tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43342192054873344202011-12-17T07:31:58.923-08:00A blog about the life of an academic climbing the ivory tower. With three kids in tow.Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.comBlogger1091100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-12695581643873326572011-11-09T14:25:00.000-08:002011-11-09T14:30:37.833-08:00

This is part three of a series of blog posts, in which I blog about how to succeed as a mother and graduate student. Please note, - this is my opinion, it's how I and some friends got through this successfully, and on what patterns I have observed in others that failed. During the first trimester, you have quite a high chance of miscarriage. Some people have estimated it at 25%. You really,

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-27361468374842266362011-10-25T13:57:00.000-07:002011-10-25T14:12:58.335-07:00

So, I told you how to make a plan for the time of the pregnancy. I assume you've been thorough with that. And I assume you're not further along yet than 8 weeks. Because that's when you should start making plans for the child birth and after. And, no, I don't mean a birth plan, or how to get your child to sleep through the night, or when to stop breastfeeding or other such stuff, - there are

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-90109821854585498462011-10-23T10:10:00.000-07:002011-10-23T10:22:00.050-07:00

A warning: I don't do mommy talk. Also, this is no post about what all is wrong with the current system, and what should be but what isn't. I have strong opinions about maternity leave, child care, breastfeeding and so on, however, this post does not deal with those.Instead, this post is about how to succeed in grad school *and* having a baby for real. It simply deals with how to manage given all

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-15401015245744312112011-06-28T13:55:00.000-07:002011-06-28T13:57:57.784-07:00

Am I the only one being very unhappy with "Falling Skies"? It's the new TV series which takes place six months after an alien invasion the earth and follows the adventures of a rebellion group of humans. A former history professor and his sons are the main characters. The general setting is a great idea, yet the realisation horrible. It's like we're back in the eighties. Flannel-shirted children

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-26835705214845774292011-06-03T14:42:00.001-07:002011-06-03T14:42:35.294-07:00

I have done it again, and the consequences have never been thrown in my face as blatantly as tonight. I am staying in a smallish hotel tonight, for some work thing. When I booked the room over the phone a few days ago, I pondered saying the room's for Dr. Inacademia, but I quickly gave in to the modesty I've been socialised to express according to my gender, and meekly said: for Fia Inacademia,

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-66704856089257772802011-06-03T14:28:00.001-07:002011-06-03T14:28:35.697-07:00

I have elaborated twice now why I think that urging a student to "work harder" will not help making the student be more successful in hir academic pursuits. I however also do not know what else to do. I always assumed that people who want to do science are motivated internally. I also always assume that people give their very best, because I find it hard to believe that one would choose to do

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-75842215943702941252011-05-19T12:23:00.001-07:002011-05-20T14:21:14.655-07:00

This is part two of a series on one of my pet hates: the advise to "work harder" in academia. In my last post I assumed that most people really mean: "you are not progressing sufficiently to reach your/my goal in a timely manner". I have covered why "working harder" in academia (and likely in any other job that requires independent and creative thinking) is not the equivalent of working

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-25735129164090267132011-05-18T14:28:00.000-07:002011-05-18T15:02:28.231-07:00

I really, really dislike it when I hear somebody advising a student/advisee to "work harder". It's worst when I am the one being told. Although this rarely ever happened, I still feel like I want to yell every time I overhear some people on the hallway. I cringe. Specifically, if the work in focus is not some assembly-line type of data collection, but sometimes even then I wonder: What is the use

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-28596676738767970082011-05-18T14:04:00.001-07:002011-05-18T14:28:14.961-07:00

Anybody out there? After a six months hiatus I can proudly announce that I have considered blogging more regular again. Whether or not this will actually happen, I don't know. After all, with three kids and a career blogging about all this is not really my first priority. First thing I did was I changed the blog. It's not really about academia and me any longer, nor is it about me being female in

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-23968316782214381102011-01-20T11:50:00.001-08:002011-01-20T11:50:34.679-08:00

I am not in the mood for blogging, nor do I have the time, but if you want to read a really nice trio of posts about sexism in Hollywood movies, head over to: Women in Wetlands. These posts analyse James Camerons movies, with a focus on Avatar.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-31464459846340662532011-01-03T12:34:00.000-08:002011-01-03T12:34:13.581-08:00

I'm not big on new years resolutions, and, as I've done before, will rather focus on the future. I like to visualize what I want to achieve, and how to get there. Lets start with work and career, and then move slowly to home life: Currently, I am a lowly post-doc, although quite happy with my current project and general situation. My long-term goal is a tenured position. In 2011, I want to

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-37105676734550840212010-12-19T02:31:00.000-08:002010-12-19T02:31:09.778-08:00

If MasterCard, AmericanExpress and Paypal have the power to cut off any NGO from the money they own, shouldn't we be concerned about a Market monopoly here? Aren't three large companies who hold power over the financial markets like this and who seem to have either the same political ideas or (probably more likely) are easily influenced by a government a danger to the whole world? It is

