The Current

Happy New Year everyone! (anyone?) I've been taking a hiatus from the blogosphere lately, but am ready to jump back in, though it may be a slow reentry.

We had a great Christmas/Hannukah/New Years and are now all getting back to our regular routine. Things are quiet here on campus. It's nice to have a few weeks before students return for classes (though we have plenty of students hanging around in the labs as part of our Winter Scholar's Program). I am spending the next couple of weeks getting a bunch of things together in preparation for the RI Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program that I am coordinating. It's a great experience for the students, but a major logistical pain in the ass to administer. But that's why they pay me the big bucks (ha!).

Anyways, I thought some of you might enjoy reading a bit about what our SURF program is all about (as well as the bigger picture of RI EPSCoR, SURF's NSF-funded "parent" program). If you are, check out the inaugural issue of "The Current" (pdf). The stuff I am primarily involved with starts on page 9 (though you won't see my name anywhere).

More blogging to follow...seriously.

I never knew

Litmus, the stuff of pH paper, comes from lichens.

How was this discovered?

Can lichens themselves be used to measure pH? If so, how come Les Stroud or Bear Grylls haven't taught us this yet?

Next Tagled Bank

I read somewhere that one of the responsibilities of hosting the Tangled Bank is to announce the next location one week ahead of time. So, in fulfillment of my duties (a day late), I hereby inform you that Tangled Bank #94 is to be held over at Life Before Death. The last post over there is over a month old (rather ironically titled "Don't worry, I'm still here"), so I hope Felicia is ready for the multitude of submissions that will be coming her way.

I can't seem to find an email for Felicia, so please send an e-mail message to host[at]tangledbank[dot]net containing the words "Tangled Bank" somewhere in the subject line, and a link to your article, along with a sentence or two of descriptive summary. PZ will take care of the rest.

No Eugenie for me :(

Well, looks like I've lost my opportunity to meet Eugenie Scott. I was scheduled to meet with her this afternoon before her lecture this evening, but she needed a break from the constant attention from her sycophants admirers, so went back to her hotel room. It's understandable. I guess.

Unfortunately, I also have to miss her lecture this evening to bring my daughter to her Brownie troop meeting. Damn kids.

Tangled Bank #83

The latest edition of the Tangled Bank is now up over at Aardvarchaeology.

Worst Jobs in Science?

Popular Science has just released their annual bottom-10 "Worst Jobs in Science" report. While I agree that some of these jobs can't be good - like the Elephant Vasectomist - some are actually pretty cool if you ask me - like the Forensic Entomologist (certainly grisly, but a damn brilliant use of science). Still others I wouldn't give "job" status to - Gravity Test Subject? C'mon.

What I want to know most of all though is who the moron was who decided that Oceanographer should be on this list. As far as I can tell, most people, including non-scientists, would say that being an Oceanographer is on the list of coolest jobs in science. But maybe it's my own marine bias. Have the guys over at Deep Sea News seen this yet? Not sure how they're gonna like being lumped in with the "Garbologists"

(thanks Jeff for the link!)

Tangled Bank #81

Check out the newest installment of the Tangled Bank - some great posts as always.

The perfect gift

How great is this? James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA the structure of DNA, was presented with the genetic sequence of his very own genome.

It only cost $1 million. Wonder if I should ask for mine for Father's Day...

(thanks for the link, Linda)

Sigh...what now?

Well, the AP Biolgy exam is done, so even though the school year is not yet over I feel as though my ties to AHS are also done. I would love to hear what was thought about the exam, but as far as I can tell, no AHS students are still lurking here. So, what happens to this blog, now that I've lost my presumed audience? I could shut it down I suppose, but I must admit that I get some level of vain entertainment from posting - thinking that someone out there finds my words useful or interesting or entertaining. I guess I'll just have to continue writing and perhaps find an audience. Though, if I really want people to stop by and read consistently, I should probably be more active and perhaps try to be more original - how many bio-based blogs are out there anyways?

Still, I'd love to hear about the AP exam, if anyone happened to take it.

Good luck

Not sure if any AHS students still stop by here, but if so, I wanted to wish you all good luck on the AP Bio exam (if I remember right it's coming up on Monday). Wish I could have stopped by sometime this semester, but the days have moved by quicker than I thought they would as I've settled into my new routine down at RWU.

By now I am sure your heads are chock full. I am sure all will go well. Just relax, remember to breath (it's biologically rather important - cellular respiration and all), and if you get anxious or overly stressed, just think of this

Order of the Science Scouts

I may not technically be a scientist anymore, but I am a member of the Order of the Science Scouts of Exemplary Repute and Above Average Physique and these are the badges I've earned.



