My mom is coming to hang out for a few days. We have a Christmas shopping adventure planned for Saturday and I'm going to take her to work with me on Friday. I always think it's really interesting to see the workplaces of my friends and family, especially when I've heard them talk about work extensively, so I think she'll get a kick out of seeing where I work. It should be really interesting for my mom since she's never seen a lab. Either that or she'll be underwhelmed and think it's really boring. My department holiday party is on Friday, which means the day will be shot to hell anyway, she won't create any extra distraction, and everyone will be available to chat for a little while. I'm looking forward to seeing my biological mom meet my academic mom (i.e. Research Advisor). Somehow, it seems like the interaction might create a black hole or something.
Anyway, EcoGeoMom doesn't know about this blog, so I probably won't be posting much for the next few days.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
What really motivates you?
Yesterday's poll precipitated such great comments that I decided to delve a little deeper into what motivates people to work so damn much. Obviously it's not just because of the threat of being scooped. So, a new poll. This time I made it in Survey Monkey because the one from yesterday got all jacked up and I can't see the results. Survey Monkey is much easier and more flexible, however, so I wrote four questions - one that's general and three that are targeted by job description. Sorry that you have to click to another page. Please come back here to make comments, especially if you think I provided sucky responses.
Click Here to take survey
Click Here to take survey
Monday, December 8, 2008
What if you couldn't be scooped?
Would you still work so much?
One insight I've gained through reading blogs is that the ferocity of competition in a field like mine is very different from say, the biomedical sciences. Jobs and fellowships are really competitive, but publications aren't by comparison. I'd say it's extremely rare to be scooped, largely because the nature of our field research means people have a pretty good sense of what others are doing. If you know someone else is working on a particular problem in a particular system, you don't pursue that question. It's a waste of resources.
I think this reduces some of the urgency for publishing results. I'm dying to get my paper submitted, but it's not because I'm worried someone else might publish the same thing first. I wonder if this is what allows me to get away with working a reasonable number of hours (for now, at least).
So, for those of you in really competitive fields, do you think you would work fewer hours if you weren't afraid of getting scooped? For those of you who aren't so worried about the distinctiveness of your research, feel free to speculate.
One insight I've gained through reading blogs is that the ferocity of competition in a field like mine is very different from say, the biomedical sciences. Jobs and fellowships are really competitive, but publications aren't by comparison. I'd say it's extremely rare to be scooped, largely because the nature of our field research means people have a pretty good sense of what others are doing. If you know someone else is working on a particular problem in a particular system, you don't pursue that question. It's a waste of resources.
I think this reduces some of the urgency for publishing results. I'm dying to get my paper submitted, but it's not because I'm worried someone else might publish the same thing first. I wonder if this is what allows me to get away with working a reasonable number of hours (for now, at least).
So, for those of you in really competitive fields, do you think you would work fewer hours if you weren't afraid of getting scooped? For those of you who aren't so worried about the distinctiveness of your research, feel free to speculate.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Solo show
I went to the concert alone and survived and even had a good time. I'm so glad that being by myself didn't stop me from going. It did stop me from drinking, however, because I wanted be clear-headed for 1) the bus ride home 2) navigating the crowd -- I almost took several elbows to the head as it was, and it was a very tame crowd and 3) talking to strangers.
In honor of Repeal Day, there was 1920's themed burlesque show instead of an opening band. They passed out feather boas at the door -- to get people in the mood, I guess. There was an MC who sang a number with a ukulele and then told jokes and facts about Repeal Day between dancing acts. Oh the dancing acts. I was really not expecting to see 1920's themed strippers when I went to this show. It was bizarre. But also kind of fun because it was so different.
Anyway, the show was good despite not having a brass section there. A dude standing next to me who was also there alone chatted me up between the strippers and the main act. We got into an interesting conversation about climate change and it was kind of nice to talk to someone instead of standing there like a goober. I saw another guy who I had noticed the last time I saw this band. He just stood there singing all the lyrics to all the songs. superfan!
I'm definitely glad I went but it would have been more fun with a friend. It was a little empowering to not let myself be held back by others. I bet some of you do stuff like this all the time and think I'm silly for making such a big deal about it, but seriously, I'm such a homebody that this was kind of a thing for me.
In honor of Repeal Day, there was 1920's themed burlesque show instead of an opening band. They passed out feather boas at the door -- to get people in the mood, I guess. There was an MC who sang a number with a ukulele and then told jokes and facts about Repeal Day between dancing acts. Oh the dancing acts. I was really not expecting to see 1920's themed strippers when I went to this show. It was bizarre. But also kind of fun because it was so different.
