In case you’ve ever looked at that short description of my blog – yes, up there, right below the title – you may have wondered what exactly this is about.
Well.
On the surface
I am writing about science from a different angle, hoping to give some unique – or at least infrequently portrayed – perspectives on the scientific process.
In the dark, unmentionable abyss of my semi-consciousness
I really just do this because of a deep feeling of underappreciation. Why?
For years now, I’ve worked hard in science support to get PIs organized who knew what science they were after, but hadn’t really spent much thought on how (and sometimes even where) to get the samples they needed, what to take those samples with, and how to process them/store them/ship them back safely to their home laboratory. And now, in science publishing, I’m assisting from the other end, (sometimes desperately) trying to help some people to clearly express in writing what the hell it is they did with those samples. Not to mention that some of the PIs were my lab mates who I’ve now supported in two types of jobs: logistical and planning support, and editing.
I’m not alone by any means, but most of us are just too drilled in good customer service polite to say anything that may come across as – well – whiny.
So don’t worry: we’re here to help…
Well, having been through your process, Steffi, I can highly recommend it. You and your team do a fantastic job at improving “clarity of expression” (you put it so tactfully!) of us “hapless drafters”.
Maxine, I did not even for a second think of you!!
I was thinking more of the author who recently told me that a particularly unintelligible part of their manuscript was ‘technical language’ and to leave it alone, and the PI who swore at me over his seat assignment for the flight back from to the US after a research cruise in the Antarctic (in my previous job – I might add that he’d sworn a lot that cruise and I had nothing to do with his seat assignment…). Just picking two random examples.
I was able to agree on the necessary changes with the authors of that manuscript, and the PI calmed down after I told him I’d come back after he stopped swearing.
Overall (of course!) I am very happy to help authors with their manuscripts, especially non-native English speakers (who I can relate to), many of whom are very appreciative of this, and I was always happy to see a project come together in my previous job.
I picked those examples from my own experience, but I have many, many others that involve good friends and immediate family. There are so many people involved in making a scientific endeavour of any kind successful, and it would be great if they could be more confident of their contributions.
I’ve been helping various people with their CVs recently. I suggested the phrase ‘maintaining operational awareness under enemy fire’ and then decided it wasn’t appropriate for a retail job.
Then again, maybe it was.
‘maintaining operational awareness under enemy fire’
That should be a standard phrase in any profession that involves some aspect of customer service.
Then you have those masochists who help people with their CVs and reading their English-language science manuscripts and grant applications as an aside from their original, unavailable job description, and still have not learned how to say the simple word “no” gracefully.
Believe me when I say that as soon as I become aware of/remember a person’s contribution to any scientific endeavor of mine, I am GRATEFUL.
Heather, this doesn’t apply to you then. I wish I could help you in any way, sounds like you have your hands more than full!!
Meanwhile, I’ll keep trying to organize a world-wide science support staff union.