Obama made Ebola the subject of his weekly address. He emphasizes some unique concepts: Science and facts.
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The Paper of Record today features an interview with Eric Mazur of Harvard, a physicist who is probably best known for his pedagogical work. He talks aabout how typical science teaching sucks, and why we need to change it:
From what I've seen, students in science classrooms throughout the country…
What else is new in the Obama presidency? Presidents have given weekly radio addresses for decades, but Obama plans to take this vehicle for direct communication digital, offering motivated viewers (and bloggers) weekly YouTube address. See the report at the Huffington Post.
I'm going to harp on a subject that really annoys me. The use of the word "fact" - this is a totally useless concept and is the source of a lot of confusion out in the general public and amongst science journalists.
Science does not build facts. It builds models, ideas concepts and theories - tools…
What is science's rightful place?
In our heads, of course. All of our heads.
But Seed is asking, so let me elaborate briefly.
As I said before, science is not just active participation in research. Science is a mindset.
We are all born scientists, exploring the world around us and experimenting…
That Bush-with-a-tan is a tool.
I'll sit here and try to do my best not to entertain outrageous conspiracy theories. (not really).
As someone who was absolutely captivated and horrified reading Richard Prestons' book The Hot Zone' on Marburg and ebola in a local bookshop - to the point of missing my bus home a few times; this :
http://scienceblogs.com/aetiology/2014/10/21/the-hot-zone-and-the-mytho…
& from there this :
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/20/books/the-hot-zone-author-tracks-ebol…
Especially this :
(Emphasis added.)
Seems Preston is now siding with you, Greg Laden which is kinda nice to know.
Also if I may I (mostly) agree with what Jim Wright on the Stonekettle Station blog has to say about ebola - and a whole lot more here :
http://www.stonekettle.com/2014/10/ebola-and-it-goes-like-this.html
WARNING : SWEARING and offensive language.
For those who haven't already stumbled on that one. Hope this is okay Greg Laden, my apologies and feel free to delete if not.
NB. Some credit too goes to PZ Myers 'Pharyngula' which was where I discovered the link to Tara C. Smith's 'Aetiology' blog article linked above.