How did move-in go for Harvard’s new big men on campus? Professors Nowak and Pinker judge each other by their offices
Pinker on Nowak
Office decoration philosophy: Admirably light and airy, but a tad minimalist, could use a visit from the Fab Five.
Hometown: Not enough to go on.
Department: Organismic and evolutionary biology.
Tenured? Judging by the size of the office, yes.
Alma mater: Stanford.
Lecturing style: Lots of proofs on blackboard.
Grading style: Tough.
Grade inflation—reality or myth? He or she would say, “Reality.”
Published books: Zero. Biologists publish in journals, not books (unlike God, which is why, according to the joke, He was turned down for a grant at the National Science Foundation).
Works mainly in office or at home: Home.
Most influential philosopher or thinker: Aristotle; Charles Darwin; Jacques Monod.
Married or single: Married.
Version of the good life: Spending time with spouse and child.
Most noticeable neurosis or idiosyncrasy: Self-denial.
Favorite mixed drink: Martini, very dry.
Ideal first date: Visit to field site to observe mating behavior of mountain bluebirds.
Last movie seen: Adaptation.
Favorite restaurant in the square: Shilla or Roka.
Currently reading: David Quammen, Monster of God; Richard Dawkins, The Devil’s Chaplain
In the CD player: Mozart.
In 20 years he wants to be: Author of a book on consciousness.
Twenty years ago he wanted to be: A physicist.
Nowak on Nowak
Office decoration philosophy: As simple as possible.
Hometown: Vienna, Austria.
Department: Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Mathematics
Tenured? Yes.
Alma mater: University of Vienna.
Lecturing style: I like to tell as many jokes as possible. I like student to ask questions.
Grading style: I have never graded anybody here.
Grade inflation—reality or myth? I have no experience with this. I prefer to be an easy grader.
Published books: Only one.
Works mainly in office or at home: Mainly in my office.
Most influential philosopher or thinker: Robert May and John Maynard Smith.
Married or single? Married.
Version of the good life: To do science.
Most noticeable neurosis or idiosyncrasy: If I have to wait for something, that drives me crazy.
Favorite mixed drink: Something with mango juice, like mango juice and vanilla ice cream.
Ideal first date: To go for a walk in the forest.
Last movie seen: Die Another Day.
Favorite restaurant in the square: The Café of India.
Currently reading: “What Evolution Is,” Ernst Mayr.
In the CD player: I have a collection of opera arias.
In 20 years I want to be: The same as I am now.
Twenty years ago I wanted to be: In my most optimistic perspective, I would have hoped to be what I am now.
