I hadn’t previously noticed the similarity demonstrated in these photographs between zany comedian and character actor Ant Whitworth and my former colleague and happy go-lucky Sunderland supporter Prof. Robin Williams. I wonder if, by any chance, they might be related?
The term “musical genius” is over-used to the point of absurdity these days, but if it ever applied to anyone at all then that man was Rahsaan Roland Kirk. I saw a version of his Serenade to a Cuckoo on TV last night and it made me realize I haven’t posted nearly enough of Kirk’s music on this blog, so here’s a different version; only a part of the one I saw last night is available on Youtube. This version, followed on this clip by an abrupt edit into another number, was recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1972.
Kirk was one of the few jazz musicians of the “modern” era to win wide acclaim outside his own genre: Jimi Hendrix idolized him, for example. And who wouldn’t? He could play umpteen instruments, often several of them at the same time, with a joyous creative energy that would have been wonderful to experience in a live performance. As well as playing just about every wind instrument under the Sun, he was also adept at the difficult art of circular breathing, i.e. in through the nose and out through the mouth in such a way that air is kept moving through the instrument continuously. Kirk could play for as long as 20 minutes without apparently pausing for breath. His extraordinary technique is almost enough to make any aspiring saxophonist give up altogether. But Kirk was never just a technician – he had a wonderful musical imaginative, peppered with originality and wit. And for those people who think modern jazz takes itself far too seriously, this is so obviously full of fun I hope you change your mind. Above all, just bask in the wonder that was Roland Kirk.
Follow @telescoperAs I often do when I’m at a bit of a loose end, I just picked up a book of poems and dived in at random, which took me straight to the following sonnet by John Milton. I therefore stumbled upon a phrase “(“they also serve who only stand and wait”) which is is such common usage that I had never really thought about where it might have come from. Anyway, this is as nearly perfect an example of a Petrarchean (or Italian) sonnet as you could wish for, although the meaning is often been misinterpreted simply as an encouragement to be passive. Seen in its proper context, it seems to me that what Milton is saying is more like “Don’t be frustrated by what you can’t do, because God also knows your limitations, just do whatever you can – even if it’s not much”. As far as I know the poem is undated, but was presumably written after 1644 when Milton began to lose his eyesight. It could even be as late as 1655 by which time he was completely blind.
When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
“Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: “God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o’er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait.”
by John Milton (1608-1674)
Follow @telescoperAmong the things I learnt over the last few days was some interesting information about the diversity (or, rather, lack of diversity) of undergraduates taking undergraduate degrees in STEM subjects in the UK universities. For those of you not up on the lingo, `STEM’ is short for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Last year the Institute of Physics produced a report that contains a wealth of statistical information about the demographics of the undergraduate population, from which the following numbers are only a small component.
|
Physics |
Maths |
Chemistry |
Engineering |
|
| Female |
21% |
41% |
44% |
12% |
| BME |
11% |
24% |
20% |
30% |
| Socio-Economic |
37% |
42% |
43% |
51% |
| Non-EU |
5% |
12% |
7% |
32% |
For completeness I should point out that these numbers refer to first-year undergraduates in 2010-11; I have no particular reason to suppose there has been a qualitative change since then. “BME” stands for “Black and Minority Ethnic”, and “Socio-Economic” refers to students whose with parents not employed in managerial or professional positions.
Overall, the figures here at the University of Sussex are roughly in line with, but slightly better than, these national statistics; the proportion of female students in our Physics intake for 2010/11, for example, was 27%.
There are some interesting (and rather disappointing) things to remark. First is that the proportion of Physics students who are female remains low; Physics scores very badly on ethnic diversity too. Mathematics on the other hand seems a much more attractive subject for female students. Notice also how Physics and Chemistry attract a very small proportion of overseas students compared to Engineering.
In summary, therefore, we can see that Physics is a subject largely studied by white middle-class European males. What are we doing wrong?
Despite considerable efforts to promote Physics to a more diverse constituency, the proportion of, e.g., female physics students seems to have been bumping along at around 20% for ages. Interestingly, all the anecdotal evidence suggests that those women who do Physics at University do disproportionately well, in the sense that female students constitute a much larger fraction of First-class graduates than 20%. This strongly suggests that the problem lies at school level; some additional IOP information and discussion on this can be found here.
I’m just passing these figures on for information, as I’m quite often asked about them during, e.g., admissions-related activities. I don’t have any really compelling suggestions, but I would like to invite the blogosphere to comment and/or make suggestions as to promote diversity in STEM disciplines.
