Bug#361418: Debian menu and the Apps/Science section

[Francesco Pietra <frapietra@alice.it>]

I received this message after I answered Bill Allombert. 

The list below is a reasonable one, when "Bio" is written in full "Biology" 
and "medicine" is added; medicine is largely biology but with special needs.

I disagree with the distinction science/education. Scientific education is 
science, or ideally it should be. Most discoveries spring from students doing 
a thesis work, which is education. Arrhenius set the a large section of the 
basis of chemistry (and thereby of biology chemistry agronomy etc etc) while 
a student under education (although - being too much ahead of the times - he 
was blamed for his ideas).

Surely what I am saying is not exhaustive. It is a matter to think about for a 
while. I am answering while doing chemistry, thus short of time.

regards
francesco pietra

On Sunday 14 May 2006 18:20, Thomas Walter wrote:
> Hello,
>
> On Sun, 2006-05-14 at 17:01, Bill Allombert wrote:
> > Hello Debian Science people,
> >
> > There is a discussion (in bug #361418) on the future of the Debian
> > menu structure. In case you missed it, we would like to have your
> > opinions on the entries for scientific applications.
> >
> > The relevant sections are:
> >
> >   Mathematics [was:Math]
> >   Mathematics-related software.
> >   gcalctool, snapea, xeukleides
> >
> >   Science
> >   Software for natural and social sciences, humanities, etc.
> >   ncbi-epcr, earth3d, therion
> >
> > Please send comment to bug #361418.
> >
> >
> >From my point of view this 2 section names are arbitrary and too global.
>
> It also opens a long discussion about the hirarchy.  I think Mathematics
> is also part of Science.  At least for application like axiom, octave,
> mathematica, ...
> So having a Math section in parallel to Science could be for more
> "calulator" oriented SW.
>
> In general, my understanding of "Science" is in the sense of research
> and not education.
> Thus an example breakdown within Sience could be like
> 	Mathematics
> 	Physics
> 	Bio
> 	Chemistry
> 	Astronomics
> 	Geology
> 	...
> where some applications or tools can be part of several sub-sections.
> Perhaps applications which could be used in nearly all sub-sections
> could go into a "General" or "Common" Section.
>
> In parallel to section "Science" have a section "Education".
>
> Kind Regards,
> Thomas