The "I've set fire to stuff" badge (LEVEL I)
In which the recipient has set fire to stuff*, all in the name of general scientific curiosity.

Can you really be a scientist without having this one?
*paper, wood, leaves, plastics, food, hair, Pledge®, ants, my brother's Luke Skywalker X-wing Pilot figure



The "works with acids" badge.
In which the recipient has worked with acids.

Well, I have.



The "I may look like a scientist, but I'm actually also a pirate" badge.
Drinks rum. Into pillaging and stuff. Soft spot for evolutionary biology.

Yup. Sure. Absolutely. I mean..Arrrrr.



The "I've done science with no concievable practical application" badge.
There are probably more who are deserving of this badge than you would expect.

Let me count the ways (one, two, three, four...)



The "I know what a tadpole is" badge.
In which the recipient knows what a tadpole is.

And what Phylum, Class, and Order it's in.



The "experienced with electrical shock" badge (LEVEL III)
In which the recipient has had experience with the electrical shocking of himself/herself.

I was 6 (7? 10? 16?). Mr. Key meet Mr. Wall Socket. Mr. Jim meet Mr. Floor.



The "statistical linear regression" badge.
We figured that if you actually know what those three words together mean, then you deserve a badge. Statistics rock!

Bonus points for having attended the "Summer Institute for Statistical Genetics"!



The "I blog about science" badge.
In which the recipient maintains a blog where at least a quarter of the material is about science. Suffice to say, this does not include scientology.

Self-obvious, don't you think?



The "has frozen stuff just to see what happens" badge (LEVEL I)
In which the recipient has frozen something in the freezer for the sake of scientific curiosity.

Mainly insects. A few spiders.



The "has frozen stuff just to see what happens" badge (LEVEL II)
In which the recipient has frozen something in dry ice for the sake of scientific curiosity.

Again, mainly insects. A few spiders.



The "has frozen stuff just to see what happens" badge (LEVEL III)
In which the recipient has frozen something in liquid nitrogen for the sake of scientific curiosity.

Really, the list is too long. Certainly insects though. Amazingly, no spiders.



The "inordinately fond of invertebrate" badge.
In which the recipient professes an arguably unhealthy affinity for things of this category.

I bought a copy of Brusca & Brusca, "just because". First edition, of course.



The "talking science" badge.
Required for all members. Assumes the recipient conducts himself/herself in such a manner as to talk science whenever he/she gets the chance. Not easily fazed by looks of disinterest from friends or the act of "zoning out" by well intentioned loved ones.

Most of my friends don't even bother to try to listen anymore.

I'll probably have to update this as time goes on and as I earn more badges or as more badges are created.

March Madness, Geek Style

Just in case there was any question about my geek status, here's a link to something I am finding all too entertaining - the Science Spring Showdown. Basically it's an NCAA-basketball-tournament-style science playoffs. Complete with game breakdowns and news items (see the controversy surrounding Surgery's Internal Medicine's disqualification). I'm partial to the Octopus Bracket myself and must admit that I am fully pulling for the #1 seed, the Invertebrates. If only I had found this site before the games had begun - there's even a printable bracket to fill out.

Who's your Final Four?
(is ANYONE here any more?)

Science Showdown 2007

Evolution essay contest - win $300

I'm a bit late finding this out, but the Alliance for Science is holding an essay contest for high school students. First prize is $300. The topic of the essay is: "Why would I want my doctor to have studied evolution?" and it is due March 31st.

Details can be found here

At first glance this seems like a silly question, but you would be amazed at the number of doctors who are "anti-evolution". I'm amazed that there are any at all. A good summary of physicians vs. evolution can be found here

I know March 31st is approaching quickly and that you have plenty of things on your plate, but I also thought you might like to know about a chance to use your knowledge of evolution to win $300. Let me know if anyone decides to enter the contest.

An Inconvenient Truth

I finally saw An Inconvenient Truth last night. I thought it was very well done and if you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend that you do, especially if you don't know too much about the causes and effects of global climate change. The message is good and clear, the visuals are impressive, Al Gore is at his best, and even the music is well done. I've seen and read about all the data before, but Al Gore does an excellent job of presenting them in a user-friendly, yet not dumbed-down way. Americans have for too long now been wavering on the topic of global warming - is it real? are we really the cause? what could possibly happen if it gets a little warmer? Well: yes, yes, and a lot. It is time we all took a long hard look at ourselves and the way we live and make some changes.

