Opinion: Mathematics Needs AAAS

OPINION Quantum Theory Needs No “Interpretation”

Recently there has been a spate of articles, reviews, and letters in Physics Today promoting various “interpretations” of quantum theory (see March 1998, page 42; April 1998, page 38; February 1999, page 11; July 1999, page 51; and August 1999, page 26). Their running theme is that from the time of quantum theory’s emergence until the discovery of a particular interpretation, the theory was in ...

Opinion: Climate policy needs more than muddling.

More than half a century ago political scientist Charles Lindblom (1) argued that a policy of “muddling through” with incremental steps is frequently superior to attempting to design and implement comprehensive policy solutions. After decades of talk the world is finally showing signs of muddling its way toward a range of policies to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. The recent Paris accord w...

2016 AAAS Fellows approved by the AAAS Council.

Alison L. Van Eenennaam, Univ. of California, Davis Americans, not just Europeans—are empowered to reach their full potential as leaders.” Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, president of Jordan’s Royal Scientific Society, spoke forcefully at WLSTE+10 about the continuing imbalance in women’s access to leadership positions in science, not only in the Middle East but also globally. “All of our socie...

Opinion Mayr, mathematics and the study of evolution

In 1959 Ernst Mayr (Figure 1) flung down the gauntlet [1] at the feet of the three great population geneticists RA Fisher, Sewall Wright and JBS Haldane (Figure 2): “But what, precisely,” he said, “has been the contribution of this mathematical school to the evolutionary theory, if I may be permitted to ask such a provocative question?” His skepticism arose in part from the fact that the mathem...

What teachers’ want: Identifying mathematics teachers’ professional learning needs