Fun Physics (???)

Fun Physics (???)

I have received this request from a friend roughly 5,000 miles away: My maternal cousin has to prepare a write up for her school.  She needs to write something on 'fun physics'. Alas, I am…
No Economic Stimulus for Science

No Economic Stimulus for Science

Larry Summers says that R&D spending should not be part of an economic stimulus package, contrary to what many scientists were probably hoping for. Summers actually has a good point. The…
6 Researchers Take On Science Education

6 Researchers Take On Science Education

A greater commitment by science faculty to focus on science education could drive education reform at universities and K-12 schools, according to a new report by a team of five researchers from the…
Obama puts Scientist in his Cabinet

Obama puts Scientist in his Cabinet

Obama is going to appoint a Nobel-prize winning physicist to be his Energy Secretary. I don't know anything about the physicist, Steven Chu (except that he's director of the Lawrence Berkely National…
College Tuition is a Scandal

College Tuition is a Scandal

College tuition has increased 439% since 1984, and the net yearly cost of college at a 4-year public university is 76% of the median family income, according to a story in today's NY Times. Even…
How To Teach Teachers

How To Teach Teachers

Official professional standards in both Scotland and England which aim to nurture the development of new teachers pay too little attention to what 'becoming' a teacher is really like, according to…
Improving the science in science fiction

Improving the science in science fiction

There is an interesting story in New Scientist about The Science&Entertainment Exchange, a program initiated by the National Academy of Sciences to improve the science in movies and TV [New…