Office Dialogue

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.