Want to Change the Culture of Science? Talk it Over on Twitter

Story 1- A few months ago, I wrote about my long-held view that graduate students should not bring snacks to committee meetings (even if they want to). Then in April while attending a committee meeting a student proudly whips out some snacks. I promptly (put my foot in my mouth by) tsk-tsk-ing them, and encouraged…

How to write a student travel award application

I love going to scientific conferences. They provide me with great opportunities to learn about exciting new research, expand my professional network, and catch up with colleagues and old friends. Over the last few months (and at this point in previous years) I’ve spent some time evaluating student applications for a couple of different conference travel awards. Many academic societies offer such awards,…

When Science meets Parliament

Last week I had the privilege of spending two days at the 16th “Science meets Parliament”. It was an eye opening experience and I’ve learnt a lot… but let me explain… Science meets Parliament is an annual event run by Science and Technology Australia (STA), the peak body representing Australian science and technology. It includes…

What We’re Reading: Jan 22, 2016

“Jade of the Sea” Oh come on! Just as the world begins to apply pressure to elephant poachers and ivory consumers in an attempt to decrease the killing, trinket carvers are turning to another threatened species for raw materials, the giant clam (Tridacna gigas). The linked article has a lot of great information, everything to…

Let’s share some science joy!

It’s Friday, and nearly the end of the month. Think back over the last week, the last few weeks. Have you been a science grouch? I know I have. Perhaps you’ve complained about the lack of job opportunities in science? Your paper got bad reviews? Your sequencing failed? Or something else…? If I look back,…

Learning Soft Skills During Your PhD Training

We’ve all talked to PIs who express how surprised they are to leave the bench when they become assistant professors.  They lament how much grant writing and budgeting they do and that PhD training did not prepare them for the job.  Additionally, we hear from many PhDs that their program didn’t prepare them for a…

Diving into the deep end: teaching my first course

A few years ago, a faculty member at a teaching college was giving a seminar at my university. It’s not often folks from teaching focused institutions pass through, and as someone that is considering positions at liberal arts schools, I was eager to hear what his job was like and what they were looking for…

So you want to do some genetics…? Bridging the gap between lab and field

“Bob said I should call you because it would be good to do some genetics on this mammal population, how long will that take…?”   “Alice and I collected a few tissue samples when we were in the field earlier this year and now we’d like to talk to you about collaborating on some DNA analysis…”   I’m paraphrasing of course, but…

Sweet Inspiration (or how I ended up in a paddock collecting poo for science)

Earlier this year I spent two weeks walking in picturesque Tasmania, eyes fixed firmly to the floor, looking for poo to collect. Other times I’ve searched beneath rocks in high country paddocks for endangered lizards, or driven over 400 kms with a cargo of wallaby sperm destined for our lab freezers. And I get paid…

What we’re reading- May 23, 2014

Impostor Syndrome Making it’s way through grad and postdoc communities everywhere, an unspoken inner monologue giving voice to trainees’ thoughts about the scientific process and impostor syndrome. Predator Conservation A write up of this opinion piece on how sociology influences conservation of predators, specifically that conservation incentives may need to be different to account for…

What we’re reading- Jan 3, 2014

You haven’t signed up for Twitter yet?! How Twitter can benefit conservation scientists (and other scientists as well!) See our tips here. Academic Life Enjoying Mohamed Noor’s take on academic life, from first hand experience with MOOCs to leading a professional society, Noor provides a unique insight into academia. Ivory destruction News reports surfaced this…

What we’re reading- Nov 8, 2013

Ivory Crush Ahead of next week’s post, information on the US Fish & Wildlife Service plan to destroy six tons of stockpiled ivory, in an effort to send a message about the recent, sharp rise in global poaching that has devastated rhino, tiger, and elephant populations. Denali National Park Gets ‘Google Street View’ Take a…