Science in Science Friction

SCI 215SC – Messaging Intelligent Life The Messaging Intelligent Life project consists of two parts.

1. Construct an artifact to send to outer-space with the goal of contacting and eliciting a response from an intelligent life.

2. Write an approximately 700-word paper describing your artifact and your thinking behind its design.

Artifact Design Parameters Your artifact should follow the design parameters listed below.

 This artifact must be sensorial (meaning it emits sound), tactile, emit an odor, and produce visual cues (static or dynamic, text or moving images, etc.), or it may include a combination of these features.

 The artifact must be portable and weigh less than five pounds.

 The artifact must address how to establish communication as well as deliver a message. o Note: Aliens don’t speak English. Avoid using a language or means of communication

that involve an established knowledge of a language.

 The artifact does not have to be functional. Paper Guidelines Your paper should elaborate on:

 Identification of the assumptions you made about the E.T. and its physiology in order to receive your artifact.

 A description of the message to deliver and how this message is expressed to the E.T.

 A description of the decisions you made on the design of the artifact, providing reasoning behind your choices.

 Discussion of any alternative design choices you considered and why these were ruled out. Before you submit your assignment, check the rubric below to make sure you have addressed all of the grading categories in this assignment. Submission You will submit each part of the assignment separately to the same Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 EST/EDT. (This Dropbox basket is linked to Turnitin.) Please label each file as Part 1 and Part 2. Grading Rubric

Category None Level I Level II Level III

Creativity Artifact resembles something that has been tried before or already exists. (6 points)

Artifact contains some elements of creativity and originality. (8 points)

Artifact is unique. (10 points)

Sensory Experience

Artifact contains a limited sensory experience. (6 points)

Artifact engages multiple senses in typical ways. (8 points)

Artifact contains a substantive and imaginative sensory experience. (10 points)

Identified Assumptions

Assumptions identified in the paper do not pertain to the design of the artifact. (6 points)

Not all of the assumptions are addressed in the design of the artifact. (8 points)

The design of the artifact addresses all assumptions. (10 points)

Message The message is only focused on contact. (6 points)

The message is focused on both contact and eliciting a response, but one of these needs work. (8 points)

The message has strong features to improve ability to contact and achieve a response. (10 points)

Writing The paper includes several grammatical and spelling errors and/or very little organization. (2 points)

The paper includes a few grammatical and spelling errors and/or is somewhat organized but awkward. (5 points)

The paper is excellently written and clear, but it may have some minor or infrequent grammar mistakes. (10 points)

Total ____ / 50 points