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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: Academia
The main speaker at yesterday's Commencement was Paul Volcker, the former Federal Reserve Chairman (the guy before Alan Greenspan) and current chair of President Obama's economic advisory council. As you would expect from somebody of his background, the bulk of...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:33 AM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Academia
The Dean Dad is annoyed with the New York Times, for an article about how the recession is affecting the humanities. The whole piece is worth a read, but he singles out a quote from the former president of my...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 9:44 AM • 14 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Academia
The textbook for my current class is $180, but I don't know of any alternative that is both cost-effective and ethical.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:18 AM • 87 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Economics
In response to my request for uncomfortable questions, Lou asks: As a private college professor and a new parent, I'm sure you are aware that the current rates of tuition growth are unsustainable indefinitely. When do you expect to see...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 9:30 AM • 23 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Education
You can perfectly well advocate a profit-driven all-private education system, and it would probably have some benefits for affluent, educated people near major urban centers. For the country as a whole, though, it would be a disaster.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:50 AM • 13 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Economics
If academic institutions are really committed to the public good, shouldn't that include putting some of their hundreds of millions of dollars to work doing what they can to improve the economy for everyone?
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:15 AM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Economics
Over at Inside Higher Ed they've got a piece titled "Massachusetts Should Tax Harvard" taking the position that most of the arguments against taxing extremely wealthy institutions of higher education are nonsense. You have to read all the way to...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 7:50 AM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Academia
Inside Higher Ed reports on a new study of the connection between college athletics and alumni giving, with some interesting findings: First, they find that male alumni who played on teams while they were undergraduates are more likely to donate...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 9:14 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Academia
As I may have mentioned in the past, we at Chateau Steelypips have benefitted greatly from Yale Law School's loan forgiveness program for graduates taking public service jobs. Since Kate shattered my dreams of a self-funded basement lab by deciding...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 7:49 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
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