The human animal is, in my opinion, one of the most intricate and complex machines ever to exist. Every time I step back and consider the manner in which the brain rewards certain behaviors and discourages others, and how it regulates and coordinates the behavior of simultaneously functioning systems to accomplish tasks, it boggles my... Continue Reading →
Organic Math: Part II
Rote learning works for some students, but it isn't for everybody. More traditional methods of teaching mathematics can sometimes be too abstract for some students, which leads to the ubiquitous belief that they are "bad at math." Because each student engages with mathematics a little bit differently, it makes sense to investigate mathematics in a... Continue Reading →
Organic Math: Part I
I'll come clean: as a kid, I didn't get math. I was generally able to follow instructions and produce the answers my teachers were looking for, but on the whole it seemed totally arbitrary to me. I was never quite sure how it impacted me and what it had to do with my day-to-day life... Continue Reading →
From Tennessee to Shangri-la
My uncle recently returned to the United States from China to visit my family. His jet-lag and our early morning schedule led to quite a few discussions over 5:00 am coffee. During one such conversation, he mentioned that he had recently been appointed the Program Director of a brand new conservation center in Shangri-la, Tibet.... Continue Reading →