Science and Inquiry discussion

Hi everyone.


This thread was suggested to me from one of the (many) podcasts I listen to, Probably Science. Presented by two comedians with scientific educations, they usually have a guest or two, other comedians, and discuss to a greater or lesser degree recent science-based news stories.


They always start by asking their guests "What, if anything, is your background in science?" and it struck me that this would be an excellent question for this group.


And there are no wrong answers. If you a multiple PhD or someone who dropped out of high school but then started a lay interest in science when you developed a crush of Neil deGrasse Tyson, that's cool.

I suppose it's only fair for me to start.


I was seriously into science in secondary school, but had a chemistry teacher who decided to make my life hell because of his experience with my older brother. When it came to choosing O Levels (15 years old, we start to stream in British schools at a stupidly early age) I knew he would be teaching chemistry so opted for biology and physics to be told I wasn't allowed to do that, it was either all three or chemistry/biology or chemistry/physics. So I decided screw that and went for arts instead - literature, languages, history, geography. And generally decided to bugger things up, although eventually went on to do a journalism degree.


But I never lost my love for science and took up reading popular science, especially physics, in my 20s. If I got the chance, I'd love to go back and do a science-based degree, perhaps earth sciences or something practical like ecological engineering.

It's not that I object to this thread, but that I wonder whether Paul has bothered to read some of the resources already available. Like the poll asking members what their background in science is:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/6...

or the Introductions thread, in which most active members have already described their background in science:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Betsy wrote: "It's not that I object to this thread, but that I wonder whether Paul has bothered to read some of the resources already available. Like the poll asking members what their background in science is:..."

I saw the poll but thought this allowed a bit more individual detail, and was a bit more focused than the general introduction, However, if it's out of order please feel free to chuck it.

It's up to the members. If they want to post, I have absolutely no objection.

Raised by a doctor and a nurse, spent most of my youth time outdoors, collecting fossils, dried plants, snake skins, deer antlers, bones, turtles, snakes, frogs and other unfortunates.

BA in biology 1971, PhD in anthropology 1995, archaeologist till 2011, now retired and observing life, the universe and everything.

I was fascinated by science, mostly Physics and Mathematics, in secondary school when I read Hawking's A Brief History of Time and The Universe in a Nutshell. My family is conservative and so this affinity with science had an emotional dimension since reason, logic, and empiricism represented a kind of intellectual rebellion.

I ended up in an Electrical Engineering program, the rationale for which came from the idea of combining physics and mathematics. However, due to various reasons, I did not like it very much. I am only just rediscovering my passion of mathematics. Maybe I'll find a place for Physics too.

Maths and Science were my favourite subjects since school. Read a lot of encyclopaedias while growing up. Did an undergraduate diploma in engineering (electronics and telecommunication), and that's when I delved deeper into physics (electromagnetic wave theory), microprocessors, electrical circuits, and (of course) mathematics.

I dropped out of college while doing a bachelor's degree in engineering, and switched to a career of writing and music. Now that I work in a music studio and have got both my feet in music theory, I see the connections between music, physics and maths. It's wonderful. Perhaps, someday I'll write a book on it.

I have no connections to science whatsoever. I checked out a lot of science books from my library since elementary school.

My father wanted me to be married by 18 and a mother by 19.

My schools wanted me to be married by 18, and a mother by 19. They had no other game plan for females.

In the 7th grade, I decided I would go to college. No one in my family had ever gone to college. However, in checking the requirements for graduation, I noticed girls were required to have three years of cooking, three years of sewing. Everybody had to have two years of science, math, etc. for high school graduation. Boys had to have three years of shop. Girls were forbidden from taking shop. (I didn't question this at the time, my dad had refused to let me watch him teach my brother simple car repairs.)

When I checked what was needed for university entrance, I saw one needed three years of everything math and science, plus what my junior high and high school were calling electives were requirements for college. So I sat down and tried to work out a schedule for my next 6 years of schooling.

It was impossible for a girl to take all of the required courses for college entrance. Boys could easily get there. Girls, could not, with the 3 years of cooking and 3 years of sewing.

I went to the counselor and I argued. He said, "I don't understand why you are upset. You will be getting married when you grow up. You don't need to be concerned over this. Go to class, please."

