Qualifications.

DeVore

More then any other board this board will need people to quote sources. Sometimes those sources will be themselves, so its important to know who is speaking from training and who is speaking as an armchair-scientist.

Personally, I have a degree in Maths (not a great one it has to be said!). However, oddly I would describe myself as more of an authority on computers and genetic-selection then maths.

I'm thoroughly fascinated by sub-atomic physics though I never really got a chance to study it beyond the theory (maths-physics). That giant collider they are building in Cern (?) intrigues me, I'd love to hear more about the supposed dangers due to "dark matter" creation. Sounds like hooey, but noone is denying it, just that its "very very very unlikely".

Well, thats me.

DeV.

bonkey

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by DeVore:
Personally, I have a degree in Maths (not a great one it has to be said!). However, oddly I would describe myself as more of an authority on computers and genetic-selection then maths.</font>

Heh. I have a degree in Maths (UL), but consider myself as more of an authority on computers as well!

I dont really have a chosen field of armchair science. I tend to dabble a lot in reading about various aspects of physics and maths, but I couldnt rule out other areas, or be more specific.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
I'm thoroughly fascinated by sub-atomic physics though I never really got a chance to study it beyond the theory (maths-physics). That giant collider they are building in Cern (?) intrigues me, I'd love to hear more about the supposed dangers due to "dark matter" creation. Sounds like hooey, but noone is denying it, just that its "very very very unlikely".
</font>

Well, CERN is a group, not a location, yeah? European Centre for Nuclear Research (in french, it becomes CERN as opposed to ECNR).

They've had a super-collider just outside Geneva (IIRC, but definitely in Switzerland) for the past ages. I assume you're thinking of the one which is supposed to be replacing that. Due sometime around 2007 I think.

Sci Am did some interesting articles on the whole dark-matter, super-colliders chain-reaction, no more earth thing. The ruled it out on the grounds that unless our current understanding of physics is WAY off base, then the energies present in the new generation of super-colliders will still be orders of magnitude too small to even potentially cause destructive chain-reactions.

jc

DeVore

Yeah, I kinda meant "that place where CERN are based"

DeV.

RopeDrink

Was never particularly fond of mathmatics, my interest lies in Software, and Software Developement / Programming...

I am only nineteen, therefor not overtly qualified for anything, all I have up my sleeve is a Leaving Certificate, and a two year Information technology Course...

I plan to take my education quite seriously, and have already had nine years of second level education not including the IT Course...

Bless...

Greenbean

"Sci Am did some interesting articles on the whole dark-matter, super-colliders chain-reaction, no more earth thing. The ruled it out on the grounds that unless our current understanding of physics is WAY off base, then the energies present in the new generation of super-colliders will still be orders of magnitude too small to even potentially cause destructive chain-reactions."

Is this the idea of accidently creating a tiny blackhole by colliding particles?

Perhaps something along similar lines I'm reading this book on string theory which seems to suggest the creation of blackholes can only happen on a macro scale, not a microscale, otherwise they would be occurring far far too often for things like stars (or even atoms) to form and we wouldn't exist. Of course if they can somehow recreate the extreme conditions that occur in stars, on that macro scale, to create blackholes then it wouldn't be a good idea.

This whole potential risk thing seems like, say luke skywalker going into hyperspace and flying along at light speeds etc and then someone points out..
"<someone> hey man you might crash into a star"...
"<luke> but I've been doing this for years" ..
"<someone> you can't keep doing this we might die!" ..
"<luke> oh ok, we better not use hyperspace again".

If thats not a screwed up example.

Manach

Mise, a geologist who never was employed in that field, wandering over to computer science and now earns a crust programming. Funny old world

C B

B. Comm with a major in economics and an M. Sc. in environmental economics.

I'm doing a Ph. D. in environmental economics focusing on policy responses to global warming. So if I post here it will probably be in relation to global warming / forestry / other environmental issues. i hope that doesn't bore all you physics heads.

Evil Phil

Diploma from the British Computer Society. That's it, but I'd be an authority on Software Development and have been an armchair-scientist on space travel and exploration for a number of years. I also have an interest in archeology/anthropology and botany (hehe).

Bob the Unlucky Octopus

I might as well join the crowd- just so ppl know I'm not talking through my hat when I address certain issues-

MD, FACS, MCh(Spr. Ortho) are my medical qualifications...prior to those are my LLB from Duke and WA Bar. So most of the threads I start/take an interest in will be those with issues medically relevant. I'm also a bit of an armchair economist CB: Thurow and (gah!) Friedman being my favorite economists. Mathematics, particular discrete mathematics(graphs, trees, traveling salesman problem, etc.) and mathematical puzzles fascinate me. I usually follow environmental issues when I can, and I'm a big fan of the "popular" physics of space-time and particle/quantum physics- my only real sources there being an out-of-date AP physics textbook, and a collection of books(Hawkin's brief history of space and time, Schroedinger's cats/kittens, that sort of stuff).

Outside of my own experience of medicine/medical studies I'll source or reference my information.

Bob the Unlucky Octopus
=Veritas Veritas Veritas=

WhiteWashMan

all i have is a half a degree in applied physics
and a hell of an education in the school of hard knocks

RopeDrink

Suddenly I feel very very small...

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

I'm hoping to go to college next year to get a deg in maths.. either Nui galway, or Nui maynooth..
what kind of jobs are there available to someone with a deg in maths?... I didnt really look into the employment benefits of the course/subject.. i just like maths


[This message has been edited by Mordeth (edited 03-07-2001).]

Winning Hand

Student and general leech on society.

---

I like my coffee like I like my women.......
In a plastic cup

I like my coffee like I like my women......
covered in bees

Victor

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by RopeDrink:
Suddenly I feel very very small...</font>

Hey, no need to feel like that, you can use the shotty better than anyone.

Personally, I have a Diploma in Construction Economics (includes Applied Maths, Dynamics and Materials Science and other waffly stuff). 3 Honours science subjects in the leaving (B/B/C).

---

Too many freaks, not enough circuses.

[This message has been edited by Victor (edited 04-07-2001).]

DadaKopf

Philosophy and Politics.

Aren't we all great?

Greenbean

Oh better stick in my qualifications:

An honours in "completely misreading the point the of post".

A masters in "being in a completely different wavelength from everyone else"

A low pass in "communications skills"

I've just gotten a degree in honours computer science as well. I read a little philosophy on the side, and seem to find myself interested in anything which I never knew anything about before.

/me titters as he says, "and I'd like to travel the world and have lots of babies"

[This message has been edited by Greenbean (edited 04-07-2001).]

C B

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Bob the Unlucky Octopus:
Thurow and (gah!) Friedman being my favorite economists. </font>

AArrgghhhh!!!!! Get a social conscience .

Although it would appear from our politicalcompas.org results we have similar views on the role of the state (but I'll save all that for humanities).

Kegser

I have no qualifications whatsoever; I do however have an appetite for knowledge.

I'll probably just read an interesting post; spend five minutes searching google for some pointless irrelevant information and then proceed to regurgitate it in a manner that makes me look as intelligent as possible.

Just to warn you all, and tell you that I am in fact highly unintelligent. My brain cell has won awards for it.

Oh; out of interest Evil Phil, give me your e-mail address as I wish to hassle you about the BCS Diploma. I'm considering doing it for the fun factor.

Kegser

Ack, my itchy "Submit Now" finger strikes again. My apologies.

[This message has been edited by Kegser (edited 10-07-2001).]