Majors Are a Choice, Not an Obligation

ZapperZ links to an interview with David Saltzberg about careers for students with an undergraduate degree in physics. As is often the case, ZapperZ proclaims himself “disappointed” with things that I think are about right. In particular, he writes: [W]hen asked on why one should major in physics, is the best that can be answered… Continue reading Majors Are a Choice, Not an Obligation

PNAS: Julie Myers-Irvin, Scientist Administrator

(On July 16, 2009, I asked for volunteers with science degrees and non-academic jobs who would be willing to be interviewed about their careers paths, with the goal of providing young scientists with more information about career options beyond the pursuit of a tenure-track faculty job that is too often assumed as a default. This… Continue reading PNAS: Julie Myers-Irvin, Scientist Administrator

PNAS: Ethan Allen, Education Program Manager

(On July 16, 2009, I asked for volunteers with science degrees and non-academic jobs who would be willing to be interviewed about their careers paths, with the goal of providing young scientists with more information about career options beyond the pursuit of a tenure-track faculty job that is too often assumed as a default. This… Continue reading PNAS: Ethan Allen, Education Program Manager

PNAS: Joel Boyce, High School Teacher

(On July 16, 2009, I asked for volunteers with science degrees and non-academic jobs who would be willing to be interviewed about their careers paths, with the goal of providing young scientists with more information about career options beyond the pursuit of a tenure-track faculty job that is too often assumed as a default. This… Continue reading PNAS: Joel Boyce, High School Teacher

PNAS: James Annan, Climate Change Researcher

(On July 16, 2009, I asked for volunteers with science degrees and non-academic jobs who would be willing to be interviewed about their careers paths, with the goal of providing young scientists with more information about career options beyond the pursuit of a tenure-track faculty job that is too often assumed as a default. This… Continue reading PNAS: James Annan, Climate Change Researcher

Worldcon Miscellany

The “Philosophy of Science” panel I moderated was surprisingly well-attended, and got some decent discussion going. Kate took notes, at least for a while, and I’ll post a link if she writes it up on LiveJournal. The “Knights who Say Fuck” panel was in a very remote room that was much too small to contain… Continue reading Worldcon Miscellany

Worldcon Talk: How to Effectively Talk About Science to Non-Scientists

My talk was Friday morning at 10am, on the title given above. This wasn’t my choice– when I volunteered to be on programming, I said some general areas that I’d be willing to talk about, and left it at that. Somebody else made up the title and description for the talk, which made it very… Continue reading Worldcon Talk: How to Effectively Talk About Science to Non-Scientists

PNAS: Alric, Veterinary Pathologist

(On July 16, 2009, I asked for volunteers with science degrees and non-academic jobs who would be willing to be interviewed about their careers paths, with the goal of providing young scientists with more information about career options beyond the pursuit of a tenure-track faculty job that is too often assumed as a default. This… Continue reading PNAS: Alric, Veterinary Pathologist

PNAS: Raymond Wagner, Systems Engineer

(On July 16, 2009, I asked for volunteers with science degrees and non-academic jobs who would be willing to be interviewed about their careers paths, with the goal of providing young scientists with more information about career options beyond the pursuit of a tenure-track faculty job that is too often assumed as a default. This… Continue reading PNAS: Raymond Wagner, Systems Engineer

PNAS: David Syzdek, Wildlife Biologist

(On July 16, 2009, I asked for volunteers with science degrees and non-academic jobs who would be willing to be interviewed about their careers paths, with the goal of providing young scientists with more information about career options beyond the pursuit of a tenure-track faculty job that is too often assumed as a default. This… Continue reading PNAS: David Syzdek, Wildlife Biologist