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May 26, 2008

Number Theory on YouTube?

Posted by John Baez

If you publish a paper in the Journal of Number Theory, they now want you to put your abstract on YouTube! It sounds like a fun idea.

Unfortunately, since this journal is published by Evilseier, the chances of getting truly entertaining video abstracts seems low. Decide for yourself:

I think these authors need to practice math rapping.

(A tip of the hat to Mike Stay for pointing this out.)

Posted at May 26, 2008 8:21 PM UTC

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5 Comments & 1 Trackback

Re: Number Theory on YouTube?

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the relationship between Elsevier journals and “truly entertaining video abstracts”? I don’t get it. I know the publisher charges high prices for many of their products…

Posted by: a mathematician on May 27, 2008 12:20 AM | Permalink | Reply to this

Re: Number Theory on YouTube?

My remark was sort of a joke — not worth analyzing. I just have trouble imagining myself pouring much love and affection into the process of making video abstracts for an Elsevier journal.

Posted by: John Baez on May 27, 2008 12:37 AM | Permalink | Reply to this

Re: Number Theory on YouTube?

Wow, the two posted video abstracts are utterly horrible. Why make a video abstract if all you’re going to do is read a bunch of formulas?

The topic of video abstracts came up on Lance Fortnow/Bill Gasarch’s blog a while back. Here is the post.

Posted by: Kevin on May 28, 2008 6:30 PM | Permalink | Reply to this
Read the post Video-Abstrakts
Weblog: Mathlog
Excerpt: Erste Video-Zusammenfassungen von Artikeln im 'Journal of Number Theory'.
Tracked: May 29, 2008 11:23 AM

Re: Number Theory on YouTube?

Why put the abstract on YouTube? To me that sends the message that the abstract is not really part of the paper. (Of course, if they were on Elsevier’s web page they’d find a way to charge for them.)

And I hope it will become obvious that chalkboards don’t work at low resolution.

Posted by: Isabel Lugo on May 30, 2008 12:27 AM | Permalink | Reply to this

Re: Number Theory on YouTube?

I would have to agree with Kevin. As a youtube critic for the website www.twoguysnamedrob.com, the two videos above were extremely boring. They need to pizzaz it up a bit. Just my opinion.

Posted by: Rob L on July 9, 2008 7:39 PM | Permalink | Reply to this

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