Science Education
gregladen | March 22, 2009
Leo Berman, Republican State Rep in Texas, has proposed a bill that would allow the Institute for Creation Research to issue advanced degrees in Creationism. The faux educational institution, which moved from California to Texas several years ago hoping to dupe the Texans into exactly this sort of idiotic thing, was previously denied this right by the proper regulatory agency. Berman's act is cynical, anti-democratic, and terribly embarrassing for all Texans.
There is a news report here:
A Texas legislator is waging a war of biblical proportions against the science and education…
jlynch | March 21, 2009The DI-inspired "Academic Freedom/Strengths & Weaknesses" bill that was in committee in New Mexico has failed to get a hearing before close of session and has thus expired. Dave Thomas has more over at PT. The state of play for 2009 must be depressing for the DI
Mississippi - dead in committee
Oklahoma - dead in committee
Iowa - dead in committee
New Mexico - dead in committee
Alabama - in committee
Missouri - in committee
Florida - in committee
Texas - in committee
As a strategy this is clearly not working.
sporte | March 21, 2009Cofactor Genomics is offering to sequence a genome for a few classes for free using Next Generation DNA Sequencing technology (either Illumina GA or via AB SOLiD).
Quoting from their site:
Cofactor will ask course organizers for a 1 page description of how their ~700Mb sequencing project could be used as an effective teaching aid in their class. We will review and choose the best entries during the month of May. Those entries will be awarded a free sequencing project including project experimental design, sample QC, library construction, sequencing, and computational analysis. Those projects…
gregladen | March 20, 2009Julia and I looked into this and we have concurred, and this Jury of Two is prepared to pass judgment.
This is the original Dora the Explorer:
And here (below the fold) is the new Dora:
The original Dora had a backpack and a monkey, she had boot-like explorer shoes, sensible clothing, what looks to me like a watch with a compass built into it, a very sensible haircut, and a thirst for knowledge. When Julia saw the new Dora, she was a bit shocked. "No backpack. What about the monkey? Pockets? How can you be an explorer with no pockets? They turned her into a Barbie."
"But what…
gregladen | March 20, 2009This is why we love Genie Scott:
The NCSE now has a channel on You Tube, and at this time you can see most, probably all, of Genie's testimony in Texas. It is very instructive.
GENIE SCOTT IS A MACHINE!!!
Here you'll find reports from the evolution/creationism wars -- footage of contentious testimony, landmark and illuminating speeches, conference coverage, excerpts from television appearances, and presentations. In the future, look for classroom videos, tutorials for teachers, videos contributed by NCSE members, and much more.
When you visit our YouTube channel, check out a couple of…
sciencewoman | March 20, 2009Let me start by saying that I love my upper-level undergraduate students. They are engaged, enthusiastic, willing to try anything, hard-working, and asking great questions. I have near perfect attendance in my class, and when a student misses class, I usually hear a pretty legitimate excuse, often with documentation. Our students have complicated lives.
But it pains me when students miss hands-on labs or field trips. I want them to get the educational experience of the lab/field, and I don't want to penalize them because they were prostrate over the toilet with the stomach flu. (Boy, has…
tsmith | March 19, 2009Dr. Isis has a sweet announcement today. In conjunction with the American Physiological Society, she's funding an award for undergraduate researchers. She's donating her monthly Scienceblogs payment to the cause, and APS is providing matching funds, up to $500. Help her out by clicking over to check out her blog; her post describing the award is here for more information.
clock | March 19, 2009Where? To visit Dr.Isis.
Why? To help an Undergraduate win a science scholarship:
The APS has very kindly agreed to allow us (hang tight, I'm not asking for money, seriously) to fund an award at this year's Experimental Biology meeting for the undergraduate woman who submits the best abstract. Each year the APS awards seven David Bruce Awards for undergraduate research excellence and, within the structure of this program, the APS will be adding an eighth award specifically from me and my lovely readers (but I'm not asking for money. I promise). I really loved the idea of using my blog to…
gregladen | March 18, 2009According to this film, lifted from ABATC
I made a list using whatever gender cues were given of what was seemingly suggesed for boys vs. girls to aspire to. No great surprizes. Well, actually, there are few slightly surprising items on the girls' list. 1
For Boys:
astro-scientist/Astronaut
chemist
biology
physics
sports star who knows about science
musician who knows about science
medicine
security
destruction/evil scientist
Nobel peace prize
cure world hunger
civil engineer
professor
agricultural science
electrochemical engineer
astronomy
pharmacology
philosophy
statesmen
minister…
bioephemera | March 18, 2009
Via Bora's blog, a delightfully cheesy1955 filmstrip about why science education is more important than anything else - even fishing. It starts out slow, but this Sputnik-era treasure turns into a veritable propagandafest about how science literacy is a civic duty. Plus, it raises vital questions like "Why do these kids have weird pseudo-Southern accents even though their parents don't?" and "How can science help Betty 'hook some guy'?"
