The Glade 4.0

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110527/sc ... icsscience



I thought this was really cool. I wonder how she calculated it, and if it involved computer skills. I also wonder what cellular technology came from black hole research.

Way better role model than Mrs. Obama. YMMV.

Also, why did this immediately go into HF? Should it matter that it was, OMG, a woman? Women seem to prefer certain career fields in general. When women in general start to take a greater interest in astrophysics, we'll get more prominent females in that field. That can be said for every field where there are less women.

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"...the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?" -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

I put this into Hellfire because I like this forum the most. People talk more liberally here.

Culturally, women in North America tend to stay away from the heavy Math-related fields. It's not that they're any less capable, but mostly because they don't feel like they belong there, or find other subjects more appealing.

This is great to read. Mebbe it should be in 'R&R' as a rave, but I understand Lex's reasons for wanting this to be well-publicized and putting it here. In fact, there was an article in my local rag this morning called Math + Girls = Persistent stereotype which to me is a crying shame. Math is for everyone.

Breaking the stereotype, my 10-yo daughter absolutely LOVES math, and is at or near 100% on her grades in it. She recently interviewed me for a 'what I want to be when I grow up' homework assignment, and was actually engaged while I was describing what an electrical systems engineer does, and all the different avenues that're available as an E/E.

Danica McKellar (Wonder Years) is also a great scientific role model for girls.

If she's not already on a scholarship, I hope she has one coming her way. That's a really big deal, and she should have her day in the sun for it.

As per the topic of girls and math, I have two conflicting opinions on it.

We have an elementary educational system that caters to girls and marginalizes boys. The former is intentional, while the latter is a side effect. This is done out of a desire for equality. Well, women have their equality in the field of academics. As the article Lalaas linked states, women with Bachelor's and graduate degrees outnumber men. Colleges and universities also have higher female enrollment than male enrollment, so it's not just completed degrees we're talking about. Despite this, women are still treated as a minority and given all of the benefits and entitlements thereof.

It's not like women aren't pursuing science and technology, either. Has anyone looked inside a Biology or Chemistry classroom? You will find no shortage of women. They're drawn to the life sciences. At this point, I'm no longer interested in catering to women. There are plenty of women receiving higher education, and they don't need encouragement any more than anyone else. If women don't want to study math or science, then **** 'em. That's on them.

Then there is my professional interest, and my general tendency to sell science and mathematics to everybody. I'm hardly opposed to increased female enrollment in the sciences. It's kind of a sausage-fest in here, and it wouldn't be a bad thing to not have to walk all the way to the liberal arts buildings just to see a girl. It's not like women are the only ones avoiding math and science. We're less glamorous than art, literature, and business. Why women avoid mathematics and math-intensive sciences is an interesting question.

I have observed in recent years, since Texas Instruments began selling their graphing calculators with pink cases, that the female students are more inclined to use them. Previously, their calculator was that thing in their backpack that they didn't know how to use. Now they're actually interested in finding out what some of the buttons do. What surprised me wasn't the popularity of pink among the female demographic, but rather that they don't ever outgrow it. I have remarked to a few of other engineers that instead of millions of dollars in scholarships to encourage women studying science and mathematics, we'd have better luck with a $5 can of pink spray-paint.

Speaking of Danica McKellar, I've been at the book store and seen a few of her books on the shelves in the math section. The covers look like some teen girl magazine. There's a picture of her on the front. She's dressed nice, and she looks pretty. This probably does more to encourage girls to study math than any equal rights or affirmative action program ever could.

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Buckle your pants or they might fall down.

I would have totally gone physics rather than biology if the physics department looked like it had been vomited on by hello Kitty. As the case, I support Coro's theory and would like to subscribe to his news letter.

Given that he suffers personal attacks when he posts his opinions, it's probably best. Although, if he were to post in other sections, the assholes that attack him for opinions that don't parrot their own might get the attention they seem to want and certainly deserve.

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In time, this too shall pass.