Hip-Hop cat
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House cat
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Metal cats
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Techno cat
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EXTERNAL LINKS
- Rap Guide to Evolution | Geek Music (Some free mp3 - That spells DNA, Bacteria, Mandelbrot Set etc).
- PhD (Piled Higher and Deeper) Comic Strip
- T.E.D. (entertaining 30 minute talks on all kinds of cool stuff: Try ones by Daniel Gilbert & Hans Rosling for starters)
- Richard Dawkins gets excited about atheism
- Great advice for PhD Students
- Photo Galleries are at the bottom of this page.
Typhoon Neoguri: July 2014 @ OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology). I'm here to do some fieldwork and collect fish - but not today thanks ! More Pictures from OIST
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POPULAR SCIENCE BOOKS: EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY & STUFF ON HUMANS
The aim of this list is simply to convince you (hopefully one of my students) to read a book or two. OK just one. Go on, live dangerously! All the books listed fall into the 'popular science' category. These are the books read by people who - unlike you - don't have the privilege of access to higher education but still crave knowledge to improve themselves. Yup, I'm trying to guilt-trip you by reminding you how fortunate you are.
It won't be that painful though. These books are written in non-technical language and the authors make a huge effort to entertain while they inform. Sex, drugs, pop culture, Mad Cow disease, Bush's brain capacity - they'll do anything to try and hold your interest. These are also the very books your lecturers have read to get some ideas on how to organize their teaching. Cut out the middle man and read them too!! If you read even a few of these books, I guarantee that your marks in almost every course with an evolutionary or ecological component will rise considerably. So do it. Read a Book.
THE 10 BOOKS I MOST OFTEN RECOMMEND TO STUDENTS
Not necessarily my favourites, but I recommend them because they are well written, easy to read and informative
The Blind Watchmaker Richard Dawkins (Evolutionary theory - selfish genes)
The Origins of Virtue Matt Ridley (Evolutionary theory as applied to humans, especially co-operation)
The Blank Slate Steve Pinker (The nature versus nurture debate, long, but packed with info)
Stumbling upon Happiness Daniel Gilbert (Psychology and cognitive biases)
Delusions of Gender Cordelia Fine (Gender Politics - some very cool arguments)
The War of the Sexes Paul Seabridge (An economist's take on gender differences)
The Logic of Life Tim Harford (A really fun intro to micro-economic's i.e. human behavioural ecology)
Bad Science Ben Goldacre (What is science, and why you should not believe things without evidence!)
The Red Queen Matt Ridley (Sexual selection, with emphasis on humans)
Dr Tatiana's
Sex Advice to All Creation Olivia Judson (Natural history: an easy way to get into behavioural ecology)
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Beak of the Finch Jonathan Weiner (Evolution in the wild)
The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins (Evolutionary theory)
Life Ascending Nick Lane (Evolution of major 'innovations')
Games of Life Karl Sigmund (Evolutionary theory – especially game theory)
Genome Matt Ridley (Introduction to thinking about genes as ‘selfish organisms’)
Promiscuity Tim Birkhead (Sperm competition)
Nature via Nurture Matt Ridley (Genes and environment are both important)
ECOLOGY
Why Big, Fierce Animals are Rare Paul Colinvaux (Classic introduction to ecology)
Parasite Rex Carl Zimmer (Cool stories about parasites)
Cat's Paws and Catapults Steven Vogel (Biomechanics and models)
Life: A Natural History of the First
Four Billion Years of Life on Earth Richard Fortey (The history of life on earth)
Life’s Devices Steven Vogel (Biomechanics and models)
The Song of the Dodo David Quammen (Biogeography/conservation)
Modeling Nature Sharon Kingsland (History of modern ecology)
HUMAN EVOLUTION
