tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post5938713531107366459..comments2024-03-28T04:15:44.459-05:00Comments on nanoscale views: A Scientist Laureate position for the US?Douglas Natelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13340091255404229559noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-91380670888387400322013-05-17T13:44:25.848-05:002013-05-17T13:44:25.848-05:00While cynical, I think his second remark is quite ...While cynical, I think his second remark is quite valid: in this country (!) if the person in this position would make statements based solely on science, but in doing so antagonizes one or the other party because of their talking points, this position will very quickly be politicized which will indeed effectively neuter the impartial scientific credentials.<br /><br />Impartiality is easily destroyed by attacking someone from a partizan standpoint. Even not responding to such things and "staying high above the fray" damages the credentials of this position (and calls for "ivory tower remarks").Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-40567769852905303512013-05-16T22:21:49.328-05:002013-05-16T22:21:49.328-05:00That's a little cynical even for me. Just loo...That's a little cynical even for me. Just looking at chemists, I can already spot some NAS members that might fit the bill. Bertozzi? Carter? Lieber? Mirkin? Nocera? Ratner? Admittedly those are mostly nano people, but that's the blog topic. Physics and applied physics raise people like McEuen, Coppersmith, Cornell. Ooh! Bob Laughlin - that'd be a hoot.Douglas Natelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340091255404229559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-25483273126064418992013-05-16T13:35:45.628-05:002013-05-16T13:35:45.628-05:00The subset of charismatic & outgoing figures t...The subset of charismatic & outgoing figures that are distinguished scientists and members of the NAS is probably very small.<br /><br />Moreover, any such person bound to cause the ire of conservatives, become political and immediately neutered in outreach capacity as a result of past views on controversial issues.<br /><br />Any prominent scientist that has been "neutral" or reticent on important issues of the past decade is probably not very charismatic or too aloof to appoint to such a position.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com