BOB FRIEDHOFFER 

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Maryland 20740-3844 (301) 209-3200

Brian B. Schwartz

Associate Executive Officer    

 

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I am very pleased to recognize the very valuable contributions Mr. Bob Friedhoffer is making to help increase the interest and competence of young students in science.

 Mr. Friedhoffer is a very unusual entertainer/magician/educator. He understands how to capture the interest of young people for the purpose of expanding their curiosity. He also has a keen understanding of the laws of physics and how magic makes use of these scientific principles. Most importantly, he motivates the audience to want to understand more.

 I’ve had the opportunity to work with Mr. Friedhoffer in an education/learning environment at Brooklyn College where I am a professor in the Department of Physics. I’ve asked him to meet with a special class of junior high school teachers of sciences and of physical education entitled  “The Science of Sports”.  With these teachers, he demonstrated science and “magic” principles related to concepts of force and motion which the teachers could use for hands on” classroom demonstrations of science. He chose very simple ideas, using such concepts as how to deflect forces or make use of air pressure. In many respects, the use of magic and science empowered the teachers with both interesting subject matter and exciting ways to motivate their students to learn in science.

 Mr. Friedhoffer is nationally recognized as a magician, and has authored many books on magic and science. Often magicians try to mystify their audience and leave almost everything unexplained Mr. Friedhoffer uses magic to capture the students imagination, but then shows them the basic principles behind the magic and how they can use these principles for similar demonstrations before parents and

 In one case, one of our teachers and her class, using the magic learned in the course, were able to astound their school principal who was visiting their classroom. The principal was unable to force apart the clasp hands of a small young student even though the principal was much stronger than the child. The young student was proud to explain the magic (science) of her strength to the principal.

 It is a pleasure to work with Mr. Friedhoffer. He is always cooperative, reliable and is able to tailor his magic and science to fit the situation, be it a class of young students or adults. He is an excellent communicator arid understands his subject very well. I recommend him most highly in any situation where both learning and entertainment is the goal. He is a solid scientist and an excellent magician with a good sense of humor.

 Very truly yours,

  

Brian B. Schwartz

Associate Executive Officer, APS

Brooklyn College of The City University of New York

 

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Technoramastrasse 1           Tel. +41 (0)52 244 08 44                info@technorama.ch

CH-8404 Winterthur              Fax +41 (0)52 244 08 45                www.technorama.ch

Professor  Bob Friedhoffer
The Graduate Center
City University of New York
365 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10016
USA

 Dear Bob

Your presentations at TECHNORAMA were a wonderful addition to our regular

programs. The manner in which you explain science turning it into a theatre piece,

using magic as an analog, is delightful, compelling, educational and entertaining.

Your demonstrations received kudos from many of our visitors and were especially the highlight

of our major annual event FORUM on October 20, 2000, a gathering of VIP's

from business, politics, art and education.

As much as I would like to keep your program as a TECHNORAMA secret, I am more

than pleased to recommend your presentations to the science centers of the world, not

only as an explainer/presenter but also as a trainer of museum staff explainers.

We look forward to having you back in a few years time.

With very best wishes,

 TECHNORAMA

Remo Besio

Executive Director