Category Archives: Science in culture & policy

Because science is all up in everybody’s business, whether they know it or not.

AAAS Update: Drunks with Lamp-Posts

Posted on February 18, 2008 by cicada

Well, the 2008 AAAS Annual Meeting here in Boston was fun! I didn’t expect that. I’m not a huge fan of scientific conferences because I have an extremely short attention span. And I haven’t been blogging a lot – I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Science, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

The Mona Lisa, Genes, and Money

Posted on February 13, 2008 by cicada

One of the questions an artist hates most is what is your artwork worth? Price is a subjective, unsatisfactory proxy for emotional angst, frustration, eyestrain, and time. Sometimes I find that NO (reasonable) value can compensate for the emotional investment … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Ephemera, Film, Video & Music, Littademia, Photography, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Seriously, now. . .

Posted on January 19, 2008 by cicada

OK – enough frivolous posts for the moment. There’s an election in the offing, and I want to address those of you who care whether the next President is science-and-technology-literate. Which should be ALL of you, right? Sciencedebate 2008 (of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Science, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Think outside Schrodinger’s box

Posted on December 11, 2007 by cicada

Can a president who is not comfortable thinking about science hope to lead instead of follow? Earlier Republican debates underscored this problem. In May, when candidates were asked if they believed in the theory of evolution, three candidates said no. … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Science in culture & policy | 1 Comment

Living paycheck to paycheck, on Wonderbread and ramen

Posted on December 8, 2007 by cicada

I found this post on the NYT Health blog “Well”, by Tara Parker-Pope (when did the NYT switch to a blogging model? am I just oblivious?) Anyway, the post was mildly intriguing. But then I started reading the comments, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Department of the Drama, Science, Science in culture & policy | 8 Comments

Rock it, sister!

Posted on December 5, 2007 by cicada

In a great post at The Intersection, Sheril takes on sexism, science, and stereotypes. This is exactly why I like “The Big Bang Theory,” yet feel strangely uncomfortable watching it.

Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Science, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Seeding art in science – and vice versa

Posted on November 28, 2007 by cicada

From “Making the Step from Chemistry to Biology and Back,” Nature Chemical Biology David Goodsell The Nov/Dec issue of Seed features an interesting article by Jonah Lehrer on science and art. It’s a short read, but it touches on most … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Science, Science in culture & policy | 3 Comments

Visualizing science: Steve Miller

Posted on October 20, 2007 by cicada

Protein #324, 2003 enamel, silk-screen on paper Steve Miller The protein-inspired art of Steve Miller in turn inspires Visualizing Science: Image-making in the Constitution of Scientific Knowledge, a cool-sounding symposium to be held next Wednesday, October 24, 2007, at Rose … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Education, Science, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Watson does it again

Posted on October 18, 2007 by cicada

The co-discoverer of the double helix, James Watson, has once again placed his Nobel-icious foot in his mouth. He was meant to give a talk today in Britain on his new book, but his appearance has been cancelled in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Science in culture & policy | 2 Comments

How to look perky while blowing things up

Posted on September 12, 2007 by cicada

CONELRAD: Atomic Secrets | The girl, the men, and the atom From the November 18, 1957 LIFE magazine, a full page ad sponsored by America’s Independent Electric Light and Power Companies. CONELRAD is just too much fun.

Posted in Ephemera, Frivolity, Retrotechnology, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off