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-74190797018967239062010-12-08T13:32:00.000-08:002010-12-08T13:32:04.297-08:00

I am guilty of sending my daughter to daycare although she vomited this morning. Our childcare centre has a policy that says if your child has been sick, or has a temperature, it should stay at home for 48 hours. She felt good afterward being sick, and claimed she wished to go. I know for a fact that >3 children at that centre have been vomiting (that means, have had the virus), and I am

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-47874995917205142202010-11-30T14:30:00.000-08:002010-12-02T02:47:37.469-08:00

I am a whimp, and this is another post on gender bullshit. Sigh. Isn't it only fodder for mansplainers? Haven't we had that before? Isn't it all blablabla sameoldsameold? Booring. I know. Even I at times think, oh, that again.  It is probably even more annoying for the person experiencing it *because* she's heard, read, written and seen it all before, discussed it dry and dead. And yet, it

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-26086530726914957722010-11-29T15:02:00.000-08:002010-11-30T15:03:24.311-08:00

EngineeringDegree.net Cool. Does that mean people actually read this blog?

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-33608253205252076052010-11-29T10:58:00.000-08:002010-11-29T10:58:46.559-08:00

One of my students approached me the other day with an, as she put it "important question". I expected her to ask something about her approach, the technique she used or the data she analysed. I was wrong. She asked me how we justify what we do when writing a grant proposal. She said, "Well, when it is all about cancer research, climate change or the extinction of species, it is clear to me how

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-88854616310007729202010-11-12T14:37:00.000-08:002010-12-18T05:28:45.587-08:00

Today, at work I was reminded of a commonly assumed misconception, one that is, in my opinion, central to several gender biases. Central in a way as it illustrates that gender discrimination works not only against women, but also against men, and often, against both at the same time.Someone asked me why I am back at work so soon after my last child’s birth already, and whether my child wouldn’t

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-57153907590990303782010-09-13T15:17:00.000-07:002010-09-13T15:17:22.545-07:00

True Blood is by far the best TV series since Mc Guyver. I'm not big on all the blood and gruesome events, but this series takes the Tarantino-esque nineties to a new, more artsy level. I acknowledge that Eric Northman may affect my judgement a tiny bit. Maybe.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-22698865449416782002010-09-10T11:54:00.000-07:002010-09-10T11:57:49.696-07:00

I was asked by a reader to review a book, - and since I don't have much to blog about lately I thought it would be a nice thing to do. The very nice thing about this request is that the books (they actually send me three) are for children! And about science! I'm always in for such a deal and agreed! So a couple days later, three nice looking books arrived and offspring #1 and #2 happily tore the

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-40548101938407661342010-08-09T11:57:00.000-07:002010-08-09T15:38:12.460-07:00

Disclaimer: all you prudes out there, beware of traffic-generating words! We've been hiking this saturday, and done quite some kilometers given we had a three little kids with us. Fig. 1: Fia and family on a hike. Just imagine a forest for a background. And three children. And no pram. But everything else was like our hike. Fig.2: To be honest, this picture resembles our hike more realistically

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-67295240212143032852010-08-05T15:20:00.000-07:002010-08-05T15:47:19.200-07:00

This is a nice article, linked by SM. It shows that the men caring for children, and work-life balance are out there. And they are scientists. My best guess is, the reason why we hear so little about those men in the blogosphere is that they might not be (yet) as good at balancing work and life as we women are and sacrifice blogging time for family time. Hehe.No, seriously.There has been quite

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-27656700088694103732010-05-25T03:56:00.000-07:002010-05-25T04:35:41.579-07:00

The simple fact that I find it hard to write about celebrating myself tells me that something is seriously wrong. So this blog post is about ranting about why I find it hard to celebrate my successes, and then, I want to make a point of celebrating, and listing, my success so far, in order to get used to doing it without feeling like I'm bragging. A couple of days ago, Candid engineer had a post

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-36598699556546788742010-05-14T06:39:00.000-07:002010-05-14T06:47:14.574-07:00

I know this video is all around the interwebz, and while it's nowhere novel, it's fitting.Because now I'm officially: postdoc-plus-three (read: lunatic who stubbornly thinks she can whoop an academic career *and* have three little ones).Should I change the title of this blog?For those interested, we're still sleeping sufficiently. However, this can change fast. I keep my fingers crossed.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-40471598541845054552010-04-10T13:24:00.000-07:002010-04-10T13:26:55.159-07:00

I've been thinking about my pseudononymity lately, and about how anonymous my blog really is. I think that there may not be very many female post-docs out there with three kids, and for someone who knows me and who stumbles upon this blog it should be easy-peasy to count two and two together.I thought about closing this one, and starting another blog. I also thought about stopping to blog at all

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-77998658836317682542010-04-03T12:32:00.000-07:002010-08-09T12:00:10.225-07:00

Today, I will reveal a secret, which, at the same time, is my deepest fear. It's a sort of impostor complex. It is a secret, because every time I've revealed it to somebody, that knowledge usually causes people to not like me any longer. I hope the blogosphere will be kinder to me. Not that many still read my irregular posts. You see, people keep on commenting on how well we cope with two

