I was reminded of this great book 'Escape From Model Land' by Erica Thompson that I read a couple of years ago — it takes a very broad view of the term 'model'; i.e., not just sophisticated numerical models but also conceptual models and narratives, the ways we explain the world — highly recommended - ThreadSky

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clasticdetritus.bsky.social • 99 days ago

I was reminded of this great book 'Escape From Model Land' by Erica Thompson that I read a couple of years ago — it takes a very broad view of the term 'model'; i.e., not just sophisticated numerical models but also conceptual models and narratives, the ways we explain the world — highly recommended

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clasticdetritus.bsky.social•99 days ago

If you teach science courses to non-science majors and/or interact with non-scientists I think Thompson's framing of what a 'model' is can be really helpful — a broader perspective that a model is something we design, test, revise, etc. to help us better understand (not just use to predict)

allochthonous.bsky.social•99 days ago

I like this a lot - situating scientific theories as just one kind of model within a broader spectrum of mental constructs humans create to understand the world…

hlee.bsky.social•99 days ago

alisabokulich.bsky.social•99 days ago

Thanks, Howard! That & my "Models in Geosciences" with @naomioreskes.bsky.social gives overview:
https://bokulich.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/bokulich-oreskes2017-modelsgeosciences.pdf

For "data do not speak for themselves" a good discussion with my wonderful colleague Wendy Parker is
https://bokulich.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/bokulich-parker2021_article_datamodelsrepresentationandade.pdf

zebm.bsky.social•55 days ago

I took a complete dislike to the author not just for her writing style but also for her pushing of solutions based on her trust in flawed models.

I recommend "The primacy of doubt" by Tim Palmer as an alternative.

kellyhereid.bsky.social•99 days ago

Feel like I'm recommending a lot of podcasts today despite my podcast hatred, but... she did a great podcast

pjacobs.bsky.social•99 days ago

📌

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