Discussion point: Laugh? I almost learned something • UK Centre for Materials Education

By Professor Peter Goodhew, Director of the UK Centre for Materials Education

"Scientists and engineers are, by and large, a rather earnest mob. Most of us (and I admit to being in the club myself) believe that our chosen profession is intrinsically interesting and of huge importance to society. Small wonder that we think that others should take it seriously too. Oscar Wilde had a few words to say about the importance of being earnest, and among them are a couple of my favourite aphorisms. "Seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow" and "Dullness is the coming of age of seriousness" .

Science and engineering are important - far too important to take seriously, so what is the alternative? Obviously they should be fun. Why, after all, do many academics enjoy practising their profession? Surely not because it makes them rich - it must just be fun. However our idea of fun is seen by the outside world to be limited to a separate category of activity, sometimes called, rather pompously, "The Public Understanding of Science" or "Science for Schools" as if the fun is reserved for external public consumption to counter the fact that the real thing is dry as dust. On the contrary - surely the fun should permeate every scientific or engineering activity, including education. [more....]

Professor Goodhew is a man after my own heart. There's excellent advice in this article.

Incidentally, this article was found via David Davies' MedWeb Technology Test Area : LTSN News Feed Search. Thanks David!