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Ed Dyer
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Ed Dyer's Discussions
The State of Science Education in the US
1 Reply
Started this discussion. Last reply by Andrew Dutton Feb 10.
Michio Kaku interview on 1/17/09 Skeptics Guide Podcast
3 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jason Jan 28.
Book selected for discussion should contain adequate footnotes and references.
2 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by PaulaT Jan 29.
Ed Dyer's Page
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In the Chapter 4, Blowing In The Wind, page 88, second paragraph, Walker writes:
"Other bacteria hitch a ride on clouds, and may even choose their own drop-off point by making ice crystals that induce the clouds to form rain."
Does any one know ...
Part II of Caltech news release:
"If true, the mechanism also would potentially occur on any extrasolar planet with an atmosphere and a biosphere.
"Hopefully, in the future we will not only detect earth-like planets around other stars but learn ...
Some atmosphere related research from Caltech, article dated 6/11/09.
"Caltech Scientists Predict Greater Longevity for Planets with Life"
From the news release:
http://mr.caltech.edu/press_releases/13266
PASADENA, Calif.- Roughly a billion ye...
May/June Book of the "Month" at Wherever you are...
May 13, 2009 at 6pm to June 12, 2009 at 7pm
This month we are reading "An Ocean of Air: Why the Wind Blows and Other Mysteries of the Atmosphere
" by Gabrielle Walker.
Discuss your thoughts in the forum as you read!
The star of the 2008 Penn Reading Project and everyone's favorite tetrapod, Tiktaalik now has his own music video! Music by the Indoorfins:www.myspace.com/t...
Chat with Neil Shubin! at twisbookclub.ning.com chat space
April 3, 2009 from 1pm to 2pm
Chat live with Neil Shubin, paleontologist and author of Your Inner Fish, this Friday, April 3rd at 1pm PT / 3pm CT / 4pm ET.
Come to our chat space at the appointed time, and ask any questions that might have come to you while reading You Inner ...
Book of the Month: Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin at Wherever you are...
February 13, 2009 to March 13, 2009
If you haven't already gotten your copy, you can purchase it online here:
Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body (Vintage)
Comment Wall (6 comments)
- At 2:03pm on February 9, 2009,
Ed Dyer said…
- Thanks for the response Mike.
I had never thought of an art project as problem solving but I can see the the connection now.
Science is about changing the world we live in. Art can be said to be about changing how people view this world. Much of art expresses a social conscious, which I can clearly see in your work.
Many modern artiest use recycled material, like you did. Even the old masters reused their canvas.
Another connection between art and science is that the geniuses of both are individuals who see the world differently from everyone else. Being at least little "crazy" may be a requirement in both fields.
Of course any time you get to use a blow torch, in science or art, has got to make the project more fun.
Sadly any who knows me has learned not to let me any where near either a blow torch or a Busen Burner.
- At 7:56am on February 9, 2009,
Stebbins said… - Hi Ed,
Yes, that is my work. Later this year I might put up a web page with all of my sculptures, but for now it exists in the ether.
For me, sculpture is both a creative activity and a problem solving activity. My work tends to provide serious social commentary with a humorous twist. When I was a working scientist I always had some kind of art project going as well. Often I used scientific reagents and equipment. So, for me, the two are not very different. I approach art the way I approached science, as a problem solving activity that gives me a creative release. As you can imagine, science policy work is not exactly the most creative venture. Does that answer your question?
Cheers,
Mike
- At 9:19am on February 6, 2009,
Stebbins said…
- Ed,
Yes, I was on the Obama transition team. The rumors about the how the Clinton team left the WH were really exaggerated and ultimately found to be unsubstantiated. I know a couple stories of people leaving who were unhappy, but have not heard any stories of former Bush Administration staff doing anything weird. This is not to say that some colorful folk didn't work there and leave notes etc, I just don't know of any.
- At 11:49am on February 5, 2009,
Ed Dyer said…
- You are right to " think it is damaging to the scientific endeavor to use worst case scenarios to stymie science."
This technology, pre-screening embryos, holds so much promise it should be developed. In the public forum it's potential benefits should be emphasized. Because we are "monkeying" around :) with evolution we also must have adequate safeguards in place for when it is abused, which I have no doubt it will be.
You are also right that I am overly cautious when it comes to some scientific issues. I am a product of the 1950's. I was taught that all you scientist were made "mad". I have learned this is true :) but no longer view it as a bad thing.
I have "evolved" from a Conservative Republican into a more Liberal Democrat so there is still hope for me. :)
- At 7:01am on February 5, 2009,
Stebbins said…
- Ed,
Fair enough. Once the genie is out of the bottle, you most definitely can't put it back in (see nuclear fission). On the other hand, let's look at this from a historic perspective. What technologies have scientists developed and released for medical use should not have been? You are right to be cautious, but I think it is damaging to the scientific endeavor to use worst case scenarios to stymie science. The good thing is that we almost always have plenty of notice in the scientific literature to warn against misuse. In other words, the genie doesn't usually pop out of the bottle, it leaks slowly as science advances. Time will tell.
- At 11:42am on February 4, 2009,
Stebbins said…
- Thank you for your comment, Ed. While I understand your concern, I think you might have watched one too many X-man movies. Sure, as technology advances and spreads, the opportunity to misuse it increases. However, the same arguments have been made for a very long time with few real instances of misuse. In those cases the individuals involved are usually up to their ears in other nefarious and far more sinister activities. ie the Nazi's were promoting positive eugenics to create a master race, but this was far from their worst offense.
That aside, when there is an indication that science could be misused, it is the scientific community who usually recognizes it first. Today, you see that in areas like synthetic biology where it was the scientists who asked the government to take a closer look at the field. Does that address your concerns?
Regards,
Mike
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