universities in Star Trek

I've noticed that on other planets, institutions of higher learning tend to be named after the entire planet (Vulcan Science Academy, University of Betazed), rather than after cities or provinces.

Is this because higher education is rare on other planets? Or is it because, once distance learning becomes the norm, all the universities on a planet tend to amalgamate?

 

It is probably reflective of the “Tenure War” effect, were developing societies are pushed to the brink of extinction by assistant professors overwhelming all public infrastructure as a result of the “publish or perish” phenomenon. No planet could sustainably serve as a home to more than one university… the competition was just too intense.

Cheers,
Tony Maranto

 

Star Trek is about the military adventures of central authorities. You do what you're told and take what you're given.

 

Actually… now that I think about it, I’ve seen a lot of schools that take the Borg, “You will be assimilated” approach to higher education. I think the world is finally starting to make sense (and it's frightening).

Cheers,
Tony

 

Re: Re: universities in Star Trek

Wow. You couldn't break that chip on your shoulder with a sledge hammer.






Tom Nixon

 

Re: Re: Re: universities in Star Trek

Well, it is. Most of popular sci-fi is about military adventures in space. And under some centralized authority back on planet Earth or some planet.

The Kirks and Picards are generally pitted against some Nazi-like or Roman-like antagonists while the Starfleet thing is itself much like Rome. Interesting contradiction there.

 

During my very active Trek days I opened Starfleet Academy for Starfleet Command: http://www.starfleet-command.com/main.php?page=2

We offered examinations and specializations in many areas of Trekdom and used the Academy as a basis to train cadets (new members).

Live long and prorsper!


John

 

Daystrom Institute

Let's not forget the Daystrom institute.

http://www.powernet.net/~jcrafton/academia.html

 

I remember in one episode of The Next Generation commander Data held a chair at Cambridge

Roy Maybery

 

That was actually the final episode of TNG: 'All Good Things'. Data held the Lucasian chair of mathematics at Cambridge and lived in Sir Isaac Newton's residence, the first chair holder. And he could also use contractions fluently by this time.

Regards,

Michael Lloyd
Mill Creek, Washington U*SA

 

It was the final episode ("All Good Things"). Data is depicted, decades in the then-future, as holding the Lucasian Chair (which has been held by Isaac Newton, Charles Babbage, Paul Dirac, and Stephen Hawking).

This is, of course, inconsistent with the recent movie Star Trek: Nemesis, in which Data is destroyed.

 

Isaac Newton was actually the second holder of the Lucasian chair. See http://coldrain.net/lucas/brief.html

 

Uh oh. Then my copy of the Star Trek Encyclopedia is wrong? Or can this be explained by one of those deus ex machina parallel universes or something?

Regards,

Michael Lloyd
Mill Creek, Washington USA

 

Oh don't say that.....I haven't seen the movie yet!
BTW: Stephen Hawking is an amazing guy. How does he operate the assistive device that helps him speak? (Just curious)



P.S.: Does Data come back to life?