March 30, 1998 | Volume 87, number 22 | Previous | Next | Index
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Reality Check dialog informs faculty thought, work across disciplines

Negotiating "science wars"
By Caroline Moseley

There is a real gulf between those who regard the best modern science as a paradigm of rational inquiry, and those who approach the enterprise of science with suspicion about its motives, its procedures and, ultimately, the legitimacy of its results," declares Gideon Rosen, assistant professor of philosophy.
    "I've never known arts and sciences to be so divided as they are today," agrees Alison Jolly, visiting lecturer in ecology and evolutionary biology.
    This divide -- commonly referred to by participants and observers as "the science wars" -- is being fought inside and outside academe. At Princeton the science wars are being negotiated rather than fought, thanks to Rosen, Jolly and others who have formed an informal interdisciplinary group of faculty who call themselves Reality Check. ...

Some members of Reality Check al fresco after a meeting at Prospect:
    Gideon Rosen (front l), Angela Creager, Norton Wise (professor of history), Hope Hollocher, Ben Heller (former lecturer in Romance languages and literatures, now at Hofstra University), Rena Lederman and Alison Jolly; Charles Gross (back l) and Vincanne Adams (assistant professor of anthropology)

What's an Indonesian face-off?
By Caroline Moseley

Do you ever hit the hay or hit the ceiling? Horse around or smell a rat? Pay through the nose or stick your neck out? Chances are, if you are a speaker of American English, you do. Chances are equally good that nonnative speakers of American English won't have any idea what you mean. ...

Engineer, industrialist
returns to academia
By Chris Jensen

Imagine you're an engineer who designs skyscrapers. One of your buildings was just completed in New York City. Doing some calculations, you -- and you alone -- unexpectedly discover a design flaw that makes it vulnerable to catastrophic damage by high winds. How do you respond?
    Princeton students will grapple with this and other real-life cases in a new undergraduate course taught this spring by Norman Augustine, who spent four decades in government and industry before returning to the classroom this semester as lecturer with rank of professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering.
    Most recently CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp., Augustine holds 1957 BSE and 1959 MSE degrees in aeronautical engineering from Princeton. A former defense undersecretary, he built Martin Marietta into an aerospace giant before helping to orchestrate the merger with Lockheed three years ago that created the world's largest aerospace and defense company. ...
    

Nassau Notes

Dance at McCarter ... Specialist asks "Why Geriatrics?" ... Financier discusses Russian reform ... Alumna speaks on Oklahoma bombing trials ... Douglas describes experience in FBI ... University Concerts ... International Festival ... Athletics ... New home for offices of Building Services
    

Princeton
Weekly Bulletin

Editor: Sally Freedman
Associate editor: Caroline Moseley
Calendar and production editor:
    Carolyn Geller
Senior writer: JoAnn Gutin
Photographers:
    Denise Applewhite,
    Robert P. Matthews
Web edition: Mahlon Lovett 

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