Comments on: Help Public Schools, Protect the Honor of Physics http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:58:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Paul Rubenstein http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-43099 Paul Rubenstein Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:36:12 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-43099 Hi, I'm new to this blog... I followed a link from Daily Kos. I run an afterschool program in NYC teaching high school kids how to make electric guitars and amplifiers (www.ubertar.com/kids3). Next school year we'll be adding an in-school component that will be tied to the science curriculum, particularly physics classes. The focus will be on electronics (analog audio circuits) and acoustics. We're talking guitar strings, not string theory here-- but you've got to start somewhere, right? The non-profit group I work for is called Working Playground (www.workingplayground.org) and if you're aware of any grants that might be applicable, please let us know. We're working on expanding the program to bring it to more schools. Thank you. Hi, I’m new to this blog… I followed a link from Daily Kos. I run an afterschool program in NYC teaching high school kids how to make electric guitars and amplifiers (www.ubertar.com/kids3). Next school year we’ll be adding an in-school component that will be tied to the science curriculum, particularly physics classes. The focus will be on electronics (analog audio circuits) and acoustics. We’re talking guitar strings, not string theory here– but you’ve got to start somewhere, right? The non-profit group I work for is called Working Playground (www.workingplayground.org) and if you’re aware of any grants that might be applicable, please let us know. We’re working on expanding the program to bring it to more schools. Thank you.

]]> By: Mark http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-34020 Mark Mon, 19 Jun 2006 11:22:57 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-34020 It's called <em>humor</em>. It’s called humor.

]]> By: Say Lee http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-34016 Say Lee Mon, 19 Jun 2006 11:14:26 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-34016 Maybe this display of oneupmanship and self-professed primacy over the other disciplines, science or otherwise, while evincing the competitive spirit, is one reason why interest in physcis among the undecided college students is on the wane. It seems to me folks over at biocurious.com are doing a better job in drawing the undecided to the fold. Maybe this display of oneupmanship and self-professed primacy over the other disciplines, science or otherwise, while evincing the competitive spirit, is one reason why interest in physcis among the undecided college students is on the wane.

It seems to me folks over at biocurious.com are doing a better job in drawing the undecided to the fold.

]]> By: PK http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33782 PK Sun, 18 Jun 2006 23:05:13 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33782 Not true, PZ Myers: Squishies are bosons and crunchies are fermions. Together they rule the universe. Not true, PZ Myers: Squishies are bosons and crunchies are fermions. Together they rule the universe.

]]> By: Sean http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33781 Sean Sun, 18 Jun 2006 23:02:36 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33781 You're right, I should have said "squishy and crunchy sciences." I'll be more careful next time. You’re right, I should have said “squishy and crunchy sciences.” I’ll be more careful next time.

]]> By: PZ Myers http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33777 PZ Myers Sun, 18 Jun 2006 22:55:24 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33777 When demarcating disciplines, "squishy" refers specifically to the soft-bodied phyla. The distinction is between the squishies and the crunchies, the arthropods. Physics isn't even on the scale. It's a bunch of mathematical abstractions that we find useful in the analysis of squishies and crunchies. In other words, BIOLOGY RULES. Eat our slimy detritus, physics nerds! When demarcating disciplines, “squishy” refers specifically to the soft-bodied phyla. The distinction is between the squishies and the crunchies, the arthropods.

Physics isn’t even on the scale. It’s a bunch of mathematical abstractions that we find useful in the analysis of squishies and crunchies. In other words, BIOLOGY RULES. Eat our slimy detritus, physics nerds!

]]> By: Joe http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33747 Joe Sun, 18 Jun 2006 20:41:06 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33747 Sean, I know, I meant the idea of the science pyramid. Sean,

I know, I meant the idea of the science pyramid.

