Thus Spake Zuska
Archives for February, 2009
Isis, You Should Have Been There At The Philly Flower Show!
Posted by Zuska on February 28, 2009 Mr. Zuska and I went to the Philadelphia Flower Show today. It’s always wonderful to enter the show on a dull winter day and be struck with the glory of a giant convention center in full bloom. The show officially opens tomorrow, but today was the preview for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society members – of which…
Witch Hazel at the Morris Arboretum
Posted by Zuska on February 27, 2009 A week or so ago I went for a walk at the Morris Arboretum on a day with lovely weather, when it had warmed up just enough to make a winter walk delightful. I came around a bend in the path and encountered a cloudy vision of yellow – a witch hazel in full bloom.…
Book Meme – From Sciencewomen
Posted by Zuska on February 26, 2009 To avoid a paper review I should be working on… Via Sciencewoman at Sciencewomen, the BBC Book Meme. Using the second list she has posted, supposedly the actual BBC book list. The ones I’ve read are in bold. I didn’t bother starring the ones I plan to read, since my “plan to read” bookshelf is…
An Example of On-The-Spot Networking/Mentoring
Posted by Zuska on February 26, 2009 Over at Sciencewomen, Alice has a post up on the topic of colleagiality that includes the story of a casual encounter with a very nice outcome:
Your Local YMCA: Now With More Paper Waste!
Posted by Zuska on February 26, 2009 SCENE: At the YMCA: they used to have perfectly serviceable water fountains in the room with the treadmills, elliptical trainers, and weight machines. They ripped them out and replaced them with water coolers that require the use of little conical paper cups – which, of course, must be used once and then thrown away. I…
First Diversity in Science Carnival is Up!
Posted by Zuska on February 24, 2009 It’s up and available for reading, people! Go over and enjoy at Urban Science Adventures! This carnival celebrates the people of science and engineering – those who innovate, invent, research, teach, and reach out. This Blog Carnival tells the stories of achievement and perseverance. Why is such a celebration needed? Many reasons, but as Molecular…
Why Do We Think Only Really Hideously Evil Human Beings Could Be Sexual Harassers?
Posted by Zuska on February 24, 2009 It’s certainly a tragedy when anyone takes their own life. I feel very sorry for the surviving family members and colleagues affected by the suicides of two U. of Iowa professors accused of sexual harassment who took their own lives last year. And yet. I have little patience with this Chronicle of Higher Education article…
The Question of Emotion in Speaking of “Voodoo Correlations in Social Neuroscience”
Posted by Zuska on February 24, 2009 As a graduate student, I observed the nascent field of functional magnetic resonance imaging and thought to myself with some amusement “modern phrenology! Now with big, fancy, expensive equipment!” Count me among those who have never been terribly impressed with fMRI, and certainly not with its applications in what is known as social neuroscience. Now…
Grad School Fosters Depression; How to Fight It
Posted by Zuska on February 23, 2009 The Feb. 20th Chronicle Review has a set of articles about grad school life. The statistics on how grad school cultivates and enhances depression and mental illness are, well, depressing. But if you are or ever have been a graduate student, you knew that already. Studies have found that graduate school is not a particularly…
Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith: Career Path of An Administrative Leader
Posted by Zuska on February 22, 2009 Scientists who are still at the bench may not ever think much about administration or, if they do, their thoughts may be markedly negative. And yet administrative work can be both important and personally rewarding and fulfilling, just as much so as bench research. I know, that sounds like sacrilege, but I’ve done both, so…