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-13996327874901783872010-04-02T10:34:00.000-07:002010-04-02T10:45:30.289-07:00

Another recipe, - and again italian, it's my ancestral roots calling. I can't help it.I promise, once #3 is hatched, I'll blog more about science again. Right now, work-life balance tips over to life. Ahhh... the satisfaction of good food.Well, today, in anticipation of a couple free days, I serve you: Panna Cotta. The real thing. As in, traditional, no gelatine, much taste. The best is, it's

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-48766910186743737792010-03-24T16:19:00.000-07:002010-03-24T16:58:45.889-07:00

Science can be a very tough career choice with respect to many things, but one thing I find especially tiring is that by default, gratification is rare.One works very hard but never hears a "well done", and even if one achieves to publish a paper this is usually accompanied by "major revisions" - critical comments from peers. So, even if ones work is considered good enough to be published, - it

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-13960348537180653272010-02-21T13:23:00.000-08:002010-02-21T13:43:59.310-08:00

Ah, I haven't been a good blogger recently, but then again, I think somebody who blogs on her own experience of how to manage a family life and an academic (pre-) career shouldn't feel the need to justify blog-silence. I mean, really - time management is all about setting priorities, and my current priorities did not allow much time for blogging.Today, I want to join in the virtual baby-shower

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-59424740507012872752009-12-27T06:06:00.000-08:002009-12-27T06:32:53.838-08:00

Thanks to long closure times of our daycare we're taking quite some days off this time of year. Which allows us to enjoy our kids and for a short time forget about work. Although I am frequently thinking about my projects & manuscripts, - sometimes I wonder whether such "time off" doesn't actually make my work better because I use the time to think about it in much more detail than would be

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-3756037864099530302009-12-22T11:54:00.000-08:002009-12-22T12:16:08.696-08:00

or how to make two hungry scientists and two tired children happyI realise that good food makes me happy. But, in the stressed life of a scientist between bench, laptop, daycare and home there is not much time left for cooking, not to mention grocery shopping.Still, I do not want to give up good, home-made food. It makes me happy, relaxes me and is of major importance for me in my work-life

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-26777919872692329592009-12-19T11:41:00.000-08:002009-12-19T12:15:20.492-08:00

Last year around this time, I wrote that I do not like to make a review of the last year, because nothing much happened in 2008. Instead, I made two lists, one unrealistic one, on what I wished for 2009, and one of realistic things I wished for.This time it is different. A * lot * happened in 2009. And I feel it would be worthwhile to go back to said lists to see what I accomplished:

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-9121480004301805902009-12-16T16:01:00.000-08:002009-12-16T16:02:31.631-08:00

I know I am not a regular any longer, - the reasons are at the moment unbloggable. Still, a random bullet point list:* I think I am experiencing micro- sexism from a guy I have to deal with work wise. Lucky me it's not a colleague or someone important. It's annoying nonetheless and I am not sure what is the proper way to deal with it.* offspring develops insanely fast. #1 writes and starts

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-55487500406733936892009-11-01T10:50:00.000-08:002009-11-01T10:56:21.563-08:00

In today's Observer, Gaby Hinsliff, Political Editor of the Observer, has a feature titled "I had it all, but I didn't have a life", in which she describes her busy life as a journalist and mother, and how she decided to resign because she wants to spend more time with her toddler. While she surely has put a lot of thought into this difficult decision, which apparently was not easy to make for

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-90118837940810581392009-10-29T14:25:00.000-07:002009-10-29T14:30:34.594-07:00

Ah, - my blog. It still exists, while I ignored it what, how long? Six weeks! That's nearly exactly how long about that live-changing event that is looming on us. But more on this later. For now, I simply want to share this:Fig. 1: I had to laugh out loud when I saw this. Found on graphjam.I especially like the "cooking it".

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-14863692033364400222009-09-18T12:44:00.000-07:002009-09-18T13:07:04.680-07:00

We have a monthly movie-night-out in our lab, where everybody can go to. It started this semester. I told the organizer that I'd come tonight, but that I wasn't sure since my son had a bit of a temperature. Her reaction was: "Oh, you have kids? It's too bad, this month we're watching a movie in which no children occur, maybe next month will be more interesting for you!"...speechless...This has

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-1077391205999021502009-08-19T13:00:00.001-07:002009-08-19T13:09:23.330-07:00

I love Italian food. Did I mention this before?Well, this is a very nice dish, and the fact that it is called (or, some assume so) "Spaghetti the way whores made them", makes it so much more attractive. Wikipedia teaches me that this may or may not be true, - and until this is settled, I like to call it "spaghetti alla buona scienziata" and I hope that either, none of my dear readers is Italiana

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-9252366736311098742009-08-15T08:55:00.001-07:002009-08-15T08:57:56.542-07:00

