Richard Hamming, mathematician at Bell Labs for thirty years, gave a talk before he passed away on the factors that determine why a scientist does or does not make significant contributions. Although his focus was on ideas in science, the wisdom he shared really can be applied to any area where original thought is necessary. Here are the core insights from his talk. 1. Don’t think your success is a matter of luck. Hamming argues a major roadblock is thinking your success will be mainly about … [Read more...] about 8 Strategies To Improve Your Innovation
science
America’s Got Talent
American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and America's Got Talent have been around for years, and when I was a kid there was Star Search (on which a young Britney Spears appeared) which lasted well over 10 seasons. These shows mostly feature talented singers, musicians and dancers who are often desperate to get their shot at stardom. And only a handful of them go on to become household names. … [Read more...] about America’s Got Talent
Summer Science: Summer Fun
For hands-on summer fun and hours of discovery learning, invest in one (or all) of these try-it-at-home scientific experiment books*: Stomp Rockets, Catapults, and Kaleidoscopes: 30+ Amazing Science Projects You Can Build for Less Than $1, by Curt Gabrielson (Chicago Review, 2008); Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things (series), by Cy Tymony (Andrews McMeel, 2003); and The Way Toys Work: The Science Behind the Magic 8 Ball, Etch A Sketch, Boomerang, and More, by Ed Sobey and Woody Sobey (Chicago … [Read more...] about Summer Science: Summer Fun
Kentucky Opens Academy of Mathematics and Science
In August, 120 of Kentucky’s brightest students will begin the school year at the state-supported Kentucky Academy of Mathematics and Science. As its name implies, the school will focus on a strong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum and is similar to residential science and math schools in fourteen U.S. states (nine in the Southeast). … [Read more...] about Kentucky Opens Academy of Mathematics and Science
A Beef with Bush’s Plan
In his 2006 State of the Union address, President Bush called for 70,000 teachers over the next five years to lead Advanced Placement math and science courses. This would be an expansion of nearly 38,000 teachers with such training. The initiative also calls for encouraging 30,000 math and science professionals to become adjunct high school teachers. … [Read more...] about A Beef with Bush’s Plan
Science Fairs for Gifted Learners
What Is a Science Fair, Anyway? A science fair is an event in which students present independent research projects. They are required to produce new data to answer a question, which is considered a higher-level skill than merely summarizing knowledge gathered by someone else. A panel of judges reviews the projects, interviews the students about their work, and provides evaluations. The independent judging process sets these projects apart from many of the other assignments that students do in … [Read more...] about Science Fairs for Gifted Learners
The Benefits of Mentorship
Our son Daniel has always been the type of person to make things happen. He met his mentor, Dr. Sabine Heinhorst, after taking a serious interest in the eighth-grade science fair. Daniel resolved to “be brave” and simply ask Dr. Heinhorst, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), in person if she would help him with his project. At first, Dr. Heinhorst was taken aback by Daniel’s directness and honest interest in science. Since then he has been working in a … [Read more...] about The Benefits of Mentorship
The Inside Story
Gross anatomy doesn’t have to be gross anymore. Three-dimensional, interactive anatomy software allows for intricate, in-depth study of the human body with the click of a mouse. … [Read more...] about The Inside Story