Education (Not Just UT)

[Chop]

Architecture is the #1 most competitive major to get into.

Computer Science is also really high up there. Sounds like the University needs to expand the Computer Science program. I'd like to see a hybrid Computer Science major with a minor in Business Entrepreneurship, or something like that.

 

[Chop]

How to get into UT Austin 2024: Acceptance Rate & Tips

Admissions have gotten too complex. When it comes to admissions, today's UT is pretending to be some sort of displaced gigantic version of a New England liberal arts school. This is a huge public university. They need to keep applications simple and formulaic. There were never any essays or all this other stuff in the decades that UT-Austin built up its stellar reputation. .Aside from the 6% auto admits, UT should go back to the sliding scale of: (i) high school gpa, and (ii) SAT or ACT scores. Rank and admit the top applicants based on that. This is a huge public school folks.

 

[Chop]

50 Universities with the Most Nobel Prize Winners - https://www.bestmastersprograms.org

Well, we're #1 in Texas.

So then you ask: Who is the national best-of-the-best among public universities..............

Oskee Wow Wow as they say in the Corn Belt!

 

[Monahorns]

How to get into UT Austin 2024: Acceptance Rate & Tips

Admissions have gotten too complex. When it comes to admissions, today's UT is pretending to be some sort of displaced gigantic version of a New England liberal arts school. This is a huge public university. They need to keep applications simple and formulaic. There were never any essays or all this other stuff in the decades that UT-Austin built up its stellar reputation. .Aside from the 6% auto admits, UT should go back to the sliding scale of: (i) high school gpa, and (ii) SAT or ACT scores. Rank and admit the top applicants based on that. This is a huge public school folks.

I agree with that. But that kind of system would serve conservatives as well as progressives and wouldn't facilitate the "Great Replacement". The Texas GOP isn't that conservative so they don't fight that hard. I think the tide may be turning though.

 

[ViperHorn]

Architecture is the #1 most competitive major to get into.

Computer Science is also really high up there. Sounds like the University needs to expand the Computer Science program. I'd like to see a hybrid Computer Science major with a minor in Business Entrepreneurship, or something like that.

Agree. Most of the Comp Sci graduates have no idea of what it takes to manage a business.

 

[mchammer]

 

[Monahorns]

Who does our education system admit and who does our education system marginalize?

 

[Chop]

 

[Chop]

Cambridge academic in race row over black people’s place in a ‘meritocracy’

 

[Chop]

10 Contenders for the Harvard Presidency | News | The Harvard Crimson

 

[Chop]

Race-based college admissions are now banned, but Texas schools still have ways to ensure campuses are diverse.

 

[Chop]

The Upside of the College Enrollment Downswing

"I tend to believe that the pull-back in demand for college is an appropriate reaction to an over-celebration of college degrees that led people in recent generations to make investments in their education without appreciating the trade-offs they were making.
...
The next decade will present a reckoning for American higher education. In addition to declining enrollment and potential student loan reform, colleges will continually be forced to defend themselves against (not entirely misguided) claims that they are ideologically captured and enthralled by radicalism.
...
Despite the painful trade-offs that will inevitably need to be made, we will be better off if we address the underlying crisis driving declining interest in higher education: the declining value of many degree programs."

 

[SabreHorn]

I cannot believe that Harvard's list doesn't include Willie Cunningham or Fenves

 

[Chop]

I cannot believe that Harvard's list doesn't include Willie Cunningham or Fenves

Dollar Bill may not have cared too deeply about undergraduate education, but he sure could raise some $$$$$.

 

[Chop]

I cannot believe that Harvard's list doesn't include Willie Cunningham or Fenves

What's your opinion on the old Frank Erwin vs. Peter Flawn "wars" over what UT should and would be?

 

[Chop]

Now here's a UT-Austin life with much reason to celebrate. He was surely one of our best ever.



UT's latest NOBEL PRIZE WINNER
The late John Goodenough
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2019

John B. Goodenough — Winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

"John B. Goodenough, professor at The University of Texas at Austin who is known around the world for the development of the lithium-ion battery, died Sunday, June 25 at the age of 100. Goodenough was a dedicated public servant, a sought-after mentor and a brilliant yet humble inventor.

His discovery led to the wireless revolution and put electronic devices in the hands of people worldwide. In 2019, Goodenough made national and international headlines after being awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his battery work, an award many of his fans considered a long time coming, especially as he became the oldest person to receive a Nobel Prize.

“John’s legacy as a brilliant scientist is immeasurable — his discoveries improved the lives of billions of people around the world,” said UT Austin President Jay Hartzell. “He was a leader at the cutting edge of scientific research throughout the many decades of his career, and he never ceased searching for innovative energy-storage solutions. John’s work and commitment to our mission are the ultimate reflection of our aspiration as Longhorns — that what starts here changes the world — and he will be greatly missed among our UT community.”

Without Professor Goodenough's research, we would not have smart phones or a bunch of other things that make up modern technology. He led the research to develop the batteries.









