Nelson Morgan

Nelson Morgan is an Emeritus Professor at the University of California at Berkeley and former director of the International Computer Science Institute, is the author of “We Can Fix It: How to disrupt the Impact of Big Money on politics”, with a foreword by George Lakoff. He lives in Phoenix, and currently volunteers for the Democratic Party, with a particular interest in redistricting (2030 is closer than you think).

Attacks on the Ivory Tower, and Real-world Consequences for Progress

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In the Arizona Republic, Helen Rummel recently reported on the reaction of education leaders in our state to potential and actual cuts in federal research funding. She noted that there was still quite a bit of optimism about weathering these storms. I admit to being less sanguine. While I have no experience with the Arizona system, my … Read more

Unpleasant goofball with some past dignitaries

The New DEI

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For too long, Discrimination, Ego, and Ignorance (DEI) have been under attack. Over the last 60 years, with landmark legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the growing perspective that long-term discrimination carries huge, generational effects, the lock on power of privileged groups has been loosened (some). And institutions like our universities have … Read more

It’s Up To Us

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I was speaking to an old friend recently, and he said that he didn’t see who would be our “hero.” The right wing has theirs, the one we’ve viewed as a buffoon who has managed to throw a wrecking ball into so many of our institutions in a few weeks. And we have some very … Read more

Research funding from the Feds

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The Trump-Musk administration is trying  to cut funding for research (which was apparent even before the confirmation of anti-science nominee RFK Jr for HHS head). The most broadly publicized cut has used a criterion most people outside of the grants world haven’t heard of, limiting overhead rates to a very low level. But co-President Musk’s pronouncements have made … Read more