NCAS
Public Lecture Series
"Arboreal Mind: Finding Self in Nerve Cell Branching"
Dr. Giorgio A. Ascoli, Computational Neuroanatomy Group at the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study,
George Mason University
The philosophical
problem of the mind-brain relation requires a
radical shift in the current research paradigm to
include first-person (subjective) experience as a
legitimate topic of empirical investigation. Mental states (thoughts, feelings, memories,
intentions, etc.) consist of spatio-temporal
activity patterns in networks of tree-shaped neurons. Learning
corresponds to the formation of new connections
among neurons, enabling the activation of a new
spatio-temporal pattern underlying said mental
states. This seminar is accessible at the lay level because subjective experience
and tree shapes are accessible to all humankind.
For more information, visit
For more information, visit
Saturday,
December 11,
1:30 p.m. -
3:00 p.m., followed by refreshments
National Science Foundation, Room 110
4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
National Science Foundation, Room 110
4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
(Near
Ballston–Marymount University Metro)
Enter NSF from the corner of N Stuart St & 9th St N.(map) (directions)
Enter NSF from the corner of N Stuart St & 9th St N.(map) (directions)
Torn From Today's
Headlines
By Scott Snell
Mostly Cloudy, with a Chance of Ghosts
Readers of the Washington Post 's October 30th edition were probably
surprised to find an article entitled "Scientist Tracks Storms by Day, Ghosts at Night" on
the front page of the newspaper's Metro section. Coverage of unserious Halloween-themed
stories is usually consigned to the Style section. Instead an editor apparently judged
that Post reporter J. Freedom du Lac's treatment of this story was worthy of sharing
front page space with local news of the day such as the FBI's search for a shooter attacking
U.S. military sites in Northern Virginia.
"By day, [Rob] Gutro is a meteorologist who works
as deputy news chief at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in
Greenbelt, communicating the nation's scientific work to the public.
By night (and whenever else the entities get in touch), he talks to the dead.
'I have an ability to communicate with and understand ghosts and spirits,' Gutro said."
Other Gutro quotes reported by du Lac include,
"I'm a scientist, so I have to prove everything," "There's no
such thing as a coincidence," "[Dogs can see ghosts because dogs] have
more rods than cones in their eyes," and "As the law of conservation of
energy states, energy cannot be destroyed. It can only be transformed, so
after we pass, that energy that is within us has to go somewhere. It can
choose to be an earthbound ghost, or it can choose to be a spirit and cross over."
Meanwhile, du Lac informs readers that "There's no scientific consensus
on ghosts and spirits" and goes on to describe a ghost-hunt led by Gutro at The Book
Escape, an allegedly haunted bookstore on Light Street in Baltimore.
Find the article at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/28/AR2010102804028.html
Related video content is available at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/10/27/VI2010102707007.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/28/AR2010102804028.html
Related video content is available at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/10/27/VI2010102707007.html
Author's comment:
Post reporter du Lac described the subject of his story as "Medium and NASA Meteorologist
Rob Gutro," but careful reporting (or a careful editor) would've corrected this to "Medium
and NASA Public Affairs Specialist Rob Gutro."What about Gutro's educational credentials?
Did he earn a degree in meteorology? Du Lac indicated that Gutro "[studied]
meteorology at Western Kentucky University" but otherwise provided no educational grounds
for calling Gutro a meteorologist.
Gutro has indicated on his LinkedIn page
(a business-oriented social networking site) that he earned a two-year associate's degree
in meteorology at Western Kentucky University. A visit to the WKU site shows that their
two-year program is not in meteorology, but in meteorological technology:
http://www.wku.edu/coursecatalog/ogden_college.pdf
Meteorological technicians are trained to collect weather data for meteorologists.
Thus Gutro is better described as a technician, not as a scientist.
Given reporter du Lac's superficial research for the seemingly remarkable story he wrote, I wondered if he'd earned a degree in journalism, for he is now working as a journalist. No...it was a degree in business administration from Whittier College, followed by a long gig as the Washington Post 's popular-music critic.
In fairness to du Lac, he seems to acknowledge (jokingly) the poor quality of his article in an October 28 "tweet": "I went ghost hunting in Bmore, and all you got was this lousy story about a medium w/a day job at NASA."
(Full disclosure: I don't have a journalism degree either. Mine is in physics.)
Given reporter du Lac's superficial research for the seemingly remarkable story he wrote, I wondered if he'd earned a degree in journalism, for he is now working as a journalist. No...it was a degree in business administration from Whittier College, followed by a long gig as the Washington Post 's popular-music critic.
In fairness to du Lac, he seems to acknowledge (jokingly) the poor quality of his article in an October 28 "tweet": "I went ghost hunting in Bmore, and all you got was this lousy story about a medium w/a day job at NASA."
(Full disclosure: I don't have a journalism degree either. Mine is in physics.)
Postscript:
Speaking of ghosts and Goddard Space Flight Center, someone claims that several Goddard buildings are haunted:http://theshadowlands.net/places/maryland.htm
The web archive at web.archive.org shows that these stories were first posted in late 2003.
I was previously unfamiliar with any of these claims, despite my long-standing interest and over two decades of employment there. I'll keep readers posted in case I ever see anything ghostly at Goddard or feel "a strong sense of dread" (aside from the usual fears of budget cuts).
Shadow
Light
Some
members
and contacts of NCAS receive a postal notification of this and every
new monthly Shadow
of a Doubt. The Shadow
Light postcard announces the monthly lecture and highlights
of
the electronic Shadow
of a Doubt, which is available online at ncas.org/shadow. NCAS thereby reduces Shadow production
and postage costs. To further reduce costs, members and
contacts
can opt out of postal notification altogether, while continuing to
receive Shadow
of a Doubt via
e-mail. To opt out, send us an e-mail at ncas@ncas.org.
Drinking Skeptically, now in MD and VA!
On Wednesday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m., please join fellow NCASers at either of our simultaneous DC-area Drinking Skeptically events:
Jackie's
Sidebar8081
Georgia Avenue (entrance on Sligo Avenue) in Silver Spring, MD
Chevys
Fresh Mex
4238
Wilson Blvd (Ballston Common Mall) in Arlington, VA
Drinking
Skeptically is
an informal social event designed to promote fellowship and networking
among skeptics, critical-thinkers, and like-minded individuals. There's
no cover charge and all are welcome. Don't
drink? Don't let that stop you from joining us! Some of the world's
most famous skeptics are teetotalers, and we are happy to have you!
Remember that drinking skeptically means drinking responsibly. If
there's one thing science has taught us, it's the effects of alcohol on
the human body.
Time
to Renew?
Be
sure
to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow
Light postcard.
Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org.