I'm treading a fine line in my department over this. Comments from
colleagues indicate that they are all quite aware of my opinion about
using non-SI units in teaching. Likewise, my opinion about "SI slang".
Yesterday a colleague remarked that he knew I was opposed to using the
term "amps" for amperes, for example--but then used "amps" anyway.
In a way, this is progress. They have at least become sensitive to the
issue. About two years ago, our lab manager got angry when I remarked
that our "build your own motor" lab should give dimensions in
centimeters instead of inches. A month ago, she told me that after much
consideration, she decided she had to agree with me and so she had
revised those pages in the lab manual. Last week an astronomer agreed
that it did seem silly for astronomy journal articles to continue using
the angstrom when even spectroscopic chemists (the "calorie diehards")
had gone over to nanometers.
It takes time to dig a canyon when your only tool is water.
Jim
Pat Naughtin wrote:
>
> Dear Jim,
>
> Perhaps you could remark that you don't mind what people do, or say, in the
> 'privacy of their own laboratories', but if they wish to 'come out' into the
> public domain, they should use SI if they wish to be understood.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Pat Naughtin CAMS
> Geelong, Australia
>
> on 2001-02-07 10.38, James R. Frysinger at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> > The following was sent to the editors of Science magazine, published by
> > AAAS, and to the lead author of the subject article.
> >
> > Jim
....
--
Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!"
James R. Frysinger, CAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/
10 Captiva Row e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Charleston, SC 29407 phone/FAX: 843.225.6789
