We had no feeling of being overseen by the authorities. No government personnel came to observe our teaching. The dean and professors at the university were all very supportive.

However, throughout the five weeks we used only chopsticks to eat our meals. After the teaching assignment I decided to do some traveling. When I got into hotels that used regular silverware I had to get used to it all over again.

They're also teaching me a lesson: to try to go beyond the bounds of what I know and what I think is right. It's a good trick for an old artist to teach a new scientist something.

Machiavelli's teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands at least the profession of good faith.

When they take a look at field trips and teaching science and how kids learn, they will be much better prepared and much more focused. The museum programs and exhibits really are keyed into what they return to in the schools.

These animals are teaching us... about basic aspects of our own physiology.