| Professor
Shakhashiri is a frequent guest of the Larry Meiller Show
on the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio.
His next appearance is still TBA.
Below
is some information about past shows.
Past Appearances 2009, 2008,
2007, 2006, 2005,
2004, 2003, 2002,
2001, 2000,
1999, 1998, 1997
and earlier
In order to listen to the broadcasts, you will need RealPlayer.
- Professor Shakhashiri began with a suggestion for a future guest for Larry: Jeff Skiles, the co-pilot of the U.S. Airways plane that successfully ditched in the Hudson River. Skiles was a student in Professor Shakhashiri’s chemistry class, as were regular Wisconsin Public Radio guests Phil Pelliteri, the insect expert, and Patricia McConnell, the animal behavior expert. Professor Shakhashiri said he has seen Jeff Skiles since the heroic landing.
- Larry asked about a study published in "Science" magazine which said the U.S. is losing its competitiveness due to poorly trained students and lack of incentives to go into science and engineering. Professor Shakhashiri said it’s important to find ways to retain successful people in science and engineering. He said there is leakage‑‑many who are trained in science pursue other endeavors such as mathematicians who go to work on Wall Street. Professor Shakhashiri said this can be a good thing‑‑scientific knowledge ability is needed in all fields‑‑but there’s also a need for a good scientific work force. Leakage can be combated by attracting more people to science and engineering, he said. While there are hiccups in the job market, he continued, some jobs in science pay well, and people need proper training in science regardless of their profession. Science literacy makes them better citizens and members of society.
- Larry asked about a report from the National Science Foundation which says the federal government is the largest source of money for research and development, but that its share is shrinking. The report also shows that the University of Wisconsin‑Madison is one of the biggest recipients of federal money. Professor Shakhashiri said his colleagues have been very successful. In fiscal 2009, the UW‑Madison received over 1.1 billion dollars for sponsored research (about half from the federal government). “This is a tribute to the quality of the people and the environment at the University,” he continued. Professor Shakhashiri said he’s proud to be part of the University, where he has been a faculty member for 40 years. “Having a world class University is not an accident,” he continued, pointing out that in 2008 the University was third in the country in getting federal funds, amounting to 587 million dollars. View the full list.
- Professor Shakhashiri said the emphasis on life sciences is correct, but noted that advances in all sciences are due to basic research in physical sciences. Attracting and keeping young people is the key to continued success, he continued. The amount of research money is an indicator of how good we are, he said, but the real test is what we do with it to support students and everyone throughout the country.
- A caller asked about reports that some scientists are questioning Einstein’s theory of relativity. Professor Shakhashiri said he did not know the answer to the question, but added that there are always questions in science and that progress is made by being skeptical.
- Another caller asked how much of the federal research money comes from the defense budget. Professor Shakhashiri said some comes from the defense budget and that all research at the University is open and apportioned by a competitive process.
- Another caller challenged a comment made by Professor Shakhashiri on a previous program. The caller said he has great respect for Professor Shakhashiri, who makes science accessible and has done great things for the University, but he took issue with a statement that parents put too much pressure on their children to get top grades. The caller said admission policies are so strict that most students would not be at UW without parents pushing them to get good grades in high school. Unless students are in the top 10 percent of their high school class, they can’t get in to Madison, the caller said, and parents have to push students for their own good. Professor Shakhashiri said parents want the best for their children and a good academic record is highly desirable, but everyone should not expect an A in every course. He said students have told him that parents apply undue pressure when they do not get all As. “Grades are important, but learning is more important,” he continued. Courses should inspire students to learn, he said, and learning does not stop at the end of the semester. Professor Shakhashiri added that he does take issue with the grade standards for admission, but that’s another topic.
- The caller followed up, saying he agrees with Professor Shakhashiri’s philosophy but that the University’s academic policies do not support his perspective. The University creates an atmosphere that if your grades are not high enough, you don’t belong, he continued. Professor Shakhashiri said he knows of students who were admitted with great academic records but who were not prepared for work in his classroom. He said, “My job is to take what they have, overcome any deficiencies and inspire those who are prepared to do well, no matter what career they choose. It gives me goose bumps to hear from former students who got Cs and are doing great now. This is what the University aspires to do, to inculcate the a love of learning.”
- A caller asked about the use of thorium as a fuel in nuclear reactors, which he read about in "Wired" magazine. Professor Shakhashiri said he hadn’t seen the article, but that thorium is a nuclear material and there are many activities at the UW‑Madison dealing with nuclear energy. He said he learns a lot on Larry’s show. Thorium can be used as a nuclear fuel to generate energy.
- A caller asked what happened to the European scientists whose e-mails were hacked,
e-mails the caller said indicated that they lied about global climate change. The caller asked whether anything happened to them and whether there are any examples of people kicked out of their jobs. Professor Shakhashiri said there have been numerous cases of scientists discovered falsifying data. They were not tolerated and lost their jobs. The scientific community has to be vigilant, he said, and people punished. The climate change e-mails are being investigated, he continued, and the people who sent them were wrong, but he added that this incident does not discredit the science of climate change.
- Another caller identifying herself as a home schooler, said she found Professor Shakhashiri’s chemistry curriculum online and used much of it, and both of her sons were accepted to the UW‑Madison. The caller said she has a warm feeling for Professor Shakhashiri and wanted her son to get into his lecture section.
- Another caller said the University uses a lot of science courses as weed‑out courses, to select the best rather than educate everyone. Professor Shakhashiri said it has been true that some introductory courses have been used to weed out students, though the practice is not widespread now. The best faculty should teach introductory courses, he continued, to help students with the difficult transition to college. Professor Shakhashiri said he works hard with this teaching assistants trying to find better ways to reach students. Professor Shakhashiri asks his students to submit a short paper each week reflecting on what they have learned. This is a voluntary exercise, but he usually gets over a couple of hundred papers from a class of 350. The purpose, he said, is to motivate the students and help shape their future. “I don’t like the term ‘weed‑out’,” he continued. The transition students go through takes a lot of effort, he said, and the purpose of undergraduate education is to help students transform themselves into learners, not just cram facts.
- A caller asked: what makes a good teacher? “I think about that a lot,” Professor Shakhashiri said, “and there’s no good answer.” Creating a supportive environment is important, he continued, and teachers should be experts in their field. “I would not be a good piano teacher,” he said. “Teaching is the most noble profession I know,” he continued,“ and good teachers find ways to share the joy and excitement of learning. I’m always learning from others how to be a better teacher.”
NOTE ADDED AFTER THE SHOW:
In my teacher workshops and public lectures I describe the characteristics of good teachers as:
Competent in their disciplines
Committed to their disciplines and to the profession of teaching
Comfortable with the methods and techniques they use
Compassionate with students (and colleagues)
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