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Visualizing the invisible: Performing chaos theory

Weitkamp, Emma

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Authors

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Emma Weitkamp Emma.Weitkamp@uwe.ac.uk
Professor of Science Communication



Abstract

Edward Lorenz, a pioneering figure in the field of chaos theory, coined the phrase “butterfly effect” and posed the well-known question “Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” In posing the question, Lorenz sought to highlight the intrinsic difficulty of predicting the long-term behavior of complex systems that are sensitive to initial conditions, for example, the weather and climate; these systems are often referred to as chaotic. Taking Lorenz’s butterfly as a starting point, the author’s science theater project Chaos Cabaret seeks to explore the nuances of chaos theory through performance and music.

Citation

Weitkamp, E. (2021). Visualizing the invisible: Performing chaos theory. Leonardo, 54(3), 289-293. https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_01887

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 16, 2019
Online Publication Date Feb 13, 2020
Publication Date Jun 2, 2021
Deposit Date May 22, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Leonardo
Print ISSN 0024-094X
Publisher Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press (MIT Press)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 54
Issue 3
Pages 289-293
DOI https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_01887
Keywords science theatre, chaos theory, science communication
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/846898
Publisher URL https://www.leonardo.info/
Additional Information Additional Information : This is the authors accepted manuscript. It has been accepted for publication in Leonardo.

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