tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post3851796314579920864..comments2024-03-29T02:45:10.096-05:00Comments on nanoscale views: America's "obsession with STEM education" is neither an obsession, nor is it dangerousDouglas Natelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13340091255404229559noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-48741563902724307372015-04-06T23:33:33.939-05:002015-04-06T23:33:33.939-05:00I agree with Zakaria - writing skills are importan...I agree with Zakaria - writing skills are important. For example, one should NOT plagiarize. Mr. Zakaria knows a lot about importance of not plagiarizing other people's writing.<br /><br />But STEM fields ARE all about creativity. Most creative achievements over the past 100 years were in STEM, and not humanities or political commentary on CNN or writing books about lack of creativity while plagiarizing others.<br /><br />Actually, STEM involves a great deal of original writing. And it is actually more original than half-baked contrarian arguments from someone desperate to make $$$ on book sales.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-5007548648462986062015-04-03T09:00:15.782-05:002015-04-03T09:00:15.782-05:00Anon@10:21, you seem angry with me for some reason...Anon@10:21, you seem angry with me for some reason, based on this and your comment the other day. Douglas Natelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340091255404229559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-13869364008544153632015-04-02T22:21:03.604-05:002015-04-02T22:21:03.604-05:00"...it does seem like there is a far more rea..."...it does seem like there is a far more real danger that we are trending away from science and rationality "<br /><br />Now that is amusing considering the two paragons of public research journals, 'Science' and 'Nature', are continuously filled with outright fraudulent papers laughed off as just excessive exuberance. Of course, Mr. Natelson doesn't like to be reminded that the house of scientific research is a pigsty with out of control corruption.<br /><br />They could shut down 80% of the universities for all I care.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-73842658851076407202015-04-02T21:31:21.853-05:002015-04-02T21:31:21.853-05:00There is great need to engage with the public abou...There is great need to engage with the public about pressing issues such as climate change, economic growth, disease and education using quantitative ideas - I am particularly fond of those that involve 'back of the envelope' estimates. For example - How much water are we using? Where does it come from and go to? When do we have a problem? There is a lot at stake in getting this right in order for us to use our resources better and get our policies and politics on the right path. Everyone - not just STEM students - needs to develop the quantitative skills necessary to engage in this kind of critical thinking. Perhaps just as much as the ability to write.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-87827705284509971382015-04-02T11:26:11.923-05:002015-04-02T11:26:11.923-05:00My experience has been that many people that make ...My experience has been that many people that make arguments along these lines don't have a great idea of the value of scientific education. Indeed the best scientists are often the ones that are the most creative and outside-the-box and yet when people learn that I am a physicist, they often assume that I am not a creative person. Additionally, "critical thinking" has become a bit of a buzzword as to render the phrase meaningless. I love the arts and literature and they inspire my work, and I consider myself a critical thinker and persuasive public speaker. This needs to be a bigger part of the narrative about science education.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com