The Canadian War on Science: National Research Council’s new focus ignores how science works
Posted by John Dupuis on June 17, 2013 I know I’ve already posted about the changes at the NRC, but this recent David Suzuki article frames the issue so perfectly that I thought I’d post about it again. The article is called National Research Council’s new focus ignores how science works. The core issue is that recently the Canadian Federal Government’s National Research…
Reading Diary: Primates: The fearless science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas by Jim Ottaviani
Posted by John Dupuis on June 12, 2013 First Second Books is one of my favourite publishers of graphic novels, in particular because they seem to like to do a lot of science-themed books. Jim Ottaviani’s book Feynman was one of my favourite graphic novels of the last few years. Perhaps not surprisingly, First Second published Feynman. The latest from the science graphic…
Around the Web: CHORUS & Share, Traditional librarian angst and more
Posted by John Dupuis on June 11, 2013 Joining a CHORUS, Publishers Offer the OSTP a Proactive, Modern, and Cost-Saving Public Access Solution Publishers Propose Public-Private Partnership to Support Access to Research CHORUS: hoping for re-enclosure CHORUS: It’s actually spelled C-A-B-A-L Scientific Publishers Aim To Get Ahead Of Agency Repositories A CHORUS of boos: publishers offer their “solution” to public access All joined…
Friday Fun: 25 Signs You’re Addicted To Books
Posted by John Dupuis on June 7, 2013 *cough* Anyways, here are a couple. Enjoy. 25 Signs You’re Addicted To Books “The first step is admitting it. The second step is to keep right on reading.” When you’re reading a good book, you forget to eat or sleep. Sometimes there is yelling. You’ve been traumatized by things that “only” happened in books you…
Around the Web: Catastrophism fails angsty librarians, Open Accessapolooza and more
Posted by John Dupuis on June 5, 2013 Don’t Panic: Why Catastrophism Fails Libraries Breaking Up with Libraries Resolved: All LIS students should not take that course Once a Librarian, Always a Librarian? Editorial: Libraries see opportunity in changing times Look to the present of libraries to see the future Results of the “Global Research Council” in Berlin Announced Wellcome Trust extends open…
Around the Web: Recognizing the political nature of science, TED woo and more
Posted by John Dupuis on May 31, 2013 Challenge, don’t worship, the chiefs and high priestesses of science: If we don’t recognise the politics of science, we will just get played by those who do Confronting The Woo-Woos Head-On… 45% Fewer Professional Working Musicians Since 2002 Academics and universities must continue to develop open access alternatives to break the monopoly of large publishers…
Around the Web: Everyone is angsty in higher ed, not just librarians
Posted by John Dupuis on May 30, 2013 Academic library existence at risk? The Myth and the Millennialism of “Disruptive Innovation” Fending off university-attacking zombies The online threat to the American professor Educational Hucksterism: Or, MOOCs are not an Educational Technology Laptop U: Has the future of college moved online? Libraries into career centres, campus residences into senior homes Embrace Moocs or face…
Around the Web: Cool linky stuff for science undergrads (5)
Posted by John Dupuis on May 29, 2013 I have a son who’s just finished his first year as a physics undergrad. As you can imagine, I occasionally pass along a link or two to him pointing to stuff on the web I think he might find particularly interesting or useful. Thinking on that fact, I surmised that perhaps other science students might…
Around the Web: Librarian Angst & Bravery R Us, Open access vs academic freedom and more
Posted by John Dupuis on May 25, 2013 The Downside of Being Universally Liked 5 Reasons Libraries Will Fail – Published in 1864 (satire) What’s a Library? Can Information Professionals Afford Apprenticeships? A Thought Experiment Faculty Usage of Library Tools in a Learning Management System The bravery of librarians We Aim to Misbehave Librarians need bigger egos Beyond measure: Valuing libraries Riding the…
Reading Diary: The Golden Ticket: P, NP, and the Search for the Impossible by Lance Fortnow
Posted by John Dupuis on May 21, 2013 Someone shoot me if I ever use the term NP-complete in a sentence. Or at least if I ever use the term in a conversation with “civilians.” Such is the dilemma of reading and reviewing a wonderful book like Lance Fortnow’s The Golden Ticket: P, NP, and the Search for the Impossible. I’ll be tempted…
