Comments on: CafÃ© Scientifique: Season Two

By: A Recommendation | Cosmic Variance

A Recommendation | Cosmic Variance — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 04:10:05 +0000

[…] Sean « CafÃ© Scientifique: Season Two […]

By: Allyson

Allyson — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:42:01 +0000

Scott provided an impressive array of different techniques and measurements that solidly place the Earth’s age around 4.5 billion years. This would be more than enough to convince any reasonable person, but, sadly, I suspect that anyone who is truly a young Earth creationist is well past the point where reasoned argument and evidence will have an effect.

Oooooh, interesting. I’ve had this discussion but get a bit confused and tongue-tied about the science/measurements. Can you expand a bit on this? I’m also sometimes struck speechless by the “this watch is complex, it was obviously created by an intelligent designer, ergo, we are complex and obviously made from a magical lump o’ clay” weirdness. Anyone know where that came from? How do people here respond (after the speechless wears off)?

By: Armchair Anarchist

Armchair Anarchist — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 18:59:56 +0000

Excellent news…my local university here in Portsmouth (UK) has been running Cafe Scientifiques since spring this year, and they’re a great idea - as well as a great night out, and a good source of material for blogging…I managed to snare an interview with Igor Aleksander buy asking him nicely after his appearance.

The new season for us starts later this month - I can’t wait! It’s a shame that few people who aren’t already into science turn up, but that’s only to be expected, I guess. Good luck with future events!

By: Amara

Amara — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 18:31:24 +0000

Very impressive to cover those particular topics in popular science format in only 20 minutes!

By: Subhendra

Subhendra — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 16:41:54 +0000

The subject is fascinating, is there a transcript of the talk online or is there a review
article by Scott which covers the same ground. One thing you did not mention in your post is that geo-neutrinos, seen at Kamland , originate in the decay of Thorium and Uranium in the earths mantle and crust, and can give us some useful information about the formation of earth.

By: Hal Porter

Hal Porter — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 15:29:22 +0000

These sound so wonderful. It’s a shame that I live 300 miles away in NYC

Wonderful work you’re doing. In spirit I think it is extending the work of the eminent Victorian scientists who were so concerned (unlike Newton, etc) to communicate their work to the layperson. With specialization, a lay audience now includes other scientists.

I remember about 10 years ago giving a lift to a senior scientist (now in a very powerful administrative position at a senior graduate center) who rather bashfully admitted thinking about getting a Scientific American subscription in order to find out what was happening in the rest of the sciences.

I respect the admission. I have been a science writer, so there is no shame approaching any subject signaling ignorance in advance. Practicing scientists are in a more conflicted situation. 100-150 years ago I don’t think this would have been the case. While it is true that what we know now and are learning is a much greater mass of material than in 1880, the means of cross communication and formal and informal means of learning are now much more circumscribed. I am often shocked that my general knowledge is sometimes deeper in aspects of the sciences outside a scientist’s field of specialization than is the scientist’s.

The barriers are coming down a little bit through efforts such as yours.

By: greg

greg — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 08:21:19 +0000

When I’m confronted Earth creationists, I avoid the debate because it is rarely constructive. I’m also shocked by the number of people who are suprised I am a christian, and yet work on evolutionary Biology. This view that if you belive in God you must cast science aside is a recent trend I really don’t like.

By: danvk

danvk — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 02:53:02 +0000

Sounds very interesting. Is there a transcript or video available?

By: Spatulated

Spatulated — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:26:52 +0000

This sounds like alot of fun. I am new to new york and in the rochester area (RIT), is there a way (bus? train? crazy people with cars) for me to get down to syracuse?