In the comments to yesterday’s post about framing, Damian offers a long comment that doesn’t actually contradict anything I said, but re-frames it in terms more complimentary to the Dawkins/ Myers side of things. I may deal with some of what he says over there (probably not today, though, as I have a class to… Continue reading The Cost of Not Framing
Category: Policy
The Framing Fracas
I really had intended for Tuesday’s dog pictures to be my only comment on the recent framing debacle (well, Monday’s expertise post was an oblique commentary on it, but nobody got that, which you can tell because the comments were civil and intelligent and interesting to read). But Chris Mooney is making a good-faith effort… Continue reading The Framing Fracas
What Everyone Should Know About Science
Michael Nielsen is planning to attend an “unconference” and is considering possible topics. He quotes one from Eva Amsen: My idea: find 4 or 5 volunteers from different backgrounds to sit on a 20 minute panel and (with audience feedback) make a list of Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Science. Since we have a… Continue reading What Everyone Should Know About Science
Dinner With ΔKE
As mentioned previously, I was invited to discuss physics and politics at one of the local fraternities earlier this week. Oddly, given the primacy of Greek organizations on campus, this is only the fourth time I’ve set foot inside a fraternity or sorority house in seven years. The previous occasions were times when I was… Continue reading Dinner With ΔKE
Earlier Alcohol Prevention?
EurekAlert tossed up a press release from the University of Minnesota yesterday with the provocative title: “U of Minn researchers find primary alcohol prevention programs are needed for ‘tweens’” and the even more eye-popping subtitle “Study recommends that prevention programs occur as early as third grade.” What, you may ask, is the problem this is… Continue reading Earlier Alcohol Prevention?
Notes for a Discussion of Physics and Politics
The local fraternities and sororities hold occasional dinners/ discussions with faculty, to demonstrate that they’re engaged with the intellectual life of the college. One of my students invited me to dinner at the Change in Kinetic Energy fraternity tomorrow night, and I agreed to do a discussion of physics and politics. That’s a vague topic,… Continue reading Notes for a Discussion of Physics and Politics
Dorky Poll: Three Beeeeellion Dollars
Regular commenter Johan Larson writes with a suggested blog topic: The Human Genome Project (yes, you have to pronounce those capitals) cost about $3 billion. If $3 billion were yours to spend on scientific research, how would you spend the money? That’s a great question, and a great topic for a Dorky Poll. I’ll narrow… Continue reading Dorky Poll: Three Beeeeellion Dollars
Science Debate Update
Chris and Sheril have been working tirelessly to make a Presidential Science Debate happen, and there’s been real progress: ScienceDebate2008 is now co-sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Academies, and the Council on Competitiveness. We were looking at venues, and finally settled on an offer from the Philadelphia-based Franklin… Continue reading Science Debate Update
Do Something About Science Funding: Write to Congress
I doubt I need to tell any ScienceBlogs readers that the omnibus budget bill passed in December was a disaster in terms of science funding. There is still a faint hope that something might be done, if Congress can be made to act on a supplemental budget bill to restore some of the lost funding.… Continue reading Do Something About Science Funding: Write to Congress
The Funding Issue
Gordon Watts is mad as hell about funding cuts, and blaming petty partisan politics: As far as I can tell, here is what happened: Congress just about finishes the omnibus spending bill. [Snark: exactly how late was this!?] At the last minute Bush says he will veto it unless it comes at his number. [Snark:… Continue reading The Funding Issue