Last week, I attended a workshop on movement building for social change. One of my breakout groups was discussing "shared purpose". I used the word "asymptote" to make the point that with the best shared purpose, we need to know we only make dents and some progress, and although we never fully bring about the … Continue reading Towards a multidisciplinary future
Tag: education
The importance of being prepared
Yesterday, a young friend of mine met with a well-regarded academic in her field. He has been teaching for over 2 decades. When she went to see him, he was preparing feverishly for a one-hour lecture he was about to give to an audience of young undergraduates, who wouldn't know better if he sneaked in … Continue reading The importance of being prepared
Strategic design for safer driving
This is the week (or month) that Toyota would like to forget. The firm that revolutionised the otherwise unglamorous manufacturing business is in a tough place. The jury is out on the causal pathways, and on whether this signals the end of Toyota or whether it will rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Car … Continue reading Strategic design for safer driving
Lessons for success from Darwin’s life
For nerds, scientists and Charles Darwin fans, the year 2009 is a bumper year. It is both the 200th year of his birth, and the 150th year of the publication of The Origin of Species. Through the summer, I spent many a fascinating afternoon in Down House, where Darwin lived with his family after returning … Continue reading Lessons for success from Darwin’s life
Second outing: Lost in translation
This post first appeared in November 2007, and generated a fair bit of dialogue. In the meanwhile, of course, we have found ourselves amid the mother of all recessions. In part, the crisis illustrates how silos of specialist information can create risks, beyond the comprehension of those in charge of managing and mitigating it. I … Continue reading Second outing: Lost in translation
Lost in translation?
Long post alert! As information overload grows, it seems the world is getting lost in translation. This confusion and lack of clear communication goes beyond linguistic and grammatical faux pas. The problem is more serious and manifests in many ways. However the smallest hope of comprehension finds itself inextricably lodged in the cracks, some feel … Continue reading Lost in translation?
Twist in the tale: Watson (contd.)
Continuing the story of James Watson, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratories first issued a press release distancing themselves from Watson's view on intelligence of black people and now have suspended him, pending further deliberations at the Labs. Considering all his engagements are being cancelled by hosts in a hurry to distance themselves from Watson, the Cambridge … Continue reading Twist in the tale: Watson (contd.)
Scientists as “people”
Long post alert! The Science Museum in London has cancelled a talk by James Watson, of Watson & Crick fame. The museum takes exception to his remarks made to the Sunday Times where he says that black people are essentially "less intelligent" than "ours". At the time of writing this post - Thursday 18 October … Continue reading Scientists as “people”
The genetic research gold rush
When the California gold rush began, the story goes that it was the guys selling picks and shovels that made the booty. What would be the equivalent of "picks and shovels" in genetics research then? Well, it would be "platforms" that enable research in many different ways, and "methods" of analysing data so it makes … Continue reading The genetic research gold rush
Exemplar organisations, moral dilemmas and academic freedom
Marginal Revolution writes about a new NBER paper from Roland Fryer and Freakonomist Steven Levitt. The summary says (full text of the paper here): The Ku Klux Klan reached its heyday in the mid-1920s, claiming millions of members. In this paper, we analyze the 1920s Klan, those who joined it, and the social and political … Continue reading Exemplar organisations, moral dilemmas and academic freedom