I enlisted a female teacher to help me argue with him. I got him to drop two years of cooking and sewing (which led to further complications - another story).

I got my necessary classes by high school graduation. I got accepted by the University of Washington. But my father said, "No man will want you!" and tore up my loan papers. He said, "I got a man for a daughter and a girl for a son." My brother had long hair and was going out a lot all night and on the phone a lot. This was 1970. I was studying all of the time.

My father got as far as the 6th grade when he had to quit school because of the Depression. My mother was an Alaskan Indian, educated in a school for Indians. She was smarter than my dad, but like me, she could not get bank credit cards or loans, buy a car, house, or shop unless she had cash, could only work as a factory worker for one-third pay as the men or be a secretary, which is what I turned out to be.

I grew up in a blue-collar district. No one of my parent's generation went to college. Most were sorry they couldn't help their kids go. My dad was sorry he couldn't help my brother go, but even if he had, my brother had not taken the required classes for college admittance, only for high school graduation. However, I got him a job at the same company I worked for. While I was told I might get a promotion to being secretary for a Division Manager, up from my District Manager, my brother was promoted to Supervisor.

I gave up, got married.

I identify with you, April. My experience wasn't as bad as yours. Fortunately, my mother, who was a teacher, encouraged and enabled all her children to go to college. But when I was in high school (the 1950s) girls were not allowed to take shop, discouraged from taking hard science, and encouraged to pursue the "softer" subjects. Marriage and children were what we were taught to expect.

Betsy wrote: "I identify with you, April. My experience wasn't as bad as yours. Fortunately, my mother, who was a teacher, encouraged and enabled all her children to go to college. But when I was in high school ..."

I have always adored my female teachers! They all not only rocked, but they often were my rocks. They helped me when no one else would.

: )

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "My father wanted me to be married by 18 and a mother by 19."

Touching story, well told.

Meanwhile, boys like me squandered our advantages.

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "I have no connections to science whatsoever. I checked out a lot of science books from my library since elementary school.

"

Αμαzing story there 'Feral April' and lookatm, I wanted to 'dropout' from this thread! Which brings me to the Q instore, what about me.. And I really wouldn't know where to 'pick up' the pieces, to give most of you a 'coherent whole'

I became interested in the hard sciences as a child. I frequently read nonfiction books regarding animals and space. I originally preferred space and geology, but as I got older I was interested in biology. Primarily ecology and zoology.

I just graduated with a BS in biology with a minor in sustainability. I am currently working in a credit union while I study for the GRE. I have done two internships. One with a local sustainability business and another with Nebraska Watershed Network. While in college I discovered that I quite enjoyed genetics and chemistry. If I was much better at mathematics I would have double majored in chemistry and biology.

I have been reading some scientific articles, national geographic, listening to a parasitism podcast, and reading science based books while out of school.

I quite dearly miss being surrounded by science everyday, but hopefully I will be accepted into grad school.

Courtney wrote: I quite dearly miss being surrounded by science everyday, but hopefully I will be accepted into grad school."

Good luck with your exams.

Thomai wrote: "I do miss the days of walking past labs with petri dishes and drawing out chemical formulas, but I hope to revisit that after the little one is in college."

I think there are some good MOOCS out there that might pique your interest in particular for biology: Bio700x, Bio728x from MITx on edX; computer science: CS50x from Harvard; 18.01x (calculus) from MITx (they're starting differential equations in the Fall). They might satisfy your interest for the time being until, as you said, you're able to revisit them.

Hi, I just joined.

I have a BS in Biotechnology, an MS in Biomanufacturing, and I'm currently in the biopharma industry. My expertise is in biofuels, biochemicals, biologics, fermentation, and molecular biology.

I like reading history of science books that chronicle the lives and key discoveries of scientists and how they shape the world. I really like Thomas Hager's work, and I'm currently reading The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson about the great cholera outbreak in London and The Double Helix by James Watson.

I'm also partway through writing a fantasy manuscript about scientists in post-Black Death era Egypt and Persia trying to find a cure to the plague.

So those are all my connections to science!

Welcome, Sid. I loved both The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic - and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World and The Double Helix. Your book really sounds interesting.

