Sweet Tea, Science, the idea, was proposed by Rachel in November of 2013. However, it was during our annual get together with our wildly amazing group of friends for New Years 2013/2014 that the ball really got rolling over on our Tumblr. Recently, we've brought in the New Year once more with some of our favorite, most inspirational people in the world. Among these friends is the creative whirlwind that is J.D. VanSlyke, one half of the voices behind our favorite podcast: RefreshED! He was kind enough to lead this interview so that we may share some of what we've done over the past year, and a lot of what we're thinking for the future!
HUGE thanks to JD for his completely fantastic interview questions. Be sure to tune into RefreshED this year. We are very much looking forward to the times ahead and the opportunities that may present themselves. Please let us know if you have any ideas for potential guest posts or if you'd like to collaborate with us in some way!
My good luck with Irish weather is unbelievable. Most days have been sunny and fairly warm. The Irish flock to bask in the warm rays as though they believe it will be the only sunny day the whole summer. By mid-afternoon, most will be bright red with the rare Irish sunburn. Not wanting to miss out on any of the great weather I tagged along with some Aussies planning on wandering about the botanic gardens.
Really cool week, so some really Cool Stuff to share with everyone! I've got another wide range of articles and videos for everyone. One article was actually sent to me by a friend who knew I loved these types of reads and shared them with everyone. Thanks! Everyone is encouraged to send submissions for Cool Stuff Sundays!! Doesn't even have to be something you think would specifically interest me, if you think it's Cool Stuff, then it is!
Unknown mathematician (Yitang Zhang) published paper that takes us leaps forwards in understanding twin prime conjectures. (Thanks, Mike for sharing this one!)
I'm also very VERY excited to share with everyone a recent publication from an Ecology friend of mine, Colin Kremer. We studied together in 2007 at Kellogg Biological Station, where he has since continued as a PhD student. His paper: Coexistence in a variable environment: Eco-evolutionary perspectives.
Usually I have Stuff that primarily relates to STEM fields of interest, however this Cool Stuff is a book recently published by an old college friend. I remember being in awe of his poetry at slams and can attest to his talent and voice.
Filmmaker, Samuel Orr, has been working on a one hour documentary on Cicadas
since 2007, and now has a Kickstarter to help with funding. I really hope you
check out this moving video and consider donating to his cause!
Credit: ACS Nano RNA laced bandages could treat wounds on the genetic level. What?!
Question of the Day:
What topics interest you? What would you post in your own CSS section?
I figured it was time again to share some of the science news I've been crunching on this last week or so. Note, not every story occurred in the last calendar week. Graduate student here, so I'm usually just a little bit behind the times.
I thought this graphic from the original article bore repeating.
Even scientists love LOL Cats.
First, I'd like to share two stories about a topic that is near and dear to my heart, privilege in the world of science. This particular conversation about privilege in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) was started with an article about privilege in the marine sciences and followed up by this insightful article about how access to these fields is sometimes closed to students before they even get to college. I think the former article does a good job defining privilege and charting out some general territory where it can come into play once you are on your path to a scientific career. If you are interested in reading about diversity in the sciences, I would suggest Dr. Kate Clancy's blog over at Scientific American or the always amusing Dr. Isis (a pseudonym!) over here. The latter article, in my opinion, gets much more at the heart of the diversity problem in STEM professions.
My example of my own experience of privilege is always this: When I was in 3rd grade, or maybe 4th, I was working on some math homework. It was some sort of word problem, I don't remember the details. I asked my mother to help me (sign of privilege numero uno!) and instead of just helping me with that one word problem, she explained to 8/9 year-old me how to set up a simple algebraic equation to get the correct answer. I recall being really annoyed with her at the time for not directly answering my question, but dang. I am sure that my current position as a scientist is thanks to a million little interactions like this one. I am privileged beyond belief, and I thank the authors of these two articles for pointing this out, and pushing scientists to think about these issues!
The next two articles are born out of discussions we had in my classes last week about food web ecology (my favorite!). The first hits very close to home (geographically speaking) for me, and concerns the canceling of a class planned by the Department of Fish and Wildlife on predator hunting. We talked at great length in class about how predator exclusions can really mess with ecosystem health. The article makes this same point as well:
"In recent years, a flurry of scientific papers have pointed out the valuable role predators play in keeping ecosystems healthy, including preying on jack rabbits and rodents that can carry disease."