Chop is not in charge, but if I was, we'd have a statue of Professor Goodenough by the Earl Campbell and Darrell Royal statues. (Royal might have actually approved of this)

 

[Chop]

Now here's a UT-Austin life with much reason to celebrate. He was surely one of our best ever.



UT's latest NOBEL PRIZE WINNER
The late John Goodenough
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2019

John B. Goodenough — Winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

"John B. Goodenough, professor at The University of Texas at Austin who is known around the world for the development of the lithium-ion battery, died Sunday, June 25 at the age of 100. Goodenough was a dedicated public servant, a sought-after mentor and a brilliant yet humble inventor.

His discovery led to the wireless revolution and put electronic devices in the hands of people worldwide. In 2019, Goodenough made national and international headlines after being awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his battery work, an award many of his fans considered a long time coming, especially as he became the oldest person to receive a Nobel Prize.

“John’s legacy as a brilliant scientist is immeasurable — his discoveries improved the lives of billions of people around the world,” said UT Austin President Jay Hartzell. “He was a leader at the cutting edge of scientific research throughout the many decades of his career, and he never ceased searching for innovative energy-storage solutions. John’s work and commitment to our mission are the ultimate reflection of our aspiration as Longhorns — that what starts here changes the world — and he will be greatly missed among our UT community.”

Without Professor Goodenough's research, we would not have smart phones or a bunch of other things that make up modern technology. He led the research to develop the batteries.









Chop is not in charge, but if I was, we'd have a statue of Professor Goodenough by the Earl Campbell and Darrell Royal statues. (Royal might have actually approved of this)

 

[Chop]

If you had to name one single person who is the most responsible for Austin becoming the #2 tech capital of the World (behind only Silicon Valley--and catching up), it's this guy:

(if you don't know who he is, read some UT history. IC2. We're basically another Stanford when it comes to high tech and high tech entrepreneurship.)

Now, his vision, as I understand it, was to create a technology corridor up and down I-35, first through Texas from Laredo to the Red River, then North along I-35's cut through the Plains--all the way to Minnesota. With it's "capitol" in Austin, Texas. IMHO, this would be a good thing from a national perspective. Too much industry and growth is concentrated on the East Coast and the West Coast. His vision would concentrate (or actually disperse) hi-tech along a North-South corridor right through the heart of the country.

Also, it's too blasted expensive for young technology-field graduates to live in Silicon Valley. As a nation, we need to spread it out a bit. If would probably require places like KU, KSU, U of Missou, Iowa, and Minnesota (and yes OU and OSU) to beef up their science and engineering programs. But this could be done.

 

[Monahorns]

Now here's a UT-Austin life with much reason to celebrate. He was surely one of our best ever.



UT's latest NOBEL PRIZE WINNER
The late John Goodenough
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2019

John B. Goodenough — Winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

"John B. Goodenough, professor at The University of Texas at Austin who is known around the world for the development of the lithium-ion battery, died Sunday, June 25 at the age of 100. Goodenough was a dedicated public servant, a sought-after mentor and a brilliant yet humble inventor.

His discovery led to the wireless revolution and put electronic devices in the hands of people worldwide. In 2019, Goodenough made national and international headlines after being awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his battery work, an award many of his fans considered a long time coming, especially as he became the oldest person to receive a Nobel Prize.

“John’s legacy as a brilliant scientist is immeasurable — his discoveries improved the lives of billions of people around the world,” said UT Austin President Jay Hartzell. “He was a leader at the cutting edge of scientific research throughout the many decades of his career, and he never ceased searching for innovative energy-storage solutions. John’s work and commitment to our mission are the ultimate reflection of our aspiration as Longhorns — that what starts here changes the world — and he will be greatly missed among our UT community.”

Without Professor Goodenough's research, we would not have smart phones or a bunch of other things that make up modern technology. He led the research to develop the batteries.









Chop is not in charge, but if I was, we'd have a statue of Professor Goodenough by the Earl Campbell and Darrell Royal statues. (Royal might have actually approved of this)

They should do the same thing for Grant Wilson. He was a professor for a few semesters while I was there, but he was on the team at IBM that invented the photolithography process. He later went back into industry to start a company that made even smaller architecture.

 

[Chop]

They should do the same thing for Grant Wilson. He was a professor for a few semesters while I was there, but he was on the team at IBM that invented the photolithography process. He later went back into industry to start a company that made even smaller architecture.

When it comes to hi-tech/scientific research, UT-Austin punches way above its weight class. In the hi-tech graduate research fields, we're peers with Ga. Tech, Cal Tech (maybe...), Michigan, Stanford, Cornell, Northwestern, etc.

Now we're so big that our undergraduate education (in most fields) just can't compete with the Ivies and other elite private schools that have a 10-1 or less student to faculty ratio. That, and the fact that (since Frank Erwin or before, I think...) graduate research has been given $$$ priority over undergraduate teaching at UT. There's good and bad to that--it is what it is.

 

[Chop]

In my day, the answer to the question: "Why are our classes so big" was:

"Shut up and be thankful. You're going to a top notch University for $500 per semester tuition."

It was tough to argue with that.