An ugly phrase. Work-life balance sounds like ones life is set apart from ones work. This is one thing that for sure is not true when working in academia.Work is omnipresent in my life and thoughts. I have trouble to shut it out. We've been away for a while (ahhh. Summer), - and I could not stop thinking about the science I am doing. I think about what analyzes I want to do, what new data I could

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-77957273430155856982009-08-15T08:34:00.001-07:002009-08-15T08:34:08.297-07:00

Every move brings a number of duties with it like canceling and setting up new contracts for various things, - power, heating, water, broadband, daycare ect. I am very thankful for the fact that most of these thingies can now be arranged online, or at least, by phone, which saves a lot of time. To apply for anything, I usually have to fill in a questionaire with personal and financial details.I

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-31879337500083502882009-07-28T12:28:00.001-07:002009-07-28T12:28:54.936-07:00

This is the best summary of how I feel when I try to make data speak science. But it is also why I love it.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-69447095290774445432009-07-26T05:53:00.001-07:002009-07-26T05:53:51.031-07:00

A book meme - seen over at Chall's! I join in uninvited, but excited. List the fifteen books that you can think of in fifteen minutes that had the most profound impact on you. This is a great meme for a book lover!However, it is also difficult because the "most profound impact" differs by age. I am sure there have been great books that made a very profound impact on my when I was five years old.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-37263784066874654422009-07-07T16:38:00.001-07:002009-07-07T16:38:26.516-07:00

Patchi published this month Scientiae Carnival (it's really good! go read it!), and while reading it I realized that my contribution came over rather low-key, - me being never satisfied with what I achieved. "However, she [Fia] never seems to measure up to her own standards." I sometimes tend to do that, but I don't like it when I downgrade myself. I need to remind myself regularly that I rock. I

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-51653767223550508872009-07-07T16:25:00.001-07:002009-07-07T16:25:29.245-07:00

Having a mentor is apparently one of the key things to succeed as an aspiring scientist. But what makes a good mentor? By definition, aspiring scientists with a good mentor should be more likely to succeed than without. But what it is exactly that does this?For most PhD students and post-docs, the PI is the primary mentor, and although having somebody out of the departement would be preferential,

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-44702266873968139412009-06-29T15:40:00.000-07:002009-06-29T16:03:00.216-07:00

I wanted to write something about myself, who I am. Or, more precise, who I think I am. Turns out, I have no clue, really. Am I a scientist? The header of this blog still says "wanna-be" scientist, although its stricken through.Fig. 1: Will I ever be a real scientist who doesn't blow up the lab every week?Does a title change the feeling? Well, not really. It's less stressful. But it still feels

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-2951559930716262802009-06-28T13:51:00.000-07:002009-06-28T14:04:23.236-07:00

What I wanted from 2009 and what I got until now, and what I will never have. A short assessment of this years.* got a job, got daycare* we have great takeaways within walking distance from our new house* got a swimming pool and sauna in walking distance (although they close are a tad bit too early for me)* can (and do!) bike to work, day care and vital grocers* got herbs in the garden (they do

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-3527072595196793992009-06-26T13:25:00.001-07:002009-06-26T13:25:10.084-07:00

The funny thing is, once the most important thing is off the list (or got less pressing), life feels much, much better. I did ask the editor of MS1 for an extension, and got it granted. And it is weekend now.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-2287022964761659552009-06-25T15:10:00.001-07:002009-06-25T15:15:36.375-07:00

I don't know why but right now I feel overwhelmed with work. I still like it, but what I need now is a list to break the gamut down in little pieces so it stops being so impressive. ToDo* revise MS 1 - need to be resubmitted by middle of next week (with one co-author on holiday, that is)* send revised MS 2 to other co-authors and submit* think about where to newly submit rejected MS 3, and how to

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-25234986468625714332009-06-20T13:34:00.001-07:002009-06-20T13:35:44.026-07:00

Get Your Cyborg NameGaaa. Every now and then I like to be a tad bit of a nerd.Seen over at Isis's and DrugMonkey.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-18636483206877786942009-06-17T13:51:00.000-07:002009-06-17T14:05:04.799-07:00

I have this friend whom I know already for a long time. She is a very nice person. She has a lot of bad luck. It is a bit scary, bad lucks really follows her. We have only sporadic contact, just the way it is with the people you know since primary school. But, every time again, when we talk, and she tells me about her life (which is often when life has been rather cruel to her) I am struck by how

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-84474232309823634862009-06-14T10:15:00.001-07:002009-06-14T10:25:57.052-07:00

Who ever comes up with the ideas for the Phd comics is so, so right once again. Just look at this:Now, insert to this diagram two pregnancies, two periods where babies spit on your shirts non-stop and two periods where they are a bit older and remover their snot on your shirts. People here in post-doc lab must think I am from the stone age. I try, I desperately do, but my closet doesn't hold that

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-40809138002692795902009-05-15T02:26:00.001-07:002009-05-15T02:26:08.703-07:00

it is. And it will be like this for a while, mainly because our housing situation (and with it our internet connection) is still unclear. I am still living above that Chinese restaurant but there is hope on the horizon. Other than that, the new job, colleagues and PI seem nice.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-75324968655882977242009-04-29T11:41:00.001-07:002009-04-29T11:53:27.860-07:00