Third Chimpanzee Jared Diamond (History of humanity)
The Future Eaters Tim Flannery (Australia's natural history)
The Moral Animal Robert Wright (Evolutionary Psychology)
Guns, Germs and Steel Jared Diamond (History of humanity)
Why is sex fun? Jared Diamond (Human reproductive biology)
Not in our Genes Rose, Lewontin & Kamin (Polemic against gene-based explanations for human behaviour by Marxist biologists)
Sex, Genes, Rock ‘n Roll Rob Brooks (Biologist's take on human behaviour)
HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY
Fast and Slow Daniel Kahneman (Psychology and cognitive biases)
A Mind of its Own Cordelia Fine (Psychology and cognitive biases)
Gut Feelings Gerd Gigerenzer
The Wisdom of Crowds James Surowiecki
Blink (and other books) Malcolm Gladwell (Very popularist stuff. Lightweight but Fun)
BEHAVIOURAL ECONOMICS, ECONOMICS AND OTHER TOPICS
The Company of Strangers Paul Seabridge (Economics, biology, history…everything)
Freakonomics Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner
Superfreakonomics Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner
Predictably Irrational Daniel Ariely
The Upside of Irrationality Daniel Ariely
Fooled by Randomness Nassim Taleb
The Economic Naturalist Robert Franks
The Armchair Economist Steve Landsburg
Adapt Tim Harford
The Undercover Economist Tim Harford
Bad Pharma Ben Goldacre
The Rational Optimist Mark Ridley
AUTHORS OF INTEREST
The authors of the above books have often written other interesting books. Many of these are also excellent, although some are more technical in nature. Other authors you might enjoy are:
Steve Jones (Introductions to evolution and genetics)
Daniel Dennett (Evolutionary theory by a Philosopher)
Robin Dunbar (Primates, philosophy of science, human evolution)
Steven Jay Gould (Evolution, geology, anglophiia) *
Robert Desowitz (Parasites and Immune systems) *
Scientific American Library Series (White covers – square shape) *
Robert Axelrod (The evolution of cooperation)
Lee Dugatkin (The evolution of cooperation)
Mary Roach (Fun stuff on human physiology - sex, death etc).
Secondhand bookstores in Canberra
1. Clouston & Hall Booksellers in Garema Place & Fyshwick (Huge selection. They sell unused books ('remainders') at 2nd hand price).
2. Canty’s Bookshop in Fyshwick (a nice selection of older stuff at low prices. Very friendly owners)
3. Booklore, next to Tilley’s in Lynham (a bit expensive, but lots of quality stuff)
4. Beyond Q in Curtin (nice place to browse and has a coffee shop built in)
My main point is that if you look around you'll find good science books at low prices. Otherwise, try the ANU library - that's FREE!!
It won't be that painful though. These books are written in non-technical language and the authors make a huge effort to entertain while they inform. Sex, drugs, pop culture, Mad Cow disease, Bush's brain capacity - they'll do anything to try and hold your interest. These are also the very books your lecturers have read to get some ideas on how to organize their teaching. Cut out the middle man and read them too!! If you read even a few of these books, I guarantee that your marks in almost every course with an evolutionary or ecological component will rise considerably. So do it. Read a Book.
THE 10 BOOKS I MOST OFTEN RECOMMEND TO STUDENTS
Not necessarily my favourites, but I recommend them because they are well written, easy to read and informative
The Blind Watchmaker Richard Dawkins (Evolutionary theory - selfish genes)
The Origins of Virtue Matt Ridley (Evolutionary theory as applied to humans, especially co-operation)
The Blank Slate Steve Pinker (The nature versus nurture debate, long, but packed with info)
Stumbling upon Happiness Daniel Gilbert (Psychology and cognitive biases)
Delusions of Gender Cordelia Fine (Gender Politics - some very cool arguments)
The War of the Sexes Paul Seabridge (An economist's take on gender differences)
The Logic of Life Tim Harford (A really fun intro to micro-economic's i.e. human behavioural ecology)
Bad Science Ben Goldacre (What is science, and why you should not believe things without evidence!)
