Random links part 2

Part 1 was getting too long for a single post and I felt this one really deserved it's own special time.

She finds this guy kind of offensive. So do I. So much so that it makes me mad. I've been an engineer, now I'm a scientist. Both have a place, both can be good and both can be bad. But, the truely great stuff, the stuff that can change the world, is the stuff that has one foot in both. This particular article cites our impending energy crisis and seems to imply that science has no place in a solution. I can't beleive that someone has the gall to imply such a thing. (Then again, I left engineering for a reason, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.) Go ahead dude, build a windmill for renewable energy. I'm sure you'll do a really great job, but do you know where to put it? Do you have any understanding of how the wind blows, or any knowledge of recent observations of the natural world that could make that windmill even more efficient? I do. Scientists do. Are you going to ask? I sure hope so? Otherwise that windmill, while well-engineered, is a complete waste.

A real solution to the energy problem we face is going to come from engineering of new technology, that I will not deny. But that engineering means nothing without an understanding of the natural world (science anyone?) Technology that uses biofuel is useless without enough understanding of the natural world to know if biofuel is sustainable. AND, all of it's crap if we don't do some solid social science understanding of what people want and are willing to accept into their lives. We better watch out, or our sustainable energy technology will be more akin to an edsel than an acutal solution. Sure it worked, but no one bought it.

While he correctly points out some great engineering achievements, he seems to forget that engineers were also responsible for the betamax, the edsel, (30+ other disasters) and oh yea, those space shuttles (technical problems aside) that never would have gone anywhere in the first place if science hadn't first figured out gravity!

Collaboration is the way the future of science, technology and humanity. Crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries is really the way to go. I believe it, and most "academics" I encounter are starting to believe it. The attitude expounded in this article "can actually get in the way", in my humble opinion.