Follow @telescoperBack in Brighton after a busy but productive day-and-a-half in Abingdon discussing the future of SEPNET of which more soon. I just have time to post a few pictures of the place I was staying, The Cosener’s House.
Incidentally, being fascinated by words, I just looked up “cosener” on the online Oxford English Dictionary and found that it is a common variant of the word “cozener” which means a “deceiver, cheat or impostor”. I felt quite at home there…
The place is right next to the River Thames, which runs along the bottom of the pleasant garden adjacent to the house. I hadn’t realized that the whole establishment is run by the Science and Technology Facilities Council and is much frequented by users of various large scientific facilities (such as ISIS and the Diamond Light Source) situated nearby at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL).
The particle physicists among us were quite familiar with The Cosener’s House owing to the connection with RAL but although I’ve done quite a few STFC panels I’ve never been there before. Anyway, as you can see, it’s a pleasant enough location and it met with my particular strong approval because of the splendid black pudding available at breakfast!
House and Garden
This be the Thames…
The Bridge at Twilight.
Calm as a Millpond…
Well, I’m up early today because no sooner do I get back to work when I have to leave for the South East Physics Network SEPNET “Awayday”. Actually it’s more than a day, more like a day and a half but it’s pointless quibbling about such things. Anyway, it’s going to be held at the Cosener’s House in Abingdon and will be my first visit to that august establishment.
Before departing into the wilds of Oxfordshire, however, I thought I’d just post a quick reminder to any Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society who happen to be reading this blog that the deadline is approaching for votes in the election of a new President and new Members of Council.Electronic votes must be received by 12 noon on 9 May 2013, and paper votes by the start of the Annual General Meeting on 10 May 2013, so if you are eligible but haven’t voted yet please get your finger out.
In the interest of full disclosure I should make it clear that I am standing for election to Council…
Follow @telescoperI was just about to go home when I heard the news via Twitter that special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen died today. Ray Harryhausen was most famous for creating a form of stop-motion animation called Dynamation. Although some of the effects he created appear very dated compared to modern techniques involving computer graphics, some of his creations have stood the test of time so well that they have become classics of the art. The film Jason and the Argonauts features a swordfight involving seven animated skeletons, which is rightly held up as a shining example of his technical mastery, but my favourite sequence from that film is the following excerpt, in which the stop-motion technique works superbly well at conveying the colossal scale and supernatural presence of the giant Talos. It certainly had me on the edge of my seat when I first saw it.
This clip is rendered even more evocative by the fact that the sound the metallic scraping sound the Talos makes is exactly the same as that generated by the turntable in my microwave oven when it goes round…
Follow @telescoperI travelled back to Brighton this morning and spent the afternoon in a series of meetings in my sweltering office. I now haven’t got the energy to post anything but some music, so here is some rare footage of Brazilian guitarist and pioneer of Latin Jazz Baden Powell (full name Baden Powell de Aquino) recorded in Germany in 1970. The lovely tune with a melancholy edge is called Manhã da Carnaval. He not only plays it beautifully but also displays admirable dexterity in holding his cigarette in right hand as he does so..
Follow @telescoperWell, I’ve done next to nothing today. Just yesterday’s Azed crossword in which I found
All too public ‘diary’ left in the loo (4)
which clues what this is.
I also held my last ever project meeting with Cardiff student; hand-in dates are looming across the country, I suspect.
Other than that, I’ve just been strolling around, and otherwise enjoying, Bute Park in the sunshine along with half the population of Cardiff. It is a pity the Council don’t take better care of the grass, though..
Rummaging through my drawers just now I found the General Paper I took in 1981 to get into Cambridge. I haven’t copied Section A, which involves writing a precis of a rather lengthy article about voting systems, but Sections B and C involve different forms of writing challenge.
I don’t remember which questions I answered, but most of the topics are still interesting and/or controversial enough to be topics for a blog post, at least. Which would you have chosen?
Incidentally, the whole paper was of 3 hours duration and all sections were equally weighted so you would be expected to spend about an hour on each question.
I think we should do much more to encourage science students to develop their writing skills nowadays. I think most present-day physics would find these exercises very difficult, simply because they don’t get enough practice at putting pen to paper (or even fingers to keyboard).
If you are feeling keen, and have an hour to spare, feel free to submit a piece through the comments box!
Time starts now…
In the Dark 