Remember, women need to know as much about science as some men do! Are you going to be ready?
(Look how bored Betty looks by the end.)
Provenance:…
clock | March 17, 2009Thanks to reader Paul for this tip - what an amazing piece of history: an instructional movie from the Sputnik Era, explaining why one should study science. Many of the arguments have not changed since then, though the details of sciences and technologies used in the film are very different. The role of women is, well, so 1950s....
Found on Prelinger Archives (more information in the comments) and A/V Geeks:
Family on last night of vacation speaks of stars & then of how study of science can help son & daughter make intelligent decisions on problems confronting them in world.…
clock | March 16, 2009From SCONC:
Tuesday, March 31
6:30 p.m.
"Life after Darwin: Are there still big discoveries to be made in biology?" NC State ecologist Rob Dunn continues the NC Museum of Natural Science's Charles Darwin Lecture Series. Free lecture; doors open at 6. Museum of Natural Science, downtown Raleigh. Please RSVP to museum.reservations@ncmail.net.
(Next in the series: Anne Yoder, director of the Duke Lemur Center, and paleontologist Paul Brinkman on Darwin's use of fossil evidence.)
clock | March 15, 2009From SCONC:
Wednesday, March 25
7 p.m.
"Something for the Pain: One Doctor's Account of Life and Death in the ER," a book reading and discussion by author Paul Austin, MD hosted by the American Medical Writers Association, Carolinas Chapter. Austin, a former firefighter who is now an emergency room physician at Durham Regional Hospital, has written "a relentlessly honest look at modern emergency medicine," in the words of Publisher's Weekly. At the Friday Center, UNC-Chapel Hill. Please RSVP by March 18 to Ellen Stoltzfus (estoltzfus@nc.rr.com).
clock | March 15, 2009Rocketboom interviewed a bunch of young researchers - here is one (check the "related videos" for others):
jlynch | March 15, 2009Texas House Bill 4224 (introduced yesterday) attempts to introduce "strengths and weaknesses" language, despite opposition from scientists and educators. More over at NCSE.
jlynch | March 13, 2009Over at PT, Hector Avalos is reporting that the deadline has passed for the DI-inspired "Evolution Academic Freedom Act” (HF 183) to move out of committee in Iowa. This one is now officially dead. Thus the scorecard so far looks like:
Mississippi - dead in committee
Oklahoma - dead in committee
Iowa - dead in committee
New Mexico - in committee
Alabama - in committee
Missouri - in committee
Florida - in committee
Texas - at state board
This brings the tally for 2009 to three dead out of eight. Frankly I can't imagine the DI is terribly happy about this.
clock | March 13, 2009From SCONC:
Thursday, March 19
6pm
SCONC night at the Museum of Life and Science. Join your fellow science communicators for refreshments, socializing and a bit of brainstorming about Science in the Triangle - the museum's evolving experiment in community science journalism and scientific-community organizing.
Our host, Troy Livingston, MLS Vice President of Innovation and Learning is seeking SCONC input about ways the group can become involved in community building activities at the site and at the Museum. So get those neurons moving and bring your ideas!
There's plenty of free parking.…
clock | March 12, 2009From SCONC:
Tuesday, March 17
7 p.m.
"Hope, Hype and Communicating Climate Change" The Asheville SCONCs welcome nationally prominent science writer Rick Borchelt to speak on making climate change information intelligible to the lay public. This is the first in a series of three public education lectures on climate change to be held in April and June. Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville.
Details Here (PDF) More Info: Pamela McCown, Education & Research Services, Inc. pamela@education-research-services.org
clock | March 12, 2009Sorry, Nina, but I think I need to copy and paste the entire thing here:
Spring is here and it's time to talk to strangers. On Sunday April 5, I'll be conducting a collaborative experiment with 15 intrepid University of Washington graduate students, and I'd like to invite you to join in from your own hometown. April 5 is the first day of a class I'm teaching called Social Technology, in which we are focusing on designing an exhibition that features social objects, that is, exhibits or artifacts that inspire interpersonal dialogue.
To kick off the course, we're doing a simple exercise at the…