I'm a neurobiology grad student at San Diego State University. I also work at a teratology & neurobiology laboratory where we are using Diffusion tensor imaging and biochemical science techniques in order to find treatments for developmental disorders such as fetal alcohol syndrome. In the past I've done a bit of research on mirror neurons using fMRI brain imaging techniques. I was recently invited by the University of California, Irvine to collaborate on a robotics intelligence project which is turning out to be really cool. As an undergrad I double majored in Neurobiology and Computer Science. I'm hoping to get my PhD in neuroscience soon because I feel like I've been a student forever, and I want to do a bit of world traveling.
Thoughts
I'm wondering why education keeps getting more expensive while the distribution of information is getting progressively cheaper. Is a degree actually worth the rising cost? The answer is not as clear is it was 15 years ago. For example the tuition at the University of Southern California (USC) costs $38,570 per year[1] (2 semesters). That means when a student graduates after 5 years (which is average) they will have racked up $192,850 in tuition expenses. Like all other universities, they also have mandatory fees, which are $614 a year; and they estimate books and supplies will cost $1500 per year. Thus, to get a degree, the grand total will be $203,420.
1. Researchers and Scientists have a relatively new wealth of information available with the advancement of the internet; however, this information is not always well cataloged and it’s origins are often unsourced, bias, or difficult to locate. Furthermore, an active exchange of ideas is being made on the internet at a pace far beyond what is currently being utilized by any number of scholastic disciplines. Fostering a platform for the use of “open” forum for the daily exchange of ideas will have a great impact on the efficacy of scientific contributions. This site has the overall aim of filling these needsmore
Currently Musing
Are mirror neurons real?
Random
Why Wikipedia is Going to Suck in the Near Future.
Autarchic actions, brazen personalities, intensely pertinacious attitudes, unwarranted attention to insignificant detail; Loitering among their claque; here come the admins, here come the trolls...People unable to use pictures and words as an attempt merely to explain the real picture or writing, limitation on information access, self proclaimed cyber police, people that think they are legal experts on copyright law, bots that delete and edit legitimate material, opinion wars, and other limiting action. My favorite quote from Jimmy Wales: "Be bold when editing." I think that it is very important to not discourage people from adding to the collective body of knowledge.
But who knows. It might just end up like the don't panic book from "The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy," as the source of all knowledge in the universe. Wouldn't that be cool?
Why BrainInformatics.com is Going to Rock in the Near Future!
It turns out that scientists are the best news reporters.
