Cafe Scientifique:
"Cafe Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Meetings have taken place in cafes, bars, restaurants and even theatres, but always outside a traditional academic context. "
This movement started in the UK seems to be spreading widely, including countries such as Brazil, Singapore and India.
Monday, May 31, 2004
Generic Names for Soft Drinks in the U.S.
Generic Names for Soft Drinks in the U.S.
I found it interesting how the word varies geographically. Compare it with the map of voting in 2000.
By the way, for non U.S. citizens, the size of the counties might be interesting, Counties are much smaller in the east than in the west.
I found it interesting how the word varies geographically. Compare it with the map of voting in 2000.
By the way, for non U.S. citizens, the size of the counties might be interesting, Counties are much smaller in the east than in the west.
African Growth and Opportunity Act in Trouble in Congress
Sartorial Snag (washingtonpost.com):
"There's a program that works for Africa. It has created 150,000 jobs there, stimulated $340 million dollars of private investment and boosted the region's exports by perhaps $1 billion a year. This program costs the United States almost nothing, but it's about to be gutted."
"There's a program that works for Africa. It has created 150,000 jobs there, stimulated $340 million dollars of private investment and boosted the region's exports by perhaps $1 billion a year. This program costs the United States almost nothing, but it's about to be gutted."
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Starving Science (washingtonpost.com)
Starving Science (washingtonpost.com):
"Reports from the National Science Foundation and elsewhere indicate that the decline is not only relative. It is also absolute: American science is growing weaker, although not across the board."
"Reports from the National Science Foundation and elsewhere indicate that the decline is not only relative. It is also absolute: American science is growing weaker, although not across the board."
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Gore's Speech Yesterday
Remarks by Al Gore:
"The abuse of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib flowed directly from the abuse of the truth that characterized the Administration's march to war and the abuse of the trust that had been placed in President Bush by the American people in the aftermath of September 11th. "
"The abuse of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib flowed directly from the abuse of the truth that characterized the Administration's march to war and the abuse of the trust that had been placed in President Bush by the American people in the aftermath of September 11th. "
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
CNN.com - U.S. picks 16 nations eligible for new aid fund - May 10, 2004
CNN.com - U.S. picks 16 nations eligible for new aid fund - May 10, 2004:
"The countries chosen were Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vanuatu."
"The countries chosen were Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vanuatu."
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
South Africa's new voice
South Africa's new voice:
"After a decade of democratic government in South Africa, the face of research remains largely untransformed. Published research has declined significantly in relation to global output, and spending on research and development (R&D) has declined as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP). White scientists still produce more than 90% of research articles published. Moreover, the research community is ageing, with almost half of authors of research articles now being over 50. Very few able school-leavers are being attracted into research careers and, despite the de-segregation of the country's school system, only a tiny proportion of black scholars leave school with university-entrance qualifications in mathematics and physical science. Those who do are attracted to careers in the professions, which are perceived as more lucrative."
"After a decade of democratic government in South Africa, the face of research remains largely untransformed. Published research has declined significantly in relation to global output, and spending on research and development (R&D) has declined as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP). White scientists still produce more than 90% of research articles published. Moreover, the research community is ageing, with almost half of authors of research articles now being over 50. Very few able school-leavers are being attracted into research careers and, despite the de-segregation of the country's school system, only a tiny proportion of black scholars leave school with university-entrance qualifications in mathematics and physical science. Those who do are attracted to careers in the professions, which are perceived as more lucrative."
OneWorld US - Scientists, Religious Leaders Urge Congress to Take Action on Global Warming
OneWorld US - Scientists, Religious Leaders Urge Congress to Take Action on Global Warming:
"The 'people of science' signing the Plea include the two 1995 Nobel Prize winning chemists Dr. Mario Molina, professor of environmental chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Dr. F. Sherwood Rowland, who serves as the Bern Research Professor in Earth System Science at the University of California at Irvine. These chemists were honored for their discovery of the link between chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and depletion of the ozone layer.
Other distinguished secular leaders who signed the Plea include Dr. Lewis Branscomb, Aetna Professor in Public Policy and Corporate Management, Emeritus, at the Center for Science and International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; Dr. Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and executive publisher of the journal 'Science;' Dr. Peter Raven, Engelmann Professor of Botany at the Washington University in St. Louis; and Dr. George Woodwell, founder/director of the Woods Hole Research Center.
The group also includes ranking professors at the California Institute of Technology, Cornell, Duke University, MIT, Princeton, Rice University, University of Michigan, and Stanford, as well as physicist John H. Gibbons, currently president of Resources Strategies who served as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Bill Clinton. "
"The 'people of science' signing the Plea include the two 1995 Nobel Prize winning chemists Dr. Mario Molina, professor of environmental chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Dr. F. Sherwood Rowland, who serves as the Bern Research Professor in Earth System Science at the University of California at Irvine. These chemists were honored for their discovery of the link between chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and depletion of the ozone layer.
