Brent Beckett's Plutoid Proposal

Editor,

The announcement of a new trans-Neptunian object (TNO), 2003 UB313, has sparked renewed discussion over similar large Kuiper belt objects. Are they or are they not planets? The IAU is loathe to change Pluto's planetary status, and it is now generally considered a TNO and therefore part of the Kuiper belt. Logically, all large Kuiper belt objects should, therefore, be planets. Sedna might even be a Oort cloud object as its orbit is beyond the effect of Neptune's gravity, a key part of the Kuiper belt and TNO classification.

I offer a new category of objects within the family of planetary objects. The main characteristic of this new category would be objects not formed by or within the accretion disc. Pluto and all other such bodies were not formed by the protostar disc responsible for the Sun and all orbital bodies out to and including Neptune.

As Pluto was the first TNO discovered and in honor of its current planetary status, I propose this new category be called "Plutoids." Now Sedna, Charon, Orcus, Quacar, Ixion, 2003 UB313, etc. can have a respected category with parameters more clearly defined than at present.

Brent Beckett
San Diego, California

Citizen Science and Hands-On Science Education

Editor and SAS Members:

I spent a large portion of my life in science and have quite a nice pedigree.  The computer bug and a recession got to me, and I spent another large hunk writing software; this work put my children through MIT and Brown.

Although I belong to the SAS and support its goals, I don't have time to do science anymore.  I spend all of my time promoting a technology for science education with the hope and expectation that it will eventually pay the bills.

I write to espouse the concept that the term "citizen scientist" should expand to embrace those (like Bill Nye, although he's a professional) who promote the greater understanding of science.  These people are creating the future citizen scientists as well as the future professional scientists in a climate the tends to thwart these efforts.

In support of these people, I suggest that The Citizen Scientist add space for innovations in science education.  You already have LABRats and help students with science fair projects.  These clearly are science promoting activities rather than science doing activities.

Providing ways for people of all ages to discover things scientifically is important.  When you discover something new to you, it's just as exciting as when a professional scientist makes a discovery new to the world.

Helping people to think scientifically (critically) is important to the future of our world as well as to the individual.

My technology provides a means to build a set of pre-recorded experiments sufficiently diverse to allow the effect of experimental design and then to allow students to choose experiments to do, to take their own unique data interactively, and then discover ideas new to them.  Thus, they learn science and what science is by doing science  in a safe and inexpensive environment.

Sincerely,

Harry E. Keller
President
ParaComp, Inc.
www.smartscience.net

Citizen Scientist Implications

Editor,

I had wondered about the use of the phrase Citizen Scientist for the name of the former E-Bulletin. The term "citizen scientists" to me implies the concept that a scientists must also be a citizen. This means the the scientist must be aware of the effect of the science being done on the rest of the community. It also means that knowledge about possible dangers to the community that a scientist has discovered should be accurately and honestly presented so that the community can decide what to do.

We have an extreme example of scientists being citizens in the global warming debate. Here many scientists are running around saying the sky is falling and telling us what to do about it. It is fine that we are being warned about the possible danger, but everyone, not just the scientists, should have a say in what to do about the problem.

On the other hand, we have examples of perhaps the scientists not making enough ruckus about some danger, such as the recent tsunami.

Jim Hannon

Mystery of the Baldcypress Fungus

Editor,

Just read the article about the fungi on the cypress tree (Mystery of the Unknown Baldcypress Fungus by Forrest M. Mims III, The Citizen Scientist, 12 August 2005). Great read, and a great stimulus for young minds.

Allen Rhodes

Restoring Marine Habitat

Editor,

(1) Local native marine winter phytoplankton were cultured by aerating enriched seawater samples in glass jugs, illuminated by sunlight, tungsten, or fluorescent light.

(2) Seawater samples were enriched with one-fourth teaspoon/gallon generic soluble garden fertilizer.

(3) Glass jug- or aquaria culture vessels were in pools of water to prevent breakage by freezing in winter, and to maintain seawater temperature in summer.

(4) Cultures were added to Puget Sound in late winter and early spring to prevent growth of red tide, successfully.

In 2002 red tide was present in Mason, Thurston and Pierce Counties, as well as seven other counties in Washington. Following treatment, it disappeared from the three treated counties, but not from seven untreated. The treatment was not repeated, and the red tide has returned to two of the treated counties. It is still absent from Mason County.

See 2002 news: “ The closure in Mason County has been extended” http://news.theolympian.com/outdoors/environment/84688.shtml . Today: http://www4.doh.wa.gov/gis/mogifs/biotoxin.htm Photo : http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/waterServices/education/MakeASplash/plankton.htm

Glen Hemerick

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