Category: Opinion
-
The Great Mastodon Migration
With the impending downfall of Twitter (if you need it explained, I am jealous), people who have spent the last 16 years using the website as a source for entertainment and community have been scrambling to find a replacement. The one that has caught the eye of science and academic Twitter users is Mastodon—but is…
-
Koalafications
Even before starting grad school, I knew quals would be the most difficult hurdle to overcome, even more so than difficult classes, reviewer comments, and the defense itself. The qualification exam, or quals, is a black box. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of consistency between the programs when describing or preparing for it,…
-
Is Science Communication the Solution to STEM’s Inaccessibility?
Science communication is the buzzword of the decade. In this age of hyper-communication and information sharing, there have been increasing efforts by the scientific community to disseminate what we learn to the larger public. Article upon article has been written about how important the role of “science communicator” is—how essential it is for the betterment…
-
Accessibility in the Post-COVID Fantasy
“[D]isability is a situation, caused by social conditions, which requires for its elimination, (a) that no one aspect such as incomes, mobility or institutions is treated in isolation, (b) that disabled people should, with the advice and help of others, assume control over their own lives, and (c) that professionals, experts and others who seek…
-
Overcoming Isolation in Graduate School
No one had prepared me for how alone I would feel. I knew grad school would be challenging. I’d be thrown into projects and expected to think critically and independently as a scientist. The first two years, in particular, were a struggle. Not only was I beginning a 5-6 year degree, but I was also…