Forum for Math/Science/Engineering?

I know that we now have a forum for "Nursing and Medical related degrees". Could we set up a forum dedicated to Math/Science and Engineering? Many of the topics in the other forum are not applicable to true science and engineering and many tend to head towards counseling or psychology.

While options are currently limited for for earning an entire degree in these fields, new opportunities are available all the time and this would give a centralized location for searching for courses applicable to other science and engineering students.

It really is a bugger having to search through all the posts in the"Nursing" or "IT" forum to find information I'm looking for. I've been on here for quite some time and I think the time is right for a new forum that could focus on the courses for degrees like Geology, Math, Engineering, Physics, Chem, Environmental Sci, etc.

 

I'll go raise the issue in the Moderator Area.

 

I would like to see that too! I've actually found a lot of online programs in engineering that aren't computer science related. It's harder to find online programs in the natural sciences.

 

Should change "IT and Computer-Related Degrees" into STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) section.

 

Separate Forum

The thing with placing the other sciences in with IT is that there is little that crosses over between them once you get past Calculus. I mean Electrical Engineering may have a little more in common with IT but little else would. Whereas, most of the science programs do look for the hard sciences, advanced mathematics, and labs.

I think this would be the last piece of the forum puzzle so to speak and the last big classification that has not been solidly addressed.

 

I agree. There is no cogent reason to place the other sciences within the IT subforum.

 

I agree. Too cloudy.

 

Yes, yes it is. This is not a complaint about this specific forum only. Most on-line forums tend to over-rely on the search function.

The problem with searching in general is that it tends to produce too many false hits whether they be false negatives or false positives. The user simply browses the search results rather than browsing the forums. The reason that searching is popular on websites is not because it offers any improvement to the user experience but because its key advantage is that it is less load on the moderation team. The fewer forums there are the less one has to worry about post showing up in the wrong forum or posts that fit into more than one forum.

Ideally, the amount of forums and their taxonomy should be based upon what enhances the user experience. If that is done thoughtfully the search function should be regulated to where it belongs, a tiny box on the corner of the screen.