Constellation Cut?

With the release of the proposed budget science education saw a nice boost in funding, but science programs saw cuts. NASA was one of the most hurt agencies. This was simply upsetting as we know how weak we are as a nation when it comes to science. (I've often been scared when visiting a medical doctors office and hearing the doctors confession of barely making it through calculus one.)

Constellation was supposed to get space exploration back on our minds and provide more technological advancements. Many of the modern items we enjoy have their roots in the space program. Our technology has also advanced greatly since the 60's and 70's. The computer on the Apollo missions ran at a whole 2MHz and would shudder if it met a modern graphing calculator, or my iPhone which is over 300 times more powerful! (And about 69.9 pounds less in weight)

Please read, modify, and send the letter below to your representative! Unless you are also a student on a PhD track you might want to change that bit, but otherwise you could use it pretty much unmodified if you wish.

My Letter About NASA Funding

Misconceptions in Science

After some prompting I began to think about things the general public thinks about when 'science' comes up. Commonly this seems to instantly conjure up images of labs, people in white coats, and one adjective...Hard. The links below are two articles I was required to write, but then really enjoyed them and will probably continue to casually investigate the common stigmas embedded in science.

Even just last night I was sharing the joys of astronomy with two of my smaller elementary school cousins and found out the facts I was sharing were not only new to the kids, but many of the adults present also. This has sparked another thought, how often do we remember that the general population has not had much more than 1000 level science training, and were probably not even that interested then? Could it be we are using the wrong approach? Are we not showing how science applies to their lives?

Papers:

Misconceptions: Why Science is 'Hard'

The Coriolis Force: Does it Really Change Motion in Drains

National Weather Festival

2009 National Weather Festival - Located here at the NWC in Norman. I ended up on KOCO thanks to Paul! The RASP instrument package and my tahoe won:

1st- Most Unique

2nd- Best Looking

2nd- Most Cutting Edge

Welcome!

Just created this as a way to share professional information and small bits of life, mainly projects that I'm working and as these normally consume said life. Please enjoy reading about a mad scientist who has a quest....to find a life.