Mathematicians Must be Adventurers

There is no thing as a man who does not create mathematics and yet is a fine mathematics teacher. Textbooks, course material—these do not approach in importance the communication of what mathematics is really about, of where it is going, and of where it currently stands with respect to the specific branch of it being taught. What really matters is the communication of the spirit of mathematics. It is a spirit that is active rather than contemplative—a spirit of disciplined search for adventur...

 Is Science a Career Choice to Push on Children?

They say it's narcissistic to push your kids to follow in your footsteps, but when they say that, they must be talking about other people. After all, my footsteps, often covered with disposable clean-room booties, lead to science, which is a responsibly nerdy career choice. Or is it? Credit: Hal Mayforth Nerdy, yes -- but how responsible is it to encourage a child to study arduously for decades to compete for a slot in an inadequate job market? The same parents who beam at their child's rep...