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Due to the Indigenous Peoples Day holiday, the library is closed today and Beyond Labels will not meet.

For next week:

With all the immigration, tariff, and $100k visa “action” in recent news, we decided to take a look at how important (or not) foreign direct investment in the United States is.

• When a foreign auto maker builds an assembly plant in the U.S., is that a good thing? Are the products “U.S. cars” or “foreign cars?” How does it matter?
• How should foreign direct investment in the U.S. be regulated?
  • All are welcome; the more, the merrier?
  • Restrict investment by our adversaries (e.g., China)?
  • Is CFIUS doing the job it was formed to do?
• Should there be fundamentally different approaches to different types of investment?
  • U.S. research labs?
  • Domestic manufacturing plants?
  • Purchases of resources (agricultural land, mineral rights)?

There is increasing concern that the American public’s faith in “science” has declined in recent years. Some people point to the public health experience around COVID-19; others to the divisive political climate and some parties’ disparaging comments about “settled” scientific principles; still others fault our education system.

So that’ll be the subject for October 6:

• How well does the American public understand the scientific method? Do they understand the process, strengths, and weaknesses?
• Has trust in science really deteriorated over the last decade?
  • If so, what’s “driving” this?
  • How can it be addressed?
• Do scientists need to change the way they communicate with the public? Or is there a significant role for intermediaries who “interpret” scientific results for “civilians?”
• Can the way we currently “operationalize” science (among scientists) be improved? What, if anything, is wrong with the current system? For example:
  • Is the “peer review” process working as it should?
  • Are scientists incentivized to study the “right” things from a societal perspective?
  • Is there a bias in favor is searching for incremental (and less risky) findings vs. risky fundamental research?

Here’s a recent OpEd piece on (sort of) the subject, entitled “Why Young Men Are Losing Faith in Science.”

The war in Gaza has been more brutal, prolonged, and broad-based than almost anyone could have imagined. And, so far, there appear to be no “winners”–only losers.

On Monday we’ll discuss Gaza through a somewhat different lens: With the benefit of hindsight–at least to date:

• How can a repeat of this war, in some other geography, amongst different combatants, be avoided?
  • Is the U.N. capable of averting another war or, at least, minimizing civilian casualties? Or is it a paper tiger?
  • Have there been any clear “mistakes” by the international community or by major players on the international scene (like the U.S., China, and Europe)?
• Are any of the ideas put forth above realistic, or are they just wishful thinking?
• How are the dynamics in Gaza different from, for example, Sudan?