Other distinguished secular leaders who signed the Plea include Dr. Lewis Branscomb, Aetna Professor in Public Policy and Corporate Management, Emeritus, at the Center for Science and International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; Dr. Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and executive publisher of the journal 'Science;' Dr. Peter Raven, Engelmann Professor of Botany at the Washington University in St. Louis; and Dr. George Woodwell, founder/director of the Woods Hole Research Center.
The group also includes ranking professors at the California Institute of Technology, Cornell, Duke University, MIT, Princeton, Rice University, University of Michigan, and Stanford, as well as physicist John H. Gibbons, currently president of Resources Strategies who served as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Bill Clinton. "
Intel Builds $2 Billion Wafer Fabrication Plant
Intel Builds $2 Billion Wafer Fabrication Plant:
"When completed, the converted Fab 12 will become Intel's fifth 300mm wafer facility. Five 300-mm fabs provide the equivalent manufacturing capacity of about 10 200mm factories. Intel's other 300mm fabs are located in Hillsboro, Ore. (two facilities), Rio Rancho, N.M. and Leixlip, Ireland."
Azom.com, 21st April 2004.
"When completed, the converted Fab 12 will become Intel's fifth 300mm wafer facility. Five 300-mm fabs provide the equivalent manufacturing capacity of about 10 200mm factories. Intel's other 300mm fabs are located in Hillsboro, Ore. (two facilities), Rio Rancho, N.M. and Leixlip, Ireland."
Azom.com, 21st April 2004.
Economist.com | The cost of AIDS
Economist.com | The cost of AIDS:
"A report presented, in its final draft, on May 20th by British parliamentarians and the Royal African Society draws together the findings of various recent studies and experts' testimony. It concludes, alas, that the most realistic estimates of the economic impact of AIDS are also the most pessimistic. The disease, it reckons, is already depressing sub-Saharan Africa's annual GDP growth rate by 0.8 percentage points. In the worst-hit countries, where more than one-fifth of adults have HIV, the burden is 2.6 points."
"A report presented, in its final draft, on May 20th by British parliamentarians and the Royal African Society draws together the findings of various recent studies and experts' testimony. It concludes, alas, that the most realistic estimates of the economic impact of AIDS are also the most pessimistic. The disease, it reckons, is already depressing sub-Saharan Africa's annual GDP growth rate by 0.8 percentage points. In the worst-hit countries, where more than one-fifth of adults have HIV, the burden is 2.6 points."
Saturday, May 22, 2004
AAAS S&T Forum Opens With Lively R&D Budget Debate
American Association for the Advancement of Science:
"Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) accused the current Administration of favoring 'vending-machine science,' focused on quick, low-cost results. Marburger said that the President's proposed FY 2005 budget would represent a 44-percent increase in federal R&D over the past four-year term. Kei Koizumi, director of the AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program, said that the President's proposed FY 2005 budget, combined with his plan to cut the deficit in half within five years, would mean cuts in R&D funding for all but three federal agencies by 2009. "
"Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) accused the current Administration of favoring 'vending-machine science,' focused on quick, low-cost results. Marburger said that the President's proposed FY 2005 budget would represent a 44-percent increase in federal R&D over the past four-year term. Kei Koizumi, director of the AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program, said that the President's proposed FY 2005 budget, combined with his plan to cut the deficit in half within five years, would mean cuts in R&D funding for all but three federal agencies by 2009. "
Feeding the hungry
Economist.com | Economics focus:
"The authors see investments in technology as the most effective means of increasing the incomes of hungry people. Teaching a man to farm better, it seems, can yield far more than simply giving food or medicines away."
The fourth of a series of articles in the Economist on the Copenhagen Consensus project.
"The authors see investments in technology as the most effective means of increasing the incomes of hungry people. Teaching a man to farm better, it seems, can yield far more than simply giving food or medicines away."
The fourth of a series of articles in the Economist on the Copenhagen Consensus project.
