• Leaving The Laboratory by Samuel Frankel

    How does one remain engaged in science after leaving traditional research behind? Science and technology, like scientists themselves, are increasingly leaving the laboratory. Me? I'm in Ghana as an Environment volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps. You?

    view profile

    • Introductions All Around

      Thursday, 13 Mar 2008 - 00:09 UTC

      Hello to the Nature Network,

      I’d like to introduce myself, I’m a new blogger and community member here on the Nature Network, currently located in Portland, Maine (two hours north of Massachussets and a different world altogether). I joined a few weeks ago after seeing the Nature web page at the AAAS meeting in Boston, and found the content worthwhile enough to keep coming back. I love the new media, particularly the podcasts and blogging community, as well as the core of the Nature mission, reporting scientific discovery. As someone who reads a fair number of blogs, and who had started taking a few brief forays into that direction myself , I jumped at the chance to host my own here.

      I am currently finishing a Biology M.S. degree at the University of Southern Maine, focusing on neurotoxicology. I am, to put it mildly, burned out on research for the time being. It’s been great, but I need to do something else for a while, and my attention has been consistently drawn toward projects that involve using science and technology for a more immediate redress of specific problems than laboratory research often allows. In addition to my graduate studies, I’ve been heavily involved in a science education fellowship program (the Maine ScienceCorps GK-12 program funded by NSF), as well as serving on the steering committee of the Portland League of Young Voters , a progressive activist group.

      I’m hoping to write something that appeals both to participants in the Nature Network, particularly those interested in the role of science and technology outside the laboratory, as well as any others who might drop by. In the process, I’m hoping to improve my own rhetorical and writing skills, so ethically I should warn you that this is in some sense an experiment with your responses as the dependent variable.

      Thanks again, and I hope that you’ll return.

      -Sam

      Last updated: Thursday, 13 Mar 2008 - 00:09 UTC

      • Comments

        • Date:
          Thursday, 13 Mar 2008 - 10:46 UTC
          Matt Brown said:

          Welcome to the Network, Sam! I look forward to reading your posts.

        • Date:
          Thursday, 13 Mar 2008 - 15:46 UTC
          Maxine Clarke said:

          Yes, indeed, welcome Sam.

        • Date:
          Thursday, 13 Mar 2008 - 15:59 UTC
          Henry Gee said:

          Dig the groovy headwear, Sam.

        • Date:
          Thursday, 13 Mar 2008 - 17:24 UTC
          Samuel Frankel said:

          Heh, thanks Henry

          (it was a rain poncho)

        • Date:
          Friday, 14 Mar 2008 - 05:18 UTC
          Nuruddeen Lewis said:

          Welcome to the network!

      • log in to add your comment
Search blogs
web feed Want a blog?

Submit this post to

Advertisement