The Most Popular Teachers of the Joint School: Dr Benjamin S. Hanson
| Personal information: Module leader of XJMS1810: Core Physics 1. His field of expertise is computational biophysics, which joins together all areas of fundamental science. His recent research has involved supporting experimental colleagues to understanding mechanisms of blood clotting, protein hydrogel formation and single-polymer behavior. A final year projects supervisor in Leeds, in the areas of biological physics, artificial intelligence in physics and virtual reality teaching.
Favourite Quote:“Journey Before Destination.”
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Section 1: Teaching Experience at the Joint School
It has been a wonderful year since I started to teach in the Joint School. SWJTU is a great university, and the campus is full of kind and motivated people. I am the module leader of XJMS1810: Core Physics 1, where I try to bring my interdisciplinary understanding of science into the classroom. I hope my students leave to module with an appreciation of how truly broad the subject of physics is! While teaching XJMS1810: Core Physics 1 I have been able to see the different learning styles present in students from around the world, which will enable me to enhance the material in years to come. My approach to teaching emphasizes excitement and passion over technology and technique, but going forward, knowing what is available at SWJTU and Leeds, I will be able to synthesize these two methods.
I particularly enjoyed teaching thermodynamics and mechanics. My own area of expertise is in statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, and bringing these together in a new context was very fun. If anyone is interested in exactly what my research looks like,I think this paper should be accessible and understandable by all my students from this year[1].
[1] Hanson, B.S., Head, D.A., & Dougan, L. (2019). The hierarchical emergence of worm-like chain behavior from globular domain polymer chains. Soft matter. 15(43), 8778-8789.
Section 2: Academic and Research Achievements
When I was in my 4th year of university and thinking about the rest of my life, an old lecturer of mine (who is now a dear friend) took 30 minutes out of her life to explain to me the fundamental principles of biology, but from a physics perspective. From that one conversation, I was hooked, and she became my PhD supervisor. During my PhD I studied the physical behaviour of the molecular motor dynein, which utilizes a combination of diffusion, local electrostatics and the very mechanics learned in Core Physics 1 to “walk” around the cell. It’s not very efficient, but there enough of these motors that on average, they get to where they need to be! Biology is a beautiful application of physics, and the more I learn about it, the more in awe I am of science.
Simulations I did for my PhD of the molecular motor dynein. We created a molecular structure, turned it into a simpler structure, then did some finite element analysis methods on them.
I still work in biophysics and I’m currently designing a new computational framework to unify simulation of large- and small-scale biological objects, but I’m also very interested in the philosophy of physics. I am doing some work (and applying for some money!) to investigate the overlap between how an AI encodes “knowledge” and how theoretical physics generates “knowledge”, in order that we humans can better work with the new tools we have designed.
Simulations of hierarchical objects with biological applications. a) shows polymers with different flexibilities[1], and b) shows a simulation of a colloidal hydrogel, which has a fractal structure.
Section 3: Reflections on the Joint School and Life in Chengdu
I’m a very solitary person by nature, and so spending time in Chengdu has been a big culture shock for me! I’ve found it exhilarating, but very welcoming. I have a deep respect for the history of all people around the world, and I think this, together with Chengdu’s modernized outlook, has really helped me to fit in while I’ve been here. I especially thank the students for being welcoming and giving me the time to adjust. I thank colleagues as well. They took me for hotpot!
In my time outside of work, I have tried to see everything Chengdu has to offer! Of course I went to see the pandas:
But I also went to other areas such as People’s Park, many temples, and Leshan to see the Giant Buddha:
I write poetry in my spare time, so my favourite park was Wangjianglou. A temple was built here to commemorate Xue Tao. I read some of her poetry (translated in English) and it was beautiful! Here I sat and read, wrote, created lectures for my course while drinking Jasmine (Flower) Tea and watching people dance in front of the temple building. It was very peaceful.
Most importantly for me, I went to Jiuzhaigou for two days. That was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life, and I am happiest when I am near water and mountains. The combination of natural beauty and respect, protection and restoration for the natural world was deeply inspiring to me.
I would love to come to Chengdu again, and I encourage you all to visit the United Kingdom if you can. Leeds is a small city surrounded by peaceful areas in the Yorkshire Dales, but also, London is a very wonderful city. York (near Leeds) and Edinburgh (in Scotland), also have much history!
My Message to Students: Whatever you choose to do with your life, make sure you are kind, and make sure you are happy.  |
Editor：TSO
Reviewer：Jiuwen JIANG, Tao HUANG, Yujia LU
