Who awarded him the $3M prize, and for what? Did he happen to win a lottery? -- Gene
________________________________ From: Warren D Smith <warren.wds@gmail.com> To: math-fun@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 4:46 PM Subject: [math-fun] how not to handle equations in lectures
When I give a lecture, if I write an equation, I explain all the meanings of the letters inside it, and what it says.
If Nima Arkani-Hamed flashes an equation on screen, he never (?) defines the letters inside it, never explains what it says, and just sort of waves his hand at it, kind of as though pointing out a passing airplane, then moves on.
Also, he never writes a theorem statement, nor even an explicit "CLAIM: xxxx."
I would say "never" except maybe sometimes he does give a very partial stab at it for a small subset of equations, so perhaps we should give him partial credit on a few equations.
I don't understand how one can adopt this lecture style, except as a joke. If other physicists imitate him in this respect (since he's a great $3M prize winner) it would be a disaster.
just my opinion...
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