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31 August 2001

The E-Bulletin's New Look

The present format is fine, the old format was fine, the content is wonderful! Keep up the great work.

Bob Ogburn
Houston, Texas (CDPG)

 

I think the new format is definitely a move in the right direction. In the future it would be great to see a more forms oriented approach. I appreciate your efforts, I know it's hard work.

John Sutter

 

Mr. Carlson,

I am disappointed by the shortsighted decision to end The Amateur Scientist.

Obviously, significant changes are to take place at Scientific American and TAS dosen't fit in. Please consider finding a new home for your fine efforts and keep us posted at SAS.

Regards,

Brian Sujata

 

Using the SAS Forum

Hi Shawn,

I had an idea that, although it isn't focused on encouraging experimentation, might be of interest. The idea is to use the Forum to simulate the discussions that might take place when a science class discusses some specific, assigned topics (e.g. a chapter in a science text) under the supervision of an expert in the field (the teacher). The purpose is to provide the SAS community inexpensive continuing education opportunities. Here is an example of how this might be set up. We start with some highly constrained topic, a specific text, and an expert (say one of SAS's science advisors). My first thought for a topic was the first three lectures in Feynman's "QED - The Strange Theory of Light and Matter." Next we find an expert or ideally a couple of experts in quantum electrodynamics that would be willing to act as hosts. SAS members are given some time to buy the book and read the assignment. Finally, the forum is used to discuss the assigned material. The host would decide, based on the Forum response, when to assign the next lecture.

Regards,

-Peter Baum