Category Archives: Science

Teaching writing to a specific audience is like learning karate (trust me – it makes sense) Disclaimer: This post is a thought-in progress. Hence, the ideas will be underdeveloped from where I eventually want them to land. And it will … Continue reading →

One issue that both fascinates and frustrates me about the current climate change debate is the way that “truth” and “facts” are being determined. I see this debate overlapping between two highly distinct rhetorical realms: the scientific and the political. … Continue reading →

One of my more favorite science blogs is Bering In Mind over at SciAm. Bering had a recent post discussing the many chemical and pharmaceutical benefits of semen. Yes, it’s vaguely sexual but it’s done in good (read scientific) taste: … Continue reading →

Part of my new teaching duties at St. Edward’s are teaching in the First Year Studies program. This is a combination of what others would call Freshman Composition and a large lecture section for 100 or so students. I’m in … Continue reading →

Hauser, a prominent psychologist at Harvard recently has gotten himself in some hot water. He is/was a leading researcher in human and animal cognition. But Harvard has just released the results of an inquiry into his research. Apparently many of … Continue reading →

The New Scientist has a write-up about the recent UK official report clearing the “climategate” scientists of data manipulation: Climate Scientists respond to ‘climategate’ report It’s not an extensive discussion, but it does provide a nice snap-shot of the larger … Continue reading →

Just a news story that didn’t seem to make too much of a splash: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/07/climategate-review-clears-scientists-dishonesty ‘Climategate’ review clears scientists of dishonesty over data The climate scientists at the centre of a media storm were today cleared of accusations that they … Continue reading →

SciAm has reposted an article they ran in May 1963: The Evolution of the Physicist’s Picture of Knowledge. It’s a heady read, to be sure. After the first few paragraphs, it turns into some heavy-duty physics with little detail. But … Continue reading →

Or, more specifically, even more ideas for preventing bad medical reporting. A post by Mark Liberman over at UPenn hits at the topic of that last post, how to prevent bad reporting of medical news in the popular press. Liberman … Continue reading →