Science

c0rk3r

I did a quick search of the word "science" for the whole A&A forum. Pretty much very thread science gets a mention. With this in mind, it would be interesting to know peoples level of knowledge and of understanding regarding science.

So what have you got ?

Phd in some field
Masters
Degree
Diploma
Leaving cert science
or
simply just read up on the topics ?

Sam Vimes

Degree in electronic/computer engineering

Sort of science :P

CerebralCortex

c0rk3r wrote: »

I did a quick search of the word "science" for the whole A&A forum. Pretty much very thread science gets a mention. With this in mind, it would be interesting to know peoples level of knowledge and of understanding regarding science.

So what have you got ?

Phd in some field
Masters
Degree
Diploma
Leaving cert science
or
simply just read up on the topics ?

Why? The scientific method isn't so complicated that you can't comment on it.
Science when well-digested is nothing but good sense and reason.

CerebralCortex

Sam Vimes wrote: »

Degree in electronic/computer engineering

Sort of science :P

Funny that. I work as a computer/software engineer. Have a degree in computer engineering or as it was named Digital Software Systems Eng.

Tim Robbins

c0rk3r wrote: »

So what have you got ?

Phd in some field
Masters
Degree
Diploma
Leaving cert science
or
simply just read up on the topics ?

Degree - TCD Electronic Engineering (You do Physics to at least A Level in 1st year and Chemisty to above Leaving Cert)
Leaving Cert - Physics - B1.
Inter Cert - Science A.

Read about 30 pop science books, over ze years.

My conclusion: Science is for reject Engineers.

drkpower

CerebralCortex wrote: »

Why? The scientific method isn't so complicated that you can't comment on it.
Science when well-digested is nothing but good sense and reason.

Cerebral Cortex: Leaving Cert Biology Foundation Level C3 (just about).....:D

Sam Vimes

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Degree - TCD Electronic Engineering

I think we'll be getting a few more engineers as this thread progresses

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Leaving Cert - Physics - B1.
Inter Cert - Science A.

Forgot to mention these:
Leaving cert physics: B1
Leaving cert chemistry: B1
Leaving cert Engineering: A2

Tim Robbins wrote: »

My conclusion: Science is for reject Engineers.

I didn't want to say it but...... :pac:

GLaDOS

Leaving Cert Biology - A1
Leaving Cet Physics - B1

Currently doing a degree in Genetics and Cell Biology in DCU

ApeXaviour

I'm not a regular poster here, but I am an athiest, and I'm completing a phd in physics.

btw I'd consider most types of engineering applied sciences, especially electronic and software engineering. They require the same sort of technical aptitude and a similar set of skills. For the sake of this argument, I'd consider them the same.

IMO the practice/study of medicine is not a science.

equivariant

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Degree - TCD Electronic Engineering (You do Physics to at least A Level in 1st year and Chemisty to above Leaving Cert)
Leaving Cert - Physics - B1.
Inter Cert - Science A.

Read about 30 pop science books, over ze years.

My conclusion: Science is for reject Engineers.

And engineering is for reject mathematicians

CerebralCortex

ApeXaviour wrote: »

I'm not a regular poster here, but I am an athiest, and I'm completing a phd in physics.

btw I'd consider most types of engineering applied sciences, especially electronic and software engineering. They require the same sort of technical aptitude and a similar set of skills. For the sake of this argument, I'd consider them the same.

IMO the practice/study of medicine is not a science.

I agree I'd see medicine as more appropriately named as bio-mechanics and medical doctors mechanics who don't fully understand the machine they try to maintain.

Sam Vimes

equivariant wrote: »

And engineering is for reject mathematicians

Tim Robbins

equivariant wrote: »

And engineering is for reject mathematicians

+1.
We should include Maths results.
A2 Hons, Leaving.
TCD throw in pass B.A. Maths degrees with Engineering degrees.

Sam Vimes

Tim Robbins wrote: »

We should include Maths results.
A2 Hons, Leaving.
TCD throw in pass B.A. Maths degrees with Engineering degrees.

I did pass maths for the leaving for reasons I won't go into. Got the easiest A1 in history though

Goduznt Xzst

c0rk3r wrote: »

it would be interesting to know peoples level of knowledge and of understanding regarding science.

Why?

Fremen

BSc Maths/CS
MSc Mathematical finance
currently PhD Maths.

Why? The scientific method isn't so complicated that you can't comment on it.
Science when well-digested is nothing but good sense and reason.

I'm an athiest. While I don't post here much, I do get the impression that some posters in the forum put waaaay too much stock in the power of science. I'll dig out some posts for reference later if anyone really wants.

Overblood

Diploma in Homeopathic studies.





































JUST KIDDING.

B.Sc. in Earth & Ocean Sciences, which encompassed Physics, Maths, Biology, Paleontolgy and all things Earthy and Oceany.

CerebralCortex

Fremen wrote: »

BSc Maths/CS
MSc Mathematical finance
currently PhD Maths.