One thing the article fails to point out is the difference between a top predator (such as a mountain lion) and a meospredator (such as a coyote). In some cases, both are positive for ecosystem health, but in other cases, removal of the top predator can relax pressure on the mesopredator, leading to other problems. Food webs are complex ya'll.
Last, here is an article about how humans can really insert themselves into a food web. This is the tragic tale of the Atlantic cod. This story also highlights one of the real challenges of viewing ourselves in an ecosystem context; humans can be adversely impacted by recovery plans. The short story is this, much like the passenger pigeon, we thought cod were an inexhaustible resource, but in recent years the fisheries have started to collapse. In an attempt to recover cod populations, take numbers have been reduced, and eventually slashed. I don't think anyone involved is denying the difficulties ahead of cod fisherman on the Atlantic coast. However, without cuts in take (weight of fish brought to shore) the fishery will, likely, never recover. Furthermore, it is possible that this entire issue (and the loss of billions of dollars in governmental aid in the US and Canada) could have been avoided if we had simply examined ourselves as part of the ecosystem. Can we really expect to consume our resources at this break-neck pace and not see those resources depleted? Hindsight is 20/20, as they say, but we must do better.
Wow. I refuse to leave you guys on such a downer! So, here you go, a sad, sad, nerdy break-up song with YEAST! You can read an NPR write up about this silly video here.
Last Word: This week I got to integrate two of my favorite topics, diversity issues in STEM fields and food webs. How lucky am I? Let's hope the news for the coming days is just as stimulating!
What do you think? Are there any topics in the news you would like to hear me discuss? If there is ever an issue that strikes your fancy (please say food webs!), I would be more than happy to expand it into a full post. Just let me know!
I thought it might be fun to share with you guys some of the stuff I have been mulling over this week. I listen to the radio...a lot, so you will notice a certain bias toward NPR. Please excuse me, but I was quite literally raised listening to NPR every time I got into the car, everyday while prepping meals, and while drinking coffee in the mornings. So, here is some of the ecology/environment/science related news and media I've been thinking about this week:
Airpocalypse!!! For once, it seems that the media's crazy names for things aren't that off the mark. This looks and sounds nasty. I think China always causes an interesting debate in my own head. Obviously, I think that they should be doing more for the environment (among other things, but that's a little off topic). However, other countries use so many of the raw materials produced in China, it's hard for environmental regulations to keep pace with demand. One quotation from the article really brings that point home:
"Meanwhile, the Global Times has been pointing out China's role as the global factory and the "biggest construction site in the world"...Seventy percent of global iron and steel, and about half of the world's cement is produced in China," it says in an editorial. "Against this backdrop, it is impossible for China to be as clean as the West.""
This story about scientists sharing the internal details of their scientific methods really intrigued me. It does a lot to bring out the more human side of what we do. My first "overly honest methods" tweet would probably involve how I am listening to a constant stream of history/science podcasts while doing all my lab work. For example: "I ground up plant matter until I literally couldn't stand to listen to another episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class." I, personally, don't think that admitting that scientists are real people who have to deal with real equipment and time constraints impacts the view of science by popular culture. Maybe others disagree?
Last, I loved this story about right whales! I happen to be a secret nut for marine mammals. I think this sighting is amazing, concerning, and uplifting all at the same time. Anytime an endangered species with only about 500 members is seen with an infant, that's amazing. But why is this whale so far from the normal spawning grounds? More questions than answers concerning this article in my opinion.
Last Word: I'm always on the outlook for good science news, especially if there is a study linked to the news article. Scientific reporting is a big interest of mine, and I like to see if I agree with the high points the reporters have drawn from the studies. I'll try to keep a running list of articles I'm interested by each week and share.
What do you think? Would you like to see more science news on the blog:
Yet another example of how I am constantly amazed by people's ability to distill down difficult topics and concepts and present them in an understandable and entertaining manner. Jorge Cham of Piled Higher and Deeper intersperses comics inspired by life as a grad stud with interviews at various universities and research institutions. This week he traveled to CERN to interview Particle Physicist Daniel Whiteson about the Higgs Boson and how the LHC is attempting to find it.
