Re: Bug#361418: Debian menu and the Apps/Science section
On Tue, May 16, 2006 at 02:25:37AM +0300, Linas ??virblis wrote:
> I actually find splitting "Science" a good idea.
>
> I did a little research and came up with this list of possible
> subsections, along with example fields they cover:
>
> Astronomy
> * Astrodynamics
> * Astronomy
> * Astrophysics
> * Cosmology
> * Radio astronomy
>
> Biology
> * Anatomy
> * Bioinformatics
> * Botany
> * Ecology
> * Genetics
>
> Chemistry
> * Analytical chemistry
> * Biochemistry
> * Inorganic chemistry
> * Materials science
> * Organic chemistry
>
> Geoscience
> * Geodesy
> * Geography
> * Geology
> * Hydrology
> * Meteorology
>
> Medicine
> * Anatomy
> * Dermatology
> * Gynecology
> * Immunology
> * Neurology
>
> Physics
> * Acoustics
> * Cryogenics
> * Dynamics
> * Mechanics
> * Nuclear physics
>
> Social
> * Anthropology
> * Demography
> * Economics
> * Geography
> * Law
>
> We also have "Electronics", "Engineering", and "Mathematics" that are
> somewhat subject to discussion, but could also go into "Science",
> depending on how broad your definition of "Science" is.
>
> I did not include "Education", because I do not consider this section
> appropriate for "Science". It is more likely to contain quizzes,
> student-tracking software etc., rather than something an expert is
> likely to use.
>
This suggestion contains examples of the problem in categorizing scientific
fields of study:
Science is, in essence, elitist, e.g. "... I do not consider ..." No
'real' scientist pays attention to Creation Science, except in the
context of his general concern about the quality of public
education. This is not my opinion about Creation Science, but a
observation about the nature of science as a social activity, and the
people who engage in it. But it is also true that most scientists tend
to place their own chosen field close to the pinacle of the elitist
heirarchy.
On a more detailed level, I think that Thermodynamics, and Electricity
and Magnetism belong to Physics. But it seems that they have been given over
to the care of engineers. Or is engineering a branch of science? Are there
some engineers who are scientists and others who are not?
I suggest that we, the Debian community, look to what is being taught to
the next generation of elitists at the major research universities of
the world for a pattern for organizing the menus.
Also, it is my impression that all first world countries have some
sort of umbrella organization of elite scientists. In the US it is the
National Academy of Science. Can these organizations be contacted for
help on the menu issue? It may be difficult because each might insist
on Debian accepting their solution to the exclusion of that from other
countries. This has been a problem in the naming of units of measure.
--
Paul E Condon
pecondon@mesanetworks.net
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