I scored an 86, so at least I'm not the nerdiest one of the group. For some reason astrophysicists aren't considered as nerdy as you straight physicists. In fact I was talking to a PhD student in education that actually called astronomy more "relevant to the real world" than evolutionary biology. For some reason, people think we're cooler and more useful than you people.
I guess being a straight physicist comes across as more nerdy, although I don't know why.
However:
More "more "relevant to the real world" than evolutionary biology"?!?! What was your friend thinking? Tell that to the entire medical community whose research into new drugs, treatments and therapies hinges on evolutionary biology: http://tinyurl.com/bdqfs. Not to mention what we learn from evolution about every living thing.
Hey, I really like astrophysics, but I have a hard time thinking it is more relevant to the real world" than evolutionary biology. I would think normal people spend a lot more time interacting with living things and depending on medicine being prepared for that next strain of disease (ie.. evolutionary/type mutation) than anything astronomers or cosmologists are doing.
That said, what astronomers and cosmologists are doing is revelvant and crucial enough for society that it does warrant the types of funding it receives.
I'm going to guess that Charles Darwin's contribution to the "real world" is and will continue to be just as important as Newtons. (And astronomy and cosmology are just subsets of what flowed from Newton.)
I agree with you, however it's nice to be on the other side of that comment just for once in my life (unless I'm talking to string theorist or mathematicians).
Oh man, I only got a 92. I really thought aerospace engineers would be amongst the most nerdy (some weird combination of practical astrophysics, real life implementation, and tons of math), but I guess not.
Wait, being a nerd is bad? You need to watch this, if you haven't already.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72XAXiyXf-k
http://www.nerdtests.com/images/ft/nq/3d08e95939.gif
ReplyDeleteI scored an 86, so at least I'm not the nerdiest one of the group. For some reason astrophysicists aren't considered as nerdy as you straight physicists. In fact I was talking to a PhD student in education that actually called astronomy more "relevant to the real world" than evolutionary biology. For some reason, people think we're cooler and more useful than you people.
ReplyDeleteStan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the references. The link was great.
Nick,
I guess being a straight physicist comes across as more nerdy, although I don't know why.
However:
More "more "relevant to the real world" than evolutionary biology"?!?! What was your friend thinking? Tell that to the entire medical community whose research into new drugs, treatments and therapies hinges on evolutionary biology: http://tinyurl.com/bdqfs. Not to mention what we learn from evolution about every living thing.
Hey, I really like astrophysics, but I have a hard time thinking it is more relevant to the real world" than evolutionary biology. I would think normal people spend a lot more time interacting with living things and depending on medicine being prepared for that next strain of disease (ie.. evolutionary/type mutation) than anything astronomers or cosmologists are doing.
That said, what astronomers and cosmologists are doing is revelvant and crucial enough for society that it does warrant the types of funding it receives.
I'm going to guess that Charles Darwin's contribution to the "real world" is and will continue to be just as important as Newtons. (And astronomy and cosmology are just subsets of what flowed from Newton.)
ReplyDeleteJoe,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, however it's nice to be on the other side of that comment just for once in my life (unless I'm talking to string theorist or mathematicians).
Well Joe you out nerded me. I only got a 94.
ReplyDeleteOh man, I only got a 92. I really thought aerospace engineers would be amongst the most nerdy (some weird combination of practical astrophysics, real life implementation, and tons of math), but I guess not.
ReplyDeleteWow, I only got an 84. You're a NERD... nee ner, nee ner, nee ner. haha
ReplyDeleteThanks Jared. :)
ReplyDelete