Happy November! It seems like we’re starting off on a high: between the elections and the Valkyries winning the WNBA finals, it’s nice to have news reels that contain some optimism.
Science is, indeed, political, because everything is. What happens on the political stage affects research funding and discoveries made, affects the care afforded to patients through Medicare coverage, affects public trust in scientific experts.
In that context, I really enjoyed reading this article about UCSF’s ninth annual Postdoc Slam Competition (guest article link). The competition is “an annual competition meant to both celebrate the work of UCSF’s health and science postdoctoral students and help them communicate what they do to the public.” As the writer states:
Both of those goals have, arguably, never been more important. Polls show that public trust of scientists is at its lowest in years and is sharply divided along political lines. As a journalist, I can relate to that erosion of public faith.
Erin Allday, Staff Writer, SF Chronicle
It is up to all of us to tell our audience—be they laypeople, funders, reviewers—the impact of our work and the difference it can make. Not in a way that makes us the arbiters of truth and right-ness, but as curious seekers of knowledge and insight.
Have you thought about coming to my Bank of Erin office hours? It’s a weekly virtual co-working accountability and support space, every Thursday at 12pm PST. You can register and get more info on Luma.
It will be donation-based at first, and at some point be available to paid subscribers (whenever I switch on that option).
For the first forty-five minutes, we’ll be in silence just working on whatever writing project we have (yes, that could be email). Then, I’ll be available for thirty minutes as a kind of office hours, if you have questions about anything that’s coming up for you, or a specific problem you want to tackle.
On that note, here’s a round up of October’s posts.
Substack
Have you checked out my Science for your Mother Substack? I recently wrote about “failed” clinical trials. I know this group isn’t really the target layperson audience, but share with your science-curious non-scientist friends!
Tuesday Tips
Tuesday Tip: Practice
A little exercise to help you practice your editing and writing skills.
Keep readingAs always, my comments and email are open for input and exchange. What do you need more information about? What have you been thinking about? What do you want to see more of around here?
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