I'm in transition from now onwards.You may or may not hear from me in the meantime.Fig. 1: My grad-school larvae in a pupae.Afterwards, I'll be emerging as a beautiful butterfly.Fig. 2: Fia, the rock-star scientist reborn after graduation.A more realistic outlook is this one: I may be more likely a third instar larvae.Fig. 3: Fia as a Post-doc, with some graduate students around.A Post-doc.You'll

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-963552223242607452009-04-29T08:00:00.001-07:002009-04-29T08:01:42.795-07:00

Ah, all the free time after thesis completion that I can use to blog memes.The items that apply to me are BOLD1. Father went to college2. Father finished college3. Mother went to college4. Mother finished college5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home8. Had more

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-57593406727917059092009-04-27T08:02:00.001-07:002009-04-27T08:05:03.401-07:00

I finally finished my thesis, but I do not feel any relief. I tried drinking, partying, having good food for celebration, but nothing works. I simply feel empty. Funny, how this is. I was eagerly expecting this moment for the last four years, but now... pffff.Fig. 1: This is how I feel about my thesis.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-7592960651461851192009-04-23T12:09:00.001-07:002009-04-23T12:39:36.509-07:00

Zuska has a post up that reminds us again that some gender-related conventions are still stuck in many minds. On another matter, but reflecting the same, FemaleScienceProfessor, a highly respected blogger and role model, writes today that "being talked over and interrupted is a much more common problem for my women colleagues and me than it is for my male colleagues".Alike, I can't help but

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-49622403883080695952009-04-21T13:37:00.001-07:002009-04-21T13:37:52.758-07:00

A white t-shirt and a bra with a Looney Tunes character up front. Just don't.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-82674283304588156952009-04-19T00:52:00.001-07:002009-04-19T00:53:50.329-07:00

I haven't done much blogging lately, - I was busy with other things. Is there any good and fast way to proof-read >50 000 words in one go?I first make a .pdf out of it, because I find those easier to read on screen. And the rest is *boredom*.

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-54059300896969723942009-03-31T12:54:00.001-07:002009-03-31T12:54:22.653-07:00

Now we're relocating, we're hunting for housing in New City in New Country. The thought of moving to a new country, to live in a to me yet unknown culture, make me feel excited. Still, relocating a four-headed family is not an easy task.But, the web 2.0 is full of great tools that one can make use of. We search for houses on real estate websites, type the location in on google maps and check out

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-34818328773187459822009-03-30T05:39:00.001-07:002009-03-30T05:54:05.107-07:00

My partner and me chose to be parents and to do science nearly four years ago, and it is certainly not an impossible combination. However, it is a choice we made, and this choice comes with consequences for our finances, hobbies, social and personal lives.Some people choose for exotic holidays, or extreme sports, and some other people again choose for science only. We choose for a family.My

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-59366111345701629632009-03-21T01:54:00.001-07:002009-03-31T12:54:34.307-07:00

Using dirty words I must. I had a chat with our secretary, and, for the third time now, she slipped me that she cannot imagine going back to work right away after having a baby. She stopped working back then, when she had her kids. I asked her polite about whether and what she was working back then, implying that maybe if one has a less self-identifying job, the priorities might be different. She

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-71648360529038895382009-03-20T12:54:00.001-07:002009-03-20T12:54:14.207-07:00

A pre-post: This  is not exclusively true for being foreign, being from far away in the same nation for sure can also lead to similar patterns. When we left our home for an academic future in another country, we also left our friends and social circle. The first few years, friends came visiting on a regular basis, and we visited them back as we could. But, on visits back to my home town, where my

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-47638039350163497162009-03-19T12:37:00.001-07:002009-03-19T12:37:12.559-07:00

the end is here.59 785 wordsHuzzah. - For more of the funniest videos, click here

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-85864177547881169662009-03-17T14:43:00.001-07:002009-03-17T14:50:40.774-07:00

It is amazing how ignorant people can be. The other day, I had a discussion with two male colleagues at work. It was about how women often have low self-esteem and often seem to be unable to make strong, positive statements about themselves.I mentioned that the root of such may be that women are still not equally treated as men by society, be it as little girls or with respect to scientific

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-30189390175860144322009-03-15T05:43:00.001-07:002009-03-15T05:57:20.526-07:00

A few posts on other blogs inspired me to think about what it is like to live in a foreign country. Most people will only know the side where a person born in a country is observing the foreigners coming there. I used to be like this, and I don't believe one can get a good idea about what it is like to actually relocate to a foreign country, if one hasn't done that. This is Part I, because I have

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-77864544485471445392009-02-06T08:13:00.000-08:002009-02-06T08:40:32.557-08:00

Has anybody read this?OMG! Imagine collecting data on expensive field trips for three years, data that is supposed to be of major importance for your thesis, only to have the cleaning team incinerate it? And the university offering you sad 500 £? For all you did in your scientific life?This must be the worst case scenario.How much do you think is your data worth?Although, the article says he did