South African Science Cutbacks
A couple of recent articles have dealt with science and technology in South Africa. (One in Nature, 29 April 2004.) In the ten years since the introduction of multiracial democracy, the country’s share of global scientific publications has dropped from 0.8 to 0.49 percent. Expenditure on R&D has dropped from 1.1 to 0.64 percent of GDP. “Nearly all of South African publications are authored by white males (about half of whom are over 50 years old, up from 18% in 1990). Eleven percent of government researchers leave their government laboratories each year, and fifteen percent of university researchers leave.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Culture and Public Action: Papers
Culture and Public Action: Papers:
Contributors to the book in order of their chapters: "Amartya Sen, Arjun Appadurai, Mary Douglas, Marco Verweij, Timur Kuran, Arjo Klamer, Lourdes Arizpe, Sabina Alkire, Anita Abraham, Jean-Phiippe Platteau, Monica Das Gupta, Carol Jenkins, Fernando Calderon, Alicia Szmuckler, Simon Harragin, Shelton Davis,Vijayendra Rao, Michael Walton "
The first chapter can be downloaded free, as can abstracts for the other chapters.
Contributors to the book in order of their chapters: "Amartya Sen, Arjun Appadurai, Mary Douglas, Marco Verweij, Timur Kuran, Arjo Klamer, Lourdes Arizpe, Sabina Alkire, Anita Abraham, Jean-Phiippe Platteau, Monica Das Gupta, Carol Jenkins, Fernando Calderon, Alicia Szmuckler, Simon Harragin, Shelton Davis,Vijayendra Rao, Michael Walton "
The first chapter can be downloaded free, as can abstracts for the other chapters.
IQ, per capita income, and 2000 vote by State
This list invites cheap shots, but probably is best interpreted in terms of how deep the red versus blue divisions are in U. S. society, and how fundamental are the cognitive differences that mark U.S. politics. Gore took 15 of the 16 states with highest IQ, which are also among the highest income states. Bush took24 of the 25 lowest average IQ states, which also are among the poorest states.
The big urban states -- New York, California, Illinois, etc. -- voted for Gore, while the smaller, rural states voted for Bush. (The U.S. voting system, that gives the small states added weight in the elections, gave the election to Bush even though Gore won the popular vote.) Of course, Gore got Rhode Island and Delaware -- small states both.
Still, a situation in which parties play to constituencies of markedly different average intelligence (and one may infer different average education) suggests a difference in the ways those parties functionaries are likely to use knowledge.
T. Volken: The Impact of National IQ on Income and Growth
T. Volken: The Impact of National IQ on Income and Growth:
Abstract: "Recently Richard Lynn and Tatu Vanhanen have presented evidence that differences in national IQ account for the substantial variation in national per capita income and growth. This paper challenges these findings and claims that, firstly, they simply reflect inappropriate use and interpretations of statistical instruments. Secondly, it is argued that the models presented by Lynn and Vanhanen are under-complex and inadequately specified. More precisely the authors confuse IQ with human capital. The paper concludes that once control variables are introduced and the models are adequately specified, neither an impact of IQ on income nor on growth can be substantiated."
Abstract: "Recently Richard Lynn and Tatu Vanhanen have presented evidence that differences in national IQ account for the substantial variation in national per capita income and growth. This paper challenges these findings and claims that, firstly, they simply reflect inappropriate use and interpretations of statistical instruments. Secondly, it is argued that the models presented by Lynn and Vanhanen are under-complex and inadequately specified. More precisely the authors confuse IQ with human capital. The paper concludes that once control variables are introduced and the models are adequately specified, neither an impact of IQ on income nor on growth can be substantiated."
04/14/02 - A Few Thoughts on IQ and the Wealth of Nations
04/14/02 - A Few Thoughts on IQ and the Wealth of Nations:
"The correlation between national IQ and national income is very high. For the 81 countries, the r is .73 for GDP measured in purchasing power parity terms."
Of course, the questions are:
- To what degree does wealth allow countries to buy IQ?
- Under what conditions does high average IQ help countries to increase per capita GDP?
"The correlation between national IQ and national income is very high. For the 81 countries, the r is .73 for GDP measured in purchasing power parity terms."
Of course, the questions are:
- To what degree does wealth allow countries to buy IQ?
- Under what conditions does high average IQ help countries to increase per capita GDP?
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Economist.com | The dotcoms come of age
Economist.com | The dotcoms come of age:
"The 200m Americans who now have web access are likely to spend more than $120 billion online this year. And that is only part of the story. E-commerce has not only grown into a huge thing in its own right, it has done so in a way that will change every kind of business, offline as well as online, as our survey explains."
"The 200m Americans who now have web access are likely to spend more than $120 billion online this year. And that is only part of the story. E-commerce has not only grown into a huge thing in its own right, it has done so in a way that will change every kind of business, offline as well as online, as our survey explains."
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Research in Science and Technology Studies
Research
This page provides abstracts and links for papers by Sulfikar Amir. He is a PhD student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Some of the materials are specific to Indonesia, and others more general in nature.
This page provides abstracts and links for papers by Sulfikar Amir. He is a PhD student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Some of the materials are specific to Indonesia, and others more general in nature.
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