Anyway, the show was good despite not having a brass section there. A dude standing next to me who was also there alone chatted me up between the strippers and the main act. We got into an interesting conversation about climate change and it was kind of nice to talk to someone instead of standing there like a goober. I saw another guy who I had noticed the last time I saw this band. He just stood there singing all the lyrics to all the songs. superfan!
I'm definitely glad I went but it would have been more fun with a friend. It was a little empowering to not let myself be held back by others. I bet some of you do stuff like this all the time and think I'm silly for making such a big deal about it, but seriously, I'm such a homebody that this was kind of a thing for me.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
December slump
My whiny post yesterday was a little bit of foreshadowing. Today I will discuss how I always feel crappy in December.
I have gone to a meeting in each of the past 3 or 4 Decembers. It sucks. There is always so much else going on with the holidays and scrambling to meet year-end goals. And I am never motivated in December. I'm either feeling lousy because it's dark and dreary or distracted because I'm excited about the approaching break/holiday. Every year I vow I won't do it again and then the next year I see myself hitting submit on an abstract for a December meeting. But I didn't this year! I'm blissfully deadline free until February. In any case, since it's so hard for me to set and stay focused on reasonable writing goals even when I'm feeling good, I think it's prudent for me to spend some time in the lab during a time when I know I'm easily distracted.
On top of my normal December yuck, EGM is away for 6 weeks (have I mentioned this yet? I'm one of those people who tells the same stories over and over and sometimes I worry I do it on the blog, too). I dropped him at the airport last weekend and now he's gone and I'm sad. I've never liked living alone. It's hard for me to resist turning into a giant stain when I'm home alone.
I mentioned the other day that I since I want to continue making progress on my new paper, I intend to write for the few first hours of each day and then move on to lab work. I think this is a great plan for my December because it should keep me moving. I think I'd spend a lot of time spacing out in front of my computer if I planned to just write this month. My idea is that if I plan to be at the bench, I'll at least be doing something. Seeing some measurable results will make me feel good about myself and perhaps keep me from slumping more. And it will be great to have something to show for myself when EGM returns.
I have gone to a meeting in each of the past 3 or 4 Decembers. It sucks. There is always so much else going on with the holidays and scrambling to meet year-end goals. And I am never motivated in December. I'm either feeling lousy because it's dark and dreary or distracted because I'm excited about the approaching break/holiday. Every year I vow I won't do it again and then the next year I see myself hitting submit on an abstract for a December meeting. But I didn't this year! I'm blissfully deadline free until February. In any case, since it's so hard for me to set and stay focused on reasonable writing goals even when I'm feeling good, I think it's prudent for me to spend some time in the lab during a time when I know I'm easily distracted.
On top of my normal December yuck, EGM is away for 6 weeks (have I mentioned this yet? I'm one of those people who tells the same stories over and over and sometimes I worry I do it on the blog, too). I dropped him at the airport last weekend and now he's gone and I'm sad. I've never liked living alone. It's hard for me to resist turning into a giant stain when I'm home alone.
I mentioned the other day that I since I want to continue making progress on my new paper, I intend to write for the few first hours of each day and then move on to lab work. I think this is a great plan for my December because it should keep me moving. I think I'd spend a lot of time spacing out in front of my computer if I planned to just write this month. My idea is that if I plan to be at the bench, I'll at least be doing something. Seeing some measurable results will make me feel good about myself and perhaps keep me from slumping more. And it will be great to have something to show for myself when EGM returns.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Trying to channel my grouch
I'm in a pissy mood, that's what I'm in tonight. Things that are irritating me:
- Winter weather has begun. I had to walk on some treacherous footpaths. Some sections were covered with solid sheets of ice. It's only a matter of time until I fall, probably with my giant-ass red packback containing my laptop. This happened once before and I got stuck on the ground like a flipped-over turtle with my stupid backpack.
- Apparently we are still debating the best journal for my paper. I thought we had decided.
- There is a concert I REALLY want to see this weekend but I have no one to go with. Anyone like TMBG?
- EGM is away.
- I need to visit the grocery store but I'm so not interested.
- The t.v. is not working tonight.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Finding your bee-people
While we're on the subject of fitting in, did you feel a little like this when you first discovered your science? When you first learned people actually devoted their lives to studying the thing that had long fascinated you but that you may not have even known had a name?
I really like this video and the song happens to be my all time favorite.
I really like this video and the song happens to be my all time favorite.
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