Some things Brendon and Rachel talked about that weren't too technical were:
Rachel really wants to get people interested in science and not be scared of it, like with a TV show. Brendon wants to influence politics. Rachel thinks you can do more as a scientist. She wants to influence the education system in Nevada but not be a politician. Brendon thinks politics affects science. Brendon seems to think global warming is more of a political issue than a science issue -- "People are always saying global warming this, global warming that." Rachel agrees there's always been global warming and global cooling, though yeah, people should reduce their carbon footprint and she supports solar energy. Brendon talks about the influence of Big Oil and they talk some more about solar energy and other alternative energy sources.
Brendon is sleepy. At some point he says something about "equal opportunity", ethnic quotas, affirmative action, and "reverse discrimination against people who are overrepresented" -- seems to say he is against affirmative action.
Rachel may get a PhD of her own someday. She's thought about an MD/PhD program in neurochemistry. Brendon thinks she could still do that with the right support.
Rachel enjoys talking science with Brendon. Rachel says Chemistry is the basis for Physics and Brendon disagrees. Brendon says something like, "No, Chemistry is the basis for Biology. Physics is the basis for Chemistry," and gives an example from science. Rachel concedes he's right, and adds some more examples.
At some point Rachel asked Brendon jokingly, you think you're smarter than me, don't you? He denied it. |
