Comments on: Happy Holidays! http://mattleifer.info/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/ Mathematics -- Physics -- Quantum Theory Sun, 13 May 2012 20:04:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Florine http://mattleifer.info/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Florine Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:34:29 +0000 http://mattleifer.wordpress.com/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/#comment-103 Hahaha, great post! Maybe the best way to explain your subject indeed is telling what "it is not exactly"... especially when you're dealing with quantum foundations. Hahaha, great post! Maybe the best way to explain your subject indeed is telling what “it is not exactly”… especially when you’re dealing with quantum foundations.

]]> By: siddhartha04 http://mattleifer.info/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-107 siddhartha04 Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:26:28 +0000 http://mattleifer.wordpress.com/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/#comment-107 Thanks for a great post. I spent a good deal of time trying to explain to my grandmother what it is that I do, and all she had to say was: "but <i>why</i> would you want to do that?" Very frustrating, indeed. Anyway, thanks for a great blog. Thanks for a great post. I spent a good deal of time trying to explain to my grandmother what it is that I do, and all she had to say was: “but why would you want to do that?” Very frustrating, indeed.

Anyway, thanks for a great blog.

]]> By: William http://mattleifer.info/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-104 William Mon, 25 Dec 2006 04:41:32 +0000 http://mattleifer.wordpress.com/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/#comment-104 I can sympathise. Right now my grandmother thinks that quantum mechanics is about studying "very very small things". I'm quite happy; anything beyond this would be too much to ask. That being said, it's quite an exercise to try and explain to a layperson what your research is about, but it's a worthwhile exercise because it forces you to strip everything down to its most essential points. I've found a similar thing taking classes; I always felt I learned the most not by studying alone but by explaining the material to my fellow students. I can sympathise. Right now my grandmother thinks that quantum mechanics is about studying “very very small things”. I’m quite happy; anything beyond this would be too much to ask.

That being said, it’s quite an exercise to try and explain to a layperson what your research is about, but it’s a worthwhile exercise because it forces you to strip everything down to its most essential points. I’ve found a similar thing taking classes; I always felt I learned the most not by studying alone but by explaining the material to my fellow students.

]]> By: Alex Wilce http://mattleifer.info/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Alex Wilce Fri, 22 Dec 2006 16:16:47 +0000 http://mattleifer.wordpress.com/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/#comment-108 The only thing I like less than trying to explain the area of my work (quantum foundations) to lay people, is trying to explain it to fellow mathematicians. A pretty typical response is, "Gee, that's interesting ... but tell me, where does one publish this sort of stuff?" The only thing I like less than trying to explain the area of my work (quantum foundations) to lay people, is trying to explain it to fellow mathematicians. A pretty typical response is, “Gee, that’s interesting … but tell me, where does one publish this sort of stuff?”

]]> By: Matthew Leifer http://mattleifer.info/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Matthew Leifer Fri, 22 Dec 2006 00:35:05 +0000 http://mattleifer.wordpress.com/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/#comment-106 Thing is, I do also do quantum information (or at least I have to say that in case there are any funding agency people reading). This summer I spent about 15min carefully explaining RSA, complexity theory, Shor's algorithm and quantum cryptography to a friend's Mum. The response after all that was: "So, it's about making faster computers then?" After that, I made a mental note that "It's about making faster computers" is a good getout, although about as inaccurate as what most people would say about quantum foundations. Thing is, I do also do quantum information (or at least I have to say that in case there are any funding agency people reading). This summer I spent about 15min carefully explaining RSA, complexity theory, Shor’s algorithm and quantum cryptography to a friend’s Mum. The response after all that was: “So, it’s about making faster computers then?” After that, I made a mental note that “It’s about making faster computers” is a good getout, although about as inaccurate as what most people would say about quantum foundations.

]]> By: Robin Blume-Kohout http://mattleifer.info/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-105 Robin Blume-Kohout Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:35:10 +0000 http://mattleifer.wordpress.com/2006/12/21/happy-holidays/#comment-105 Hah! You've made my holiday season. Here I was, in a funk because I can never explain what a quantum information theorist does in less than 5 minutes (and even then, not satisfactorily). You've made me realize that it could be worse. On the other hand, at least you get to be honest. Me, I always take the "Oh, it's got technological implications" approach... and end up with this vaguely dirty feeling. As if I'd just been talking to a funding agency. Happy Solstice, RBK Hah! You’ve made my holiday season. Here I was, in a funk because I can never explain what a quantum information theorist does in less than 5 minutes (and even then, not satisfactorily). You’ve made me realize that it could be worse.

On the other hand, at least you get to be honest. Me, I always take the “Oh, it’s got technological implications” approach… and end up with this vaguely dirty feeling. As if I’d just been talking to a funding agency.

Happy Solstice,
RBK

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