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-60068323608419503392009-02-02T11:20:00.000-08:002009-02-05T01:34:49.661-08:00

Sorry for the explicate language, but I need to vent.So I am currently writing the summary for my thesis. It should be a nice feeling, and I should be happy that everything will be over soon, but it is not. It rather feels horrible and makes me unhappy. Writing a thesis is much like giving birth. Especially when you're nearly finished.I am nearly finished with my thesis. But only nearly.Like,

Fiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021925968809125246noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-41417020362041896442009-01-26T11:36:00.000-08:002009-01-26T11:55:13.519-08:00

I haven't been posting more than once a week lately and that has a reason. I am actually nearly finished with my thesis. While that is nice, I still have gotten no invitation for a job interview.I asked a friend of mine who managed to secure a 4-year (!) post-doc in the very same city where she did her PhD *and* her partner works. On top of this all, the new position was in a completely different

Julianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-79726675652814901962009-01-21T02:45:00.000-08:002009-01-21T07:18:19.096-08:00

So there has been yet another article on female sexual activities*.I find those regularly annoying, because a) they are mainly written by men, barely ever by women; b) most of these article try to find some sexual selection in human societies, which is, in my opinion, not possible unless one has a sample that covers several, very different cultures; and c) although this is a bit unfair, I cannot

Julianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-29042877550706087652009-01-14T04:12:00.000-08:002009-01-14T12:45:00.449-08:00

I've been applying for several post-doc positions lately. There was also some great advice on how to choose a post-doc position by CPP over at Isis website.However, I would most likely prefer to apply for my own funding, because I have several brilliant ideas, and I do think that doing my own project would do my career very well.Therefore, I also surfed web-sites of several governmental funding

Julianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-8825522952568967342009-01-04T05:40:00.000-08:002009-01-04T05:49:44.256-08:00

People use blogs to communicate ideas, opinions, experiences and to tell stories. Such stories are not always 100% true. However, the following is actually 100% true. And, if any of you are underage beware, you may learn something here on birth control, preservatives and how to  use them. So in case your parents or any other bizarre state of mind forbids you to learn about this, don't read on,

Julianoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-56796444571252041892009-01-01T02:33:00.000-08:002009-01-01T02:42:52.606-08:00

A lot of people make reviews of the last year. I won't. For one, I rather look forward than backward, and for two, not much happened las year in my life. It was mostly writing up my stuff and enjoying my children. I also don't think much of resolutions. I am not good at resolutions. They are so tempting. I usually don't stick to them just out of rebellion. I rather think about what needs to be

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-56415202684898101092008-12-28T03:31:00.000-08:002008-12-28T03:49:00.484-08:00

Just because I am not working right now and I love memes. Although this one is a bit funny to answer as a European at times.Bold what you've done. . .1. Started my own blog2. Slept under the stars3. Played in a band. 4. Visited Hawaii5. Watched a meteor shower6. Given more than I can afford to charity7. Been to Disneyland/world8. Climbed a mountain - I like the high ones9. Held a praying mantis10

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-75479814884385551072008-12-28T02:39:00.001-08:002008-12-28T02:48:30.104-08:00

Never, ever try changing your internet provider. They tell us it is impossible to get a line at our place, because there is none. Not that we already had a line before...Six weeks and still we don't have internet at home. It is not that bad, though. At first, yes, but lately I got used to not having internet at home. I've been not reading blogs ever since, and seeing the sheer amount of what I've

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-67258765096743800592008-11-18T12:47:00.000-08:002008-12-27T10:45:02.562-08:00

I got tagged by EcoGeoFemme, and as I tend to be extrovert (which is difficult when blogging), I am happy to answer these questions. Thus Things I was doing 10 years ago1. wondering about going to do a study project in the tropical rainforest on continent A2. passing chemistry exams3. canoeing in scandinavian country4. discovering the joys of redwine5. starting to make plans on what I want to do

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-48826743081598580452008-11-05T13:43:00.000-08:002008-11-05T13:48:22.139-08:00

When I was a little girl, I was very fond of fossils, paleontology and, of course, dinosaurs. My parents took me to our local natural history museum often (it used to be free of charge) and I loved it, especially once they started having original size replica of extinct animals.Apart from the dinosaurs, I was also amazed by large mammals of the Pleistocene, like the mastodon, the mammoth, the

Julianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-4762355409229099732008-11-04T01:26:00.000-08:002008-11-04T11:48:03.991-08:00

Up to now I submitted four manuscripts as a first author and one as a second author. Only one of these manuscripts received harsh and unfair critics (and then also only from one reviewer), all others were very nice and friendly. Was I just lucky? From what I read in other blogs, and from my colleagues, I sort of expected more mean reviews. My score up to now:#1) rejected (likely because of my

Julianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-21999030860192147242008-10-31T15:48:00.000-07:002008-10-31T14:37:28.530-07:00

