Every year the National Science Foundation along with Science host a science and engineering picture competition. Well the winners are in and everyone should take a look.
WINNERS
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
I will be a woman scientist.
As I encroach upon 26, I begin to look forward at that vast expanse also known as MY FUTURE and I wonder.."How will I ever manage a family and science?" . So lets do the math here:
I will be 26 when I receive my BS in bio. That puts me at around 31-32 by the time my doctoral is done(hopefully), plus lets tack on my post-doc which leaves me in the middle of my 30s decade by the time my life is stable enough to think about "settling down".
So I'll be right in the thick of things as my body will be screaming at me "HAVE CHILDREN!". *Great*
So what is a girl to do? Of course the obvious option is to not have children. Don't think this thought hasn't crossed my mind, and while I think I'm much too young to really make a decision, there are a lot of factors that lean me towards this avenue mainly...
>>OVER POPULATION. The world is already above max capacity for humans, why add another one to the mix. But my thoughts take to a kind of strange reasoning. I consider myself a semi intelligent being, and I can very plainly see that the future is going to lean and depend upon those with ideas on how to change the planet in revolutionary ways. I think that with my some what progressive ways I might be able to rear a human with such capabilities. (Is that egotistical or what?)
My other reasons for ignoring my biological clock would be purely selfish. Kids take money, they take time, they take sleep (away), and no matter how hard you try you will inevitably frack them up.
So while I really don't have an answer to this weighty dilemma, as I get older it pushes itself further and further to the forefront of my mind.
www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/images/300/bw_crying_girl.jpg
I will be 26 when I receive my BS in bio. That puts me at around 31-32 by the time my doctoral is done(hopefully), plus lets tack on my post-doc which leaves me in the middle of my 30s decade by the time my life is stable enough to think about "settling down".
So I'll be right in the thick of things as my body will be screaming at me "HAVE CHILDREN!". *Great*
So what is a girl to do? Of course the obvious option is to not have children. Don't think this thought hasn't crossed my mind, and while I think I'm much too young to really make a decision, there are a lot of factors that lean me towards this avenue mainly...
>>OVER POPULATION. The world is already above max capacity for humans, why add another one to the mix. But my thoughts take to a kind of strange reasoning. I consider myself a semi intelligent being, and I can very plainly see that the future is going to lean and depend upon those with ideas on how to change the planet in revolutionary ways. I think that with my some what progressive ways I might be able to rear a human with such capabilities. (Is that egotistical or what?)
My other reasons for ignoring my biological clock would be purely selfish. Kids take money, they take time, they take sleep (away), and no matter how hard you try you will inevitably frack them up.
So while I really don't have an answer to this weighty dilemma, as I get older it pushes itself further and further to the forefront of my mind.
www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/images/300/bw_crying_girl.jpg
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Our Future
How are we supposed to know what exactly we want to be?
I'm a senior now, although I still have a year and 1/2 till graduation. This means, I think, that I should have some sort of handle on what it is I want to do with the rest of my life....right? I think that I've narrowed it down to a field, but now I am in the dilemma of picking a career path that leads to the subfield I'm most interested in. The way that our society breeds scientists is by having them focus all of their energy and life to one tiny spec of science. So that those who are familiar with the biochemistry of mitochondria are almost completely focused on particular types of enzymes or functions within the mitochondria. What I've taken this to mean is that if you don't plan well now you might get ushered into a subfield that you don't enjoy, or that you have to force yourself to love. That seems like a lot of pressure. I'm a little worried that next December when the I walk across that stage and get handed that faux degree that I'll be clueless and planless. About to set forth on a community that can be as cut throat as any business.
I guess I'm just venting in this entry. I don't really have a conclusion or plan on how to get to that point I think I need to be at. I'm working on it though. But if you read this, I'd like to know what you think about it.
