Blogs
Craig Rowell recently made the decision to quit the lab and take up a job as a product manager, touring laboratories to help scientists find the right tools for their work. He describes his move as the best decision he ever made, and gives heartening words for anyone considering their own au reviors to the bench.
I write this not just as a notice of what I have been up to but also as a note to all those who are struggling with the decision to leave the bench. If you have gotten to that point than it is likely time for you to move on, branch out, push in a new direction. The bench has a comfort to it, a safety that there is always another experiment, another piece of data to get. The problem is that there always will be. Letting go of the pipette (or whatever your tool of trade) is not easy, but it can be liberating. So, for those who are stuck I say – let it go.
Back to the practice of science, and several posts this week have tackled interesting areas of research. Wilson Pok discusses graphene, the ‘“thinnest known
material in the universe and the strongest ever measured’, introducing a new procedure for manufacturing thin films for use in touch-screen panel devices. Grrl Scientist, meanwhile, introduces a paper that offers a new method for encouraging discussion of science literature in the classroom. It reminds her of parrot pedagogy.
In other good posts, Andew Sun starts a discussion on the pros and cons of EndNote, Cath Ennis presents a series of scientific mnemonics and challenges readers to work them out, and Vishal Kalel continues to find the answers to all life’s mysteries inside the toilet cubicle.
Science Maps
Just a reminder that we’re looking for city maps showing scientific history and culture. We kicked things off a couple of weeks ago with this map of London. But do let us know if you’d like to put one together for your own city. We’ll be featuring all maps on Nature Network.
Hubs
Over in New York, there’s a pub night for scientists on 28 July. Everyone is welcome to the Klimat Bar and restaurant, where recruiters and science professionals will be on hand to discuss scientific career opportunities. Nature Network’s Lou Woodley will also be present, if you’d like to learn more about plans for the Network. A gathering of scientific twitterers will also take place in Cambridge UK (date to be decided, but vote here).
Q&A
Two question-and-answer sessions are taking place right now. Dr Julian Huppert, MP, the only practicing scientist in the House of Commons, is answering questions on the interplay between science and policy. Choose the ‘Ask an MP’ category to read his answers. We’ll publish a roundup of responses and an interview with him later this week. Also ongoing is a discussion about the roles of computers in research, courtesy of iSTGW magazine. To get a response from a computing expert, choose the ‘iSGTW debate’ category when asking a question.
If you’ve got any feedback on these events or suggestions for other guest experts you’d like us to consider inviting, please get in touch.
And Finally…
Congratulations to Jennifer Rohn, who just announced that her new novel The Honest Look will be out in the autumn.
