Calling all science tourists! Inspired by the exotic research locales of two News Features last week, a Nature Network forum asks, “What did you do with your summer holiday?”
One feature treks to coastal Chile to record the return of jumbo squid, prized by neuroscientists for their giant nerve axons (Nature 454, 934–936; 2008). The other visits a remote volcanic island where scientists are studying a fragile ecosystem that is literally emerging out of the Indian Ocean (Nature 454, 930–932; 2008).
The author of this column enjoyed a brief sojourn at the northern Californian rock pools and beaches immortalized by John Steinbeck, observing the behaviour of the wild pelicans and elephant seals.
There are those for whom science is life, and a vacation is just an opportunity to do science elsewhere. What we really want to know is how you spent your summer holiday. Let us know your own science-related vacation experiences over at Nature Network. The more unusual the better: who knows, your tale might end up as the basis for a future Nature News Feature.
Nature 454, viii; 28 August 2008
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From the blogosphere
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Vacation stories -- 28 August 2008
- Date:
- Friday, 05 Sep tember 2008 - 16:51 UTC
Last updated: Friday, 05 Sep 2008 - 16:51 UTC
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Comments
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northern california rock pools? so sorry to miss you!
I don’t think I’d have noticed anyone, I was totally entranced! I re-read Cannery Row while I was there and it bought back to me so sharply why it was my favourite book as a child (even though I did not really understand it at the time, I responded to its message).
Cannery Row is my favourite book of all time; I must have read it 15 times. Have you read Log from the Sea of Cortez?
Cannery Row was one of my very favourite books when I was a child. I have read virtually all of Steinbeck, including I think Log from the Sea, but I am afraid that memory ain’t so good over 151 years. I think he was a bit uneven, but Cannery Row a total masterpiece. I was nervous about re-reading it after so many years but I was not disappointed, it is wonderful. There is a great preface in the edition I read (Penguin) by Susan someone, head of Steinbeck foundation, providing much context for the book.
The intro for Log was really interesting in that it describes the real-life friendship between Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts (Doc). I don’t know if you remember but there is an aside in Cannery Row about how Doc’s toilet leaked for years until “a handsome and clever guest fixed it with a piece of chewing gum”. I was delighted to read that said guest was actually Steinbeck. Little details like that made me enjoy Cannery Row even more than usual the next time I read it!
I love little gems like that, too. (One reason for my adoration of the Harry Potter books though the details are all fictional there, of course).
The preface by Susan X covered the friendship between Steinbeck and Ricketts, which was fascinating to read (and a bit sad in the end), but not that particular lovely detail. Thanks!