I'm an athiest. While I don't post here much, I do get the impression that some posters in the forum put waaaay too much stock in the power of science.

In what context?

marco_polo

+1 for the IT nerds, M. Sc in Software Eng.

Bottle_of_Smoke

ApeXaviour wrote: »

IMO the practice/study of medicine is not a science.

Could you elaborate a bit on that?

Doctors will study med cell biology, Anatomy/physiology,chemistry, biochemistry etc

Fremen

CerebralCortex wrote: »

In what context?

A little hard to sum up in a short post, but I think what I'm getting at is the belief that science reflects some kind of underlying "absolute truth".

In my view, science is just a model. There's no such thing as a perfectly smooth inclined plane, or an inverse square law, or even an atom. Outside of physics, (and I'm quoting Dr. House here, but the principle still applies), cut a person open and you'll find ten different "abnormalities" which aren't in the medical textbooks. The anatomy diagrams are a decent model, but they don't faithfully reproduce reality.

Fremen

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Could you elaborate a bit on that?

Doctors will study med cell biology, Anatomy/physiology,chemistry, biochemistry etc

I would say a doctor is to a biologist as an engineer is to a physicist. As to whether engineers or doctors are scientists, I guess that's a matter of opinion.

Joe1919

A generalist is someone who knows less and less about more and more until he eventually knows nothing about everything,
while a specialist is someone who knows more and more about less and less and finally knows everything about nothing.

Morbert

BSc degree in Mathematical Phsics and Experimental Physics (1st class honours).

Masters in Scientific computing from TCD.

I'm currently a research assistant, studying for a PhD in the field of quantum mechanics.

ChocolateSauce

c0rk3r wrote: »

I did a quick search of the word "science" for the whole A&A forum. Pretty much very thread science gets a mention. With this in mind, it would be interesting to know peoples level of knowledge and of understanding regarding science.

So what have you got ?

Phd in some field
Masters
Degree
Diploma
Leaving cert science
or
simply just read up on the topics ?

Going into year 4 of a Chemistry degree.

The important thing isn't the education in science one has, but the education about science. One doesn't need a degree to understand science or to know when it is misapplied.

drkpower

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

Going into year 4 of a Chemistry degree.

The important thing isn't the education in science one has, but the education about science. One doesn't need a degree to understand science or to know when it is misapplied.

Very true; certainly in the context of religon, atheism etc.. You dont need to know what the noble gasses are, what an amoeba is or what an electron is to be able to meaningfully engage in a discussion on religon generally. Qualification name-dropping is all a little bit silly.

Zillah

I read books.

I came very close to doing a science degree in UCD intending to specialise in microbiology but decided against it. Science is awesome and all but it's not something I want to do for a career.

Now I'm an AV nerd :pac:

toiletduck

Degree in electronic eng.
H. Dip. in Software
Currently doing a research masters

For the Leaving I did Applied Maths, Chemistry and Physics. I always had an interest in science so have been reading books on different areas for as long as I can recall.

marco_polo wrote: »

+1 for the IT nerds, M. Sc in Software Eng.

*high five*

Commerce with French (French, Accounting)

Does reading the Discworld science books count?

Seriously I do have an interest in science botany / biology particularly.

The Mad Hatter

BA and MA in music. Not sure how I wound up here, as us artistic types don't tend to wind up in skeptical places.

I sometimes figure I'd like to have done physics instead, but I always liked more the popularised science than the genuine abstract stuff. Actually, I must read some Stephen Hawking/Carl Sagan at some stage.

Sonderval

B.Sc, M.Eng and currently doing my PhD.

fitz0

c0rk3r wrote: »

I did a quick search of the word "science" for the whole A&A forum.

Now search for Hitler. He pops up almost as often.

Im going into year 3 of an Architecture degree. It was a toss up between it and Electronic Engineering and Im still not sure whether I made the right choice or not.
Engineering A1
Physics C3
Maths B1

I should have done better at physics but its amazing how much more interested you become in something when you're not studying for the LC.

Turtwig

I think medicine should be classed as a science.

Going into final year in Physics - The one true science:P

Also, Fremen science models are currently the closest things we've got to reality. The only way to emulate reality exactly is to create it.

studiorat

Social Science and Home Economics. B+
Dropped out of Electronics in Kevin St. 20 years ago to become a recording engineer, taking a year out to a Masters in Music Technology. Vaguley interested in maths and computers, but I couldn't tell you what 6 x 7 is. Copy of GEB at home useful as a door stop....

Turtwig

studiorat wrote: »

but I couldn't tell you what 6 x 7 is

Well I'll admit that I'd almost need a calculator for that now:o

Anyways, I think it would be interesting if we also noted when we became atheist i.e whether education had anything to do with becoming atheist or whether Atheism had anything to do with chosen line of study?

Me : Atheist since 1st Year in Secondary School(or slightly before). As far as I can tell it had no bearing on my line of study

Fremen

Malty_T wrote: »

Also, Fremen science models are currently the closest things we've got to reality. The only way to emulate reality exactly is to create it.