]]> By: Supernova http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33746 Supernova Sun, 18 Jun 2006 20:39:29 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33746 I love this use of blogs for good. Phil over at <a href="http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/" rel="nofollow">BadAstronomy</a> recently ran a very successful fundraiser to fly two fifth-graders from Indiana to Florida to watch the launch of the rocket that was carrying their science experiments. It seems natural, when you have an audience of like-minded (at least on <i>some</i> matters!) people, to mobilize them occasionally in support of a common goal. The CV folks may want to try something like this themselves! Asking people to support one or a few well-chosen causes might prove even more effective than letting them choose among many possibilities, as with DonorsChoose. But in any case, I applaud the effort and thank Sean for posting the link. I matched him with $20. Who else is in? I love this use of blogs for good. Phil over at BadAstronomy recently ran a very successful fundraiser to fly two fifth-graders from Indiana to Florida to watch the launch of the rocket that was carrying their science experiments. It seems natural, when you have an audience of like-minded (at least on some matters!) people, to mobilize them occasionally in support of a common goal. The CV folks may want to try something like this themselves! Asking people to support one or a few well-chosen causes might prove even more effective than letting them choose among many possibilities, as with DonorsChoose. But in any case, I applaud the effort and thank Sean for posting the link. I matched him with $20. Who else is in?

]]> By: Sean http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33744 Sean Sun, 18 Jun 2006 20:32:05 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33744 Not to be a killjoy, but the idea is that it was a joke. Smile, people! Not to be a killjoy, but the idea is that it was a joke. Smile, people!

]]> By: Joe http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33741 Joe Sun, 18 Jun 2006 20:23:10 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33741 Well physics does sit at the top of the science pyramid ;-) I think the idea is that physics is fundamental and everything else is just emergent phenomena, and as such are described less rigorously. Well physics does sit at the top of the science pyramid ;-) I think the idea is that physics is fundamental and everything else is just emergent phenomena, and as such are described less rigorously.

]]> By: Cynthia http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33733 Cynthia Sun, 18 Jun 2006 20:06:57 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33733 Sean.... To be brutally honest, I am detecting an undeniable trace of snobbishness in your description of other sciences outside of physics: the description of other sciences as "squishy." Doubtlessly, your characterization of other sciences parallels a characterization held by one of your renowned predecessors: "All science is either physics or stamp collecting." ;-) Sean…. To be brutally honest, I am detecting an undeniable trace of snobbishness in your description of other sciences outside of physics: the description of other sciences as “squishy.” Doubtlessly, your characterization of other sciences parallels a characterization held by one of your renowned predecessors: “All science is either physics or stamp collecting.” ;-)

]]> By: Joe http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33729 Joe Sun, 18 Jun 2006 19:56:11 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33729 I followed your example. Also, its worth noting that if you're not in the US, you have to pick a state anyway. DonorChoose seems only to be setup for US donors. I put in my Oxford address + a US state and everything appears to have worked. I followed your example. Also, its worth noting that if you’re not in the US, you have to pick a state anyway. DonorChoose seems only to be setup for US donors. I put in my Oxford address + a US state and everything appears to have worked.

]]> By: Dr. Free-Ride http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33711 Dr. Free-Ride Sun, 18 Jun 2006 19:12:38 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33711 Creating divisions between scientific disciplines and their practitioners is totally ethical if it results in more money for the kids. (Also, in case it matters, I *used* to be a physical chemist, so kicking a few bucks to <a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/challenge.php?id=125" rel="nofollow">my challenge</a> may still be preferable to helpin' them biologists!) Thanks for the link, Sean! Creating divisions between scientific disciplines and their practitioners is totally ethical if it results in more money for the kids. (Also, in case it matters, I *used* to be a physical chemist, so kicking a few bucks to my challenge may still be preferable to helpin’ them biologists!)

Thanks for the link, Sean!

]]> By: Sean http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33700 Sean Sun, 18 Jun 2006 18:31:22 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33700 p.s. I gave $20. Who's up for it? p.s. I gave $20. Who’s up for it?

]]> By: Sean http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33694 Sean Sun, 18 Jun 2006 18:16:03 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33694 I'm the world's biggest optimist. I’m the world’s biggest optimist.

]]> By: Moshe http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/06/18/help-public-schools-protect-the-honor-of-physics/#comment-33692 Moshe Sun, 18 Jun 2006 18:11:15 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=882#comment-33692 I dislike the expression LOL, but this time it happens to be true. Do you expect you have lots of Objectivists on board? I dislike the expression LOL, but this time it happens to be true. Do you expect you have lots of Objectivists on board?

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