In this episode we speak with Dr. Ethan Siegal. He holds undergraduate degrees in Physics and Classics from Northwestern and a PhD in Physics from the University of Florida. He taught at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Portland, and Lewis & Clark College.

Currently, Ethan is a science blogger and writer and also a Star Trek fan.

We will talk about:

• Whats a Knife Hand?
• On becoming a scientist and only then a Star Trek fan
• The optimistic view of the future
• An unimpressive introduction to Star Trek and how it all got turned around
• His favorite series & his rankings
• A minimalist Star Trek collection
• Marina Sirtis & Counselor Troi and how he connected to them
• Tom Riker vs Will Riker
• Lwaxana and Picard
• Convention Experiences at Star Trek Las Vegas as a speaker
• Does being a scientist get in the way of appreciating Star Trek?
• Treknology, the book
• On fundamental science
• Visual re-design on Discovery
• Is the past immutable?
• The double-pendulum experiment
• Even the smallest decisions we make can affect the larger world
• Determinism in the Universe
• The uniqueness of humanity
• How should humanity treat the unknown?
• The ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence
• Quantum Uncertainty
• The Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
• Being the best versions of ourselves
• Sisko and his relationship with his Father
• Violating your principles for no effect in ST
• Confusing Earth for the entire Federation
• The needs of the individual vs the community
• The ability to dissent
• The dangers of living in a technocratic society
• Looking back on episodes made in the 90’s with a modern perspective
• On the concept of the Borg Queen
• The Interstellar Beacon
• What it means to be alive
• Virtual Reality and the Holodeck
• The refusal to give in as a pivotal moment
• Riker getting to play the Star Trek game on the “easy level”
• The PoliTreks Debate on the topic of Is Jellico a Good Captain?
• Looking to the future with Optimism
• Harry Kim’s Clarinet
• The representation of space-time – Patreon Version Only
• The rate of galaxy acceleration – Patreon Version Only
• Episodes discussed
  • Yesterday’s Enterprise (TNG S03E15)
  • Measure of a Man (TNG S02E09)
  • The Offspring (TNG S03E16)
  • Parallels (TNG S07E11)
  • Home Front (DS9 S04E11)
  • Paradise Lost (DS9 S04E12)
  • Best of Both Worlds (TNG E03E26)
  • Star Trek VIII: First Contact
  • The Inner Light (TNG S05E25)
  • Chain of Command (TNG S06E10 & E11)

Connect with Ethan at any of the following:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Tumblr
• Check out his books on Amazon
• He blogs regularly at Forbes
• Support Ethan’s work via Patreon
• Soundcloud

Honorary Star Trek title awarded: Chairman of the Cosmology Department at the Vulcan Science Academy