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This is one reason why science is getting extinct. What happened to garage science and the DIY chemistry kits? DIY Biology is essentially a non-started due to

by bbgm 18y ago

This is one reason why science is getting extinct. What happened to garage science and the DIY chemistry kits? DIY Biology is essentially a non-started due to regulations. I loved blowing up stuff when I was a kid, and doing silly experiments at home and that's one reason I got fascinated with science. The authorities might have been working within the law, but the law itself is all wrong. There has to be a way to encourage garage science, not make it more difficult. I consider myself a "garage scientist" these days. The garage just happens to be my laptop and a set of virtual servers.

neilc 18y ago
This is one reason why science is getting extinct. That is a little hard to believe. The rate of scientific progress is, if anything, continuing to increase. As a society, we are increasingly dependent on science and technology. Science education has long been a priority of the educational systems in most first world countries (for better or worse). And as for "science at home", it is pretty hard to argue that it's under attack, a single anecdote about someone in Massachusetts notwithstanding.
- bbgm 18y ago
  Not in this country. The facilities might be better, but I don't see any encouragement for curiosity and discovery, and I know enough people who've found out that doing DIY Biology might get them labeled as "dangerous people". Maybe I am just old and crusty.
- bbgm 18y ago
  I agree that extinct is too strong a word. Let's call it "science is having a tough time" (and that it is). How many kids do you know who'd like to spend their holidays doing garage science (or adults for that matter)?
  - hugh 18y ago
    I don't know. Were there ever all that many? (Although I know plenty of adults who might spend their holidays doing garage science, if it weren't for the fact that they already get paid to do it as a day job.)
  - neilc 18y ago
    Overall, I wouldn't agree that "science is having a hard time", either. I don't think trends in PhD production are consistent with your argument (PhD production is basically at an all-time high). The Internet and the computer revolution are also compelling examples of how important science and technology are: in addition to being a useful tool for science itself, they have motivated a lot of people to go into scientific/technical careers.
    - bbgm 18y ago
      Science is not just about formal degrees. It's about curiosity and interest as well. I don't see myself having conversations about science at too many bbq's, at least not in a non-scientific audience. I wonder how many people here know about the Broad institute or care about the HapMap project. I just get the sense that science today is either formal or not at all and sheer intellectual curiosity is missing.
      - neilc 18y ago
        Do you really think that the situation was significantly different in the past?

by bbgm 18y ago

neilc 18y ago

This is one reason why science is getting extinct. That is a little hard to believe. The rate of scientific progress is, if anything, continuing to increase. As a society, we are increasingly dependent on science and technology. Science education has long been a priority of the educational systems in most first world countries (for better or worse). And as for "science at home", it is pretty hard to argue that it's under attack, a single anecdote about someone in Massachusetts notwithstanding.

bbgm 18y ago
Not in this country. The facilities might be better, but I don't see any encouragement for curiosity and discovery, and I know enough people who've found out that doing DIY Biology might get them labeled as "dangerous people". Maybe I am just old and crusty.
bbgm 18y ago
I agree that extinct is too strong a word. Let's call it "science is having a tough time" (and that it is). How many kids do you know who'd like to spend their holidays doing garage science (or adults for that matter)?
- hugh 18y ago
  I don't know. Were there ever all that many? (Although I know plenty of adults who might spend their holidays doing garage science, if it weren't for the fact that they already get paid to do it as a day job.)
- neilc 18y ago
  Overall, I wouldn't agree that "science is having a hard time", either. I don't think trends in PhD production are consistent with your argument (PhD production is basically at an all-time high). The Internet and the computer revolution are also compelling examples of how important science and technology are: in addition to being a useful tool for science itself, they have motivated a lot of people to go into scientific/technical careers.
  - bbgm 18y ago
    Science is not just about formal degrees. It's about curiosity and interest as well. I don't see myself having conversations about science at too many bbq's, at least not in a non-scientific audience. I wonder how many people here know about the Broad institute or care about the HapMap project. I just get the sense that science today is either formal or not at all and sheer intellectual curiosity is missing.
    - neilc 18y ago
      Do you really think that the situation was significantly different in the past?