Monthly Archives: October 2010

The end of summer.

Posted on October 31, 2010 by

Today is Samhain the Celtic festival to mark the end of the light half of the year, summer, and the beginning of the dark half, winter. The Celts believed that the border between this world and the otherworld became thin … Continue reading →

Posted in Giants' Shoulders | 1 Comment

Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics

Posted on October 26, 2010 by

Slides from my History of Science course …

Posted in Teaching HPS | 1 Comment

The Problem of Human Missions to Mars

Posted on October 26, 2010 by

I just published a short piece in the Journal of Cosmology’s special issue Colonizing Mars: The Mission to the Red Planet. It argues that humans will not reach Mars on the power of peripheral arguments about science, national pride, or … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy, History, Physics, Science, Space Exploration | 3 Comments

The Age of the Earth

Posted on October 21, 2010 by

Slides from my History of Science course.

Posted in Teaching HPS | 2 Comments

How many species concepts are there?

Posted on October 21, 2010 by

I make an argument for everything from 27 to 0 at Grrlscientist’s blog at the Guardian.

Posted in Biology, Philosophy | Leave a comment

The utility of HPS

Posted on October 18, 2010 by

Over at The Bubble Chamber (blog of the University of Toronto Science Policy Working Group), Curtis Forbes asks “can history and philosophy of science be applied in socially relevant ways?”

Posted in History, Philosophy | Leave a comment

HSS Annual Meeting (Nov 4 – 7)

Posted on October 18, 2010 by

The History of Science Society annual meeting is rapidly approaching and is to be held in Montreal on November 4th through 8th. As always, there are lots of interesting sessions, but as a member of the Committee on Education, I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Conferences, History, Philosophy, Teaching HPS | 15 Comments

More deaths

Posted on October 18, 2010 by

Two researchers have recently died who are relevant to evolutionary biology. Leigh Van Valen, the originator of the “Red Queen Hypothesis” and a proponent of the Ecological Species Concept, died yesterday, John Hawks is reporting. I had some correspondence with … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mr X

Posted on October 16, 2010 by

There is a scholar, call him Mr X, who received his training within the academy, but who found it wasn’t enough. He wanted more: to move outside of his wonky circle of colleagues, to engage the public, to communicate ideas … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Early Scientific Printing, History, Mathematics, Physics, Science | 2 Comments

Giants’ Shoulders #28 is Out

Posted on October 16, 2010 by

Jai Virdi has posted her special edition of Giants’ Shoulders ‘Visuals & Representations’ at From the Hands of Quacks and a wonderful collection of  history of science eye candy is waiting for your perusal, so put on the reading glasses and pop … Continue reading →

Posted in Giants' Shoulders | 1 Comment