Something to look foward to for the scientists

[Jez]

our own little recreation of the big bang

the results of this experiment could answer alot of questions, and also debunk alot of myths ... or simply reinforce them .... who knows? thats the best part of science

[Mikkel]

Very nice.

Personally I look forward to when the scientific method becomes part of the general school curriculum so people will understand at least the basic principle behind scientific research.

[captain_andrey]

Why do I always read it as The Large HardOn?

[SlashWylde]

Personally I look forward to when the scientific method becomes part of the general school curriculum so people will understand at least the basic principle behind scientific research.

Uhh, I thought it was... or at least it was when I was last at high school some 15 years ago.

Are you suggesting that the scientific method is not well explained in schools these days or that it is simply not covered?

[Monamie]

Uhh, I thought it was... or at least it was when I was last at high school some 15 years ago.

Are you suggesting that the scientific method is not well explained in schools these days or that it is simply not covered?

As far as I know they do very little on Natural Selection-but I see that Religious instruction still takes place . I am doing a paper at the moment on Biological Evolution..... very interesting. My kids have heard nothing about Darwin etc in school..tis' a shame they won't learn this hypothesis until University.

Mo

[Mikkel]

Uhh, I thought it was... or at least it was when I was last at high school some 15 years ago.

Are you suggesting that the scientific method is not well explained in schools these days or that it is simply not covered?

It's certainly not done well enough considering how many people fail to grasp what the moniker science actually covers. There seems to be a lack of knowledge about what science is and is not.

E.g. an article in the Press the other day about emotions in animals - where some people had expressed outrage and disbelief that scientists were stating that we can't prove beyond doubt that animals have emotions. While you and I may easily agree that we believe or know, on an intuitive level, that animals have feelings, we would not be able to prove it. And the same thing goes for ourselves of course. And while I could confidently say that I know what I feel - and that I feel it - I could not make a scientific proof to that effect (nor do I know of anyone else on this planet capable of doing so).

The distinctions between belief, intuition, knowledge and proven theory appears to be uncharted territory for quite a few people.

[Winston001]

Uhh, I thought it was... or at least it was when I was last at high school some 15 years ago.

Are you suggesting that the scientific method is not well explained in schools these days or that it is simply not covered?

Don't know but I educate my own children with science just to keep them on track. Universities and laboratories say that few school leavers choose science as a career. It isn't sexy compared with law, accounting and medicine. Fortunately engineering still seems to be respected.

Damn shame in my opinion, kids use technology as if its an everyday thing without understanding the decades of scientific work which lies behind this stuff. Hell even the speed of light and general relativity have real world effects when data is bounced off satellites. The current messy discussions about global warming occur because few people understand the science - which isn't difficult, they just don't try.

[Mikkel]

Don't know but I educate my own children with science just to keep them on track. Universities and laboratories say that few school leavers choose science as a career. It isn't sexy compared with law, accounting and medicine. Fortunately engineering still seems to be respected.

Damn shame in my opinion, kids use technology as if its an everyday thing without understanding the decades of scientific work which lies behind this stuff. Hell even the speed of light and general relativity have real world effects when data is bounced off satellites. The current messy discussions about global warming occur because few people understand the science - which isn't difficult, they just don't try.

I agree whole heartedly with you. Except for that last sentence...

Global warming/climate change - cause and effect - is still at dispute. You have scientific authorities supporting different sides. It's an interesting subject, but not my field so I won't even pretend to understand it. One thing about the debate that I do dislike however, is the opinion that mankinds collective actions are insignificant compared to the scale of natural global variations and we therefore can rest easy while polluting the planet to the best of our abilities. The failure to take responsibility for your own actions is something that disgusts me - but that has nothing to do with science and everything to do with morals...

I'm not saying science has explained everything yet - or indeed will ever able to. I'm just saying that if you don't understand the basic principle behind it, don't try and bring it down. As you say, almost all the technology and daily ammenities that we surround ourselves with have been derived and engineered (another word people love to hate) from scientific principles. Then some might argue that the bad old days were better - but then again, loosing a couple of kids and family members to a common cold might dispel that illusion.

[Jez]

Maybe they stopped teaching scientific method at high school just after i left (13 years ago) cause i sure as hell remember having it drilled into me by both the chemistry and physics teachers ... not so much biology i had a good seat behind the hottest chick in school so cant remember bugger all biology, shame, it may have come in handy with her at university

I have read their is alot of fear out there that the scientists don't know what they are playing with (because those who are saying they shouldn't already know everything right ), and that this experiment could literally destroy the planet ... but hey if you don't try then how will you learn eh?

anyways the thought of colliding two particles at the speed of light is pretty damned cool ... now we just need to turn that into a firearm that will bag me a nice trophy stag from 27 kilometers

[Lteejay]

If anyone is in Auckland and interested in a discussion about the Hadron Collider, Dr Krofcheck an experimental nuclear physicist, Senior lecturer at the UoA Department of Physics and Leads the NZ contingent at CERN is hosting a discussion/talk tonight at the Horse and Trap.

See attachment.

Science and Beer - what more do you want

[notme]

If anyone is in Auckland and interested in a discussion about the Hadron Collider, Dr Krofcheck an experimental nuclear physicist, Senior lecturer at the UoA Department of Physics and Leads the NZ contingent at CERN is hosting a discussion/talk tonight at the Horse and Trap.

See attachment.

Science and Beer - what more do you want

Damn I wish I was up that way! I do like beer....and science. The composite product sounds good to me.

Have been keeping up with the developments surrounding this wee piece of gear, it's all very interesting. Lucky for me, a portion of every single working day is officially dedicated (by the "evil" corporation I work for, no less) to free thought/research/discussion about such things as this collider.....and we get sent to the pub to discuss quite often! Usually because one of our number is quite loud and can be distracting in his enthusiasm to divulge just why there are exactly 11 dimensions....

Anyway, back on topic - I had very good basic science taught to me at school, but that was clearly due to the particular teachers involved, rather than the syllabus. Unfortunately I think I was lucky enough to have good teachers teaching a crap syllabus, some others in my generation must have had teachers just going thru the motions of the crap syllabus.

This shows through even now in my professional career, because certain mathematical concepts I have to really think through (I can picture the formative years of my maths education and the lacklustre teachings....), wheras some engineering ideas I was taught in such a way that I can just "feel" them and intuitively understand what's going on.

[MacD]

There are some excellent pictures of the construction of the LHC on this site, and the comments are quite good too read too!