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Physics, Politics, Pop Culture
"Uncertain Principles" features the miscellaneous ramblings of a physicist at a small liberal arts college. Physics, politics, pop culture, and occasional conversations with his dog.
You've read the blog, now try the book: How to Teach Physics to Your Dog will be published December 22nd by Scribner.
"Prof. Orzel gives the impression of an everyday guy who just happens to have a vast but hidden knowledge of physics." (anonymous student evaluation comment)
Emmy is a German Shepherd mix, and the Queen of Niskayuna. She likes treats, walks, chasing bunnies, and quantum physics.
Category: Academia
One of the major problems contributing to the dire situation described in Unscientific America is that the incentives of academia don't align very well with the public interest. Academic scientists are rewarded-- with tenure, promotion, and salary increases-- for producing...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 12:09 PM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Blogs
Blogging offers a lot of nice features, but it's not a replacement for a book. If you thing that the existing apparatus of conventional publishing-- editors, publishers, and all the rest-- is something that will inevitably be swept away by Web 2.0, compare the book to the blog. It's a nice way to see that there really is value added by the editing and publishing process.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:48 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Science
his is a very good book, well argued and engagingly written. There's a lot of good stuff here, and a lot of food for thought about the history and future of science in America. Even if you've read their blog, Unscientific America presents the most complete and coherent version of their basic policy argument you're likely to find, and it's well worth reading.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 9:11 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Academia
I'm not sure what the logic process behind endnotes without textual anchors is-- I suspect it's an impression on somebody's part that having actual note symbols would feel too intimidatingly academic. Whatever the logic for it, though, it's an absolutely horrendous decision.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 5:01 PM • 11 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Science
This is the Internet, and we have the ability to settle this question with SCIENCE!!! Or, well, pseudo-(social)-science.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:40 AM • 29 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Education
Firday's quick and sarcastic post came about because I thought the Dean Dad and his commenters had some interesting points in regard to high school math requirements, but we were spending the afternoon driving to Whitney Point so I could...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 9:49 AM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Academia
Is having to work for a more senior researcher a soul-crushing, creativity-stifling experience, or is it a useful and important step in the process of academic training?
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:20 AM • 12 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Academia
The following is the (approximate) text of the speech I gave Friday night at the Whitney Point High School graduation. Or, at least, this is what I typed out for myself Thursday night-- what actually comes out of my mouth...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 9:14 AM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Education
The Dean Dad slaps his forehead and asks a question: We have anecdotal evidence that suggests that students who actually take math for all four years of high school do better in math here than those who don't. We also...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 9:47 AM • 24 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Academia
The number of actual geniuses who wash out of academic science is very, very small. The number of people who think they are geniuses who wash out of academic science is much, much higher.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:35 AM • 22 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
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