I'm a senior now, although I still have a year and 1/2 till graduation. This means, I think, that I should have some sort of handle on what it is I want to do with the rest of my life....right? I think that I've narrowed it down to a field, but now I am in the dilemma of picking a career path that leads to the subfield I'm most interested in. The way that our society breeds scientists is by having them focus all of their energy and life to one tiny spec of science. So that those who are familiar with the biochemistry of mitochondria are almost completely focused on particular types of enzymes or functions within the mitochondria. What I've taken this to mean is that if you don't plan well now you might get ushered into a subfield that you don't enjoy, or that you have to force yourself to love. That seems like a lot of pressure. I'm a little worried that next December when the I walk across that stage and get handed that faux degree that I'll be clueless and planless. About to set forth on a community that can be as cut throat as any business.
I guess I'm just venting in this entry. I don't really have a conclusion or plan on how to get to that point I think I need to be at. I'm working on it though. But if you read this, I'd like to know what you think about it.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
humanist?
i was reading through the humanist manifesto today, both I and II, and I began thinking about labels. Both Kris (my partner) and I have been discussing this the past couple of days. What do I label myself? As a general rule I dislike labels because they lead to a predisposition of assumptions and judgments from others, but I wonder are they beneficial in some way. How and when do labels become effective and necessary, if ever? i.e. Is admitting you're an alcoholic the first step to recovery, or is defining yourself as a feminist a sort of commitment to the cause?
As I read through the humanist manifesto I decided that yes indeed I am willing to label myself as a HUMANIST, and above that I think that I would call myself a humanist above calling myself a feminist. Because it's not that I want to fight a war in the name of women it's more about fighting a war for all human rights. It is never going to be about battling stereotypes of one kind or another it's about all of them. And this leads me another question I want to pose you my readers...
Do you think that humor that furthers stereotypes should be accepted and even laughed at by a devoted humanist?Am I a bad person for laughing at a joke about how women should be in the kitchen? Should there be a difference when the joke comes from my friends or if it comes from a stranger?
Kris often accuses me of being overly sensitive to feminist issues. He says I over react to certain things like, when a male jokes about how all feminists really just want to be men, or a simple comment regarding the objectification of a woman. Is it over-reacting? When did I stop reacting and start over reacting, where is that line?
Tell me what you think, and I'll keep filtering out my thoughts for you.
***NOTE: cross-posted from my other non-assignment blog uteal2@blogspot.com
As I read through the humanist manifesto I decided that yes indeed I am willing to label myself as a HUMANIST, and above that I think that I would call myself a humanist above calling myself a feminist. Because it's not that I want to fight a war in the name of women it's more about fighting a war for all human rights. It is never going to be about battling stereotypes of one kind or another it's about all of them. And this leads me another question I want to pose you my readers...
Do you think that humor that furthers stereotypes should be accepted and even laughed at by a devoted humanist?Am I a bad person for laughing at a joke about how women should be in the kitchen? Should there be a difference when the joke comes from my friends or if it comes from a stranger?
Kris often accuses me of being overly sensitive to feminist issues. He says I over react to certain things like, when a male jokes about how all feminists really just want to be men, or a simple comment regarding the objectification of a woman. Is it over-reacting? When did I stop reacting and start over reacting, where is that line?
Tell me what you think, and I'll keep filtering out my thoughts for you.
***NOTE: cross-posted from my other non-assignment blog uteal2@blogspot.com
Friday, September 12, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Matt Damon on Sarah Palin
though not a personal fan of Matt Damon, I think what he has to say here is rather funny and slightly true.
Personal Growth
I want to write quickly today about my experience thus far being a co-president to a student organization.
Well let me start by giving you a bit of personal background. One year ago I was a completely different person. I'm sure you're saying that after a year no person should be the same person, but I think I have made substantial personal progress over this last year. I was shy, to say the least. I was bordering on hermit. I didn't talk to people I didn't already know, and I hid in house when I wasn't at school. I have my own reasons for acting this way, but I knew I wasn't happy like this. And so after some serious advice from my best friend I put myself in a position that I knew I wasn't ready for. To say it bluntly- I jumped in head first, head first into society. I started talking to the people I sat next to in class, I applied and was accepted to a research program at school, I walked with my head up and said hi to people I didn't even know. It was an uphill battle that I know I am still fighting, but I think that it has been well worth it.