In this post, I am writing for this month scientiae-carnival, hosted by Jane. I've never done such a thing before and it is exciting. Also, writing about the disadvantages and the benefits of working in science (this is how I interpret this month scientiae), will be a good exercise for me at this moment. This is because I've been much off the track lately and even seriously considered leaving

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-47039450364574579302008-10-31T13:55:00.000-07:002008-10-31T14:27:24.662-07:00

I got tagged by ACMEGIRL (whose blog I actually enjoy reading a lot), for the Halloween meme. My little critter are too little to carve anything, but instead I had a good friend over, we had some spiced wine and we had a great evening. And we created this:Kidding! Haha. My partner found that one on Slashdot (yes, he may be a wee bit nerdy) and send it to us. a friend mentioned that it looks like

Julianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-46217275091336724792008-10-28T14:24:00.000-07:002008-10-28T15:00:14.611-07:00

Oh, I've been away for a few days, and meanwhile I got tagged, and even twice! Now, I'll start with this one from RiverTam. I am supposed to write six random things about me. As if I am not extroverted enough to get paranoid every now and then and wonder whether my blog isn't as anonymous as I would like it to be. Well. So here are the rules: • Link to the person who tagged you. • Write six

Julianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-13245543601337125952008-10-18T12:31:00.000-07:002008-10-18T12:33:57.647-07:00

I've been thinking a bit about Zuska's post about grants for female scientists with children. Sure, these grants are useful, and if I would fulfill the requirements I would have already applied. But Zuska is right when she says that they are only band aids. Band aids that hide the real problem. I don't think the problem is that women with a family and a career are not accepted in the public. I

Julianoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-11584245663804151782008-10-17T12:10:00.000-07:002008-10-17T12:13:42.732-07:00

Well, I did get back on the track and started writing (although the flow isn't back yet). However, it doesn't progress as fast as I'd like it to be. The thing is, I am not good in finishing things up. I never liked picking the last cherries from the tree, cleaning the last corner of the house, writing the last sentences of a paper, checking the literature list, ect. I am just getting so impatient

Julianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-65356370713587245772008-10-15T15:02:00.001-07:002008-10-15T15:18:55.129-07:00

to my house, to chat with me about science, animals, statistics, politics, geeky topics, food, kids or the bad manners of others (read: to bitch), you'd be treated with unlimited amounts of this:Figure 1: A perfect latte macchiato á la Fia. Note the perfect layering. Please also note that with this figure caption I am imitating Isis the Goddess and the late Professor Chaos. This is not meant

Julianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-3848164584265205762008-09-30T12:50:00.000-07:002008-09-30T12:51:46.107-07:00

This post was inspired by a post of Happy Scientist. Her post reminded me of a discussion me and my partner had years ago with a close friend of us. It is very difficult to asses the value of a living species, and the image of an extinct species deeply moves most (if not all) Ecologists. However, in comparison, what is the value of our own, human cultural history? We may be animals in many

Julianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-91289332039349211102008-09-26T07:18:00.000-07:002008-09-26T07:19:53.242-07:00

The afternoon of this meeting was different. Instead of learning abstractly about networking, we learned about communication techniques, about the dos and don't of networking and how to maintain a network. It was very interesting, because some things I actually knew before but never considered when interacting with work-related people. The most impressive lesson for sure was a round we did.

Julianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-29738653382058255662008-09-25T02:26:00.000-07:002008-09-25T02:34:16.930-07:00

This is what I wrote down during the training.I learned a few things during the morning of this training already. For one, doing a PhD in a foreign country leads to a less diverse social circle within that new country: nearly all my friends are also my colleagues now. My network is very dense in this country but at the same time very concentrated. However, in contrast to other people I have a

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-10584507417514180392008-09-24T12:18:00.000-07:002008-09-24T12:27:38.936-07:00

I am going by train to my coaching-personal skills class (posts on this will follow soon - and fast) and am writing this in the train. My partner got this   for his birthday this summer and he lend it to me for this trip. It's battery is supposed to hold >4h, let's see whether it's true.What I wanted to blog about is that lately, I had not much to blog about. It occurred to me that this might

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-37387100084206114972008-09-22T11:49:00.000-07:002008-09-22T11:54:45.081-07:00

I didn't blog for a while because I had to meet a deadline, and having a flu didn't help much. However, I made the deadline, - I am very particular about timing and being late and have high standards for myself.My partner thinks that it would help a lot if I'd relax a bit on such issues. I nonetheless can't help myself but being uptight about it, -maybe I am anal but I do find that being in time

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-50910774847366959962008-09-14T14:26:00.000-07:002008-09-14T14:31:02.137-07:00

I've have a wonderful weekend, spend most of it with the kids and in the kitchen happily cooking and baking. I decided I'd be less panicky about my thesis and rather work concentrated on submitting papers. Does anybody give a shit for the date I promote? Whether it's January or March or May? The answer is: No!But: my publication list matters. So I decided I'd rather have fewer, but published (or,

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-72424547243277563792008-09-11T01:34:00.000-07:002008-09-11T01:36:38.361-07:00

