Success of the Cell Network

It seems like the communications network for mobile phones weathered out storm Sandy quite well. This article gives an interesting perspective on how changing commercial goals can help with emergency system performance as well.

Policy

Science policy is an important topic that doesn't get as much attention as it should. The Scientific American put out this article on the presidential candidates and their positions on various areas of science policy. Use it to educate yourself on their positions-- and don't forget to vote!

In case you're looking for some Halloween costume ideas...

There are some excellent suggestions here. I'd go as Ohm, but I might get some resistance.

Cheating

As I prepare to become an assistant professor, I've spent some time thinking about cheating and what I'll do if my students do it.

Throughout my whole education, honesty and integrity in my work was emphasized by my parents first and foremost and also by my teachers. During my undergraduate years at Rice University, we had an honor code that both gave us great freedom and important responsibilities. I followed it very seriously, and I believe most people did. Our school was small and so we never felt anonymous, so I think that helped. It allowed us to have closed-book timed take home exams (whenever I say that to a professor at another university, they gasp). Yes that's right-- we had to close our books, open our tests, and time ourselves taking the test for 3 hours without looking at our books again, and then stop when 3 hours were up. And I did it, lots of times. It was so helpful-- I could stop studying exactly when I was ready and take the test exactly at that moment! I could take the test in the library, where it's quiet and I'm sitting in a carol that blocks out distractions. I didn't have to worry about being sleepy at the 1pm class time, or taking it when I didn't feel well, etc. I didn't cheat because I wanted to keep those benefits.

The University of Michigan also has an honor code, though it seems that closed-book timed take home exams are a bit too much to ask. No professor (or other proctor) is allowed in the classroom while an exam is being taken, and the students have to follow other rules of conduct that the teacher lays out regarding collaboration. Of course, UM has more than 40,000 students-- a little bigger than Rice's 2500 undergraduates (4000 total). So I will have to learn the differences when I arrive.

I was prompted to write about this topic because of this excellent essay in the new york times a few days ago. I hope I can instill in my students an appreciation of "the difference between seeming to be successful and actually being successful." The satisfaction that true success gives us is unparalleled.

How do Cheetahs run?

I love stories like this one that remind us how little we know even about animals most prized by humans for their amazing abilities. Cheetahs are the fastest animal by more than 20 miles per hour, and yet scientists still don't understand what makes them capable of such speeds. It's a pretty neat thing to ponder!

Survey of Earned Doctorates

In order to complete my degree, I was asked to fill out the National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates. It asked me questions about my field, citizenship, time to degree, etc. A small set of the results are plotted at this link (after you click 'next' a couple times you can see the plots). Update: If the link is broken, just google "Survey of Earned Doctorates."

I'm happy that there is so much growth in female science and engineering doctorates! Hopefully that keeps trickling up the food chain.

I would like to see plots about time-to-degree and the type of job taken afterward... It seems there are more and more Ph.D.s for fewer and fewer academic positions. Of course non science and engineering doctorates have been feeling that truth for a long time.

A Brief History of John Baldessari

This five-minute video is a little story about the artist Baldessari, narrated by Tom Waits. His painting that is shown at 5:15 is one of my old favorites (ok so the video is six minutes. sue me).

Here's what I learned: Baldessari thinks every young artist should know three things.

1. Talent is cheap.
2. You have to be possessed, which you can't will.
3. Be at the right place at the right time.

The middle one is true of research as well. Tomorrow I walk across the stage at the Kohl Center, graduating with my Ph.D.! It definitely took many moments of being possessed to make it so far.