Category Archives: Science Education

1000 Simple Words

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Could you describe your work to someone new if you had to use fewer than 1,000 words? I certainly hope so – that’s two or three typed pages. If you need more than that, maybe you don’t really know your … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Culture, Science Education | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Respects to the Hobbit Man

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Ron Miksha

About a week ago I was at JRR Tolkien’s grave. It is not my habit to seek cemeteries containing the tombstones of fantasy writers. However, my wife, two young kids, and I were staying at a guesthouse in Oxford. The … Continue reading →

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Monkeys on Trial

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Ron Miksha

The monkey trial.  It was 90 years ago. We know the key players – the fabulously successful criminal trial lawyer who defended Scopes (but lost) and the 3-time Democrat presidential candidate (and erstwhile preacher) who attacked Scopes (and won). It … Continue reading →

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Global warming: Science-denying Senator tells scientist Pope to listen to scientists

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Originally posted on Primate's Progress:
Pope Francis’ Coat of Arms Well, perhaps not quite a scientist, but Pope Francis really does have, on his CV, a chemistry lab technician’s diploma and related work experience. And Rick Santorum is not…

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Michele Bachmann’s Dirty Bones

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Ron Miksha

“If dinosaur bones have been buried for “millions” of years, then why are they so clean when they’re in museums?” asks Michele Bachmann. Is this just one more of the many thoughtful questions coming from this year’s crop of political … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Religion, Science Education | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

A Year of Mystery

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Ron Miksha

I began writing this blog – The Mountain Mystery – exactly one year ago. So, as far as blogs go, this is a young one. It is a loosely cohesive collection of stories about the Earth. The only real themes … Continue reading →

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Fat Cops; Skinny Scientists

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Ron Miksha

What makes cops fat and scientists skinny? Before I go any further, let me say that I am quoting an American Journal of Preventive Medicine study and the statement reflects an average. There are outliers. I know a few overweight … Continue reading →

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Dinos 101: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Want to know about dinosaurs? You’re in luck. The University of Alberta is offering a free 12-week course, a MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) starting January 3rd. I am thinking of signing up for it – the course is offered … Continue reading →

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Tuzo

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Ron Miksha

“Tuzo’s dead.” That was the first time I’d ever heard of Tuzo. It was April 1993 and I wondered who – or what – Tuzo was. Now he was dead. I had already completed my University of Saskatchewan geophysics degree … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, History, How Geophysics Works, Plate Tectonics, Science Education | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

We Love Comets… but it wasn’t always that way

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Ron Miksha

So, today we kissed a comet. Many of us shared the excitement of the European Space Agency’s successful landing. Something built on the Earth is now sitting on a comet, traveling at 135,000 kilometres an hour, heading towards an even … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Engineering, Exploration, History, Religion, Science Education, Space | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments