I’ll conclude a three-part series of posts on useful or interesting readings in biophysics with the shortest list: popular science books. I’ve often thought it unfortunate that there aren’t more books for the general public on biophysics. The physics underlying the squeezing of DNA into viruses, the crawling through tissues of patrolling immune cells, the … Continue reading Readings in Biophysics, part III (Popular Science)
I had hoped to write Part III of “Readings in Biophysics,” on popular-science books, this evening, but I haven’t found time. Appropriately, though, I just received an email from the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science , which focuses on helping scientists communicate with the public. It announces a new challenge they’re putting forth: answering … Continue reading Next up: painting flames on my car
There’s been an flurry of papers and essays in the past few years on scientific studies being wrong, arguing that the number of incorrect conclusions is disturbingly large, and symptomatic of poor practice, misplaced incentives, and other factors. Perhaps the most widely seen views on this theme graced the cover of The Economist a … Continue reading If I keep writing, maybe this post will become significant
I am adding And subtracting I’m controlling And composing — Kraftwerk, “Pocket Calculator” I often tell students that computer programming is like drawing — learning and practicing it opens up new ways of seeing the world, and new ways of creatively giving shape to ideas. I’ve long thought that everyone should be able to program, … Continue reading I liked programming before it was cool
Earlier this Fall, I was part of the University’s “DUKTalks” event — rather like TED talks but (i) featuring speakers from UO, and (ii) without the vast audience. It was a fun and interesting program, with fifteen minute talks on medieval runes, Facebook, and more. My talk, “The Physics of Life,” was about (unsurprisingly) biophysics. … Continue reading DUKTalks + Fish Guts
There’s no shortage these days of articles on the shortage of STEM*-major students. Not quite as common, but arguably more important, are articles critically assessing whether such a shortage exists. The Chronicle of Higher Education a few days ago featured a nice essay in the latter category, The STEM Crisis: Reality or Myth? *Science, Technology, … Continue reading Growing STEMs
I’ll continue writing on useful or interesting readings in biophysics — Part I, a few weeks ago, dealt with textbooks. There are many technical or scientific books that either aren’t actually about biophysics, or that are about a narrow aspect of biophysics, that are nonetheless particularly useful or stimulating. Here are some that come to … Continue reading Readings in Biophysics, part II (Readings not in Biophysics)
I’m asked fairly often to suggest things to read on the topic of biophysics, for people new to the field or just curious about it. Two weeks ago, for example, I gave an informal talk — more like a discussion & conversation — for the local Society of Physics Students (undergraduate physics majors). It was … Continue reading Readings in Biophysics, part I
A very quick post: Working on an education-related grant, I’m learning all sort of things about the university, some of which I’d be happier not knowing. Such as: dorm housing costs are very expensive. In a vague sense, I knew this, but I wasn’t actually aware that the on-campus room and board costs are about … Continue reading Butler not included (or is he?)
A few people have asked what the title of this blog means. In a lull between activities during the camp for post-tenth graders that I’m working with this week, one of the students asked me to tell them a story. So I told them the Indian folktale of the eighteenth elephant, which goes like this: … Continue reading The Eighteenth Elephant
The Eighteenth Elephant 