Thanks! I hope I do the idea justice. I believe there is a definite niche for science-inflected fantasy :)

I was raised up in the church and homeschooled so I didn't receive any real science education until I was in college. I took zoology and have been in love ever since.
I have my B.S. in Biology. M.S. in Entomology. I have held numerous field tech jobs in biology ranging from American Burying beetle (endangered species) census to trapping for American Black bear.
I have had my fair share of lab work as well and I do appreciate the scientists who rock that environment but I love field work!

I have been into computers since the early 80's with a masters in computer science. Since the mid 90's I have been focused on imaging, document retrieval, and internet applications. Frankly after 35+ years of it I am a little bored. I like to think I am good at what I do and will hang with it until I retire but I have been focusing on physics and mathematics in my spare time for the last 10 years or so to learn something more or at least try to. One of the things I find myself doing a lot when reading science books is to dig a little deeper into the subject by mostly web searches and other books. Here is to all of us to continue our pursuit of life long learning and happiness. Game On!

Yes. I have no room to complain because I have a wonderful family, good job, and a good vehicle for retirement. I am still just trying to find my way...I guess. Thank goodness there is so much to explore and learn.

I have to account for both me and my wife here, since we are collectively using this pen-name. I have graduated as Certificated Engineer (Diplom-Ingenieur) in Physical Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Rüsselsheim, Germany but strayed from course towards professionally translating science texts (ENG/GER). I am also a member of our local astronomy club since 1990, hence my recently discovered love for writing popular astronomy books on dwarf planets and other lesser worlds of the solar system. My wife is a certificated chemist from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and she has spent a couple of years conveying the wonders of the periodic table to mostly unreceptive students. And then there are the kids, of course, the least receptive of them all ...

Hi, I'm Felicia. I'm 23 years old. I have completed a bachelors' degree in Mechanical Engineering and will complete my Masters' in Robotics this May. I have always been very interested in learning how the world works which essentially is what science is (according to me).

I love reading books on biology, genetics, mathematics, physics, engineering, economics, autobiographies, memoirs.......... well a bit of everything.

Hope to find some great books and greater people here.

Thanks

Hello Felicia, what type of robotics do you work with? Do you have any books to recommend for a novice in robotics (and engineering)?


In other news, I recently completed an internship at The Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. I worked in the Desert Dome as a Mammal intern. It was an interesting experience and answered many questions I had about zoos.

Courtney wrote: "Hello Felicia, what type of robotics do you work with? Do you have any books to recommend for a novice in robotics (and engineering)?


In other news, I recently completed an internship at The Omah..."

Hello, Courtney, I work with industrial robots, more specifically KUKA KR5 and KUKA LWR IIWA. If you want to understand the basics of robotics then I would suggest Handbook of Robotics by Bruno Siciliano. This covers all the major topics briefly. Another one would be Introduction to robotics by John J Craig. Robotics, Vision and Control by Dr Peter Corke is also a very handy book and his approach of do-it-along is very helpful to beginners.

If your interest is in motion planning and control, then Dr Bruno Siciliano has written some comprehensive texts on the same.

Felicia, thank you for the recommendations.

I have a bachelors in applied physics with a minor in philosophy. My applied physics degree was focused academically on geophysics, research in materials science. I did 5 years of research using Transmission Electron Microscopy, a microscope powerful enough to see individual atoms (in the right conditions). My heart belongs to astrophysics though, which is what I hope to do in graduate school. It wasn't offered at my undergraduate university unfortunately.

@Garrett wow that must have been amazing! What type of research have you done?

I completed a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology last December. During my undergraduate years I did research on a molecular endocrinology lab, which focused on the androgen receptor and other proteins involved in the development of prostate cancer. We were interested in the development of novel drugs to inhibit these protein-protein interactions in order to stop/prevent prostate cancer. I also did an internship in Costa Rica where we studied the level of viral and fecal contamination in waste water treatment plants. I begin grad school (PhD in Microbiology) in three weeks.

@Courtney I began research helping on a project involving fabrication of hydrogen sensors for hydrogen fuel cells. After some interesting results from that project I did an independent project to try to fabricate ultra-thin alumina films. That project sort of stalled out and I began helping a chemistry graduate student on her project to create boron/iron oxide core shells to use in a cancer treatment called Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. For my senior project I did another independent project where I attempted to fabricate boron/alumina core shells for that cancer treatment.