Yesterday, I woke up with a cold. And, not a cold with which one could work, but a cold that hangs out in the head, making me feel blurry and not being able to think straight. Mushy brains and all.As you might have understood from my previous post, I hate nothing more than delays or changes of nicely made plans (if avoidable). Argh. I like me being productive, and when I am not, I get

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-78566496249762399162008-09-04T14:43:00.000-07:002008-09-04T14:58:13.632-07:00

I just had a look at the photos I took last weekends when my partner, me and the kids were hanging out in our wonderful garden. After spending now four years in this (to us both, foreign) country, we finally found a really nice and affordable place to live. The kids love to have space and I am convinced this is one reason why our youngest is so agile - the space we have. The summer was great, we

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-75302761789184703162008-09-01T11:48:00.000-07:002008-09-01T11:49:11.613-07:00

Something I've been thinking about recently is the money flow in science. As far as I am informed, right now second- and third-way money flow are getting more and more important for researchers to conduct science. This is done to a large part to enhance competition and ensure quality: researchers have to write proposals which undergo a thorough quality check before granted.However, one of the

Julianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-34410877667379906452008-08-31T14:07:00.001-07:002008-09-04T14:59:09.510-07:00

I guess one should stick to a style. Well, I couldn't decide. I hope I'll stick to this one. It looks more labby than the old one. More, umm, scientific.

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-5425950188789951062008-08-31T04:12:00.000-07:002008-08-31T04:18:05.345-07:00

This is something I wanted to write for a few weeks, but never found the time. So I was at this huge conference. You must know, every time I've been to a conference first thing that happened is that I felt sociophobic, like I really don't want to see, meet or talk to anybody at all. That feeling usually increases when I go and listen to the first oral papers: I feel an urge to go back to my hotel

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-73496665797816012722008-08-28T12:39:00.001-07:002008-08-28T12:39:47.607-07:00

What I did the last week (and that is why I didn't blog, shame on me) was working on a discussion. I actually had the paper written up nicely, but I got bold and decided i want to submit it a bit higher (instead of the Journal of Apples it shall now go to the Journal of Fruits), which included a thorough revision of introduction and discussion. Now, discussion. I tend to be a bit fast and jump

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-6593567139580327472008-08-21T05:07:00.000-07:002008-08-21T05:11:59.738-07:00

Did I already write about that I got myself a marvelous new laptop? I even bought a hardcase shell for it, so my beloved little critters can't scratch it like they did with the previous one.I am very, very happy with this laptop, and guess what:I just spilled coffee on the keyboard.ARGHHNeed to work more at desk and less on sofa.

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-87051257349206021442008-08-20T07:42:00.000-07:002008-08-20T07:46:14.292-07:00

As you might have guessed, I spend much time the last days listening to oral presentations. I like to do that and, if I can bring up the courage, I ask a question. I more often think of questions and rather not ask them, - less because I am a whimp but more because I think it is more a destructive question. Guess what happens most of the times: someone else poses exactly that question to the

Julianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-71185055681605105992008-08-18T13:26:00.000-07:002008-08-18T13:27:56.047-07:00

I have been attending this huge and important conference. And, I made a list: every 2.8th speaker of the sessions I attended went in overtime and not only half or a full minute, but more like using up all time for discussion and not being able to finish. I mean, don't these people ever try and time their speak? I find it very annoying when I sit there and wait for results being presented that

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-30173983549584117042008-08-18T03:46:00.000-07:002008-08-31T04:48:17.686-07:00

I've not been tagged, but as I am so much into good food, I couldn't resist.Rules: bold: done that, italics:tried that, didn't like, this color: want to try it.  1. Venison2. Nettle tea3. Huevos rancheros4. Steak tartare5. Crocodile6. Black pudding love it with mashed potatoes7. Cheese fondue8. Carp caught it myself!9. Borscht10. Baba ghanoush 11. Calamari12. Pho an all time favorite of mine13.

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-52590189805988273742008-08-17T10:49:00.000-07:002008-08-18T04:29:32.666-07:00

So how do rock-star scientists manage to travel 9 timezones and be present, clear, awake and friendly on the very same day or the day after? How do they manage to discuss science? And what do they use to give an impressive presentation while having considerable jet-lag?Me cannot do. Not even think science when jet-lagged. My brain's a mush. Will sleep soon.

Julianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-90898446850288417882008-08-06T11:53:00.000-07:002008-08-06T11:55:14.047-07:00

I will be away for a while. Even though I don't have a huge crowd reading this I just want to reassure the small crowd that I did not quit writing.

Julianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334219205487334420.post-74782526907210236162008-08-02T14:15:00.000-07:002008-08-02T14:17:03.791-07:00

Gender differences get discussed a lot. However, on of the most pressing questions in this topic is how much of differences between female and male humans are innate or due to socialization by society/history. To find out more about the roots of different behavior, it is often worthwhile to look at behavior in early childhood, assuming that young children are to some degree 'naive' - not exposed

Julianoreply@blogger.com0