Coping with the high cost of teaching chemistry, content of organic chemistry, instructional strategies, and approaches in dealing with the changing student population (urban blacks/hispanics, handicapped, and other nontraditional students) are among the topics discussed in 19 papers presented at the Seventh Biennial Conference on Chemical…

The excitement and high commercial value placed on basic/applied genetics research appear to be re-energizing the once-fruitful relationship between academic/industrial sectors which declined over the last 20 to 30 years. University/industry relationships and cooperation between departments/faculty within universities are noted, discussing several…

Examines creationism/evolution debate in context of philosophy using ontological models in which reality is assigned to one or both natural or transnatural (supernatural) realms. The six models (theistic-teleological dualism; deistic-mechanistic dualism; fundamentalist creationism; atheistic monism; theistic monism; mechanistic monism) deal with…

Points out that the most basic of creationist attacks of geology, their claim that uniformitarianism is an unreliable basis for interpreting the past, fail because the uniformitarianism they describe is no longer a part of geology. Indicates that modern uniformitarianism is merely the philosophical principle of simplicity. (Author/JN)

Thomas G. Barnes, geologist/creationist, argues that the geomagnetic field was created by unknown processes when earth was created and has been decaying (irreversibly/exponentially) with a half-life of about 1,400 years since then. Shows that Barnes' proposition is wrong and explains why the earth's age cannot be determined from magnetic-field…

Assesses Scientific Attitude Inventory (SAI) by examining the instrument and 30 studies in which it has been used. In addition, shows how conceptual analysis may be used to investigate validity of a research instrument. Indicates that SAI needs reworking since it is less than certain of what is being measured. (Author/JN)

Discusses need for and nature of science courses for the nonspecialist, outlining the content of an integrated four-year program devoted to sciences (first two years), technology (third year) and science/technology/human problems (fourth year). Includes recommendations for implementing such a program. (Author/JN)

Discusses determination of elliptical path of a satellite caught into orbit by the sun or earth; using microcomputer as signal generator (includes program listing); collision process; simple hysteresis loop using double beam CRO; method of demonstrating parallelogram of forces; measuring radius of electron beam curvature; and half-life of thorium…

Provides top-rated programs (by university) in biochemistry, botany, cellular/molecular biology, microbiology, physiology, and zoology. Overall scores included with each program were obtained from 1,848 biologists who were asked to rate programs in terms of faculty quality and their effectiveness in educating graduate students. (Author/JN)

Discusses: (1) construction of an integrated spherical reflectometer; (2) limitations of the NOAA Weather Radio Network; and (3) a simple experiment to demonstrate/measure influence of damping force on amplitude resonance. Also discusses whether or not a homemade electrophorus can lose its charge and then recharge itself. (JN)

Lasers are useful for demonstrating ray optics, especially in large classrooms where a well-defined, easily-viewed ray is essential. Described is a simple device that converts any laser to a projection oscilloscope (or laser spirograph). Suggestions for using the device (including demonstrating Lissajous figures and conic sections) are provided.…

Thirteen demonstrations using a capacitor-start induction motor fitted with an aluminum disk are described. Demonstrations illustrate principles from mechanics, fluids (Bernoulli's principle), waves (chladni patterns and doppler effect), magnetism, electricity, and light (mechanical color mixing). In addition, the instrument can measure friction…

Contends that the nature of physics has been misrepresented by blurring or ignoring important distinctions between "errors" and "discrepancies" and that dealing with these and related problems can improve students' enjoyment of labs and understanding of physics. Nature of physics, role of experiments, experimental errors, and error analysis are…

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Center for Industrial Innovation is scheduled for completion in 1986 and will provide instruction and research in four areas: interactive computer graphics; manufacturing, productivity, and technology transfer; integrated electronics; and industrial engineering. The Center is a joint university, industry, and…

The president of Stanford University discusses his views on problems facing research universities, including research secrecy, ethics, and economics of proprietary knowledge generated in the university, faculty conflict of interest, place of humanities in a society driven by technology, and decline of government support for academic research.…