In Chapter 4 of "Not My Thesis," Jane Panangaden explains the abstract world of pure math and the delights of exploring it, as well as her work advocating for tenants' rights in Pasadena. While dividing her time between writing proofs and legislation, Jane grapples with how we apply our skills, technical or otherwise, to bring a different world into existence. She asks us to consider: why do math?
You can find out more about the Pasadena Tenants Union, including the ordinance they wrote, here (http://pasadenatenantsunion.org/). Read about what the Socialists of Caltech are up to here (https://socialistsofcaltech.com/).
To learn more about the history of eugenics at Caltech, check out this Caltech Letters viewpoint article (https://caltechletters.org/viewpoints/rename-millikan). In recognition of this history, Caltech recently decided (https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/caltech-to-remove-the-names-of-robert-a-millikan-and-five-other-eugenics-proponents) to remove the names of some of the eugenicists from campus buildings. Hear Jane and others in conversation with the Caltech Archives in this (https://youtu.be/iHF6JEOLFVU?t=2287) video.
Find Not My Thesis on Caltech Letters or by searching for “Caltech Letters Podcasts” on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. The transcript is available here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/17JeOaGmMi286cnNx2m1Cz-uP4DT_WHAK/view?usp=sharing). You can contact us by emailing notmythesis@gmail.com. Music for this episode was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, and our logo is by Usha Lingappa. Find more Caltech Letters content at https://caltechletters.org/podcasts/.
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In Chapter 4 of "Not My Thesis," Jane Panangaden explains the abstract world of pure math and the delights of exploring it, as well as her work advocating for tenants' rights in Pasadena. While dividing her time between writing proofs and legislation, Jane grapples with how we apply our skills, technical or otherwise, to bring a different world into existence. She asks us to consider: why do math?
You can find out more about the Pasadena Tenants Union, including the ordinance they wrote, here (http://pasadenatenantsunion.org/). Read about what the Socialists of Caltech are up to here (https://socialistsofcaltech.com/).
To learn more about the history of eugenics at Caltech, check out this Caltech Letters viewpoint article (https://caltechletters.org/viewpoints/rename-millikan). In recognition of this history, Caltech recently decided (https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/caltech-to-remove-the-names-of-robert-a-millikan-and-five-other-eugenics-proponents) to remove the names of some of the eugenicists from campus buildings. Hear Jane and others in conversation with the Caltech Archives in this (https://youtu.be/iHF6JEOLFVU?t=2287) video.
Find Not My Thesis on Caltech Letters or by searching for “Caltech Letters Podcasts” on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. The transcript is available here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/17JeOaGmMi286cnNx2m1Cz-uP4DT_WHAK/view?usp=sharing). You can contact us by emailing notmythesis@gmail.com. Music for this episode was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, and our logo is by Usha Lingappa. Find more Caltech Letters content at https://caltechletters.org/podcasts/.
How does evolution give rise to new features of living things? Mistakes drive the vast diversity of life on earth through mutations (random errors in the information carrying molecules of a cell). A core question of evolutionary biology is how hard it is to make useful, new biological components via these random mutations and natural selection. Joined by special guest Heidi Klumpe, Caltech graduate student and host of the Not My Thesis podcast (https://caltechletters.org/podcasts/not-my-thesis/), we explore cases where mutation gives new function shockingly easily (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04026-w), and others where success is harder to come by (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4476321/). If you are an insect, one change might give you legs where your antenna should be.
Heidi, Aditi, John, and Julian discuss how they deal with mistakes in professional settings and the disappointment and stress they can cause. Ever needed advice on how to handle a pipetting robot or the escape of a massive colony of vicious ants? We offer some tips, but mistakes may be a necessary, albeit painful, teacher.
Note: this episode was recorded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in October of 2019.
Find us at https://caltechletters.org/podcasts/
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***Cover image: Don't cry over spilled milk. Photo by Julian Wagner for Caltech Letters.
Caltech Letters
In Chapter 4 of "Not My Thesis," Jane Panangaden explains the abstract world of pure math and the delights of exploring it, as well as her work advocating for tenants' rights in Pasadena. While dividing her time between writing proofs and legislation, Jane grapples with how we apply our skills, technical or otherwise, to bring a different world into existence. She asks us to consider: why do math?
You can find out more about the Pasadena Tenants Union, including the ordinance they wrote, here (http://pasadenatenantsunion.org/). Read about what the Socialists of Caltech are up to here (https://socialistsofcaltech.com/).
To learn more about the history of eugenics at Caltech, check out this Caltech Letters viewpoint article (https://caltechletters.org/viewpoints/rename-millikan). In recognition of this history, Caltech recently decided (https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/caltech-to-remove-the-names-of-robert-a-millikan-and-five-other-eugenics-proponents) to remove the names of some of the eugenicists from campus buildings. Hear Jane and others in conversation with the Caltech Archives in this (https://youtu.be/iHF6JEOLFVU?t=2287) video.
Find Not My Thesis on Caltech Letters or by searching for “Caltech Letters Podcasts” on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. The transcript is available here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/17JeOaGmMi286cnNx2m1Cz-uP4DT_WHAK/view?usp=sharing). You can contact us by emailing notmythesis@gmail.com. Music for this episode was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, and our logo is by Usha Lingappa. Find more Caltech Letters content at https://caltechletters.org/podcasts/.
