Very few schools will successfully open in the fall. COVID-19 won’t let them. But while COVID-19 doesn’t care about the social, emotional and educational needs of kids – especially at-risk kids – we do. Instead of stomping our feet and demanding the world to arrange itself according to our wishes, perhaps we should instead be rolling up our sleeves and figuring out how to do the best we can to meet the needs of children who are not in the classroom.

As we get closer to the date that schools around the nation are supposed to open, the question “what about COVID-19?” looms large.  Everyone wants kids back in school. But what does that look like when faced with the reality of actual kids and actual teachers spending their days in enclosed spaces doing what kids and teachers do. The things that we do know about COVID-19 make the prospect scary. The things that we don’t know about COVID-19 make it even scarier.

 

Sometimes other commitments get in the way. Astronomy Magazine is short handed, so Dave and Alison have had to step away from Scientists Stuck Inside. But we are keeping it going with new faced. Michael Bailey is a Shakespearean Actor, a stand-up comic, the best Gifted and Talented teacher on the planet, and an all-around brilliant guy with a passion for science.  Jeri Reed is an astrophysicist, and former student of mine, who these days is involved in theater and choreography. She is also a delight. Join us as the SS SSI sails on!

To care about reality or not to care about reality, that is the question!  Some people spend their lives figuring out what is true and what isn’t. Others spend their lives slinging BS trying to make that hard-won knowledge go away.

To care about reality or not to care about reality, that is the question!  Some people spend their lives figuring out what is true and what isn’t. Others spend their lives slinging BS trying to make that hard-won knowledge go away.

Can you really catch COVID-19 just by breathing the air around people who don’t seem sick? Unfortunately, the likely answer is yes.

Can you really catch COVID-19 just by breathing the air around people who don’t seem sick? Unfortunately, the likely answer is yes.

“May you live in interesting times” is not actually an ancient Chinese curse, but who cares? If the curse fits, use it!

The troubling turmoil surrounding George Floyd has captured the attention of the nation and the world, even as states move to relax restrictions meant to control the spread of COVID-19. But the virus itself doesn’t care about social justice, economics or political expediency. It just does what it does. Where do we really stand right now, and what tools do we have at our disposal to monitor and protect the public health?

It’s OK to not know stuff, so long as you recognize the fact. It is not OK to insist that all mathematicians everywhere are wrong and proclaim to the world that 1 + 1 = 3 because you are tired of wearing a mask.