Why I do science.

I've got a piece up at the SCQ today, which is (another) failed attempt at publishing at Seed's print magazine. Here, a few months back, I was asked to have a go at their "Why I do Science" section but in the end it wasn't for the editors.

Overall, it sounded like they were hoping for "something bigger, more eye opening. They wanted people to want to do science after reading these by challenging the stereotypes."

i-50f6ef97b482f948b7c13ad436c9dd30-office.jpg

My office

Anyway, I quite liked the piece, which is why I put it up at the Science Creative Quarterly. It's also fitting because today is the last day after a 4 week stretch of public school programs in my lab.

I'm a little burnt out actually, which is why I'm gonna lay low for an extra week. The last two weeks, however, were especially awesome. This was the Science Creative Literacy Symposia, which seemed to be such great fun that for sure it's coming back bigger and better in the fall. Keep an eye out at the SCQ for the following two months, where we hope to showcase the symposia pieces produced by these young writers (Grades 5, 6 and 7).

More like this

I just got back from picking up Irene Pepperberg from the Detroit airport and dropping her off at a hotel here in Ann Arbor.
I received a very nice email from a high school student looking for a mentor for a research project on progeria:
Contrary to the expectations of my correspondent Miss.Alberta.Smith, invitations to international symposia generally do not have one exclamation point â let alone 15 â in the Subject line.
Postdocs, APS GQI quantum newsletter, Quantum computing in Waikiki, quantum chicanery, quantum foods.

Overall, it sounded like they were hoping for "something bigger, more eye opening.

FWIW, I really enjoyed your essay-I thought it sounded honest. When science writers and bloggers strive for something bigger and more eye-opening, I suspect they are often dishonest as a result. Sometimes it's bad enough to seem weirdly computer game- or fantasy novel-influenced, or to be nauseatingly Mary Sue-ish.