An Interview with Albatross Song
It's both a pleasure and an honor to have an interview with Albatross Song. I remember most details of last visit to Albatross, and was fairly grateful for his reception: delicious food and comfortable lodge he provided, and especially, the illuminating answers he gave to me.
Albatross's research field now is ecological and economics modelling of nature conservation zone, and he is applying for a doctor candidate's position in Germany and United States. His interests continued from biology to ecology, from evolution to history, from economics to politics, from cyberspace sociology to complexity, but focused on the dynamics of organizations on each level, as well as driving forces behind, from an evolutionary viewpoint. It's really exciting. For example, why freedom? Why equality? Why love? Albatross and his colleagues are and will fix them in a mathematical and evolutionary way.
Due to my curiosity and zest, the interview lasted long and cost much time of Albatross. However, I still had many questions unasked. Nonetheless, the log I made in fragments is enlightening to me.
1. Search skills of books in foreign languages: Google Scholar for PDF; douban.com and Amazon for introductions and online selling; use the search engine of Chinese National Library's website. If you can't get access of the defined book (recently published, most likely) still, refer to the author's personal homepage. Maybe you can find a PDF there, but in a different name: that's why you can't find it with Google. The third and fourth way is really useful for me. I added the search box to my firefox browser's toolbar on my return, with the add-on "Add to Search Bar".
2. "Applied sciences can be done by everyone, but theoretical sciences summon geniuses."
3. Global media. Reuter's: real-time reporting; New York Times: the greatest tabloid in the world; AFP and German Spiegel: continental views.
4. Why did douban.com survive? What's its lesson?
a) Democracy and equality; b) Encouragement of accumulative reputation value.
A rectifying mechanism should be working to ensure b is working. Indirect rewards are better than direct ones; virtual coins are not good enough.
5. Quotes before a chapter or a speech: interesting, indicating and generalizing, probably poetical.
Other questions about software preferences, music recommendations, vocational planning and advices on studying mathematics, were not advanced in the interview in time. Really a pity. Hope I can consult Albatross again before long.
Harrison
2008-1-7
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