misc.ience

QB50 – A New Zealand Nanosat Opportunity

Aimee Whitcroft • Nov 05, 2012

• CubeSat,
• KiwiSpace,
• QB50,
• Satellite

I have absolutely no doubt that there are a number of people here, in fair GodZone, who are interested in Putting Things Into the Sky.  I know we have an active rocketry scene, for example, and I count myself lucky… Read more › … Read More

Looking at New Zealand’s IT professionals

Aimee Whitcroft • Oct 25, 2012

• ICT,
• IITP,
• IT,
• survey

Are you one of the many denizens of the industry that is ‘IT’? How did you become one?  What do your loved ones think of it?  What sort of hours do you work? Etc etc etc The Institute of IT… Read more › … Read More

Shiny sexy data centre pr0n

Aimee Whitcroft • Oct 18, 2012

• culture,
• data centre,
• design,
• google

Yep, folks, you heard me right. Data centre pr0n. I’ve had a couple of friends* send me this link today, from Google.  The page it directs one to will give you lots and lots of shiny data centre photos grouped… Read more › … Read More

Engaging early- and mid-career scientists

Aimee Whitcroft • Oct 18, 2012

• culture,
• EMCR,
• General,
• launch,
• network,
• networking,
• party,
• Rebecca Priestley,
• research,
• researchers,
• scientists,
• southern cross,
• Support,
• WEMCR

Those involved in New Zealand’s science scene may have heard of Stratus, ‘a network of emerging and early career University of Auckland researchers’, which was launched in 2008. Well, there’s a new kid on the block – allow me to… Read more › … Read More

Of bikes and buses

Aimee Whitcroft • Oct 16, 2012

• bus,
• costs,
• culture,
• General,
• motorbike,
• public transport,
• Wellington

Bill’s post today on Wellington buses, and why he chooses to drive his car instead, is a timely one. While his post looks primarily at the time he saves by not using public transport, I thought I’d focus on something… Read more › … Read More

It’s Ada Lovelace Day!

Aimee Whitcroft • Oct 16, 2012

• ada initiative,
• Ada Lovelace,
• Ada Lovelace Day,
• computer,
• culture,
• feminism,
• General,
• mathematics,
• programming

Today, October 16th, is Ada Lovelace Day. Ada Lovelace, for those who didn’t already know (and you all do, right? * wink *), also called Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, is one of the shining stars in mathematics and… Read more › … Read More

Adapting to Mars

Aimee Whitcroft • Oct 12, 2012

• blue,
• circadian rhythm,
• led,
• light,
• Mars,
• Mars Phoenix Lander Mission,
• sleep

The subject of Mars is a popular one. Not only in science fiction but, of course, in real life, too. Curiosity’s presence on the red planet at the moment – you can look at interactive panoramas of Mars! – has… Read more › … Read More

Measuring the value of science

Aimee Whitcroft • Oct 11, 2012

• culture,
• Data,
• data infrastructure,
• design,
• Economics,
• framework,
• Julia Lane,
• measurement,
• metrics,
• NSF,
• SciSIP

The subject of innovation/science/tech/R&D, and its contribution to a country’s economy and society, appears to be top of mind for policymakers, funding bodies and scientific bodies all over the world. In New Zealand alone, MSI has set a target of… Read more › … Read More

No, actually, everyone is NOT entitled to their opinion

Aimee Whitcroft • Oct 09, 2012

• culture,
• entitlement,
• fact,
• opinion,
• Patrick Stokes,
• philosophy

The question of opinion is becoming an increasingly vexed issue all over the world, and in all kinds of disciplines. While no one (well, no one in their right minds) would say that one isn’t entitled to the opinion that… Read more › … Read More

Lots of land still up for grabs on largest LEGO set

Aimee Whitcroft • Oct 04, 2012

• Australia,
• Build,
• Chrome,
• culture,
• design,
• LEGO,
• map,
• New Zealand

Earlier this year, LEGO and Chrome released the Build game. Touting itself as the world’s largest LEGO set, it allows you to build, using Lego bricks, anything you want on a Google map. Currently, only New Zealand and Australia have… Read more › … Read More