podcast – gentlemen.scientists

Episodes

1. 19

   Discussion #19 – “You’re Not My Type” – the Science and Ethics of Personality Testing

   We’re joined this week by musician, writer and director Polash Larsen for a critical look at the world of “personality testing” and in particular the famous Myers-Briggs Type Indicator which categorizes people (“personalities”) as four-letter codes (e.g. ENTP). If you like Myers-Briggs, I should...

   Oct 31, 2015
2. 18

   Discussion #18 – Aging, Immortality and Pretending to be Young

   “Nam Sibyllam quidem Cumis ego ipse oculis meis vidi in ampulla pendere, et cum illi pueri dicerent: Σιβυλλα τι θελεις; respondebat illa: αποθανειν θελω.” [I have seen with my own eyes the Sibyl hanging in a jar, and when the boys asked her “What do you want?” She answered, “I want to die.”] –...

   May 26, 2015
3. 17

   Discussion #17 – Ancestors, Kinship and Genomics

   Why do we find our ancestors so fascinating? In many cultures, the story of our ancestors is incorporated into daily life and celebrated through ritual. In the modern world we often pride ourselves on our independence from history, our ability to cut free from tradition and remake ourselves in...

   Apr 2, 2015
4. 16

   Discussion #16 – Rules, Meta Rules and the Not-Game of Life

   Games aren’t real life. Games have rules that don’t change, but in this complex, confounding universe that we live in, the rules always change over time – even if we we don’t want them to. Maybe there are meta-rules – rules about the rules, or rules that generate the rules. Or meta-meta-rules…

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   Mar 13, 2015
5. 15

   Discussion #15 – The Mind-Set of Aging

   This week Shourov and Brian explore the link between mind and body as it relates to the aging process. Studies by Prof Ellen Langer have shown that to some extent we are only as young (or old) as we feel. And given the chance, the human body can surprise us when the mind is encouraged to ……

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   Nov 26, 2014
6. 14

   Discussion #14: Your Brain on Music

   This week we talk about music and why we as a species like it so much. We are joined by the very learned Declan Jones, one of Melbourne’s talented musicians. Every human society has music. It is a Cultural Universal which features in all cultures and tribes around the world. Music is thought to...

   Nov 11, 2014
7. 13

   Discussion #13 – Why do Big Projects Fail?

   This week we discuss the topic, ‘Why do big projects fail’. With a slant towards IT projects due to our backgrounds in the field, we discuss and explore some examples of failures to date. There are different types of project failure, where the project is: complete but costs too much; complete but...

   Oct 22, 2014
8. 12

   Discussion #12 – Atheists, Retail Therapy and Baptist Zombies

   Susan Blackmore, a psychologist and researcher who is an authority in the field of “memetics”, posted a recent article on the Richard Dawkins Foundation site describing her dismay at having religious students walk out of one of her memetics lectures. Muslim and Christian students took exception…

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   Aug 24, 2014
9. 11

   Discussion #11 – The Doomsday Review

   This week we are joined again by Nick Raphael to discuss doomsday scenarios – ways in which our world (or at least the human race) may end. We’ve picked a few of our favourites, from meteors to killer robots to meme epidemics, and we review their feasibility (and entertainment value) in light of...

   Jul 12, 2014
10. 10

    Discussion #10 – The Science (and Art) of Making Mistakes

    Everyone makes mistakes so why can’t you? – Big Bird, Sesame Street Life is all about making mistakes. As we age, interrogating our own personal histories for mistakes yields more and more useful lessons, for those who wish to go through the exercise (it’s painful to do so). Whether it is in a...

    Jun 28, 2014
11. 9

    Discussion #9 – Constructor Theory, Meta-Laws and the Face of God

    [Today’s discussion is about Constructor Theory as proposed by David Deutsch. The original 2012 paper can be found here .] A recent article in Scientific American introduced us to the ideas of David Deutsch and his Constructor Theory. Constructor Theory seeks to formulate “meta-laws” which sit...

    Jun 15, 2014
12. 8

    Discussion #8 – Memes, Psychology and Religion – Are we better than we used to be?

    This week we welcome John Hanly, our latest guest on the audio blog who has a special personal connection to The Gentlemen Scientists – he is Brian’s father! John has had a long, varied and fascinating career as a Catholic priest in training, a psychologist, businessman and consultant and writer…

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    May 23, 2014
13. 7

    Discussion #7 – Quantum mechanics, black holes and branes

    [Today’s discussion sponsored by The Copenhagen Interpretation remix of R Kelly’s Ignition– the Gentlemen Scientists suggest that you play it as a soundtrack] The Gentlemen Scientists are joined tonight by guest Nick Raphael, a friend and ex-colleague who is also a graduate in Physics from the...

    May 14, 2014