The combination of visual and audio information presented in such a unique and entertaining way gets me excited to learn about a new topic. I recommend watching the video in full screen to get the entire experience.
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Don't forget to vote in this weeks poll. What sort of posts do you want to see on this blog? More like this one? Your opinion is important to me!
This past week has provided a plethora of Cool Stuff to share! I've enjoyed shifting through stories and videos to select my favorites. Thanks to everyone who shared a link to something extra Cool with me this week!
Be sure to keep you eyes on the night sky again this week/weekend. The Lyrid Meteor Shower should peak April 22.
We've seen that the planets have inspired lots of things: research, space travel, videos, etc; here is a movement from an orchestral suite written in the early 1900s that is intended to convey astrological ideas and emotions associated with the planets on the psyche.
Another great study involving the usefulness of kelp. This time to detect radiation!
In the very first CSS, I had a story about a twister on Mars. Now
another has been spotted that puts the previous 800 meter tall dust devil to shame. The new sighting was over 20 KM HIGH!
I was going to wait a bit until I talked more about this topic, but I'm excited to get it out of my brain onto a post! Earlier this week, I talked about how the Khan Academy has the potential to revolutionize education by allowing students to view video lectures at home and focus on mastering the concepts with help from teachers in the classroom. I've already watch a handful of videos myself and have found them very helpful and educational.
I've been watching videos though the Academy iPad app and have loved how convenient it is. I was able to download videos so that I could watch them during my bus ride (with no internet) back to New Mexico. I felt like could have been in a 'The Future is NOW' ad. I can't help but smile and shake my head in amazement and the products we have available to us.
What's even more amazing is the dedication that Apple and other companies have to the educationsystem. My friend Cornelius received a refurbished iPad as part of a larger donation to Teach for America. He currently uses it as a teaching tool at .... Hopefully we can convince him to write a guest post in the future!
What I'd really like to share with you today is Apple's iBook2 announcement from January 2012. I was nerdy enough to watch the keynote speech the day this initiative was announce and was completely blown away and inspired by what they've created. I have long complained about the antiquity of textbooks, and it seems like the creative, talented people of the world are trying to insight a paradigm shift.
No heavy backpacks. No expensive, out-of-date texts. No boring walls of text.
Why did this take so long?!
Actually, I've already purchased two e-books as required texts for my graduate classes, but this announcement still got me all riled up in a tizzy. After my initial, giddy reaction, I began to spread the good news like it had been passed down from Steve Jobs on high (and he only needed the one tablet). I could see no flaw in the design and expected everyone to be just as excited as I. Most were. But then, gradually different criticisms emerged.
eTextbooks are only available though iBooks 2 on the iPad
iPads are too expensive for most schools
Teachers will be reluctant to adapt new learning platforms
Students already have limited contact with print media. Too many 'gadgets' will actually prevent advancements in certain areas of their education.
Just a new way for students to be distracted in the classroom.
I believe many if these issues will be addressed in the years to come. Even just allowing access to the texts on a Mac computer will placate many naysayers. I've seen predictions of the Retina Display coming to the next generation of MacBooks, so I wouldn't be surprised if that jump is announced alongside the new lineup of computers in the Fall. Certainly, there will need to be a transition period and different platforms will most likely attempt similar version (Kindle), however it is important to remember that initially teachers were not assigning schoolwork that required the internet or even word processors, but those are not integral parts of the classroom.
I'm already growing impatient with the current stale, lifeless textbooks I'm using this semester. After watching that first keynote, I turned my focus back to my studies. Assigned reading in my Statistics textbook.
I felt like my brain was moving in molasses in an attempt to learn the concepts.
I had seen the future and now instead of reading and retaining information, all I could think about was how I could transform the text into an entertaining, interactive experience. I eventually got the chapter read, but it was very clear to me that hey, I could do this! And so, it is now that I announce, nay declare, that I, Meridith, will one day author a completely awesome eTextbook.
Until then, I'll have to manage with the current system.
