Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women • Hacker News Board

Re: Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women

#21

Post by mikerichards » Wed, Aug 10, 2016, 1:26 AM UTC

lumberjack wrote: post #4

inputcoffee wrote: post #3

I cannot imagine doing this today, although there are still places that need a secret university. However, I wonder if we have the solution, at much less risk. I wonder if, 30 years from now when a whole new generation has grown up, we will discuss poor countries (or, say, people under the Taliban, or in North Korea) learning from the Khan Academy, Coursera and the like in the same way. "What was it like, mom?" "Well…

Unlikely. Those people don't have the luxury of time needed to put any serious efforts towards their education.

How tired are you after a days of works. Many of us are mentally drained, which we feel as physically drained after work.

Not only that, but physical activity plus our mental strain screws with our cortisol levels.

Personally, I used to work out a lot. Then I realized I was getting crabby all the time. I think I have cortisol problems, but not sure.

Anybody refer me to research with stress and and physical workouts and not getting enough sleep?

Re: Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women

#22

Post by throwaway_xx9 » Wed, Aug 10, 2016, 1:43 AM UTC

You have to respect a scientist who did her own mining of radioactive materials. Talk about getting your hands dirty.

Re: Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women

#23

Post by zensavona » Wed, Aug 10, 2016, 2:14 AM UTC

benbreen wrote: post #16

Myrmornis wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an awesome story. How was Javad planning to receive / read the PDF? Or did he want a paper copy?

His cell phone. He buys data 5 euro at a time from a shop in the town or goes to cafes to download English and engineering textbooks. That's what my wife's thesis project is about - specifically figuring out the best ways to share useful information with refugees who have cell phones but not much else, especially women who might not have a chance to go out in public much, or have a formal education. It's not my field…

Wow, mind = blown a bit.

What a great thesis project, I hope something good comes of it. It's incredible both how much resolve people can have to change their circumstances and how detached I am from parts of the world and society sitting here in my kitchen on my MacBook.

Re: Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women

#24

Post by zensavona » Wed, Aug 10, 2016, 2:15 AM UTC

benbreen wrote: post #16

Myrmornis wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an awesome story. How was Javad planning to receive / read the PDF? Or did he want a paper copy?

His cell phone. He buys data 5 euro at a time from a shop in the town or goes to cafes to download English and engineering textbooks. That's what my wife's thesis project is about - specifically figuring out the best ways to share useful information with refugees who have cell phones but not much else, especially women who might not have a chance to go out in public much, or have a formal education. It's not my field…

Wow, mind = blown a bit.

What a great thesis project, I hope something good comes of it. It's incredible both how much resolve people can have to change their circumstances and how detached I am from parts of the world and society sitting here in my kitchen on my MacBook.

Re: Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women

#25

Post by metasean » Wed, Aug 10, 2016, 2:34 AM UTC

benbreen wrote: post #16

Myrmornis wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an awesome story. How was Javad planning to receive / read the PDF? Or did he want a paper copy?

His cell phone. He buys data 5 euro at a time from a shop in the town or goes to cafes to download English and engineering textbooks. That's what my wife's thesis project is about - specifically figuring out the best ways to share useful information with refugees who have cell phones but not much else, especially women who might not have a chance to go out in public much, or have a formal education. It's not my field…

Please have your wife check out http://www.oc4d.org/

Re: Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women

#26

Post by ittekimasu » Wed, Aug 10, 2016, 2:43 AM UTC

benbreen wrote: post #8

lumberjack wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unlikely. Those people don't have the luxury of time needed to put any serious efforts towards their education.

You'd be surprised. A good friend of mine is an Afghan who grew up sleeping on a dirt floor alongside his 5 siblings. When he was 15, his parents sent him off to their family village in order to fight the Taliban. I first met him at our PhD program orientation in the US. He speaks four languages and and is one of the most well educated people I've ever met. Granted, he's an exceptional person but by no means of a uni…

Wouldn't a Thinkpad be a better idea ? You can get used ones for fairly cheap.

Re: Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women

#27

Post by kaikai » Wed, Aug 10, 2016, 2:49 AM UTC

I worked on a project called Free Skool that's essentially the same thing. Even in wealthy, "free" countries, there are plenty of people that don't have access to educational resources, and can benefit from sharing knowledge with their peers. We had classes on everything from maths and philosophy to sewing and figure drawing. Education shouldn't be something that only happens when you have a ton of money and years of free time to spend on a university degree.

Re: Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women

#28

Post by sotojuan » Wed, Aug 10, 2016, 3:02 AM UTC

winter_blue wrote: post #10

ben_jones wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anthropologically speaking their was a lot of free time in ancient agrarian societies. I wouldn't be surprised if their is in fact a fair chunk of time that could be diverted to education if the resources were both available and accessible. From a study of modern Asian and Pacific "free time" [1]: "People in Cambodia (note the caveat of age – the sample is of those 5 years and older) and Pakistan have the largest amo…

> their was a lot of free time in ancient agrarian societies Isn't it disappointing that with all the automation and advanced technology we have today, people on average have less free time ? I changed jobs recently, and at my new company, my team consistently works from 9 am to around 7pm. I feel pressured to stay as I don't want to be the only one walking out the door at 5:15pm (and since that'd be frowned upon). M…

Serious question: Why did you take the job? Assuming it wasn't your only choice or you had to get a job ASAP and took the first one (if so, ignore the rest), why?

I've made the same mistake before: Working at a place where everyone works late or at home after work, or even on weekends. Not for me—I make sure to ask during interviews about working hours and expectations.

Re: Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women

#29

Post by KajMagnus » Wed, Aug 10, 2016, 3:03 AM UTC

kaikai wrote: post #27

I worked on a project called Free Skool that's essentially the same thing. Even in wealthy, "free" countries, there are plenty of people that don't have access to educational resources, and can benefit from sharing knowledge with their peers. We had classes on everything from maths and philosophy to sewing and figure drawing. Education shouldn't be something that only happens when you have a ton of money and years of…

Do you have a website? Would you like to link to it (or send me via email?)

Re: Marie Curie Got Her Start at a Secret University for Women

#30

Post by shas3 » Wed, Aug 10, 2016, 3:07 AM UTC

lumberjack wrote: post #4

inputcoffee wrote: post #3

I cannot imagine doing this today, although there are still places that need a secret university. However, I wonder if we have the solution, at much less risk. I wonder if, 30 years from now when a whole new generation has grown up, we will discuss poor countries (or, say, people under the Taliban, or in North Korea) learning from the Khan Academy, Coursera and the like in the same way. "What was it like, mom?" "Well…

Unlikely. Those people don't have the luxury of time needed to put any serious efforts towards their education.

Severe sampling bias. News in the West is focused on all the bad things that happen there. That doesn't mean that there can't be a small percentage of the population that has the time and motivation to educate themselves. I've met my share of Syrians, Libyans, and Iraqi graduate students who were educated in and lived through pretty difficult times pre- and post- dictator-overthrow.