One of the major steps I took was to nominate myself to be a co-president of The Environmental Awareness Club. We aim to activate humans in the name of environmentalism. So here I am standing in front of roughly 20 people each Tuesday leading them towards the green light at the end of the tunnel. I love it and would recommend this sort of activity to everyone especially shy people. I'm learning to lead and better yet to be apart of some thing bigger than myself. More important than any other aspect is the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing. I don't know how to motivate people, I don't know how to organize major environmentalist movements, I don't know how to worry about liability issues and fund raising crap, but everyday I grow more and more excited about this team that I've aligned myself with. I'll continue to write about my trials and tribulations here, till then:
Well let me start by giving you a bit of personal background. One year ago I was a completely different person. I'm sure you're saying that after a year no person should be the same person, but I think I have made substantial personal progress over this last year. I was shy, to say the least. I was bordering on hermit. I didn't talk to people I didn't already know, and I hid in house when I wasn't at school. I have my own reasons for acting this way, but I knew I wasn't happy like this. And so after some serious advice from my best friend I put myself in a position that I knew I wasn't ready for. To say it bluntly- I jumped in head first, head first into society. I started talking to the people I sat next to in class, I applied and was accepted to a research program at school, I walked with my head up and said hi to people I didn't even know. It was an uphill battle that I know I am still fighting, but I think that it has been well worth it.
One of the major steps I took was to nominate myself to be a co-president of The Environmental Awareness Club. We aim to activate humans in the name of environmentalism. So here I am standing in front of roughly 20 people each Tuesday leading them towards the green light at the end of the tunnel. I love it and would recommend this sort of activity to everyone especially shy people. I'm learning to lead and better yet to be apart of some thing bigger than myself. More important than any other aspect is the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing. I don't know how to motivate people, I don't know how to organize major environmentalist movements, I don't know how to worry about liability issues and fund raising crap, but everyday I grow more and more excited about this team that I've aligned myself with. I'll continue to write about my trials and tribulations here, till then:
Environmental Awareness Club
Meets Every Tuesday
12-1
Room 1.288
Meets Every Tuesday
12-1
Room 1.288
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Stray Cats
* This is a picture of Cletus outside by my screen door. *
I have recently had the joy of finding a new friend. I call her Cletus, and she is a black and brown stray cat, that has made my carport her home. I began feeding her about a month ago and about a week ago she began letting me hold and pet her. She's a beautiful starving little thing, that just sits by my screen door and waits for me to go out and visit her. She doesn't smell she looks healthy, besides being underweight, and she never causes any ruckus or urinates all over the outside of the house. I've taken a real shining to her. She is the reason that today I sat down in front of my computer to find out "what kind of effect am I having by feeding strays, and what effect do strays have on my neighborhood". Because there are dozens of stray cats around my house I know that my neighborhood has been harboring and feeding these animals for quite a while.
After some peliminary research into the topic, I find that there are people who support a humane answer to this issue.
First stray cats pose a series of problems.
1) They create feral offspring. Those that are afraid of humans and will bite or scratch if cornered.
2) They invade yards and gardens. Easily prevented with some choice herbs or special devices.
3) They kill birds. Yes, although humans are responsible for killing more birds per year than stray and feral cats, and that excludes liscensed hunting. (statistics vary)
4) During mating their howls can be annoying.
Some solutions:
Edwardsville, Illinois had implemented a Trap, Neurter, and Release program. Finding that just collecting cats a killing them only leaves room for new dominate cats to establish colnoies and start breeding. Their method is outlined in their website .
http://www.metroanimal.org/feral/main.shtml
What can we do to help? Well if you are like me, and can't help assisting a hurting or starving animal in need, then there a few things you can do. Talk to you local humane society about what's already being done, and ask if they've tried any other method besides straight up killing all the cats. Advocate to your friends and family what a bad idea it is to abandon your pet. You can also adopt. For every cat or pup that is being bred for sale, I'm sure there are dozens of homeless pets in the animal shelters. So if you're in the market for a pet, ALWAYS visit your local animal shelter first.
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