Category Archives: science

Understanding Macro-effects in Health

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

We had a rousing discussion about what determines health—and illness—at a gathering this week, and we talked about Indian health issues. The buzz phrase today: Social Determinants of Health. That refers to the panoply of items, issues, attributes, variables or … Continue reading →

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When the Masses are Stupid

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Even smart scholars sometimes make the mistake of assuming the masses are stupid. During election fever, media critics in particular view publics as empty slates ready to be inscribed with persuasive messages. For example, pundits wring their hands over negative … Continue reading →

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When Race is Social, Not Science

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Prof. Linda Martin Alcoff wrote a stunning editorial in Sunday’s New York Times about critical race theory, claiming that folks in Arizona have confiscated “books and other materials” in a bid to “oversee what can be taught” in schools. Critical … Continue reading →

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We love Familiarity

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

A mild tempest sizzled recently over the Muppets. Seems that Courtney Love objected to the Muppets’ rendition of a Nirvana song. The teapot tempest brewed in the circles of MTV and social media attenders: but you have to look hard … Continue reading →

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We are a University, not a Bathhouse

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Her genius made Albert Einstein sit up and take notice, and he called her approach creative and significant. Amalie Noether’s theorem revolutionized mathematics, according to a story by Natalie Angier this week in The New York Times. Angier writes that … Continue reading →

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Don’t Duck Doonesbury

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Leaving town for a week proved joyful. Traveling helps unbind the fetters of work and chores, forcing you outside the normal constraints of daily living. My honey and I spent a week in Istanbul and Antalya, visiting the bustling bazaars … Continue reading →

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Indians in Zoos

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Been trying to channel the mindset of the scientists of the 19th century as they struggled over the concept of race. American Indians—like Asians and Africans—were seen as separate races for decades.

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Neuroscience: Looking Beyond the Obvious

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I’m not the only critic warning about the dangers of finding the results you want in your research. Anthony Gottlieb, writing for The Economist this week, notes that the young field of neuroscience may be leading us astray. Loads of … Continue reading →

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The Indian Brain

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

How much of our prejudices worm their way into our thoughts about American Indians? Folks thought that brain structures determine how people think and act, and scientists in the 1840s looked at Indian skulls to determine their behaviors.

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The Republican Brain, the Indian Brain

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

An intriguing talk at a recent conference I attended discussed the Republican Brain. Seems that scientists have been studying how people respond to different scenarios and then measure their responses, both on a written questionnaire and by looking at brain … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, human origin, Indian, journalism, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments