tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post4913363228308614061..comments2024-03-06T05:17:56.336-05:00Comments on Biking for Birds: June 20 (Day 171) - Rest day, flashback to my PhD days, future life choicesDorian Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770246226295859548noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-91419722818065291392014-06-24T01:37:00.915-04:002014-06-24T01:37:00.915-04:00Very good point. I don't mean to bash MDs. You...Very good point. I don't mean to bash MDs. You are correct that many of them do actual science in addition to their clinical work. I have no issues with MDs being on a science committee. People without ANY technical training? That's another story......Dorian Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12770246226295859548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-67929612432135346242014-06-24T01:16:30.195-04:002014-06-24T01:16:30.195-04:00Agreed, basic scientists are underrepresented in c...Agreed, basic scientists are underrepresented in congress, as are MDs. One point of defense, however: let's be clear, there are plenty of MDs conducting basic science and basic biomedical research and running their own labs. A PhD is no longer the only path into a career as a research scientist. There are medical students awarded Howard Hughes research training fellowships annually. Medical residencies are mandatorily incorporating basic science training into their curriculums and dual degrees such as the MD/PhD, after which the MD may become the primarily used degree if the student so chooses, are rapidly growing in popularity. Echoing an earlier comment, the bottom line is many if not most MDs are excellent scientists as well as clinicians. Another example, radiologists are highly trained in physics during residency, they probably ARE qualified to make decisions about atomic energy AND the course of treatment for a sick patient. Boxing MDs in as healthcare professionals who do nothing but treat sick patients is simply incorrect, so I caution overgeneralization and the definition of "scientist" as it is being used above.Joe Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-67572022061148023932014-06-23T19:27:23.824-04:002014-06-23T19:27:23.824-04:00Why do I not tell my mechanic or my dentist how th...Why do I not tell my mechanic or my dentist how they should do their jobs? Because I know NOTHING about cars or dentistry. Having a person with a degree in political science make decisions about stem cells and atomic energy does not make sense. I am not saying that a political science degree is useless, its just useless in this arena. Likewise, my biology degree is useless when it comes to urban planning; I should therefore avoid committees focused on urban development. And yes, you are correct, my biology degree isn't incredibly useful when it comes to climate science. However, a biology degree is still infinitely more useful in dealing with climate science that many other degrees. Much chemistry is common to biology and climate science, for example. The point is that in my ideal world, we'd elect loads of people with diverse fields of expertise. Right now we generally have a governing body filled with lawyer and business people who know little about anything other than making laws and money. This isn't going to cut it moving forward. I'd love to see a committee of 10 poly-sci PhDs working on campaign finance reform. This is where their expertise would be best deployed as this is their area of study. Everyone and every degree has value, it just about slotting them into the proper place.<br /><br />My PhD had nothing to do with evolutionary biology. It focused on cell biology, and it used molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry to address specific hypotheses regarding cell polarity and morphogenesis. I can explain in molecular detail topics as diverse as chromatin organization, microRNA biogenesis and function, protein folding, synaptic function, etc etc etc. I am qualified to make decisions about policy as it relates to biology. I am not qualified to make decisions about atomic energy or the course of treatment for sick patients. Those should be left to physicists, and MDs, respectively.Dorian Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12770246226295859548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-45407386770065967442014-06-23T13:26:12.036-04:002014-06-23T13:26:12.036-04:00I don't think my remark was irrelevant as it w...I don't think my remark was irrelevant as it was in direct response to Dorian's invitation to "correct me if I am wrong". While I agree entirely that it would be beneficial to have many more individuals trained in the natural sciences serve in Congress, I think you both miss the point that anyone with a PhD understands scientific method, interpretation of research results, etc. Political Science is not politics, it is in fact a scientific discipline funded by the National Science Foundation. And, please, show me an MD who isn't well-versed in biology. Why should I believe that an intimate knowledge of the evolutionary biology of nematodes makes you any more qualified to weigh in on climate science than a man with a doctoral degree from Oxford (which clearly demonstrates his intellectual prowess) and his choice to serve on the committee (an indication of the value he places on science and technology), i.e., he's smart and he cares. These are not the people you should pick on.<br />Your idea to become a high school science teacher has lot more merit, Dorian - educate the voting populace - that is sorely needed!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-33448550335390771462014-06-22T11:13:15.495-04:002014-06-22T11:13:15.495-04:00Thomas Woodrow Wilson, born in Staunton, VA. Studi...Thomas Woodrow Wilson, born in Staunton, VA. Studied at Princeton & Johns Hopkins. Only American president with Ph.D.Lee Loudenslager Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09153772682542608818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-16046609536492675582014-06-22T01:22:24.846-04:002014-06-22T01:22:24.846-04:00Calm down Dorian, I was trying to make the same po...Calm down Dorian, I was trying to make the same point: that none of members on the committee have a PhD in the natural sciences (I just figured that the other science committee member with a PhD is Derek Kilmer with a graduate degree in Comparative Social Policy). The remark of "Anonymous" is indeed irrelevant, but I don't think there is a need to turn this into a "my field is better than yours" slugfest.Wim van Damnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-75797405034645113992014-06-22T01:05:36.770-04:002014-06-22T01:05:36.770-04:00HAHA - I used that text back in the day!HAHA - I used that text back in the day!Dorian Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12770246226295859548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-3754606005400974952014-06-22T01:05:04.102-04:002014-06-22T01:05:04.102-04:00PhD in political science has little to no use on a...PhD in political science has little to no use on a science committee. The is absolutely no science involved in the study of politics. Might be the biggest misnomer in history!<br /><br />Engineers and MDs are certainly welcome and appropriate additions to the Committee, but these folks generally aren't true scientists. We need some biology, chemistry, geology, Physics PhDs to help shape policy around stem cell biology, changing ocean pH, mining and natural resource extraction, and atomic energy use. Political scientists, engineers, and MDs are general not experts in any of these areas.Dorian Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12770246226295859548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-63309610234135931592014-06-22T01:02:19.566-04:002014-06-22T01:02:19.566-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Dorian Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12770246226295859548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-24797026763059997332014-06-21T23:56:02.222-04:002014-06-21T23:56:02.222-04:00I see that Daniel Lipinski has a PhD in Political ...I see that Daniel Lipinski has a PhD in Political Science; who has the other PhD?Wim van Damnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-82958419766249184052014-06-21T11:19:46.335-04:002014-06-21T11:19:46.335-04:00Great post, Dorian! How about a Wolpert quote?Great post, Dorian! How about a Wolpert quote?Greg Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04124101105204878985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-89338539386914749452014-06-21T10:25:50.895-04:002014-06-21T10:25:50.895-04:00There are 2 PhD's, 3 engineers and 3 MD's ...There are 2 PhD's, 3 engineers and 3 MD's on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916447777056971449.post-40328193537427566552014-06-21T07:17:33.163-04:002014-06-21T07:17:33.163-04:00This site is a nice one i got some information fr...This site is a nice one i got some information from this <br /><a href="http://www.123coimbatore.com/real-estate.php" rel="nofollow">real estate market in coimbatore</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06739595680597927909noreply@blogger.com