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Perhaps, if selected, I can convince the Hi-SEAS program to compile the joint experiences of the 6 Astro-Nots and 2 alternates into an iBook. I can easily envision a healthy collection of reports, media, and blog entries that would serve as content.
Can't get to ahead of myself. Still one more week until the first announcements!
Questions of the Day:
Do you think such a radical change can occur in the public school system?
Are you a supporter?
What do you think are the biggest challenges to this idea?
What would you want to see in an end report/book from the 120-day Hi-SEAS food study?
Word came today from the application review board!
"We expect to have an update for applicants next week. Thank you for your patience as we give your applications the attention they deserve."
At least I'm not out, yet. It'll be a nerve-wracking week and a half. I can only assume that 'next week' really means 'the very end of next week, don't rush us!'. This kind of excitement is usually reserved for my birthday, or Christmas, or when waiting for final grades to be posted.
I've actually got a few things to share today for YOU GUYS to be excited about.
Everyone, absolutely everyone, is invited to help the ESA discover some of the magnificent photographs lurking in the archives. Vast datasets are available to the public, all you have to do is be patient enough to find a new, interesting/inspirational/beautiful file, adjust the contrast and colors, and upload it to the contest Flickr group. As an extra challenge, you may also use provided software to transform data into breath-taking images. These images can be uploaded to a separate Flickr accounts.
Winners receive an iPod Touch or an iPad.
Both competitions close on 31 May 2012.
I would encourage everyone to try and share the contest information, get your children involved, get something going in a classroom, whatever you can think of! I am going to try and link the two Flickr accounts so that they appear on the sidebars of this blog. Stay tuned!
The other bits of excitement I'd like to share with you are two blogs by Women In Science. Young women, at that! I was chatting with a new friend of mine about my blog and he was cruel enough to share these two with me, even though he knows I'm supposed to be ultra productive these days.
I've added these to my 'Other Voices' section on the left, but I'll provide a quick overview of the blogs.
The Contemplative Mammoth: [From the listed description]I blog about ecology and climate change over various time scales --ranging from the last ice age to the present-- and how our understanding of the past can help prepare us for the future. I also write about my experience in grad school and academia, share book reviews and interesting journal articles, and discuss science literacy, science communication in all forms...and the occasional dung fungus. Adventures Elsewhere: This blog is much more broad and often seems very journal-like. However, it is penned by a young woman in grad schools so I can relate to a lot of the posts and perhaps you would find it enjoyable, as well. I'm looking forward to reading more, which is quite a task as she started the blog in 2009.
So thanks to New Friend Sean for sharing, and I hope everyone else can follow in his footsteps by sharing their favorite blog/website/photo site/etc. Doesn't have to be any particular topic; I just want to know what you enjoy reading/viewing!
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Question of The Day:
Of course, what are your favorite blogs/websites/etc?
What are you currently excited about?
Education has pretty much consumed my life. I have been in school for 19 of my 25 years on this lovely hunk of Earth. I have at the very least another four to go. During the last five years, I've occasionally been on the other side of the equation, teaching and assisting in lab courses. Who knows? Maybe I'll ended up in academia and spend my days warping young minds.
We live in the age of information and technology. It is easier than ever to find a chunk of information via a quick internet search. Educational institutions have been trying to keep up with the ever advancing technologies available today, but I would argue that they should be adapting and leading the pack.
If selected for this research project, I hope to focus on providing fun, interesting, and educational experiences for everyone following along. I will attempt to employ different aspects of technology as often as possible. I've been inspired by different people that have lead they way in this endeavor, and would like to share one of these inspirations today.
Sal Khan and the other amazing folks at Khan Academy are on a mission to change education. Using a vast online database of educational videos, they hope to provide a free world-class education to anyone, anywhere. I've included, below, the TED talk that first introduced me to the Academy. I have since watched several of the provided videos and enjoyed them immensely. The pH/Acid/Base series in the Chemistry section have been profoundly helpful.
Questions of The Day:
Do you think programs such as Khan Academy would work in schools? (Educators, here's looking at you!)
Are there any topics that you could use some extra help in? Try watching a video and let me know how it turns out!