I'll get off my soap box now. Seriously though, go rent this movie. And check out the website:

An Inconvenient Truth

Galapagos: set your TiVo

On March 18, the National Geographic Channel is premiering a three-part documentary on the Galapagos that looks like it should be excellent. The islands are an amazing place and I'm willing to bet that National Geographic does an incredible job with the show, so I would recommend tuning in for it. (The photo here is a Sally Lightfoot Crab - taken by yours truly)

Added bonus: check out
the show's website and enter to win a 10-day trip to the Galapagos!


UPDATE - 3/20/07: I watched the first two hours and was impressed with the footage and the information. Some of the narration is a bit schlocky, but I guess that can be forgiven. There is one piece that I found humorous in a way - when they speculate on "what might have happened" if Darwin had paid closer attention to the tortoises as if then he REALLY may have come up with some intereting ideas. Cause man, it's a shame that he didn't really notice those tortoises and had to settle for causing a major paradigm shift in modern science and influencing the future of biology, religion, and human culture. Just think what he could have done if he collected some tortoises. Seriously though - it's a well done series and you should definitely check it out if for no other reason than to ooh and aah at the visuals.

Winds of change...and a Giant Colossal Squid

Sorry I haven't added anything here recently, but I have been busy starting up at my new job - teaching AP Biology at North Attleboro High...



...OK, admit it, how many of you fell for that?

Seriously, I do have a new job. I'm the (get ready for this title) Coordinator for the Center for Undergraduate Research, Education, and Outreach in Marine Life Sciences at Roger Williams University. Basically, the colleges and universities in Rhode Island got a large grant to bolster undergraduate research in the state. Roger Williams used part of the grant money to create my position to help them organize, publicize, and increase their undergraduate research experience, particularly in Marine Biology. The job will involve a lot of different things, including collaborating with the other colleges in the state to form "research partnerships" between students and scientists at different schools. I'll also be creating a website to showcase the excellent student research that is being done at Roger Williams. I'll also be teaching a couple of courses starting in the Fall. Did I mention making newletters and issuing press releases? Or what about helping bring some grant money in? Organizing an intensive summer research program?

Yeah, I should be busy. But hopefully not so busy that I can't add a few things to this blog every week. In fact, given the salty nature of my new job, here's a quick link for ya:

Colossal Squid Caught - the largest squid ever caught (approx: 33 feet, 1,000 lbs)

Just curious...

I've been wondering how many of you (my former students) are still stopping by now and then to read this blog. The only way I have of knowing is when you leave comments and there has only been one comment in the past several weeks. I'm enjoying maintaining the blog, so I will continue to do so, but I would love to know how many of you are checking back here (and how often). Thanks!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Charles Darwin was born this day in 1809 in Shrewsbury, England - he would be 198 years old today. Interestingly, in a trivial way, President Abraham Lincoln was also born on this exact day (though not in Shrewsbury, England). For more info about Darwin, check out the following website:

AboutDarwin.com

Happy Darwin's Day everyone!

Just call me Heraclitus

As you all know, I have issues with "stasis". As such, I have made some (slight) changes to the blog. Obviously, the color scheme and layout has been changed. I have also added a "Category" tab to the posts so posts on similar topics can be easily accessed as a unit (e.g. Evolution, Marine Biology). Also, the host for the blog (blogger.com) has updated their services and now seem to require everyone to use a Google account to participate in the blog. So, If you would like to continue posting to this blog, you'll have to sign-up for a new gmail account - you should be prompted to do so when you try to log-in. I'll continue to post items as I find/think about them. Hopefully, all of you will continue to read and comment.

(don't know who Heraclitus is? Look him up!)

Thanks

Just wanted to thank you all for being a great class and for keeping me somewhat sane during my brief time at AHS. I truly am grateful to have met you all and to have been your teacher. I tried to make biology as exciting and interesting as I think it is and I wish you all good luck as you enter your last semester of high school. I know that this transition is less than ideal, but I also know that you, as a class, and Ms. Ravesi will move forward without missing a step - just keep working together and pushing forward like you've done all year so far. Each of you brings different talents to the classroom, which is one of the things that I enjoyed most - the combination of personalities that made the classroom comfortable, engaging, dynamic, interesting, and fun. I will miss you.

Even though I cannot be there for you in the classroom, I am going to try to keep posting interesting/useful items here on the blog. Also, feel free to email me if I can help you with anything - or post questions here.

Well, all for now. For those of you who see this, please relay my sentiments to the rest of the class. Thanks and good luck!