1. pharyngula
  2. Only marine biologists get to be real rock stars

Only marine biologists get to be real rock stars

By pharyngula on May 7, 2007.

I'm passing along a request for all you glamorous, photogenic marine biologists:

Are you a marine biologist? Do you want to be in a rock video?
Hello all, this is Toren Atkinson, science lover and lead singer for the Lovecraftian rock band, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. You may, at http://www.thickets.net/toren/darkestofthehillsidethickets.mp3 or http://www.myspace.com/darkestofthehillsidethickets listen to/download the mp3 for "A Marine Biologist," a fun little number about bathyscaphes, benthic trawlers, giant squid, etc.

I would like to create a music video for this track that essentially features marine biologists from across the globe. The idea would simply be a series of video clips of marine biologists doing what they (you?) do, with text at the bottom of the screen detailing who it is we're looking at, their location and specialty. So, for example, if we got a clip of Dr O'Shea, it would something to the effect of:

DR. STEVE O'SHEA
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (and/or specific institution)
SPECIALTY: THE GIANT SQUID

The footage doesn't need to be created from scratch just for the video - I'm perfectly happy with any video of any quality where it's clear who the marine biologist is, and that he/she/you are in their element doing marine biology stuff - whether that be in the lab, on site recording courtship sounds...whatever.

So the entire video would be like a profile of worldwide marine biologists set to our song. Hopefully the video would appear on various music/TV shows--MTV, Muchmusic, and their equivalents, but at the very least it would go out throughout the internet, youtube, on our site, and into your hands as well to do with as you wish.

To make this happen - I need your cooperation!

If you are a marine biologist and want to help out would you:

a) contact me at thickets@uniserve.com or via contact info below and we can work out how to get video footage from you.
b) provide a statement that you give permission for The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets to use the footage and your likeness strictly for the purpose of this music video
c) see also (d) below!

If you are not a marine biologist, can you please

d) spread this around to any marine biologists you know, or anyone you think might know a marine biologist!

THANKS SO MUCH - if we can get this done I think it would be really fun!

Toren Atkinson
302-1015 West 13th Ave
Vancouver BC Canada
V6H 1N1
604-737-4283

Psssht. Nobody ever wants us mild-mannered lab denizens specializing in developmental biology for their videos.

If you meet the requirements, though, you're obligated to get out there and represent for all of us more nerdy scientists!

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Don't all male marine biologists have big bushy beards? I guess we'll soon find out.

By Christian Burnham (not verified) on 07 May 2007 #permalink

They should do the same with their 'The Math Song', only with mathematicians.

Seems to me that PZ should get a cameo for being North America's #1 cephalopod enthusiast!

By Mosasaurus rex (not verified) on 07 May 2007 #permalink

Just to be clear - old footage laying around is perfect, I'm not looking for new footage custom made for the video (although that's good too)! Any kind of footage that doesn't have the rights tied up would be valuable to us.
And I can definitely throw in a cameo for a certain developmental biologist! Hopefully fondling some tentacles.
-Toren, from the band.

I think Carole Baldwin qualifies as marine biologist. Doesn't she? She's bright, educated, photogenic, and surely knows a hagfish from a codswallop.

Toren! Why not film a video for "The Innsmouth Look" and have all those marine biologists sacrificed to a horde of Lovecraftian fish-men? ;-)

By False Prophet (not verified) on 07 May 2007 #permalink

Toren, I just emailed you!! I and my colleagues are marine biologists who wrangle sharks, and would love to participate!

We will be in Vancouver this weekend for a conference- want to meet up?!

I wonder if he's contacted Randy Olsen (of "Flock of Dodos" fame)....he's a marine biologist, very personable guy, too.

Cheers.

I wonder if he's contacted Randy Olsen (of "Flock of Dodos" fame)....he's a marine biologist, very personable guy, too.

Cheers.

Longlive Toren Atkinson! This guy is insane. We need many, many more like him.

By Christophe Thill (not verified) on 08 May 2007 #permalink