Create reality? I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at.

You say "currently" as if at some point in the future we will do better. This is the kind of faith in science that I was posting about to begin with.

drkpower

Malty_T wrote: »

I think medicine should be classed as a science.

Of course medicine is a science.....jeez.. it is more than a science also but it certainly is a science by any reasonable measure.

I presume those who are saying that it is not a science are some kind of science nazis who figure its not a science if you dont either spend the day doing complicated equations or blowing things up in a lab (or possibly have a crazy beard).

Genghiz Cohen

BSc Computer Games Development. Includes a whole truck load of maths, physics and graphics.

Dades

I've read Carl Sagan books and a lot of SF!

(Can a law degree be counted as Legal Science?!)

Tim Robbins

Dades wrote: »

I've read Carl Sagan books.

(Can a law degree be counted as Legal Science?!)

Fair play with the law degree. I was thinking of jumping from IT a few years ago and half considered the King's Inn. The idea of getting paid to argue just sounded amazing!

How come you didn't stick to the Law? (I recall you said before IT nabbed you).

Dades

TR, I was working in tax law and it was crushing my humanity. Then the Internet appeared and I dropped the suits for t-shirts. Not a good time to be either, now. :pac:

Tim Robbins

Dades wrote: »

TR, I was working in tax law and it was crushing my humanity. Then the Internet appeared and I dropped the suits for t-shirts. Not a good time to be either, now. :pac:

I think there's a lot more yo yos in the law though? I have heard some media reports that things aren't as cosy as they use to be with some solicitors finding it hard to get work and hang onto their jobs. Correct?

Mesoscopic

PhD in physics, Research at UNSW, Stanford, Cambridge and TCD.

Given that agnosticism and atheism are the topic here i think that it is entirely appropriate for science to get a regular shout out. For the case of a religious narrative, it is faith and the text that give you your world view. If religious belief is forsaken, then a different way of understanding the world is needed. This, for us is science. To the advantage of science, it's findings are self consistent and supported by reality.

Galvasean

Missed out on doing science in college due to my poor maths skills. Did pretty well in Biology and Geography in school (y'know the stuff that actually IS important if you want to become a palaeontologist, but don't tell the Irish education system!).

[cynic]Hmm, I wonder what this thread's true purpose is...[/cynic]

Rev Hellfire

Galvasean wrote:

[cynic]Hmm, I wonder what this thread's true purpose is...[/cynic]

It’s a clever ruse to fish out the arts graduates so he’s be able to approach them to get a free supersize on his Big Mac meal.

Goduznt Xzst

Galvasean wrote: »

[cynic]Hmm, I wonder what this thread's true purpose is...[/cynic]

Dunno but I can't help feeling that listing off titles and grades in exams is pointless. Anyone can get a PhD or say "I'm a scientist me". I'd prefer to read about peoples accomplishments.

I'm sure we all know that guy from Uni who never really stood out accademically but is doing amazingly now practically, or that other guy with photographic memory who aced every exam but has gone on to accomplish nothing.

I don't feel like stringing out my exam results but thus far I have accomplished nothing worth mentioning since graduating. At my funeral I doubt they will find the time to mention my grades and titles, they will discuss who I was and what I achieved.

Fremen

Goduznt Xzst wrote: »

Anyone can get a PhD or say "I'm a scientist me". I'd prefer to read about peoples accomplishments.

A PhD *is* an accomplishment. Not everyone can hack it. Try it and you'll understand.
Anyway, the point of the thread wasn't to start a pissing contest about who has the best degree or who has accomplished great things, it was to see who has a scientific education. Seems like the majority of posters do have a background in science.

CerebralCortex

Fremen wrote: »

A PhD *is* an accomplishment. Not everyone can hack it. Try it and you'll understand.
Anyway, the point of the thread wasn't to start a pissing contest about who has the best degree or who has accomplished great things, it was to see who has a scientific education. Seems like the majority of posters do have a background in science.

Cool.

ChocolateSauce

I didn't post my grades because they suck

Goduznt Xzst

Fremen wrote: »

Try it and you'll understand.

I never said I didn't have one

I liken a University education with the real world like I would if someone came up to me and said they'd climbed Everest... but by Everest they meant the equivalent amount of time, distance and incline on a stair master.

ShooterSF

Goduznt Xzst wrote: »

I never said I didn't have one

I liken a University education with the real world like I would if someone came up to me and said they'd climbed Everest... but by Everest they meant the equivalent amount of time, distance and incline on a stair master.

I have to agree with this (based on how my life turned out ). I fix computers, I did a year in DKIT software development (90% average) and got bored when we started doing VB for a second year. I left and started working for myself. People did ask did I ever get asked my qualifications by customers, I answered it by saying if I bring my car to a mechanic and he fixes it I don't care if he has a piece of paper telling me he can do it I just want my car fixed.
Pieces of paper are over valued in this world.