Physics:
Since March is Women's History Month, I thought it might be appropriate to recognize some women who were a part of my history -- namely, the women who taught me chemistry and physics. (This shouldn't be interpreted as a slight...
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Posted on March 20, 2008 4:10 PM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Following up on the earlier discussion here and at Chad's about the "fundamental difference" between chemistry and physics, I wanted to have a look at a historical moment that might provide some insight into the mood along the border between...
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Posted on December 4, 2007 11:03 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Over at Uncertain Principles, Chad Orzel tries to explain the fundamental difference between physics and chemistry: My take on this particular question is that there's a whole hierarchy of (sub)fields, based on what level of abstraction you work at. The...
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Posted on December 3, 2007 5:33 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
This New York Times op-ed, to be precise. My questions for Paul Davies can be boiled down to these two: What kinds of explanations, precisely, are you asking science to deliver to you? Just why do you think it is...
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Posted on November 24, 2007 5:12 PM • 23 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Chad and Rob have already noted this piece of news about soon-to-be-published research indicating that the order in which high school students are taught physics, chemistry, and biology makes very little difference to their performance in science classes at the...
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Posted on July 27, 2007 6:23 PM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
In part I of the interview, my mother described what it was like to be propelled by her dream of being an astronomer from being at home with four children to being in an undergraduate physics classroom and finding a...
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Posted on May 13, 2007 12:00 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
An important part of the practice of science is not just the creation of knowledge but also the transmission of that knowledge. Knowledge that's stuck in your head or lab notebooks doesn't do anyone else any good. So, scientists are...
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Posted on April 26, 2007 3:52 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
In a guest-post at Asymptotia, Sabine Hossenfelder suggests some really good reasons for scientists to communicate with non-scientists -- and not just to say, "Give us more research funding and we'll give you an even smaller iPod." She really gets...
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Posted on February 4, 2007 12:30 AM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Dear Santa, I know this is short notice, but only this week, while talking with my better half about matter, I thought of something so wonderful that I hope you'll be able to leave it in my stocking this year....
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Posted on December 15, 2006 12:37 PM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Janet D. Stemwedel (whose nom de blog is Dr. Free-Ride) is an assistant professor of philosophy at San Jose State University. Before becoming a philosopher, she earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Email her at dr.freeride@gmail.com.