The Red Queen Matt Ridley (Sexual selection, with emphasis on humans)
Dr Tatiana's
Sex Advice to All Creation Olivia Judson (Natural history: an easy way to get into behavioural ecology)
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Beak of the Finch Jonathan Weiner (Evolution in the wild)
The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins (Evolutionary theory)
Life Ascending Nick Lane (Evolution of major 'innovations')
Games of Life Karl Sigmund (Evolutionary theory – especially game theory)
Genome Matt Ridley (Introduction to thinking about genes as ‘selfish organisms’)
Promiscuity Tim Birkhead (Sperm competition)
Nature via Nurture Matt Ridley (Genes and environment are both important)
ECOLOGY
Why Big, Fierce Animals are Rare Paul Colinvaux (Classic introduction to ecology)
Parasite Rex Carl Zimmer (Cool stories about parasites)
Cat's Paws and Catapults Steven Vogel (Biomechanics and models)
Life: A Natural History of the First
Four Billion Years of Life on Earth Richard Fortey (The history of life on earth)
Life’s Devices Steven Vogel (Biomechanics and models)
The Song of the Dodo David Quammen (Biogeography/conservation)
Modeling Nature Sharon Kingsland (History of modern ecology)
HUMAN EVOLUTION
Third Chimpanzee Jared Diamond (History of humanity)
The Future Eaters Tim Flannery (Australia's natural history)
The Moral Animal Robert Wright (Evolutionary Psychology)
Guns, Germs and Steel Jared Diamond (History of humanity)
Why is sex fun? Jared Diamond (Human reproductive biology)
Not in our Genes Rose, Lewontin & Kamin (Polemic against gene-based explanations for human behaviour by Marxist biologists)
Sex, Genes, Rock ‘n Roll Rob Brooks (Biologist's take on human behaviour)
HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY
Fast and Slow Daniel Kahneman (Psychology and cognitive biases)
A Mind of its Own Cordelia Fine (Psychology and cognitive biases)
Gut Feelings Gerd Gigerenzer
The Wisdom of Crowds James Surowiecki
Blink (and other books) Malcolm Gladwell (Very popularist stuff. Lightweight but Fun)
BEHAVIOURAL ECONOMICS, ECONOMICS AND OTHER TOPICS
The Company of Strangers Paul Seabridge (Economics, biology, history…everything)
Freakonomics Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner
Superfreakonomics Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner
Predictably Irrational Daniel Ariely
The Upside of Irrationality Daniel Ariely
Fooled by Randomness Nassim Taleb
The Economic Naturalist Robert Franks
The Armchair Economist Steve Landsburg
Adapt Tim Harford
The Undercover Economist Tim Harford
Bad Pharma Ben Goldacre
The Rational Optimist Mark Ridley
AUTHORS OF INTEREST
The authors of the above books have often written other interesting books. Many of these are also excellent, although some are more technical in nature. Other authors you might enjoy are:
Steve Jones (Introductions to evolution and genetics)
Daniel Dennett (Evolutionary theory by a Philosopher)
Robin Dunbar (Primates, philosophy of science, human evolution)
Steven Jay Gould (Evolution, geology, anglophiia) *
Robert Desowitz (Parasites and Immune systems) *
Scientific American Library Series (White covers – square shape) *
Robert Axelrod (The evolution of cooperation)
Lee Dugatkin (The evolution of cooperation)
Mary Roach (Fun stuff on human physiology - sex, death etc).
Secondhand bookstores in Canberra
1. Clouston & Hall Booksellers in Garema Place & Fyshwick (Huge selection. They sell unused books ('remainders') at 2nd hand price).
2. Canty’s Bookshop in Fyshwick (a nice selection of older stuff at low prices. Very friendly owners)
3. Booklore, next to Tilley’s in Lynham (a bit expensive, but lots of quality stuff)
4. Beyond Q in Curtin (nice place to browse and has a coffee shop built in)
My main point is that if you look around you'll find good science books at low prices. Otherwise, try the ANU library - that's FREE!!
PAPER MODELS
These amazing models are built entirely from paper by former group member You Ning Su
These amazing models are built entirely from paper by former group member You Ning Su
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CANBERRA FIRES (VIEW FROM MOUNT AINSLIE)
January 18, 2003 (Taken by M Jennions, who spent most of the day oblivious to the fire outside cleaning cricket cages & listening to bad 80's music on the radio - until they interrupted the music to tell us to panic). The top right picture shows the view on a normal day
January 18, 2003 (Taken by M Jennions, who spent most of the day oblivious to the fire outside cleaning cricket cages & listening to bad 80's music on the radio - until they interrupted the music to tell us to panic). The top right picture shows the view on a normal day
TIME FOR A HAIRCUT (THIS IS HERE TO PLEASE MY MOM)
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During
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After
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