 

[Chop]

They should do the same thing for Grant Wilson. He was a professor for a few semesters while I was there, but he was on the team at IBM that invented the photolithography process. He later went back into industry to start a company that made even smaller architecture.

I never had him for any classes (of course, I only took 3 chemistry classes in total), but he sure sounds like a VERY smart guy.

Dude has his own research group within the University.

Willson Research Group - C. Grant Willson Bio

 

[Chop]

I never had him for any classes (of course, I only took 3 chemistry classes in total), but he sure sounds like a VERY smart guy.

Dude has his own research group within the University.

Willson Research Group - C. Grant Willson Bio

Ok. It appears that Grant Willson is a HEAVY HITTER. An Ivan Melendez/Babe Ruth sort of heavy hitter.

"By discarding most of their favorite new technologies — including lasers, complex vacuum systems and 2,000-pound lenses — engineering faculty at The University of Texas at Austin have created a process with the potential to make the smallest, fastest and cheapest computer chips.

Led by Dr. Grant Willson, professor of chemical engineering and chemistry at UT Austin, the engineering research team developed a radically different process for patterning semiconductor devices. Their new method uses simple molds and operates at the old-fashioned conditions of low pressure and room temperature."


UT Austin engineers create process with potential to make smallest, fastest and cheapest computer chips

 

[Chop]

Davis is the chemistry professor I remember. I thought he was quite good--you could tell he enjoyed the teaching part of professorship and clearly gave a flip about his (many) students. He did teach a bunch of entry level / lower-classman Chemistry classes, and he taught them well.

 

[SabreHorn]

Chop,

I thought the world of Frank Erwin. The man loved The University and did everything he could to make it a Public Ivy. (See also George Kozmetsky & IBM)

I have about as much use for Peter Flawn as I did for the Super Bowl halftime. Deloss made the mistake of sitting me behind him at a BB game. May be the quietest I've ever been at a sporting event.

 

[Monahorns]

Ok. It appears that Grant Willson is a HEAVY HITTER. An Ivan Melendez/Babe Ruth sort of heavy hitter.

"By discarding most of their favorite new technologies — including lasers, complex vacuum systems and 2,000-pound lenses — engineering faculty at The University of Texas at Austin have created a process with the potential to make the smallest, fastest and cheapest computer chips.

Led by Dr. Grant Willson, professor of chemical engineering and chemistry at UT Austin, the engineering research team developed a radically different process for patterning semiconductor devices. Their new method uses simple molds and operates at the old-fashioned conditions of low pressure and room temperature."


UT Austin engineers create process with potential to make smallest, fastest and cheapest computer chips

He was also very down to earth and pleasant. He was a very good teacher who explained things clearly, with excitement, and emphasized practicality. He taught my engineering statistics course. He explained it in such a way that I have loved statistics ever since.

 

[Chop]

See also George Kozmetsky

Read up-post re: Kozmetsky.

 

[Chop]

On Chemistry at UT -- Robert A. Welch (Welch hall) was the big early benefactor of the UT chemistry department. His trust also funded chemistry departments in universities across the State of Texas.

Welch was a very successful businessman, whose biggest fortune was made at the Goose Creek (Baytown) salt dome formation oil field. He had previous, more modest, success at Spindletop.

All of this you see in our modern society today didn't spring out of the thin air. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Be thankful and give recognition where recognition is due.

"He left an estate valued at $42 million, the bulk of which went to a trust fund for the support of chemical research in Texas "for the benefit of mankind." He had asked that the fund be called the "Houston Foundation," but this name was changed after his death to the Robert A. Welch Foundation. Because he realized that chemistry might not always play the leading role in the world that it had during his lifetime, Welch stipulated that his trustees must make the support and encouragement of chemical research their sole concern only for ten years; after that period the research area was to be left to the judgment of the trustees."

"Robert Alonzo Welch (1872-1952) was a Texan investor who became very successful in the oil, sulfur, banking, and real estate industries in the Houston area. Originally from South Carolina, he moved to Houston at the age of fourteen. He worked for the Bute Paint Company as bookkeeper starting in 1891 and rose through the ranks to be secretary-treasurer. He resigned from this post in 1927, but remained on the company's board of directors.

In the early 1900s, Welch started investing in oil fields that was the start of his fortune. When he died, he left $25 million to a trust fund to support basic chemical research in Texas. This trust fund was later renamed the Robert A. Welch Foundation, and it is a major source of chemistry research funding in the state. According to his will, 15% of his estate ($7.5 million) was divided among his 29 employees."<--------now that's a cool move.

Welch, Robert Alonzo

Robert Alonzo Welch - Wikipedia

 

[Chop]

All of this you see in our modern society today didn't spring out of the thin air. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Be thankful and give recognition where recognition is due.

And don't just stand around while the ignorant and ungrateful seek to tear down what greater men (and women) have built up.

 

[Monahorns]

And don't just stand around while the ignorant and ungrateful seek to tear down what greater men (and women) have built up.

And [gasp] some of those great men were Confederates and slave owners at one point in their life. But UT has already canceled Simpkins and I think Moore-Hill as well.