyes. "Some of those classrooms are packed, and they're all just sitting there staring at the screen."

Van Allsburg agreed, "If you can get kids that are ten years old to start writing science fiction, then that would be an accomplishment."

"Zathura" is Van Allsburg's fifteenth book and the third to be made into a major motion picture. For more information on "Zathura" or Chris Van Allsburg, visit www.zathura.net.

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