If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you probably noticed that I recently attended a science-y conference, since I spammed your feeds with hour-by-hour updates... sorry I'm not sorry! ;)
Being that I recently described what a technical conference can be like, now I want to share my notes from a workshop I went to while I was there, on what not to do in a scientific presentation, entitled 10 Design Mistakes that Ruin a PowerPoint Presentation presented by Ikumi Kayama. For more about her, and her business, click here! But first, how in the world did scientific presentations become so boring in the first place??
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Have you ever wondered where it is that scientists and engineers actually present the posters and PowerPoints they're working on all the time? If you're in a STEM field, you've probably heard people mention "conferences" or "technical meetings" and how important they are. But what's the big deal?
With all the different types and sizes, and all the different events and activities offered, these meetings can actually be pretty overwhelming or, at times, downright intimidating (even if you've already been to one or two!). Here are some thoughts on just what a science conference is in the first place, and what you can do before, during, and after the meeting to make the most of your time (and money). Add your advice in the comments! Vincent Kandagor, one of the first graduates of the Energy Science and Engineering program in the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Education at the University of Tennessee, opens up about his experiences as one of the "guinea pigs" in a new doctoral program 8,000 miles from home. Read about how he made the decision to pursue graduate school, what getting a doctoral degree has taught him about work-life balance, and his advice for future graduate students interested in the program. To wrap up Women's History Month and our women-in-science guest blogging series, I've invited two stellar students from the Bredesen Center PhD program in Energy Science and Engineering to share each of their unique experiences. First up, Melissa Allen has a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering, but started out with an undergrad degree in Music Education before making the switch to science! After working for a bit, she decided to come back to graduate school, and her current work includes global climate modeling and impacts of climate change on the electrical grid. Then, we'll hear from Maria Fernanda Campa; originally from Mexico, she studied Nanomedicine during her undergrad, and after working at Oak Ridge National Lab for a year, she decided grad school was the next step for her too! She is currently working on developing a project that will combine the fields of bioenergy and policy for a truly interdisciplinary research experience. After hearing from a post-doc in academia, an engineer in industry, and two graduate students, I hope this first women-in-science panel has offered a set of diverse experiences and advice. Let me know who you'd like to hear from next year! Our next guest blogger for Women's History Month comes to us with two Bachelor of Science degrees in Bioengineering and Exercise Science. She's currently working as a Comfort Engineer in product development for Ford Motor Company in Michigan. After excelling in her undergraduate program both in the classroom and in professional organizations (American Chemical Society, Women in STEM Excelling), Amber Hall is now blazing the way for all those girls interested in making a name in industry and engineering. In her spare time, she is constantly searching for adventure and knowledge, and also keeps a blog of her own. Check it out here! "If you're a 'minority in a STEM field', you've probably heard the aforementioned or something similar in your career. Naturally, you get defensive. While warranted, it's not necessarily the best choice...
Happy Pi Day everyone! It's also Albert Einstein's birthday today, so happy 135th Al!
Speaking of old guys in science, a friend of mine has a bone to pick with a few of them! Martine is currently a post-doc overseas and grew up there as well! I met her when she was completing some field work here in the states and I have looked up to her ever since. As a strong, independent woman in science, who rarely filters what's on her mind, I'm so thankful she agreed to share some of her experiences with us. Please feel free to leave questions for her in the comments section below! Happy International Women's Day!
Did anyone see this article making its way around social media lately? Eileen Pollack, a professor of creative writing at the University of Michigan with a degree in Physics from Yale University (I know, art and science together!), explored some possible reasons for why there are so few women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. While Eileen points out many clear concerns and possible explanations for the stark, and extremely problematic, gender inequality in the sciences, I feel like there's one more thing to point out. Happy holidays readers! Sorry for the hiatus! Next year I will have to plan to write posts before all of the winter festivities. I hope finals went well, and that your break was full of rest and relaxation! Did you make a New Year's resolution? Normally I don't get into all of that, but this year, I actually had something in mind. This first semester of graduate school went by so fast that I didn't even realize I hadn't read anything non-scientific since the summer! :( So that's my goal: read 12 non-sciencey books in 2014! Guess what's on the list already... can't wait to read this! Okay..that's still kinda sciencey, but you get the idea.
As many people do around this time of year, I too looked back at all that happened in 2013. The first half of the year was spent deciding on which graduate program to attend. The second half, my first semester as a PhD student. Calling everyone and anyone looking to enjoy some science in Knoxville in the next few months! Here are some upcoming events! 46th ACS Southeast Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC) |
Hello!Welcome to Think Like a Postdoc. If you're a fan of science as much as I am, and/or are curious about getting a degree in a STEM field, or pursuing an interdisciplinary graduate degree (all from the perspective of a graduate student), then you're in the right place. Think Like a Postdoc also includes posts about my current lab and field research, including analytical chemistry, Arctic biogeochemistry, and energy & environmental policy. Comments and questions are always welcomed. And please tell me what you want to hear about next! Top PostsQuestions to Ask Before Choosing Grad Program
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