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me%20and%20pep.jpg Shelley Batts is a Neuroscience PhD candidate at the University of Michigan. She studies hair cell regeneration in the cochlea, and is just embarking on that quixotic quest called 'thesis.' She lies awake at night pondering how science intersects with politics, culture, policy, money, medicine, and religion in an attempt to be more than just a niche scientist sitting in the oh-so-lovely ivory tower. Follow me and my parrot on the quest to get funded, get a PhD, and stay sane.
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Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth, are never alone or weary of life. ~Rachel Carson

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Ask a ScienceBlogger: Why Don't I Have a Life?

Category: Ask A ScienceBlogger
Posted on: June 17, 2006 6:05 AM, by Shelley Batts

This week's question comes at a quite ironic time for me. It goes...

How is it that all the PIs (Tara, PZ, Orac et al.), various grad students, post-docs, etc. find time to fulfill their primary objectives (day jobs) and blog so prolifically?

I'll take it that I fall under the "various grad students" category. I guess one answer is that throughout my day there are quite a few "hurry up and wait" moments, like an incubation in a protocol, or waiting for an animal to wake up from anesthesia (or fall asleep). I also try to take a little time at lunch to just relax and read/write. During those moments, its rejuvenating for me to write into this blog and also gives me a little "30 minute vacation" from whatever labwork is stressing me out. I go back to said labwork a little more focused and with a (rather silly) feeling of accomplishment.

But, another reason, and perhaps a more real reason, is that I'm going through something very difficult in my personal life, and blogging on science is a way to lose myself for a little while as well as feel connected to something grander. I'm really not much of a lab-lackey, I really have a lot of wonderful friends and great people in my life I love to hang out with. One of those people, I no longer have anymore. Blogging helps me forget about that, while life goes on.

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Anyway, blogging doesn't take up a lot of time. 30 minutes a day is more than enough to write a couple of good posts.

Posted by: RinzeWind | June 17, 2006 8:40 AM

Yeah, it doesn't take too much time. But I'd say it takes a *bit* longer than that for me. (That post didn't though)

Posted by: Shelley | June 17, 2006 10:33 PM

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