Introducing Google Nose

Vision dominates the human experience but that is no reason to exclude the other senses. Apple with iOS has realized the value of touch. Until now the chemical senses have been underserved in the digital marketplace. I plan to use Google Nose in my current Perception class to help explain the complexity of olfactory sensation and perception to my "digital native" students.

It is amazing to witness the cutting edge of sensation and perception.
(Some might say over the edge).

Serving science through null results

There are two reasons for null results. First, there is a true effect that was not observed. Second, there is  no true effect.

If you believe the latter is true, science is best served by publishing the nulls results. Given that "publish" is now a button on everyone's computer, it easier than it has ever been to put a true null result out in the world. Holding back is robbing the world.

Academic fear

Recently I attended a conference on learning. My primary interest was the talk on molecular signatures of synaptic plasticity. (Keep an eye on Daniel Pak, he does brillant work.) My attention was also grabbed by the last talk on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). In a fascinating talk, Randy Bass laid out the current state of online learning. The take home message was: The world of teaching is changing. It is unclear what higher education will look like in the future, but it will be different.

A distinguished academic spoke-up at the end with palpable fear in her voice. She was afraid and resentful that the tools academics are developing for online teaching will later destroy the institutions that created them, similar to when the Internet is used to attack the Defense Department.

I felt compassion for her. Her love of teaching was clear.

But the technology don't care.

The world is going to change. You can get upset but it is still going to change.

Instead, I am choosing to get on the ride.

Research is 90% listening

"Singing is 90% listening" is an an old quote. You must pay close attention to the world to a make meaningful contribution. Research is similar. Deeply understanding research is a challenge. It is fun but still a challenge. People have pet theories and personal biases. Those dominant over actual content. What "is" there takes a back seat to what "should be" there.

Brain Awareness Week

This week is Brain Awareness Week. We now have the tools widely available to look at brain function, even if you are an amateur scientist (here or here). Given the tools are waiting, the world could use more people trying to solve interesting problems.

An observation about predictions

Most predictions reveal more about the predictor than the subject.

How fragile projects make an antifragile career

Nassim Taleb argues that an antifragile whole is best composed of fragile parts.

I knew and applied this concept implicitly before Nassim stated it explicitly. At any given time, I have many separate research projects. Each one of those individual projects seeks to answer a specific scientific question. The questions are so specific the projects become fragile. A small deviation  (e.g., conceptual flaw, lost data, or a misinterpretation by a reviewer) leads to the "death" of a project.

However, the death of a single project strengthens the others. Through a rigorous post-mortem process, I find what does not work and apply that knowledge to the rest. A plethora of micro-failures, though painful at the time, creates an antifragile career.