My background is in math & physics but an emphasis (strong interest) in astronomy.

Hi, so nice to find a book group for people who read nonfiction science books. I get a little tired of the blank stares and dinner-plate-eyes every time I suggest a science book at book club ;)

I have a MS in genetics and I work as a science writer (but I write news, not books).

Currently reading I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed Yong and it's even better than I expected!

I'm a soil chemist, educator (teach both at a community college and apprentice high school students), and own a research facility where independent scientists in the area can rent machines (and/or teach kids about their science).

I'm developing a love of robotics and programming, though. It's getting a little confusing in my brain as I spend a lot of time programming. And I'm terrible at it. xD

Hello everyone! I have a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation and an M.S. in Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy. I currently work as an environmental lobbyist.

Hi.
I am an interested layman and read different magazines, online articles, Wikipedia,... for years.
I try to have a wide range of topics and to stay informed about the developments. Certainly just on a superficial level, but I like to compare the effects of development from one area to another. And how the inquiry varies depending on the emphasis.
Best regards

Jamie wrote: "Hello everyone! I have a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation and an M.S. in Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy. I currently work as an environmental lobbyist."

Whoa! Where did you go to get your Master's? What is your day to day life as an environmental lobbyist?

Courtney wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Hello everyone! I have a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation and an M.S. in Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy. I currently work as an environmental lobbyist."

Whoa! Where did you go t..."

I got my MS at SUNY Albany. I work for a nonprofit environmental group lobbying the state government to better protect our environment etc.

Hasan wrote: "I was fascinated by science, mostly Physics and Mathematics, in secondary school when I read Hawking's A Brief History of Time and The Universe in a Nutshell. My family is conservative and so this ..."

I am in the same boat as you are . I loved physics and mathematics while I was at school. But I ended up doing civil engineering which held no interest to me. Now I'm planning to get my masters in mathematics.

Hi everyone! I have a BSc in biology and a BEd in teaching high school biology. I taught high school science (bio, chem, physics) and math at an international school for a couple of years but the school closed and it was the only one in my city (in China), so I moved to teaching younger kids for the last 5 years. I’m currently taking time off because I’m expecting my second baby in a couple of weeks, but there is finally a new international high school here so I plan to go back to teaching high school biology next January.

Hello! I am a middle school science teacher, but I’m looking for a career change into environmental biology. I want to start reading more non fiction to supplement my professional knowledge, but I love good science fiction books as well.

Hi! I have a BSc in physics and an almost completed MSc in Photonics. I also have a website in which I publish science news and other information from both natural and social sciences. I actually had a team of volunteers writing for it at some point, but I neglected it due to medical reasons and they sort of quit.

Hi, Everyone! I have a BS in Marine Biology and an MEd in Learning Theory. I have done some field work in Marine Bio and taught in the "Outdoor Ed" field, but I also spent 22 years teaching Biology, AP Biology and Anatomy and Physiology at the High School and Community College level. Currently, I'm 15 years into the IT field as a software analyst for a health care system. (I love technology and like to learn new things! ) Thank you, Carrie for your book suggestion: "I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life: by Ed Yong. It's now on my "Want to Read" list!

I have a M.S. in Microbiology and am intending to complete my PhD in the same subject this fall. My Grad work has focused on making biofuel from algae that we isolated from Yellowstone National Park. I also work on bioinformatics, especially plant genome analyses.

I have A-level's in Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and Sociology.

I also have got B in GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

I was grown interest in science when I was 5. I was a a person who always asked questions. I fell in love with science because of reading nonfiction books.

Krishna, what is mechatronics engineering?

I studied entomology and received a masters in science for my work studying both ticks and american black bears in Oklahoma. Currently, working in a microbiology lab.

Biology was the first thing I fell in love with but I always loved Chemistry even more when I knew more about it.

I believe any subject we study count as science as well. Even Art (One of my least favourite subjects) would be count as science. Science = Study of. You can explore anything from anywhere. They are not all 'physical' science. But they are all science. I always make best of all my subjects even with ones that I am not keen such as Art, PE, ICT or Music.

I have a BS in Information Security, and a Masters of Information Security Management. I work for a Fortune 500 company as a Cybersecurity Engineer. Stephen Jay Gould is my hero. ;)