Science blogger Bora Zivkovic
The editor of a new book, an anthology of science blogs, talks about how his blog saved his career in science.
Three years ago, Bora Zivkovic, a zoology graduate student at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, was in a tough spot. Burnt out by years in research and losing motivation as he was writing his thesis, he left the lab. Instead, he took up political activism, posting on campaign blogs during the run-up to the 2004 US presidential elections.
Soon he was blogging on his own about politics, education and science, and has since become a prolific science blogger. He's also at the centre of an emerging community; he co-organized the North Carolina Science Blogging Conference, which took place on 20 January on the campus of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with about 170 people in attendance. He has also edited an anthology of science blog posts, The Open Laboratory: The Best Writing on Science Blogs 2006, which came out last week.
Read the story here.
Comments
As a former graduate student from Bora's previous sister lab, I must say that it disappoints me that Nature highlights the career of someone who chose procrastination over scientific accomplishment. Blogging is no substitute for laboratory investigation. One should definitely consider the source when consulting information contained on these blogs. In this case, Nature has chosen to lend credibility where none exist.
Posted by: Chris Moore | January 24, 2007 05:31 PM
Science blogging may be perceived as a form of procrastination over scientific accomplishment, or it may be considered a way of disseminating information, discussing the scientific method and highlighting recent advances in science. One should consider the source when consulting any information in relation to science - journals, websites, blogs and textbooks are all valuable sources of information, the validity of which is down to the researcher to evaluate. Bora’s blog highlights many important aspects of science, science writing (which is more than just dissemination of results in journals), and science blogging, in general, opens up science to the public, enables scientists to engage in dialogue in different forums, reaching scientists in disciplines that were previously inaccessible and can positively influence people progressing through the early stages of a science career. The personal aspects of such blogs track the progress that all scientists make. Where else can we contemplate rewriting our papers and reinterpreting our results because we are more experienced, or have a different perspective – journals don’t allow it, so please don’t dismiss scientists as lacking credibility because they have taken it upon themselves to create a forum in which such things are possible.
Posted by: Propter Doc | January 24, 2007 07:28 PM
My blog is about stem cells, mitochondria and regenerative medicine (my research areas as a grad student) and spreading and popularize this type of knowledge. I am also writing on life extension possibilities based on regmed and biotech DIY.
With the help of my blog I can contact with other stem cell scientists, aging biologists, even professors, so it is definitely useful concerning my professional career. One disadvantage of heavy blogging that it is really time consuming (nights awoken), although there has not been any experiment of mine which was abandoned because of posting. Scientist bloggers must have to find the proper balance. The priority is crystal clear. So let's go back to my aticle draft. :)
Posted by: Attila Csordas | January 25, 2007 01:23 PM
As a former graduate student from Bora's previous sister lab, I must say that it disappoints me that Nature highlights the career of someone who chose procrastination over scientific accomplishment. Blogging is no substitute for laboratory investigation. One should definitely consider the source when consulting information contained on these blogs. In this case, Nature has chosen to lend credibility where none exist.
Sounds like sour grapes to me. Quite sad, really.
Posted by: A "Real" Scientist | January 25, 2007 10:52 PM
someone who chose procrastination over scientific accomplishment
Are you suggesting that effective scientific communication is not a scientific accomplishment? There are many career paths in science; the traditional slogging away in a research lab is not for everyone. I think Bora is to be congratulated on finding a path that works for him, rediscovering his enthusiasm and sharing it with others.
Now get back to your pipetting ;)
Posted by: Neil | November 8, 2007 01:45 AM
I am a big advocate of women being correctly informed on issues concerning their reproductive health and I can appreciate ASRM’s caution, but egg-freezing has been the standard of care in Italy since 2004! After doing extensive research about egg freezing, I have found that there have been over 500 babies born worldwide and of the ones that were followed-up, no increase in birth defects were seen.
Posted by: Epilasyon | November 9, 2007 05:39 AM
I am a big advocate of women being correctly informed on issues concerning their reproductive health and I can appreciate ASRM’s caution, but egg-freezing has been the standard of care in Italy since 2004! After doing extensive research about egg freezing, I have found that there have been over 500 babies born worldwide and of the ones that were followed-up, no increase in birth defects were seen.
Posted by: Lazer epilasyon | November 9, 2007 05:41 AM
Monica Metea of the company Wicab in Wisconsin displayed her company’s new balancing device BrainPort which has been through a pilot study of 17 patients, allowing them to stand, walk, dance without falling over.
Posted by: Sarki sözleri | November 10, 2007 11:00 AM