Monthly Archives: May 2010

apparently some people think the oil spill isn’t that bad!

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

which is a bit nuts. but ‘Of Pelicans and Petrol’ says it better than I ever could This is a fantastic article on why oil spills are bad – with a particular focus on wildlife called ‘Well allow me to … Continue reading →

Posted in bp oil, environment | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Ivory towers, science and society

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

why it takes all kinds Ok it appears there is no more money – I mean science, research, business innovation, technology and higher education money, where both the US and the UK governments are making cuts. (see my previous post) … Continue reading →

Posted in higher education, UK Science policy | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Do we really need another sputnik before we do something?

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

Do you like your mobile phone? Do you like the fact that you can use the world wide web to connect with your friends? do you like using your iphone when you sit on a delayed train? Yes? Than why … Continue reading →

Posted in higher education, science | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Science takes time and we are not all going to die…

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

well we are, but not by a world taken over by synthetic beings in the near future… Science isn’t very fast, even though it often seems like it especially when we read media reports about ‘new’ scientific breakthroughs… Last week, … Continue reading →

Posted in genetic technology, morality, science, science ethics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Dumb and Dumber: the mismeasure of women

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

Oh no here we go again.. Every 5 – 10 years the good old IQ debate comes up…. and usually some minority comes out on bottom, women, African-Americans – yet no one ever asks themselves why is it that White … Continue reading →

Posted in bad science, science, women, women in science | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Science funding, where do we go from here???

Posted on May 8, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

Science needs a Saatchi! Whether you supported the Lib Dems or Labour, or even the Conservatives things are looking pretty dire for science funding. As the New Scientist says in the elections ‘Science is the Loser’. Science is, or rather … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, science, UK Science policy | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

If you vote for science, which party do you choose?

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

I think its gotta be Labour…. The general buzz (twitter, blogs, newspapers, etc) is that the Lib Dems are the best on science, so if you want to save science – Vote Lib Dem! But it depends on which bit … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change, politics, science, UK Science policy | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Just because you are a scientist doesn’t mean you are morally superior.

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

Although we sometimes tend to think so – and this isn’t helped by scientists who purport to be morally superior by the fact that they are ‘rational thinkers’ Some scientists like Richard Dawkins appear to think that rational thought (or … Continue reading →

Posted in morality, richard dawkins, science | Tagged , | 5 Comments