Course Syllabus

About the Course

Link to PDF version

How do the human skeletal, muscular, and connective tissue really hold the human body together? Can mechanical signals actually influence biochemical signaling in cells? How do engineers at NASA develop structures used in space exploration? How can we improve throwing a baseball? This Bio-physics Honors Colloquium will explore the physics and tensegrity of biological organisms and systems. Join Drs. Jernigan and Drachenberg for an interactive and interdisciplinary foray into biophysics within modern medicine, sports and movement, architectural design, and natural ecosystems. This colloquium will introduce you to some unique ideas through visits with guest lecturers and active experimentation. Then we will work together to apply these underlying principles within your own life and academic discipline. And fear not, a deep knowledge of calculus is not required!

Course number and title:
HON 419.H1 - HCol: The Mechanics of Life

Credit hours:
1

Semester and year:
Fall 2020

Meeting time and place:  
Thursdays 6pm-8:50pm (8/27 to 9/24). For your convenience, here is a link to the ACU campus map.

Prerequisites/Corequisites: 
Admission in the ACU Honors College.  

About the Teacher

Dr. Kendra Jernigan is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science. Her educational background is in agricultural and environmental sciences, so she teaches both general education and upper-level courses in those areas. Her research interests include sustainable agricultural missions, underutilized crops in west Texas, hydroponic vegetable production, and Christian ecotheology. As a result of past medical conditions, she has worked with physical and occupational therapists who use alternative and complementary manual therapies. She developed a keen interest in the biomechanics and biotensegrity of the human body and movement. Her and her husband worship and serve at Highland Church of Christ.

Dr. Jim Drachenberg is an Associate Professor of Engineering and Physics. He teaches courses in engineering physics, classical mechanics, and electricity and magnetism. His research interests surround understanding the basic structures that hold the universe together. He is an active member of the STAR collaboration at Brookhaven National Laboratory including as deputy spokesperson from 2017-2020. His wife is a family physician in Abilene; so the close ties between physics and biology are near and dear to his heart. The Drachenbergs worship and serve with the family at Oldham Lane church of Christ.

Professor:
Dr. Kendra Jernigan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science

Dr. Jim Drachenberg, Associate Professor of Engineering and Physics

Office location:
Dr. Jernigan: Onstead Science Center (OSC) 145C

Dr. Drach: OSC 123A

Phone numbers:
Dr. Jernigan: 325-674-2101

Dr. Drach: 325-674-6150 

Email address:
Dr. Jernigan: kendra.jernigan@acu.edu

Dr. Drach: jld00a@acu.edu

Office hours/Contact expectations: 
Dr. Drach: MTWF 10:00 – 11:00 AM or by appointment. I welcome virtual appointments on Google Meet (Links to an external site.), meeting code: drach_officehours

Dr. Jernigan: M 1pm-3pm; T 10am-11am; W 1pm-3pm; F 9am-11am or by appointment.  We will prioritize virtual meetings during my office hours (Zoom or Google Meet), so as to adhere to current campus health and safety guidelines.  Please also feel free to send me an email or a Canvas message too.

Mission Statements

ACU Mission:
The mission of Abilene Christian University is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

College Mission:
The Honors College exists to serve ACU’s high achieving students by offering curricular and co-curricular opportunities designed to deepen and enrich the educational experiences of ACU Honors students.